Why Bernal Heights Is the Greatest Weekend Getaway in San Francisco

Welcome to Like a Native, our journey collection the place writers share tips on how to spend a perfect lengthy weekend of their favourite hometowns. This time, Kristine shares her favourite spots in Bernal Heights—SF’s offbeat gem with dreamy views and even higher bites.

Recognized for its distinctive mix of pure magnificence, tradition, and historical past, San Francisco persistently ranks within the high cities to go to within the U.S. for good motive. It’s additionally lengthy been a haven for the offbeat, the quirky, creatives, revolutionaries, dreamers, and seekers.

It is a love letter to my neighborhood, the place all of that also exists amongst the glossier elements of San Francisco. With its personal wealthy and storied historical past, steep hills with sweeping views, charming structure, and vibrant cultural scene, Bernal Heights is a microcosm of town itself.

I’ve lived in lots of elements of town over the previous three many years. Bernal Heights captured my coronary heart in 2007 with its slim streets, parks, playgrounds, and a historic library. It turned house for my younger household, and whereas my youngsters have grown and are out exploring the world on their very own now, I’ve remained on this eccentric pocket of San Francisco.

Right here’s tips on how to stay like a hyperlocal in my neighborhood. All the pieces you want for an ideal lengthy weekend of discovering under-the-radar gems is inside strolling distance.

A fast historical past of Bernal Heights.

Earlier than European settlement, the world that may grow to be Bernal Heights was inhabited by the Ohlone individuals, a bunch of Native Individuals who lived alongside California’s central coast, largely in settlements and fishing villages.

From the late 1700s to the mid-1800s, the world was sparsely populated by Spanish settlers and primarily used for farming and cattle grazing.

In 1821 when California was part of Mexico, the land was granted to José de Jesús Bernal, a Mexican settler, and Bernal Heights was named after him.

Then got here the Gold Rush. With the inflow of settlers arriving after the invention of gold within the space in 1848, Bernal Heights started to develop as a residential neighborhood. As wealth grew and different elements of San Francisco developed quickly and extravagantly, Bernal Heights developed extra slowly, rising as a working-class enclave. Modest Victorian-style properties had been constructed—lots of which stay as we speak.

The neighborhood continued to develop earlier than and after World Battle II as a mixture of German, Irish and Italian immigrants settled within the space. Bernal Heights maintained its working-class roots, whereas faculties and small companies had been added to the neighborhood.

Within the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties, as housing costs rose in most of San Francisco, Bernal Heights remained reasonably priced for artists, activists, bohemians, younger households and professionals. This ushered in a change to a extra various, middle-class neighborhood, which continues to at the present time.

Although house costs have risen and the world’s demographics have modified, Bernal Heights nonetheless retains its distinctive character and mixture of outdated and new. It has the texture of a village tucked into the southern finish of San Francisco. Its vibrant arts and meals scene, distinctive purchasing, eccentric leisure, and lovely open areas with sweeping views of San Francisco and the Bay make it a extremely fascinating place to stay and discover.

The place to remain:

Bernal Heights is a residential neighborhood, so one of the best ways to remain is to stay like a neighborhood and hire a room, home, or condominium by way of Airbnb, VRBO or an analogous platform.

Some choices embody:

1. This High-floor house with mountain views

2. This Stylish 1 bed room flat

3. This Backyard Condominium

4. This Charming 1920’s Home

The place to Eat + Drink:

Morning Treats

Black Jet Bakery is thought for its basic American-style baked items and desserts. Seize a pastry—or two (candy and savory!)—and a cup of pour-over espresso to begin your day. For one thing heartier, strive the breakfast sandwiches made with freshly baked bread and high-quality substances. Professional tip: the boozy bread pudding is simply out there on the weekends and to not be missed.

Bernal Basket started as a small house operation in the course of the pandemic, delivering freshly baked sourdough and cinnamon rolls to neighbors through a basket-and-pulley system. It’s since grown right into a brick-and-mortar store recognized for its scrumptious breads, pastries, and sandwiches. In addition they run pizza nights Thursday by way of Sunday, the place you possibly can choose up a half-baked sq. pie to take again to your digs or eat it proper on the bakery.

Brunch & Lunch

Moonlight Café is a basic, informal spot providing omelettes, crepes, sandwiches, and burgers. Easy and satisfying. Seize a window desk for individuals watching on Bernal’s fundamental drag, Cortland Avenue.

