Travel

NoPa

Establishment neighborhood
Lucinda’s Deli
535 Scott St., NoPa
To have a great sandwich spot in your back pocket during the age of WFH brings the peace of mind we all need. Lucinda’s Deli—a basement spot near Alamo Square—churns out subs that merit the long lines. We’re partial to the veggie Avo Smash (fried and pickled onions, cashew romesco, cucumber, and tomato layered with avocado) or the Roast Beef (jazzed up with Thai barbecue sauce) and a Topo Chico. These are hefty sandos that keep a grumbling stomach at bay until dinner. And while you can order the full menu for delivery, the nearby park is a lovely spot to enjoy your sub and a glimpse of the owner’s dog—and deli namesake—Lucy is worth the wait in line.
Che Fico
838 Divisadero, Nopa
Sure, it might not feel like SF needs yet another Italian restaurant. The truth is, Che Fico (pronounced “kay-feeco”) is anything but. It also happens to be one of the hardest tables in the city to land right now. GP went when it first opened, and it continues to live up to the hype, down to its Instagram-friendly design details—a chevron-tile-lined entryway, a fire-engine-red pizza oven, and a boldly wallpapered stairway. Chef David Nayfeld and fellow Eleven Madison Park alum and pastry chef Angela Pinkerton have assembled a menu that’s at once familiar but also masterful, meaning it’s all really good and leans heavily on local California produce. Pastas (orchiette with fennel sausage and broccoli rabe, goat’s milk ricotta gnudi with ramps) are handmade, and the pizzas are oven-charred and finished with Parmigiano Reggiano. Everything is meant to be shared, and dishes pour out of the kitchen as they’re ready, so you should just go for it and order everything that strikes your fancy. For dessert, it’s a toss-up between the olive oil cake with elderflower ice cream and the bittersweet chocolate pudding. Photos: Douglas Friedman and Krescent Carasso.
Salt
327 Divisadero St., NoPa
This local spot for full-body workouts offers intense choreographed classes. Their session roster has a little bit of everything: ballet barre with kickboxing and isometric strength exercises, conditioning with resistance bands and sandbags, a 60-minute prenatal "Salt Bump" cardio class, etc. You can pay per class, purchase a class pack (5, 10, 20 sessions), or sign up for a longer commitment—they have a discounted trial package for newcomers that's a nice option.
Population
537 Divisadero St., NoPa
Brian Belier has created a super chill space evoking the Japanese notion of Wabi-sabi (loose translation: letting natural beauty shine, imperfections and all). And here, you feel it in both the décor—lots of salvaged wood and plants—and the cuts, which are cool and artfully shaggy so hair naturally falls in the right shape without looking over-styled. It's the perfect place to come after work as they serve beer. See Brian for cuts and Sylvie Simon for balayage highlights.