Christine & Peter
Things To Do
Ippuku
We love this izikaya restaurant if you are looking for a special meal. A bit pricey, but very memorable. Near hotels downtown Berkeley.
Great China
Peter's favorite Chinese restaurant in Berkeley!!
Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen
New Orleans meets Berkeley. Fun and lively atmosphere and big portions (at least by local standards).
Revival Bar+Kitchen
Upscale eats for a special night out.
East Bay Spice Company
Great cocktails and small bites in this charming bar steps from hotels in downtown Berkeley.
Bar Shiru
Our absolute favorite Oakland haunt. Bar Shiru features hi-fi vinyl only listening featuring soul, jazz, funk and international music as well as some of the best cocktails around. All that in a gorgeous room. Don't miss it!
Duende
Absolutely amazing Spanish restaurant just a couple blocks from Bar Shiru in Oakland. Our fav combo for date night. Try the Arroz Negro paella and Ensalada De Col.
The Punchdown Natural Wine Bar + Bottle Shop
This is our go-to for tasting natural wines. Christine's favorite in Uptown Oakland.
Gourmet Ghetto
A must-visit stretch of Shattuck in North Berkeley district with great shops and eats including the iconic Chez Panisse and legendary pizza at The Cheese Board Collective.
University of California Botanical Garden
A wonderful garden to wander- find Christine's sister Mary Anne Friel's permanent art installation Water Pavillion with stunning views of the bay.
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
Some of the best trails around with both huge redwood trees and spectacular bay views. Peter knows this park like the back of his hand and once took Christine on a blistering day for the longest hike ever with no water on their third date. It sealed the deal! Make us tell you the story!
North Beach
One of the best, most iconic neighborhoods in San Francisco. Still a beauty. Stroll through Washington Square, sit at and outdoor cafe and watch the world go by with a latte or glass of pinot. Poke around in the stacks at City Lights Books. Have a classic Italian dinner and catch a comedy show at Cobbs.
Da Flora
Small intimate Italian resto - perfection!
Cobb's Comedy Club
Check out Cobbs or Punchline for comedy while you are in town.
Chinatown
SF can brag about the largest and best Chinatown outside of Asia. A gem for people watching and unique shops.
Red Blossom Tea Company
Best tea shop in Chinatown!
Valencia Street
Some of the most fun shops, bars, restaurants and cafe's in the city.
La Taqueria
BEST taqueria! The line moves quickly, so don't be intimidated. Voted best burrito, Christine's favorite is the steak quesadilla.
Lands End Trail
Stunning iconic trail along the pacific coast with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, right in San Francisco.
Frog's Leap Winery
Our nephew Kyle is the family wine expert. He loves this place. Beautiful grounds and one of the more affordable Napa tastings. Delicious wine that leans toward more acidic and lighter expressions than the more typical fruit forward wines of Napa.
Matthiasson Winery
Some favorite wines from Napa Valley. Different expressions than you typically find in Napa so it's a fun spot to check out
Smith-Madrone Vineyards
Off the beaten path up in Spring Mountain between Napa and Sonoma. More of an intimate tasting where you actually get to chat with the winemaker. Our family wine expert nephew Kyle says they make the best riesling in Napa.
Mayacamas Vineyards & Winery
Excellent cabs and chards. Probably most favorite wine in Napa and extremely age worthy. Their winery is also up in the mountains so it's a fantastic tasting experience...on the pricier side
Corison Winery
Right off the main road in St Helena that goes through Napa Valley. Fantastic cabernets! Also on the pricier side, but way better than the other big names that are right around there (Heitz, Nickel & Nickel, Cakebread, Hall, Peju, etc.)
Point Reyes National Seashore
Wonderful hiking, kayaking and exploring perfect for a day trip or overnight.
The Marshall Store
Best low key outdoor oysters and eats with a spectacular view- quintessential Northern California!! Secret go-to spot of many top chefs in the Bay Area.
Fieldwork Brewing Company - Berkeley
Top notch local brewing company with taproom.
SFJAZZ
Peter's absolute favorite place to hear live jazz. Incredible programming- not a bad seat in the house. Check it out if you can.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
World Class Art Museum located in the SOMA district of San Francisco. There are some other museums in the same neighborhood and a great selection of places to eat.
Golden Gate Park
Golden gate park is huge and you could literally spend a whole day here. The is so much to see here, including The deYoung (world class art museum), The California Academy of Sciences, The Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden, Windmills, a Merry Go Round, Ferris Wheel, Sports Fields, Lakes and so much more! Also, it extends all the way to the Pacific, so you can easily access Ocean beach from the park.