12 | EDIBLE SF SUMMER 2025 Photo by Hardy Wilson HOT NEW RESTAURANTS Writer—Daisy Barringer From an amaro distillery with a serious snack game to a French bistro plating octopus hot dogs, San Francisco’s latest crop of openings makes a strong case for dining out with curiosity—and exploring beyond your usual haunts. Spanning the Financial District to the Outer Sunset, these five spots prove that even in a city spoiled for choice, there’s always a plate, a pour, or even a popsicle that makes leaving your neighborhood totally worth it. Plot Twist: A New Classic for the Sunset FIFTY VARA Housed in the former Sunset Reservoir Brewing space, Fifty Vara isn’t starting something new on 25th Avenue—it’s picking up where things left off and filling a space the neighborhood truly missed. The menu stays approachable and satisfying, with seasonal plates, elevated bar bites, and the Vara Burger—a satisfying bistro-style classic that’s a welcome break from the city’s smashburger obsession. The drinks follow suit: house-brewed beers, a shifting wine list, and delightfully drinkable cocktails like the Golden Hour, which—yes, of course —goes down even better at golden hour. The bi-level space is airy and inviting, filled with natural light by day, a glow by night, and a cascade of plants doing their best to remind you to take a deep breath, exhale, and sink into a chill night full of good food and that stay-a-while feeling. Like its namesake—a nod to San Francisco’s earliest land plots—Fifty Vara is rooted in local spirit, but built for what’s next. fiftyvarasf.com Michelin-Caliber Food, Inner Sunset Cool CACHÉ The Inner Sunset is beloved for its lowkey charm, satisfying sandwiches, and quietly standout Japanese food—but it’s not exactly where you’d expect to find two French expats with Michelinstar pedigrees. Cue Caché. Chef Simon Mounier and Florent Thomas have brought their dream to life on 9th Avenue with a charming bistro that’s refined but relaxed—because let’s be real, anything too buttoned-up wouldn’t fly in a neighborhood built on laid-back local favorites. The octopus “hot dog” is getting early buzz (because, well, it’s an octopus hot dog), but it’s dishes like the seabream sashimi—served in the curve of the whole fish—and the perfectly crisp skate wing, both executed with equal parts precision and play, that show what this kitchen is about. With its sun-dappled patio and quietly confident hospitality, Caché doesn’t try to compete with the neighborhood’s staples—it just adds something new to love. cache-sf.com Photo—Joesph Weaver Photo—Zax Avila
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==