Nob Hill

A good weekend starts with bagels. A great weekend starts with Early to Rise bagels. Recently, Early to Rise pivoted from large communal brunches to weekend takeout (including a meticulous bagel kit and its famous brunch in a bag). The concept totally works. Chef Andrew McCormack cut his teeth at Quince and Jean-Georges, and each house-made crunchy-meets-chewy bagel thick with chive schmear and lox is a bite of heaven.

Basik got its start on the big island in Hawaii, where their original location is based (the Nob Hill store is actually their first location on the mainland), and from the staff to the menu, it definitely has an island vibe. The menu here offers souped-up acai bowls with add-ins like almond mylk, almond butter, bee pollen, and all kinds of fresh fruit, plus a full line-up of smoothies. Conveniently located on Polk Street, it's an easy stop before work or after a workout.

Michelle Bravo is a certified holistic massage therapist (HMT) and certified aromatherapist (CAT), two skills that she expertly combines in her signature treatments, which are all trademarked to her unique EOS technique. She's celebrated for a lymphatic massage that incorporates aromatherapy. Clients also love that Michelle is a kind, intuitive sounding board and love talking to her during their treatments—for the full experience, you can book her for a lifestyle coaching session.

Situated inside The Scarlet Huntington Hotel, this spa has a Zen-like, indoor infinity pool (no diving/swimming laps here) that leads out onto an outdoor patio with a picturesque Nob Hill view. Inside, there are 10 treatment rooms for massages and other body treatments, facials, and manis and pedis, including a handful of services designed for the guys. Nob Hill Spa is also home to a gym, steam and sauna rooms, and a fireside lounge. Guests of the hotel have complimentary use of the spa, and visitors can purchase a facilities-only day pass Monday through Thursday.

Acquerello has been serving upscale Italian in Nob Hill for 25 years now—with excellent food and a decidedly grown-up setting, it’s exactly the kind of place you want to go to for special occasions. Run by a father-son team from Bologna and an executive chef/partner that’s been with them from the beginning, the classic Italian dishes are unshakably good. There are two private room options that are both relatively formal.

Quite possibly the most popular wedding venue in all of San Francisco, the Fairmont is kind of an essential stop, even if it's just to take in the lobby in all its candy-colored, chintzy glory. The massive 592-room hotel sits at the top of Nob Hill and is home to a wonderful fancy restaurant, a great afternoon tea service, and honeybee hives in the herb garden. Then there's the gloriously kitschy Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar. A Tiki bar, complete with a lagoon and spontaneous indoor thunderstorms, may be the last thing you'd expect to see inside a Fairmont but it kind of works.

Even if the more fashion-forward jewelry at this gallery-slash-retail-space doesn't appeal to your personal style, stopping in is still essential. Everything here is given the museum treatment with glass cases and very specific, artful placement. Prices are comparable to the quality of work, which is truly as high as it gets.

Bob's has been taking up prime real estate in Nob Hill since 1960. The secret to their staying power? Really, really good donuts. They don't get crazy with out-there flavors and prefer to use old-school baking methods. While here, take the BIG ONE challenge, which requires you eat the oversized $8 donut in three minutes or less—maybe best attempted after a late night out, as it's open 24-hours a day. Succeed and get your name on the coveted Wall of Fame.

Bob's has been taking up prime real estate in Nob Hill since 1960. The secret to their staying power? Really, really good donuts. They don't get crazy with out-there flavors and prefer to use old-school baking methods. While here, take the BIG ONE challenge, which requires you eat the oversized $8 donut in three minutes or less—maybe best attempted after a late night out, as it's open 24-hours a day. Succeed and get your name on the coveted Wall of Fame.

Dining at this Michelin-starred gem is an all-senses-on-deck experience. There are only 12 seats in the smallish space surrounding a bustling open kitchen. The new-Nordic-inflected tasting menu focuses on sustainably and locally grown ingredients prepared in unexpected ways. And the wine program is just as impressive as the food.