JaneC

Noe Valley is one of those places which once you've lived there, you'll never want to move away. At the same time, you're reluctant to brag about it to your friends in fear that the hidden gem will no longer be a hidden gem. Walking down 24th street on the weekend is one of the best ways to spend a leisurely afternoon. There're all the small shops to browse around and it is probably one of the few places left where the street is not infested with chain stores. One of my favorite resting spots is the Tully's cafe. Although it is a chain coffee shop from Seattle, it doesn't have any of the chain-like elements. And the coffee there is amazing! My favorite brunch spot there is Savor on 24th Street. I've spent so many wonderful mornings there catching up with friends and getting filled with great food. What more can you ask for!

After having lived in over 20 cities across the US, Belltown is still the one I miss the most. The first thing that comes to mind is the great restaurant and bar choices that are all within walking distance. Trust me, it is a very rare thing in the US that you can simply walk from your apartment to tons of great food & drinks places.
Although the one place that really stood out is definitely Macrina's Bakery on 1st Avenue. It is no doubt the best brunch place ever! I cannot think of a better Sunday morning than strolling over to Macrina's and grabbing some brunch with a few friends. The only bad part is that the restaurant is quite tiny so the maximum people you can take with you are usually 2-3. Any more than that, you'll probably have to sit at different tables. Then after brunch, I would always grab a loaf of freshly baked bread from Macrina and head home happy and totally satisfied!