Happy Memorial Day, and a huge thanks to those who have served or are serving in the military!
As summer begins, many of you may be planning trips, so I wanted to share highlights from my recent San Francisco getaway. If Northern California is on your travel list this year, here’s a two-part recap focusing on where we stayed, what we saw, and especially the gluten-free friendly food we loved. The scenery was gorgeous and the dining options exceeded my expectations — San Francisco and its surrounding towns are seriously welcoming to food allergies and gluten-free diners. (I did relax my usual grain-free, dairy-free routine a bit, but I still found many paleo-friendly choices.)
Rather than cram everything into a single long entry, I’m splitting this into two posts. Part 1 covers Sausalito, downtown San Francisco, and a day trip to Napa Valley, with the emphasis on the delicious gluten-free food we enjoyed. 🙂
Please note I was not commissioned to review or advertise any restaurants or locations in this post. This is a personal account of our travel experience for information and enjoyment.
Day 1: SAUSALITO
When my husband and I planned our week near San Francisco, we decided not to stay in the busy heart of the city. We wanted a quieter base, easier parking, and a ferry option into downtown. That led us to Sausalito: a charming waterfront town with Mediterranean-style houses, independent shops, and spectacular views of the city and bridges. We found an available apartment and stayed there for the week — easily the best decision. Sausalito felt restful and offered quick access to San Francisco by ferry.
On our first unhurried day we wandered Bridgeway and the side streets and discovered enticing local cafés and restaurants. Our first meal was at Copita, an open-air Mexican restaurant that many visitors stop at after the ferry. Copita stood out because its menu is fully gluten-free, which thrilled me since fully gluten-free restaurants are hard to find in many places. The dishes are on the pricier side, but the flavors made it worth it for a midday meal.
We shared a “Trio of Tamalitos” — duck with salsa, black beans with plantain and queso fresco, and roasted pork with pickled onions and habanero crema. Each bite was packed with flavor. Mark loved the black bean tamalito for its uniqueness; I favored the pork, which melted in my mouth. For our mains we had a fried pork belly taco and a carne asada taco on homemade tortillas — both outstanding, especially the tender pork belly and smoky steak with caramelized onions. It was a delightful way to kick off a week of eating.
After lunch we explored the Marin Headlands. The lookout points and coastal views are among the most beautiful spots we visited — definitely worth the effort to find parking and hike around. By evening we cooked in at our rental, which is something we prefer on trips due to food sensitivities and to save money. We brought protein bars and staples, and grabbed fresh groceries nearby. One night’s dinner was a simple nacho spread: organic corn chips, refried black beans, ground turkey with peppers and onions, and a selection of salsas and guacamoles from a local market, broiled and served with steamed vegetables. It was easy, inexpensive, and perfectly relaxing on our balcony with a view.
DAY 2: SAN FRANCISCO
We took an early ferry into San Francisco for a full-day walking tour to get an overview of diverse neighborhoods and landmarks. We toured with a local walking tour company led by native San Franciscans, and the itinerary covered streets, parks, alleys, cable cars, Muni buses, and the BART system — a great way to see a lot in one day.
In Chinatown we watched a small fortune cookie company making cookies by hand — the smell was heavenly even though I didn’t taste them. Then we wandered Russian Hill with its steep streets and beautiful homes and enjoyed a snack break where I found a turmeric almond “mylk” that was surprisingly delicious: creamy almond milk sweetened with dates and spiced with chai and a hint of turmeric. A refreshing pick-me-up.
We continued to Lombard Street, wound our way through Pacific Heights, and stopped for lunch on Fillmore Street at Glaze, a Japanese street food spot that offers gluten-free teriyaki and paleo-friendly options. My chicken teriyaki salad bowl was perfectly cooked, crisp, and flavorful, and it kept us energized for the afternoon’s sightseeing.
Later we visited parks, a marina with views of Alcatraz, and the iconic Victorian houses. We also passed through Ghirardelli Square and sampled dark chocolate blueberry pieces — a nice little treat. Our tour ended in the Mission District, filled with colorful murals and tempting Mexican aromas; we knew we’d return later to explore local taquerias.
Back in Sausalito that night we kept dinner simple: roasted chicken, baked white sweet potato fries, and a spinach salad dressed with Tessemae’s ranch-style dressing and marinade. Using a good ready-made dressing made the meal memorable and easy after a long day of walking.
By the end of the tour we had a solid sense of San Francisco’s neighborhoods and culture and were excited to return later in the week for more food, a Mission visit, and a trip to Alcatraz — all of which I’ll cover in Part 2.
DAY 3: NAPA VALLEY
A highlight for me was visiting Napa Valley. I’m no wine expert, but I love the scenery and the relaxed wine-country pace. We stopped at several well-known wineries: Artesa for its modern architecture and sweeping views, Domaine Chandon for its sparkling wines and peaceful grounds, and Castello di Amorosa for an immersive medieval-style castle experience.
Artesa is stunning — terraces, pools, sculptures, and vines built into the hillside. After walking the grounds we headed to downtown Napa’s Oxbow Public Market for lunch. This indoor market offers artisan foods and local restaurants, and we chose C. Casa, a fully gluten-free stall focusing on sustainable seafood and locally sourced ingredients. My fresh crab taco with spicy peppers, avocado, garlic aioli, cilantro, and lime vinaigrette was light, bright, and just right before an afternoon of tastings.
At Domaine Chandon we strolled the tranquil paths and browsed the shop. The tasting room was reserved for a private event that day, so we picked up a couple of mini bottles of Brut Classic to enjoy later at home.
Castello di Amorosa was the showstopper: a hand-built castle modeled on medieval European architecture, complete with a banquet hall, dungeon, and winding stairways. We toured the castle, sampled a barrel-aged Cabernet, and completed a ten-wine tasting in their underground room. We purchased a bottle of La Fantasia, a fruit-forward red perfect for summer gatherings.
Before leaving Napa we visited Yountville, a small town known for chef-driven restaurants. Rather than splurge on the French Laundry, we tried Bouchon, a French bistro by a celebrated chef. Service and attention to detail were excellent, and the kitchen readily accommodated gluten-free requests. The appetizers were the highlights: oversized, creamy deviled eggs and a Salade Lyonnaise with a perfectly poached egg, crispy bacon lardons, and mustard vinaigrette over mixed greens. My main of mussels didn’t turn out well that night, but my husband’s roasted chicken was flavorful and well executed. Overall the dinner was a worthwhile experience even if one dish missed the mark.
For dessert we discovered that Bouchon Bakery offered gluten-free macarons. We picked pistachio and salted caramel flavors to enjoy on the drive back to Sausalito — light shells and rich fillings, with the salted caramel standing out as our favorite. It was a sweet end to a memorable day in wine country.
Thanks for joining Part 1 of my gluten-free foodie tour of the San Francisco Bay Area. Part 2 will include Muir Woods and Muir Beach, the Mission District’s local cuisine, and our Alcatraz visit — plus the restaurant that ended up being our favorite on the trip. I’ll also share a new recipe this week, so stay tuned. Wishing you a fun and relaxing Memorial Day! 🙂