Looking for where to eat near the de Young?
Chances are you’re already at the de Young and your stomach is grumbling so loud it interrupted the tour, or you’re planning a trip and want the lowdown on the best eats in town. Maybe you’re thinking of doing team building in San Francisco and want to grab a bite afterward.
Either way, our renegade tours of SF museums need fuel, and San Francisco has some amazing food to prepare or recharge after your museum adventure.
We’ve spent years in and around the de Young, and have the full scoop on the best places to fill your gullet before/after/in-between an awesome trip to one of the best museums in SF. Here’s our full list where to eat near the de Young.
WHERE TO EAT NEAR THE DE YOUNG MUSEUM
On this page you’ll find a handpicked list of restaurants categorized as quick eats, bang for your buck, delicious sitdown, brunch & coffee, vegan, and drinks. Your tastebuds will thank you.
Everything listed here is less than a 15 minute walk from the museum.
Here’s our current shortlist for favorite food spots near the de Young:
QUICK EATS
de Young Café — A cafe inside the museum with sandwiches, quiches and salads. Perfect for a quick bite before your museum adventure. Nice view overlooking the garden.
The Posh Bagel — Cronuts, bagels, eggwiches, and plenty of standard bagel-shop fare. Try the jalapeño-cheese bagel! They also have a pizza bagel, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Cinderella Bakery & Café — A neighborhood favorite. This Russian café has fresh pastries, sandwiches, authentic borscht, piroshkis and more at great prices. They also have some vegan options.
BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Arizmendi Bakery — This place triples as a bakery, pizza place, and coffee shop. It might be a strange combination, but trust us — it works. Rated #1 for scones in SF. Try the pizza-of-the-day, it changes every day!
Yumma’s Mediterranean Grill — Delicious falafel, shawarma, and Mediterranean food with reasonable prices. Some call it the best falafel in the city. They’ve also got a scenic back patio, so you can enjoy the view while you guzzle down questionable amounts of hummus.
My Tofu House — Famous Korean restaurant known for their tofu soup and Korean BBQ. Quick service, generous portions, and it gets busy for dinner — so get there before 7pm if you can. Note: no alcohol or BYOB.
DELICIOUS SITDOWN
Nopalito — Popular and highly-rated Mexican joint with tasty ceviche, mole, fish tacos, salads, tortas, and nachos. Fresh ingredients all around, and they’ve also got a handful of veggie options.
The Richmond — Gourmet American restaurant with a cozy atmosphere, great service, and delicious steaks, burgers, and wine. Doubles as a good date spot for all you couples out there.
Fresca — Authentic Peruvian spot with homemade guacamole, mojitos, and quality bottomless mimosas. Welcoming atmosphere, stylish decor, and an attentive waitstaff. Their weekday happy hour is from 5-7pm!
BRUNCH & COFFEE
Art’s Cafe — Art’s is local establishment — a low-key, All-American, mom and pop diner with a Korean twist. Reasonable prices, and the hashbrown sandwich is legendary. Seriously, get it. With avocado. Mmmm… oh yeah, counter seating and cash only.
Rise & Grind Coffee & Tea — Steps from Golden Gate park, this coffee joint’s got great lattes, free Wi-Fi, and a mint cold brew. You’ll want to try the Ube waffle — trust us.
Velo Rouge Café — A cozy, neighborhood café with all-day breakfast, bagels, and banana pancakes. Banana. Pancakes. They serve Blue Bottle Coffee here.
VEGAN
Pluto’s — Huge, hearty, and healthy sandwiches and salads at a great price. Feel free to customize your salad to your heart’s content.
New Eritrea — Lots of veggie and vegan options at this Eritrean & Ethiopian restaurant. Some call it the best Ethiopian in SF. Try everything.
Marnee Thai — Mouthwatering curries, samosas, and coconut hotcakes. Yes, that’s a thing. If you’re vegan/veggie, mention it and they’ll be sure to accommodate with a meatless alternative.
DRINKS
The Little Shamrock — This historic Irish pub opened in 1893. They’ve got darts, board games, cozy couches, and lots of free popcorn. Fun fact: they’ve got a stopped clock on the wall that was hanging during the 1906 earthquake — it still reads 5:12, the time the earthquake hit.
Blackthorn Tavern — Your classic, no-frills sports bar. Tons of TVs, bound to be busy when a big game is on. Trivia night’s on Monday, karaoke on Tuesday.
Yancy’s Saloon — We’ll let this Foursquare review do the talking: “Step into the 70’s in this spacious, unpretentious temple of SF nostalgia. Also, cheap drinks and football on a big screen.”
Okay, so now that we’ve got the food down — ready to grab tickets for an unforgettable tour at the de Young? We guarantee you’ll have an amazing time. See you there!