Precita Park Café is on the North aspect of Bernal Hill close to the block-long Precita Park the place there’s certain to be not less than one weekend bouncy home and child’s party popping within the hotter months. The menu is stacked with contemporary, domestically sourced choices, plus house-roasted espresso and made-to-order smoothies—perfect for a lazy brunch adopted by a sunny park hold.

Espresso Break

Pinhole Espresso is a neighborhood hub within the neighborhood, that includes the work of native artists each within the café’s design and on its partitions. It gives thoughtfully sourced espresso and pastries. The Shaken Iced Espresso—recognized for its clean texture and balanced taste profile—is my go-to all 12 months spherical.

Established in 1987 by Martha and her siblings who grew up working round their uncle’s espresso plantation in Nicaragua, Martha & Bros Espresso Firm is dedicated to high quality, gourmand espresso in each cup. In addition they provide a big collection of pastries, desserts, cookies, empanadas, and sandwiches and are the friendliest baristas on the block.

Dinner

For the reason that earliest days of the foodie revolution, Blue Plate has been serving up American consolation meals with a Mediterranean twist, crafted from the freshest California produce and locally-sourced substances. Guide a desk on the again patio as a pleasant hideaway for dinner.

El Buen Comer is dripping with native allure and serves conventional Mexican dishes made out of scratch. The tamales, made with natural masa, are completely seasoned, and the enchiladas are hand-rolled and bursting with taste. Professional tip: cease by for weekend brunch, after they provide a rotating menu of specialties like chilaquiles or mole.

Nute’s is a tiny, cozy spot—so count on a wait, however will probably be value it. The menu options a wide range of Asian hand-pulled noodle dishes, and is at all times filled with flavorful choices. Squash Blossom Tempura not too long ago confirmed up on the menu, and it was unbelievable! Surprises like that pop up each time I go to.

What To Do:

Daytime

Put collectively a picnic from the native Good Life Grocery or The Epicurean Dealer, and spend a day owl-spotting and taking within the sweeping 360-degree views of the Bay Space at Bernal Heights Park’s open area. You might also run into coyotes, hawks, hummingbirds, skunks, raccoons, and butterflies amongst many different critters—massive and small.

Precita Park and Holly Park are each inside strolling distance, too, and every have their very own taste. As you discover the neighborhood, you’ll discover hidden staircases, paths, walkways, and even slides on all sides of the hill.

Take a look at the schedule at Pinckney Clay Studio and create a cool souvenir to take house.

Store for distinctive meals and items on Bernal’s fundamental avenue. Native retailer Remedy has thoughtfully designed items, clothes and jewellery for almost anybody, and The Epicurean Dealer is an artisanal meals lover’s dream.

Inclusions Gallery showcases work from Bay Space regional artists, and options rotating exhibitions together with jewellery and prints on the market.

Love vinyl? Established in 2007, Thrillhouse Information is a 100% DIY, neighborhood run document retailer. Whereas punk rock is the majority of what they carry, you’ll discover all genres right here. Pull a gem out of the bins to take house.

After a day of exploring and searching, head over to the family-owned San Francisco establishment Mitchell’s for handcrafted ice cream. Mitchell’s prides itself on making all the things contemporary and in-house with solely one of the best substances. The road could be lengthy, nevertheless it strikes rapidly and it’s definitely worth the await the beneficiant parts and scrumptious flavors like Ube, Mango and Espresso Toffee Crunch. Laborious to decide on, but when I needed to, my fave is the Mexican Chocolate. Vegan, dairy-free choices and sorbet are additionally out there.

Night

Within the coronary heart of Bernal Heights, The Fortunate Horseshoe is a basic dive bar and stay music venue. Fridays are karaoke night time, so get able to seize the mic and bust out that ‘80s tune you’ve been dying to share with a crowd of strangers—soon-to-be-friends.

Just a few blocks away, the extra upscale Holy Water serves handcrafted cocktails and boasts a meticulously curated craft beer choice. Professional tip: Order a pizza to go from Vega down the block and revel in it together with your drinks at Holy Water.

My hands-down favourite bar in San Francisco is the delightfully odd The Royal Cuckoo Organ Lounge, the place you possibly can hold with locals and a rotating forged of seasoned musicians round a Hammond organ. There’s stay music seven nights every week. Mondays and Tuesdays are piano, and the remainder of the week is centered across the organ. And chances are you’ll get fortunate—skilled touring musicians have been recognized to drop in for a session.

If the night time requires one thing extra low-key, bundle up and head again to the highest of Bernal Hill to gaze on the moon and stars (if the fog cooperates) and plan tomorrow’s adventures.