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Lazy Bear

San Francisco

Nostalgic modern American fare served with dinner party-style intimacy

Dinner party roots: Lawyer-turned-chef David Barzelay started Lazy Bear as a pop-up dinner party in his apartment in 2009. After sell-out events that developed a cult following, he debuted a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2014 in Mission District, quickly gaining a list of accolades. Communal tables and a moveable feast between the upstairs mezzanine and downstairs dining room have long defined the experience, which continues to evolve following a recent remodel.

On the menu: Nostalgic modern American food inspired by 'the wild' undergirds Barzelay and chef de cuisine Genoa Pieron's refined but bold cooking. Iconic bites like Barzelay's whipped scrambled eggs with maple syrup and hot sauce in an eggshell never get old. Seasonal thrills might be the likes of caviar over white asparagus, sturgeon rillettes and spring alliums in caramelised asparagus cream and ramp oil.

Drink this: James Beard-nominated beverage director Jacob Brown oversees a sommelier and beverage team worthy of the deep cuts and vintage spirits and wines they house across the street in their secret cellar.

Recent remodel: Celebrating a decade in the Mission, in 2024 they debuted for a robust refresh from kitchen flow to table layout and design. While just a little of the original of the charred wood remains (think: the inside of a bourbon barrel), they've refined and leaned into their forestry, upscale camping feel, further enhanced by fictional character Smokey Bear signs, an exposed rock entrance and faux animal heads. Their upstairs mezzanine evokes an elegant cabin atmosphere.

Like this? You'll love: Barzelay and Nicolas Torres opened True Laurel a few blocks away in 2017. Ranked No.17 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 list, it's a casual, hip destination known for its elevated bar food alone, along with some of the best cocktails and small batch vintage spirits in the US.

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