The Top 18 Best Waterfront Restaurant in San Francisco
San Francisco is known as the home to world-class restaurants. The Bay Area is filled to the brim with vibrant and urban life, complete with the most memorable dining experiences. And when we talk about food, it’s hard not to include San Francisco on the list. But with the array of restaurants, the perfect restaurant can be quite difficult to choose. If you happen to want a waterfront dining experience, it’s extra hard because the city has a wide selection of restaurants to visit.
Thankfully, we've highlighted 15 great waterfront restaurants in San Francisco that are worth your time.
Note that some restaurants listed here are temporarily closed due to the pandemic. You can check out their websites for more information.
1. Red's Java House
Price Range: $ | Hours:
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM during weekdays; 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM during weekends
Open During COVID for: Takeout, Delivery
Address: Pier 30, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone:
(415) 777-5626
Most Popular Items:
This waterside bar and restaurant offer burgers, hot dogs, beers, and more to visitors. Red's Java House is a place where you can have a tasteful hamburger and lovely view of the bay and the bridge at the same time. Since 1955, the restaurant has been serving sailors, dock workers, yachtsmen, generations of families, visitors, and a few celebrities.
And they have never changed a thing with their menu. Nothing flashy, as they say. They were just being them. Surely you can’t miss their burgers served on San Francisco Sourdough Bread with onions, pickles, and yellow mustard. Yes, no lettuce or tomato here. They also offer French fries and onion rings as sides. If you are up for that calming breakfast with the sea, Red’s Java is open for breakfast so better make sure to not miss that!
2. Waterbar
Price Range: $$$ | Hours:
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM for lunch; 5:00 PM - 9:15 PM for dinner; 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM happy hour
Open During COVID for: Reserved outdoor & limited indoor dining, Pickup, Delivery
Address: 399 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone:
(415) 284-9922
Most Popular Items:
Waterbar is one of the best waterside restaurants, offering lunch and dinner. This waterfront restaurant is located in a prime location that features panoramic views of the bay, Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and the San Francisco skyline.
The food is great, prepared and served fresh. It’s highly recommended that you try their phenomenal oysters for only $1.05. If you are here with family, there’s also a wide selection for dessert and wine and cocktail. For kids, they offer a children menu so you don’t need to think too much about it. Waterbar is definitely a place to enjoy for everyone.
3. Pier 23 Café
Price Range: $$ | Hours: 11:30 PM - 4:30 PM Wednesday to Sunday
Open During COVID for: Outdoor Dining, Delivery, Takeout
Address: Pier 23, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 362-5125
Most Popular Items:
There are plenty of reasons why you should visit Pier 23 Café Restaurant & Bar. It’s a family owned place for 35 years and they’re committed to taking an innovative approach to the traditional seafood dishes of San Francisco. And they really do deliver with that. They serve fresh seafood that will surely melt in your mouth. Of course, there are also good drinks available.
This restaurant is focused on serving visitors with their great seafood in outdoor and waterside seating, plus live music. It is located in Embarcadero, San Francisco, and offers good beer, burgers, and casual dining. So if I were you, I won’t waste time and make my reservation now! Soak up in the view and good food.
4. Hi Dive Bar
Price Range: $$ | Hours:
11:30 AM for lunch during weekdays; 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM for brunch during weekends
Open During COVID for: Takeout, Delivery
Address: Pier 28 1/2, The Embarcadero & Bryant St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone:
(415) 977-0170
Most Popular Items:
One of the many favorite San Francisco waterfront restaurant is the Hi Dive Bar. This pre-Giants game hangout place serves great food and drinks that you can enjoy with your friends. They have an assorted menu from snacks and apps, soups and salads, burgers, and sandwiches.
If you’re not into thinking too much about what to eat, trust the menu favorites. You can never go wrong with the classic fish and chips, chicken tenders, tacos, and quesadillas. The restaurant also caters to events such as birthday parties, corporate events, buyouts, holiday events, brunch parties, and team lunches.
5. Scoma's Restaurant
Price Range: $$$ | Hours: 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM Monday and Thursday; 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM Friday and Saturday; 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sunday
Open During COVID for: Indoor and Outdoor Dining, Delivery, Takeout
Address: 1965 Al Scoma Way San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: (415) 771-4383
Most Popular Items:
Never miss your chance to visit Scoma's Restaurant as it is one of the classic seafood restaurants you’ll find in San Francisco. They serve the freshest fish and seafood straight from the early morning catch. and have old-school dishes such as Crab Louie salad and linguine con vongole. Frequent eaters highly recommend their clam chowder and Dungeness crab.
Reservations are available so you better plan ahead and make that reservation as soon as you can. You can enjoy their Happy Hours every Monday and Thursday from 3pm to 6pm and their weekend brunch from 12pm to 2pm.
