I relish an overnight in my City, never tiring of seeing it from different angles in all its endless beauty and complexity. I’m also glad when my media visits lead me to a place I’d recommend to visitors — and speaks a bit to my retro soul. Opened in November 2023, The Jay hotel exudes 1970s chic with a lean, clean Danish design aesthetic: Read more →
Gary Danko branzini. Photo Credit: Virginia Miller. Portlandia references may be old news, but I can’t help but hear the show’s Dream of the 90’s song in my head when I return to these two great restaurants that have been showing San Francisco how it’s done since the 1990s. Here’s multiple reasons why they’re still relevant. Gary Danko cheese cart. Photo… Read more →
Healdsburg has long been the favored Sonoma town square, packed with charm, shops and great food. Over the 24 years I’ve been visiting, it has grown into a destination for world travelers and foodies since SingleThread opened in 2016. Earning one, then two, and eventually three Michelin stars, Healdsburg has attracted upscale resorts, hotel remodels, pricey condos and a chic reputation.
Alternately, Sonoma’s larger town square has remained steady, even old-school, the past 24 years I’ve visited. With Enclos opening December 5, 2024, in a cozy Victorian cottage a half block off the square, the town is set to change: Read more →
Published February 1, 2025, at Distiller Magazine, my bottle review column is about what is unique, standout, new and/or trending in spirits with my review ratings on a 1-5 rating scale. My 10 bottle reviews of the month: Read more →
Bon Delire’s star dish: oeufs mayonnaise. Photo by Virginia Miller. Bon Délire debuted October 22, 2024, along the Embarcadero from restaurateur Kais Bouzidi, who owns Sens and Barcha (my Barcha review here). Whereas his Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants are directly correlated to his North African roots and Tunisian father, this newcomer nods to his childhood on tiny Ile Saint-Louis, the… Read more →
Baltimore is Charm City for a reason: it’s deep hospitality and diversity, its rich history that plays out in architecture to waterside views, classic seafood houses and craft distilleries. I’ve been writing about Baltimore since my first visit in 2016 and haven’t written a dining update since then. As I visited and researched twice in 2024 to speak at a major drink conference and do research, here are my 8 top Baltimore spots to dine now, along with my latest bar recommends here: Read more →
My article on 10 of Guadalajara’s best bars Read more →
Waterbar’s oyster bar. Photo by Virginia Miller. These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from restaurants with views and good food to a modern German beer hall and Spanish sherry and tapas gem. Alongside my latest restaurant reviews — Bar Iris, The Wild, Che Fico Pizzeria, overnight in Sausalito — these seven are also worth visiting, with last month’s standouts here. As always, I’ve… Read more →
In my series of Bay Area/NorCal overnights (like these recent visits to Sonoma, Napa, Yountville), it’s a joy to hit somewhere so spectacular less than 20 minutes from home. Enter The Inn Above Tide in Sausalito. This enchanting seaside community village…
The Inn Above Tide is one of our most special local getaways (or destinations if you’re coming from afar) for Bay views and an intimate respite in the City’s backyard that feels worlds away in a Mediterranean-esque village. Here are three places to eat nearby: Read more →
My interview with distiller Guillermo Sauza of Fortaleza Tequila Read more →