By Su Yardimci

Stop #1: CAFFEINATE at Hi NRG

Address: 443 Clement St.

Price: $

Hours: Thursday to Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Hi NRG, a coffee pop-up hosted at High Treason, is the perfect start to a perfect day in the Richmond. The coffee pop-up is brought to you by Luis Gonzalez and Nathan Kruse, two best friend-ex-Coffee-Movement baristas who wanted to bring a new spin to the coffee scene in San Francisco.

“Hi NRG started as a vision to start something that’s like modern third-wave coffee that has a little bit more personality,” Kruse said. “The name Hi NRG comes from a music genre from the ’90s … it’s dance music; we love having fun music in the morning. It makes it feel more inviting.”

The pop-up has been hosted at High Treason for the past six months, and before that they had been hosting their pop-ups for a little over a year at various locations, including their friend’s wine bar, Ruby Wines. Although they have not been on Clement Street for long, Hi NRG is already becoming a neighborhood staple.

Check out: Café de Olla, a lightly sweetened cappuccino with a hint of cinnamon.

Stop #2: VINTAGE SHOP at Body Philosophy Club

Address: 111 Clement St.

Price: $$-$$$

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 9.am.-6 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

After enjoying your coffee at Hi NRG, stroll on Clement Street to Body Philosophy Club, one of those San Francisco vintage shops where every piece of clothing feels meticulously curated. Founded by Belle Bueti, the vintage store originally opened in the Inner Sunset and recently moved to this location in the Richmond. What sets Body Philosophy Club apart is its eclectic, local collection. Each item in the store is sourced within a 50-mile radius of San Francisco, making each piece a local treasure.

“We specialize in vintage clothes made from natural fibers but always make exceptions for amazing polyesters,” Body Philosophy Club states on its website, bodyphilosophyclub.com. “We source for maximum comfort and maximum spiritstyle.”

With fair pricing and beautiful one-of-a-kind items, Body Philosophy Club is an excellent store to check out for any of your vintage needs and wants!

Check out: Vintage denim and jackets.

Stop #3: STOP AND SMELL The magnolias at the San Francisco Botanical Garden

Address: 1199 Ninth Ave.

Price: Free for SF residents!

Hours: Every day, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Following your shopping spree, walk, drive or bus toward Fulton Street and head into Golden Gate Park. A must-see in San Francisco are the magnolia trees in the San Francisco Botanical Garden. The beautiful pink, white and purple flowers bloom from January through March, making this month an ideal time to go see one of the “most significant conservation collection(s) of magnolias in the United States,” according to the Botanical Garden’s website.

The history of these trees in San Francisco goes back to 1940, when the newly opened San Francisco Botanical Garden displayed exotic cup and saucer magnolias, the first of their kind in the United States.

Today, “the Garden is now home to more than 200 magnolias – many rare and historic. The Garden’s current collection includes 63 species and 49 cultivars,” according to its website.

Admission into the Botanical Garden is free for all San Francisco residents, veterans and Museums For All/EBT participants with valid I.D. No special tickets are required.

For more information, visit gggp.org/magnolias.

Stop #4: SIP AND CHAT at Kitchen Istanbul

Address: 349 Clement St.

Price: $$

Hours: Open 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m., every day of the week but Tuesday

After walking among the trees and flowers, drive or catch the 44-O’Shaughnessy bus and head back into the Inner Richmond for a glass of wine and appetizers. Kitchen Istanbul, a cozy-yet-chic Turkish restaurant renowned for its exceptional wine menu, has established itself as a beloved gem in San Francisco’s Richmond District, and for good reason. With its inviting atmosphere, the restaurant offers a warm, welcoming escape from the foggy streets outside. Founded by Emrah Kilicoglu and with a menu crafted by Chef Alican Boynak, Kitchen Istanbul provides a diverse selection of dishes that showcase the rich flavors of Turkey’s culinary landscape.

In addition to its amazing food, Kitchen Istanbul has a famous wine list, curated by Joseph DiGrigoli. After the pandemic, the once sleepy restaurant transformed into one of the City’s hottest spots for wine. The extensive wine list features wines from all over Europe, all able to be paired perfectly with the dining menu.

Try: To drink, try the ’22 Monte Dall’Ora ‘Disobbediente,’ Corvina Blend, Veneto ’16. To snack, you cannot go wrong with the Kunefe, a traditional Turkish dessert.

Stop #5: DINNER at Pearl 6101

Address: 6101 California St.

Price: $$$

Hours: Every day 5 p.m.-9:15 p.m.

Head toward the beach and end your day at Pearl 6101 for a thoughtfully crafted menu paired with an exceptional selection of drinks. With a warm, inviting atmosphere, Pearl 6101 is the ideal spot for a romantic dinner or a night out with friends. The masterminds behind this culinary delight are co-chefs Mel Lopez and Joyce Conway, whose creativity and expertise shine through in every dish.

At Pearl 6101, there is something for everyone. If you’re vegetarian, pescetarian, gluten-free or ‘gluten-ful,’ there is something here for you. Some highlights on the menu include the oysters with an amazing mignonette, the chicory Caesar salad, the handkerchief pasta and the grilled hanger steak. Save room for dessert, because all of those are amazing too.

Try: The oysters and the handkerchief pasta.

Su Yardimci is a San Francisco enthusiast who has turned her childhood dream into reality. After moving to the Bay Area for college, she’s been sharing her love for the city through film photography and neighborhood guides, reaching thousands on TikTok and Instagram as @andeverything__nice.