Summer Happenings in San Francisco and Beyond

Summer Happenings in San Francisco and Beyond

By Emma Krasov. Photography by Yuri Krasov

In July, when millions of people in Europe are sweltering inside a persistent “heat dome,” here, in San Francisco, you’ll hardly need your sundress. A year-round cold Pacific, and a thick marine layer of refreshing fog keep us out of heat stroke danger through the dog days of summer. 

Traveling to Northern California surely looks attractive right now, but besides the temperate weather you’ll enjoy a host of entertaining venues, ready to serve your cultural and gastronomical needs.

Redwood Room After Hours: Sacha Boutros Quartet

Inside the historic San Francisco’s Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, you’ll find the famous Redwood Room, a bar and lounge, ranked high on every traveler’s list since 1933, known for its signature cocktails, upscale bar food, live music, and unparalleled style. In a romantically dark, redwood-paneled room, decorated with art-deco chandeliers, and Gustav Klimt-style paintings, created by the Austrian Secession master’s students, you’ll find cozy armchairs and tables, a huge backlit bar display of all imaginable libations, attentive service, and the most comfortable, relaxing ambiance you won’t soon forget.

These days, featured in Redwood After Dark music program is Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Sacha Boutros, nicknamed, “La Reine du Jazz.” As an internationally renowned singer and composer, cultural ambassador, producer and curator of the live jazz series, Boutros revives the classics of the Great American Songbook, and brings her world-class performances to the iconic lounge every Thursday through August 13.

“The Redwood Room has always been one of San Francisco’s great living rooms, a place where elegance, artistry, and conversation meet,” said Clift Hotel General Manager Dania Duke. “Sacha embodies the spirit of timeless nightlife and brings a level of artistry and atmosphere that perfectly aligns with the next chapter of The Redwood Room.”

A bright representative of Hear Me Roar Entertainment that “promotes women, minorities, and underrepresented voices in the arts through inclusive entertainment, bespoke cultural programming, and creative collaboration that foster diversity, empowerment, and community connection,” Boutros embodies an idea of a strong female voice of fantastic power and range, fully expressed in her repertoire and individual artistic vision.

Swing, jazz, torch songs, and Boutros’s lively exchanges with the audience are all her signature performance features that elevate an evening in a hotel bar to an exciting and sophisticated musical experience, enhanced by the Redwood Room elaborate cocktails and bites menu.

You won’t go wrong with any of the Redwood Room Selections or Royal Recipes cocktails, like Mr. Clift or Old Fashioned Still Royal as well as delicious Double Smash Burger, Tuna Tartar Tostadas, and French Fries with house seasoning. There are many more choices for snacks, small and large plates, and of course a comprehensive wine list of California and international wines, and zero proof mocktails.  

Sacha Boutros Redwood After Dark performance dates, all starting at 7:00 p.m., are:

July 16 – Glen Pearson, Ron Belcher, Leon Joyce Jr.

July  23 – Adam Schulman, Ron Belcher, Deszon Claiborne

July 30 – Dr. Tammy Hall, Ron Belcher, Leon Joyce Jr.

August 13 – John Di Martino

Another cultural program at the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel is a new monthly speaker series, Making History Fun Again, designed to honor our city’s legendary past through storytelling and unforgettable personalities. The series celebrates San Francisco’s diverse and vibrant history, connects generations through lively, accessible storytelling, showcases authors, historians, performers, and cultural icons, and invites the public into the Redwood Room for conversations that spark curiosity and imagination.

On Thursday, July 16 the featured speaker is Ben Fong-Torres with History of Rock & Roll.

Redwood Room is located in the lobby of the Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel at 495 Geary Street, San Francisco. For reservations and more information call (415) 929-2372 or go to https://www.redwoodroomsf.com/.

Mission Bay Brewery and Restaurant by San Francisco Brewing Co.

