Food destinations within easy reach of San Francisco. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.

Worth the trip

Napa Valley ★ 4.7

70 miles north of San FranciscoRental car via Highway 29 north (90 min). The Wine Train runs from Napa to St Helena and back as a fixed-route lunch.

Famous forCabernet tastings, French Laundry, Bouchon, Oxbow Public Market

Napa Valley, a 90-minute drive north of San Francisco, is America's cabernet capital, with Thomas Keller's French Laundry in Yountville and the Oxbow Public.

Directions

Sonoma County (Healdsburg) ★ 4.7

70 miles north of San FranciscoRental car via Highway 101 north (75 min). Public bus from the Golden Gate Transit terminal runs to Santa Rosa.

Famous forPinot Noir, SingleThread, Dry Creek Kitchen, Costeaux French Bakery

Sonoma County and Healdsburg, 75 minutes north of San Francisco, are the Pinot and Zinfandel anchor of Northern California, plus the three-star SingleThread.

Directions

Point Reyes National Seashore ★ 4.5

40 miles north of San FranciscoRental car via Highway 1 north (75 min). No public transport to the oyster farms.

Famous forTomales Bay oysters, Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes blue cheese

Point Reyes, 75 minutes north of San Francisco, is Marin oyster country, with Tomales Bay oyster farms, Cowgirl Creamery's home dairy and the Point Reyes.

Directions

Half Moon Bay ★ 4.3

30 miles south of San FranciscoRental car via Highway 1 south (45 min); SamTrans bus from Daly City BART takes 75 minutes.

Famous forPumpkin Festival in October, Barbara's Fish Trap, Sam's Chowder House

Half Moon Bay, 45 minutes south of San Francisco, is a coastal pumpkin and seafood town, with Barbara's Fish Trap, Sam's Chowder House and the October.

Directions

Petaluma cheese country ★ 4.3

40 miles north of San FranciscoRental car via Highway 101 north (50 min).

Famous forCowgirl Creamery, Marin French Cheese, Achadinha Cheese

Petaluma, 50 minutes north of San Francisco, is the Bay Area cheese country, with Cowgirl Creamery's cheesemaking site, Marin French Cheese and a quiet rural.

Directions

Berkeley Gourmet Ghetto ★ 4.7

15 miles east of San FranciscoBART to North Berkeley (35 min) plus a 10-minute walk.

Famous forChez Panisse, Cheese Board Collective, Acme Bread, Berkeley Bowl

Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto, 35 minutes east of San Francisco by BART, is Alice Waters's home turf, with Chez Panisse, the Cheese Board Collective and Acme.

Directions

Oakland Temescal and Old Oakland ★ 4.6

10 miles east of San FranciscoBART to MacArthur or 19th Street (15 min) plus a short walk.

Famous forPizzaiolo, Commis (Michelin-starred), Swan's Market, Burma Superstar

Oakland Temescal and Old Oakland, 15 minutes east of San Francisco by BART, are the East Bay's dining anchor with Pizzaiolo, Commis and the Swan's Market.

Directions

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