These 8 on the map
The 8 restaurants on this page, pinned where they actually are. Tap a marker to see which one it is — all 20 are on the map in the Whosly app.
North Beach and beyond
North Beach keeps the red sauce, the cioppino and the century-old deli. The pasta houses are in the Mission and Jackson Square.
8 of the 20
Cotogna
Jackson SquareItalian restaurant$$$Michael Tusk's rustic room beside Quince — wood-fired pastas, a spit-roast that changes daily, and a wine list that punches above the price.
Flour + Water
MissionItalian restaurant$$$Pasta as the entire argument, including a tasting menu made only of it. Still one of the harder tables to get in the Mission.
Delfina
MissionItalian restaurant$$$Cal-Italian since 1998 and still the neighborhood benchmark: spaghetti with plum tomatoes, roast chicken, and no gimmicks anywhere.
A16
MarinaItalian restaurant$$$Named after the motorway to Naples and cooking Campanian to match — blistered pizza, house salumi, and a southern Italian wine list that won a Beard award.
Acquerello
Nob HillItalian fine dining$$$$Luxury Italian at its most classical, in a converted chapel. The aged parmesan budino and the squid-ink chitarra are the dishes people describe years later.
Original Joe's
North BeachItalian-American restaurant$$$Running since 1937: tuxedoed waiters, a mesquite grill in full view of the bar, and Joe's Special — eggs, spinach and ground beef — served all day.
Sotto Mare
North BeachItalian seafood restaurant$$A fish market with a dozen counter seats and a cioppino claim painted on the wall. Loud, cramped, and largely living up to the boast.
Molinari Delicatessen
North BeachItalian deli$Salami has hung from this ceiling since 1896. Take a number, order a sandwich off the board, and eat it on a bench in Washington Square.
The other 12
The 20 are spread across 12 neighborhoods. North Beach (6), Mission (3) and Russian Hill (2) have the most; Bernal Heights, Financial District, Inner Richmond, Jackson Square, Marina, Nob Hill, Noe Valley, Outer Richmond and West Portal have one each.
+12 more in the app
A Roman trattoria run by an actual Roman, Sardinian octopus stew in Noe Valley, wild boar pappardelle at a dozen tables on Russian Hill, cornmeal deep dish that converted a thin-crust city, pasta extruded that morning on Clement Street, and more.
Add all 20 to your Whosly mapEvery one lands on your own map in a tap — save them, rate them, plan around them. City Packs are included with Planner Pro.
Or search “Whosly: Plans, Places & RSVPs” on the App Store
For pizza, see the best pizza in San Francisco.
Common questions
What is the best Italian restaurant in San Francisco?
Where should I eat Italian in North Beach?
What is the fanciest Italian restaurant in San Francisco?
Which San Francisco neighborhood is best for Italian restaurants?
Where can I see all 20?
All 20, on your own map
This page is 8 of them. The San Francisco Italian pack in Whosly has all 20 — add it and every one drops onto your map, ready to save, rate and turn into a plan your friends RSVP to from a text, no app needed to answer. The pack is included with Planner Pro.
Get Whosly — free on iPhoneOr search “Whosly: Plans, Places & RSVPs” on the App Store
“Whosly: Plans, Places & RSVPs”.
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