San Francisco Restaurant and Bar Openings
Crawl SF’s Guide to the Most Anticipated Restaurant and Bar Openings of 2024
In 1911, President Taft, made a toast at the Cliff House Restaurant, after signing a resolution, designating San Francisco as the the official World’s Fair City for the 1915 event. The event was to be a celebration of the future opening of the Panama Canal. In his speech, Taft called San Francisco the “city that knows how”, as the city was able to rebuild and move on after the 1906 earthquake. The sentiment remains true today. As we head into 2024, the city holds a lot of promise, despite the impact of less than favorable events of the last few years. Our city was hit hard by the pandemic and the policies that followed. In spite of all the difficulties San Franciscans have had to endure, we have managed to start rebuilding, even in the hard hit downtown area. New and exciting businesses have been opening in the last couple years and 2024 should be an epic year. Some of the much anticipated openings for 2024 are certain to breathe new life into the city by the bay. The new year should be the start of a new era in SF. The city is resilient and its people always find a way. The city has always attracted innovative thinkers, who use their out of the box thinking and perseverance to keep the city on the cutting edge. San Francisco offers the perfect mix of history and tradition, combined with modern ideas and new innovations, that offer locals and visitors the comfort of nostalgia and the excitement of the latest trends. One thing is for sure, 2024 is already looking like a very exciting and abundant year.
Starlight
The space, which once was occupied by Harry Denton’s Starlight room, atop the Beacon Grande Hotel (formerly the Sir Francis Drake) will be re-opening to the public in February 2024. The historic space is located on the 21st floor and offers stunning views of the city. The hotel, which opened in 1928, in the heart of prohibition, was designed for bootlegging alcohol, including a prohibition room, where suitcases filled with illegal hooch were stored and then discreetly provided to guests. Scott Baird, Trick Dog co-founder, is creating the much anticipated cocktail program for the space. The re-opening should contribute to a new era for the downtown, making it a destination again, as the neighborhood re-builds. Businesses, such as Harlen Records, helped pave the way in 2023, giving locals a reason to leave their neighborhoods and venture into the down town area, near Union Square. Hopefully this epic opening will keep the momentum building and Union square will be as exciting as it was in the days that San Francisco’s legendary personalities like Herb Caen and Allen Ginsberg, both of whom used to frequent the space on the 21st floor, even before tuxedo clad, larger than life, SF personality, Harry Denton, was on the scene. The space has always had starlight in the name and earlier manifestations included The Starlight Roof, The Starlight Room, Harry Denton’s Starlight Room, Lizzie’s Starlight Room and now, simply “Starlight”.
Starlight
Beacon Grande Hotel
450 Powell St
San Francisco, CA 94102
George’s Donuts and Merriment
The charming neighborhood of West Portal will have a new all-day, sit down cafe opening in summer of 2024. Inspired by European Cafes, with food service and coffee, with an upscale but casual ambiance, the space is sure to draw a large number of regulars. The business is a creation of West Portal’s Dudam family, in collaboration with award winning pastry chef, Janina O’Leary. O’Leary worked at prestigious spots like Per Se, Daniel and Del Posto in New York City. In 2013 she was a semifinalist for the James Beard “rising star chef” award. Most recently she has been overseeing the pastry department for Bacchus Management’s restaurants in the Bay Area, including Spruce, Selby’s and the Village Pub. Andrew Dudam, thought her pastry creations at Bacchus stood out to him, especially her beignets at Spruce, and he brought her on a as a partner in his passion project. The place will be upscale enough for a date spot, but a little whimsical as well. There will be traditional donuts, as well as some non-traditional creations, such as cacio pepe and an anticipated Za’atar donut that will be a tip of the cap to Dudam, who has Palestinian roots. There will be other fun things on the menu, such as a possible donut flight to be paired with wine. Summer will be sweet in 2024!
George’s Donuts and Merriment
161 W Portal Ave
San Francisco, CA 94127
The Restaurant Formerly Known as the Cliff House
One of the most anticipated openings of 2024 is San Francisco’s iconic, historic restaurant, overlooking the beach and the Sutro Bath Ruins. The name is still in dispute, as the new owners have not yet purchased the rights to use “Cliff House”. A twenty year lease has been signed and the new owners conducted a survey in 2023, so they could figure out what the people of San Francisco are hoping to see happen, with one of its most iconic, beloved and historic restaurant spaces. Locals were devastated to see the Cliff House close over the Pandemic and its re-opening will serve as a symbol of hope.
Cliff House (Name TBD)
1090 Point Lobos Ave
San Francisco, CA 94121
Town Hall
The beloved San Francisco restaurant closed its doors in late 2023. In 2024 it will be re-opening under new ownership. Chef Tyler Florence, of Food Network Fame, will be re-opening the space. He owns the popular Wayfare Tavern in the Fidi, as well as the hot new Steak House Miller & Lux. It will be exciting to see his manifestation of Town Hall, a beloved institution in SOMA for years.
Town Hall
342 Howard St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Saluhall
The food options at Ikea have always been not only delicious, but also fairly cheap, especially by San Francisco standards. If you haven’t had the pleasure to try out a meal at Ikea, you definitely need to order up a plate of delicious Swedish Meatballs. But the new San Francisco Ikea has even more exciting plans as a massive food hall called Saluhall is scheduled to open in early 2024. Saluhall will feature multiple food vendors, 3 bars, a cooking school and more. Plus, for those of you trying to start out 2024 in a healthy way, most of the food at the spot will be plant-based.
Saluhall
Adjacent to Ikea
945 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Four Kings
It’s always nice to see an incredible pop-up restaurant get a permanent home. And that is exactly what is happening for the Four Kings crew. The popular pop-up restaurant known for their “Canto Nostalgia” food is setting up shop in Chinatown in the old Slurp Ramen Spot and we are expecting big things. The Team (Mike, Long, Lucy Li, Franky Ho and Millie Boonkokua) will still be doing a limited number of pop-ups until the opening, which is scheduled for early 2024.
Four Kings
710 Commercial St
San Francisco, CA 94108