6. La Mar Cebicheria Peruana
Price Range: $$$ | Hours:
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM for lunch; 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM for dinner
Open During COVID for: Delivery, Takeout
Open During COVID for: Delivery, Takeout
Address: Pier 1 1/2 The Embarcadero, Ste 100, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone:
(415) 397-8880
Most Popular Items:
La Mar Cebicheria Peruana is one of the best waterfront restaurants that showcases the best-guarded treasures of the Peruvian cuisine. This cuisine is heavily influenced by many ethnic backgrounds in Peru and coupled with Peru’s climate changes and geological differences make it a very unique cuisine. And you never pass up an opportunity to try this type of cuisine especially that they serve the best.
Celebrity chef, Gaston Acurio, loves to serve guests with Peruvian seafood in a large, partially outdoor space on the pier. This restaurant also has a pretty great view of Treasure Island. It is recommended that you grab their pisco sours, empanadas, and anticuchos for your lunch or dinner. If you’re vegan, you can definitely indulge in their fresh and healthy dishes. Taste is never compromised here.
7. Lake Chalet
Price Range: $$ | Hours: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM during weekdays; 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM during weekends
Open During COVID for: Outdoor Dining, Delivery, Takeout
Address: 1520 Lakeside Dr, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 208-LAKE or (510) 208-5253
Most Popular Items:
One of the best waterfront restaurants in Oakland with a great view of Lake Merritt and serves amazing seafood and cocktails is Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill. That is good food and a relaxing outdoor dining area. Enjoy Taco Tuesday’s serving exclusively only 3-8 pm and with some fish, chicken, asada, veggie tacos, and margaritas.
Here you can also enjoy traditional and craft cocktails made only from fresh, local ingredients. And if you want to take these drinks home, they can bottle it for you. Just so you can recreate that vibe at the comfort of your own home.
8. Farmhouse Kitchen
Price Range: $$ | Hours:
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM for lunch and 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM for dinner during weekdays; 12:00 NN- 10:00 PM during weekends
Open During COVID for: Delivery, Takeout
Address: 710 Florida St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone:
(415) 814-2920
Most Popular Items:
If you want to enjoy Thai cuisines with an overlooking view, Farmhouse Kitchen is the place. This Thai spot is located on the Jack London Square waterfront and has a festive and lively ambience with a good amount of seating. Farmhouse Kitchen serves great dishes from Thai street food to fancy entree. Starting from their papaya salad to their fried chicken, and short ribs in panang curry, all of these are flavored with the best spices.
Not only that, they’re also not your typical Thai restaurant. They bring bold and adventurous flavors from traditional to non-traditional dishes. They have nightly specials like regional home cooked dishes to market fried grasshoppers! Truly, you’ll have a rollercoaster ride of food to try here.
9. Quinn's Lighthouse
Price Range: $$ | Hours: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM for lunch and 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM for dinner during weekdays; 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM Saturday; 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday
Open During COVID for: Outdoor Dining, Delivery, Takeout
Address: 1951 Embarcadero E, Oakland, CA 94606
Phone:
(510) 536-2050
Most Popular Items:
Quinn's Lighthouse Restaurant & Pub is more than ready to serve their visitors with their electric mix of traditional American cuisine, ethnic specialties, and award-winning seafood specials. The historic lighthouse was built in 1890 and features a patio dining, marina views, and a lovely upstairs bar. The restaurant also has a Yacht Club Dining Room located on the main floor. You can enjoy plenty of beers, burgers, sandwiches, and fish and chips with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere overlooking the gorgeous Oakland Estuary.
Due to the current situation, they offer a modified menu and their Sunday Brunch Menu is available only from 11:30am to 2pm. You can reserve your slot through their website.
10. Coqueta
Price Range: $$$ | Hours: 12:00 NN - 7:00 PM Tuesday to Sunday
Open During COVID for: Outdoor Dining, Takeout
Address: The Embarcadero, Pier 5, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone:
(415) 704-8866
Most Popular Items:
Did you know that Coqueta means "flirt" or "infatuation" in Spanish? And their food is exactly just that. It’s so good that you keep craving for more. They keep on exploring and interpreting Spanish cuisine as well as wine and inspired cocktails. Here you can enjoy the Spanish cuisine through traditional family recipes with a California twist.
This restaurant shares Spanish Cuisine with their Chef Michael Chiarello who serves great dishes like Jamon, patatas bravas, and albondigas. The restaurant also serves pizzas, fresh mozzarella, coffee, wine, beer, and handcrafted products. Reservations are available, so don't miss your chance to visit here.
11. Epic Roasthouse
Price Range: $$$ | Hours:
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM Monday to Thursday; 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM Friday to Saturday
Open During COVID for: Dine-in, Pickup, Delivery
Address: 369 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone:
(415) 369-9955
Most Popular Items:
Epic Roasthouse is one of the best waterfront restaurants found in the Bay. It’s the paramount contemporary steakhouse which focuses on simplicity of flavor led by the acclaimed Executive Chef Parke Ulrich. Also, all their food is environmentally responsible.
If you are with your friends and you want to enjoy some meat and poultry selections but also want to look at the water, Epic is certainly the best choice. The restaurant serves its Roasted Pork Rack Chop and Organic chicken with fava beans and crispy mushrooms. Great dishes, beautiful view, only on Epic Roasthouse.
