San Francisco Bay Area: Holiday Gifts That Keep On Giving

San Francisco Bay Area: Holiday Gifts That Keep On Giving

By Emma Krasov. Photography by Yuri Krasov

Exploring the San Francisco Bay Area during the holiday season offers a festive escape from chilly, snowy “other” regions to cheerful and sunny California! Why do we call it a perfect winter holiday destination? Because the weather is mild, the wine and food are the best of the best, and your celebration can be as big or as intimate as you want—our seasonal charm knows no limits. Here’s a brief guide to your winter fun, based on some magical pre-holiday events in San Francisco and beyond.

The Fairmont San Francisco

Prominently situated atop Nob Hill, The Fairmont San Francisco is a historic hotel, famous for its grand architecture, artful interior design, panoramic views of the city and San Francisco Bay, and a long list of holiday happenings. As a leader of the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts—a renowned luxury brand with properties in major U.S. cities, like Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Diego, Santa Monica, Scottsdale, Sonoma, Washington D.C., and a few in the islands of Hawai’i—the flagship San Francisco hotel recently hosted Fairmont representatives from various U.S. locations in advance of the holiday season. While every single Fairmont hotel and tropical resort provides some of the best accommodations in the nation, the most elegant surroundings, excellent service, and all the trimmings of an unforgettable stay, the Fairmont San Francisco has one special feature, unique to this location—the Penthouse Suite!

“Join the ranks of kings, rock stars and presidents who’ve taken up residence in the hotel’s dazzling crown jewel,” invites the hotel’s website. “Stage a lavish wedding atop San Francisco or throw a party for 100 honored guests.” Created in the 1920s, and featured on the National Register of Historic Places, the 6,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite becomes a fairy tale private castle for its lucky tenants. The most striking dark blue dome ceiling decorated with an original gold leaf celestial map extends overhead above the two-story library. An open Italianate terrace with a babbling fountain and potted flowers is a great vantage point to observe the city’s downtown and the bay. Custom furnishings, mirrors, ornate fireplaces, and original artwork adorn the three bedrooms and the formal dining room for 30 guests, decorated in Art Deco style.

To your service, there’s a full commercial kitchen, billiard room and a grand piano. Spread out upon the entire eights floor of the Main Building, the suite accommodates six overnight guests with one King bed in master bedroom, one King bed in guestroom 2, and one Queen bed in guestroom 3. The Fairmont San Francisco is located at 950 Mason Street, San Francisco, California. Find out more at: https://www.fairmont-san-francisco.com/accommodations/penthouse-suite/

Donato Enoteca, Redwood City

The Bay Area is known around the world for its culinary scene, and during the winter holidays, local restaurants create seasonal menus featuring holiday specialties, exquisite wines, and seasonal pastries. The Bay Area cuisine represents a mix of cultural influences, so you’ll find everything here, from traditional American fair to unique international treats.

Donato Enoteca in Redwood City is a beloved Italian cuisine restaurant, founded and operated by a celebrity chef, Donato Scotti. His ever expanding restaurant empire also includes another wonderful Italian eatery—Donato & Co in Berkeley, California, where another celebrity chef, Gianluca Guglielmi, is doing his magic on a daily basis. In anticipation of the holiday season, the two great chefs put together one of their famous endeavors—a wine lovers’ fest, Enoteca 100 Le Feste 2024, where 200 guests were able to taste and shop for hundreds of Italian wines, attractively discounted for 6-12 bottles’ sale. The long and comprehensive wine list at Enoteca 100 featured an extensive selection of Italian wines, showcasing both well-known labels and rare, boutique options.

The goal of this popular, regularly occurring event is to provide an authentic Italian wine experience to the Bay Area dwellers and guests, with a focus on quality and diversity. To complement the wines, chefs Scotti and Guglielmi—good friends and long-term colleagues—offered a variety of small plates, like antipasti, house-cured meats, imported Italian cheeses, pizzas, sliders, and other light dishes. As always, the star of the show was a whole roasted pig, and to make sure no one leaves the restaurant premises hungry, a delectable seasonal white truffle risotto was prepared inside a giant Parmigiano cheese wheel in front of the adoring crowd.

Unlike the usual dining at Donato Enoteca, which offers a more formal, sophisticated experience, a festive and crowded Enoteca 100 has a relaxed, wine bar atmosphere. A great spot for wine enthusiasts, it also offered a glimpse (and a taste) of unparalleled quality Italian wine and cuisine in a welcoming setting.

Donato Enoteca is located at 1041 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, California. Find out more at: https://www.donatoenoteca.com/.

Downtown Ice San Jose

Looking for winter holiday activities in California, besides food and wine? Downtown Ice San Jose is a popular seasonal venue for public ice skating, and a local family tradition since 1994. Downtown Ice is a result of a productive partnership between San Jose Downtown Association and Special Ice—a premier ice rink builder and supplier in the Western United States. For years, this ice arena has been the coolest family happening in Silicon Valley, so try to make it to the Downtown Ice before it closes on January 20, 2025. Another local holiday favorite in San Jose is Christmas in the Park. This event features beautiful light displays, decorated trees, and fun activities for all ages. Here you’ll find live music performances and a holiday market where you can shop for gifts. While there’s no snow, the Bay Area offers many happenings that provide a quintessential winter experience, and skating under festive lights is surely one of them! Downtown Ice San Jose is located at 120 S. Market Street in the Circle of Palms Plaza, between the San Jose Museum of Art and the Signia by Hilton Hotel. Find out more at: https://www.sjdowntownice.com/.