12. Le Garage
Price Range: $$ | Hours:
11:30 AM - 8:00 PM Tuesday to Friday; 10:00 AM - 2:30 AM for weekend brunch; 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Saturday
Open During COVID for: Outdoor Dining, Takeout
Address: 85 Liberty Ship Way, Ste 109, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone: (415) 332-5625
Most Popular Items:
Another restaurant added to the list is Le Garage. It’s a great place for a meal with their stunning French cuisine that serves fresh, modern twist dishes like Croque madame and quiche Lorraine. You can have a Kobe beef burger and house-cut fries with grilled red onion aioli for your dinner and it’s a must that you try desserts like crème Brulee and Tarte Tatin.
Aside from the really good food they have a really good and even trendy aesthetic with an airy minimalist and industrial feel. Also, you have a great view of the waterfront which makes the dining experience feel like you’re dining by the beach.
13. Hog Island Oyster Co.
Price Range: $$ | Hours: 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday to Sunday
Open During COVID for: Outdoor dining, Takeout
Address: 1 Ferry Bldg, Shop 11, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 391-7117
Most Popular Items:
This fantastic oyster bar in contemporary waterside serves great local oysters and clams, plus craft cocktails. Hog Island Oyster Co. never fails to serve people with incredible seafood and handcrafted cocktails.
This bar is located in the historic Ferry Building Marketplace on the San Francisco waterfront. Enjoy Hog Island's finest while watching some great views over San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, and Treasure Island. The restaurant also offers ready to take home dishes like Oysters, Manila Clams, and Tomales Bay Mussels. You can also dine some classics like Hog Island Clam Chowder, fish plus chips, Oyster Po' Boy, Grilled Cheese, and more.
14. Greens Restaurant
Price Range: $$$ | Hours:
11:30 AM - 7:30 PM Tuesday to Friday; 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM for brunch and 2:30 AM - 7:30 PM for dinner during weekends
Open During COVID for: Reserved Outdoor Dining, Delivery, Takeout
Address: 2 Marina Blvd, Bldg A, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: (415) 771-6222
Most Popular Items:
Greens Restaurant has been serving since 1979, which is there is no doubt that this restaurant has established its reputation as one of the best waterfront eateries in San Francisco. It established vegetarian cuisine as a cuisine in America that is why you will find a lot of healthy options here.
People who enjoy vegan options all the while taking in that panoramic bay view would surely love this restaurant. Their must-try is their spicy red curry, broccoli pizza, and spinach linguine.
15. Harborview Restaurant & Bar
Price Range: $$ | Hours:
11:30 AM - 2:000 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM Tuesday to Friday, 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM during weekends
Open During COVID for: Reserved Heated Outdoor Patio Dining, Delivery, Takeout
Address: 4 Embarcadero Ctr Street Level
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 399-1200
Most Popular Items:
Established in 2018, Harborview Restaurant & Bar is ready to serve you high quality and authentic Cantonese-style dishes. You can enjoy that with panoramic harbor views of the Ferry Building and San Francisco Bay.
The restaurant serves delicious seafood and specialty dishes, including salt and pepper Dungeness crab and King Crab. And of course, they also have the staple soy sauce chicken, beef brisket, and other soups. Their menu has an assorted selection of appetizers, soups, seafood, meat, and poultry. They will definitely have something to satiate your hunger.
16. Slanted Door
Price Range: $$ | Hours:
Open During COVID for:
Address: Ferry Building #3, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States
Phone: (415) 861-8032
Most Popular Items:
Slanted Door is a luxury waterfront dining always packed with its very posh patrons. Aside from the scrumptious spring rolls, cellophane noodles, and other modern Vietnamese cuisine, you can also definitely enjoy a beautiful bay view. They are also known for their distinctive Vietnamese street food with local ingredients. Some of its popular food in the category include grass-fed estancia shaking beef and a chicken clay pot with caramel sauce, chilies and fresh ginger.
And pair your lunch and dinner choices with their selection of wines or creative cocktails. After a good meal, you can stroll through the entire Embarcadero and the romantic Bay Bridge Lights.
17. Hard Water
Price Range: $$ | Hours:
Open During COVID for:
Address: Pier 3, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States
Phone: (415) 392-3021
Most Popular Items:
Hard Water is a whiskey-obsessed bar with small-batch whiskeys and single ounce pours for an affordable but quality tasting of these gems. It’s horseshoe-shaped bar has over 100 bottles, most of which came from independent Kentucky distilleries. Aside from the premium drinks, they also serve small plates and snacks. Don’t forget to try out their fried chicken with buttermilk biscuit and pepper jelly for an authentic experience. Or if you’re into trend now, a meat and cheese board would suit perfectly for your style.
Hard Water is a New-Orleans inspired spot set in an intimate and panoramic view of the Bay. It’s a perfect waterfront dining if you’re not too hungry or if you’re just looking to sip some good drink. It’s temporarily closed for now but when they open, make sure to reserve a spot to avoid waiting.
18. Alioto’s Restaurant