While FIFA World Cup 2026 is still in full swing, enjoy communal viewings of the most exciting soccer moments at the newest and largest location of a family-owned artisanal brewery San Francisco Brewing Co. With its legacy dating back to 1923, SFBCo was founded by Josh Leavy in 2012, and grew from a small-batch production into a super-popular craft beer destination in San Francisco’s Ghirardelli Square in 2018. The Leavy family—Josh, his wife Jennifer, and brother Aaron now expanded the operation to the city’s hip Mission Bay neighborhood, home to hi-tech and biotech companies, corporate headquarters, UCSF campus, and Chase Center sports arena—all forming a solid support base for the new kid on the block.  

“Mission Bay felt like the right next step for us,” said Leavy at the opening event. “It gives us the space to grow our production and do what we love on a larger scale, but at the end of the day, it is about having a place where people want to come back; where they can really gather, see what we do, and be a part of it. We’re excited to get more of our beer out into the world and build something that becomes a true destination for the Bay Area.”

With the opening of this new location, San Francisco Brewing Co., made famous by its Alcatraz Amber Ale, Presidio Pilsner, Fog City Hazy IPA, and Marina Blonde labels, not only increases its craft beer production, but also develops Hooper St. Distilling Co., the new endeavor to add gin, vodka, and whiskey to the company’s portfolio.

The company brew master, Justin Boehle, with a degree in viticulture and enology from California State University, and years of professional experience with well-known beer brands, oversees the new, gigantic brewing space, equipped a massive 750-gallon copper distillation apparatus, imported from Scotland.

Cocktails and Wine menu, put together under supervision of Shane McKnight, features classics, like House Smoked Black Manhattan, and a few mocktails of Non-Alcoholic Beverage section, like Ginger Tonic Mocktail in addition to the company’s signature brews.

The Food Menu is on par with the drinks program. Developed by Executive Chef Ignacio Maldonado in collaboration with restaurant consultant Brian Reccow, it lists crowd-pleasing starters like Garlic Fries with Pecorino cheese, and Al Pastor Chicken tacos, signature dishes, like SFBCo Smash Burger, various soups and salads, four kinds of Sicilian pizza, and desserts.  

Designed by King O’Kelly Architects, Mission Bay Brewery full-service restaurant has a double-level indoor dining space, and outdoor courtyard seating, plus a 26-seat bar with a license to serve liquor until 2 am daily, and a music permit to host outdoor live entertainment with DJs on weekends.

The abovementioned World Cup happenings can be seen on large TV screens from both the ground floor level tables, comfortably spaced out and large enough for group dining, and from the mezzanine event space that provides plenty of opportunities for semi-private family and corporate celebrations.

“San Francisco Brewing Co. gave us the opportunity to blur the line between production and hospitality,” said Dennis O’Kelly, Principal of King O’Kelly Architects. “From the moment guests arrive, they can see and feel the brewing process as part of the experience. The design celebrates that connection between craft, community, and place, making the energy of production visible throughout the space.”

Mission Bay Brewery is located at 100 Hooper Street, San Francisco, California. For more information, visit www.sfbrewingco.com.

EPIC Steak’s Paws for Pinot

A highly popular and meaningful annual summer event on San Francisco’s waterfront, Paws for Pinot is organized by EPIC Steak, and features an array of California pinot noir winemakers, and chefs from the best restaurants, with the proceeds benefiting Guide Dogs for the Blind.

No exception this summer, the massive pinot-and-pork festival (formerly known as High on the Hog) attracted vivacious crowds, and showcased the most prestigious wine and liquor labels, like Hartford Court, Penner Ash, En Route, Blue Farm, Flowers, Lando, Small Vines, Freeman, Brick & Mortar, Presqu’ile, Marine Layer, El Tesoro Tequila, and others, curated by Grace Newport, EPIC Steak’s Wine Director;  abundant food offerings from EPIC Steak’s Executive Chef Colton Hays and his colleagues from other great restaurants and gourmet food producers, among them Waterbar, Mersea, Perry’s, Hazie’s, Bistro 888, Ozumo, Baby Blues BBQ and Tsar Nicoulai Caviar; live music performance from The Henry Coopers, and a traditional watermelon eating contest, emceed by Liam Mayclem, Emmy Award winning radio & TV personality, “The Foodie Chap,” and the host of “Eye On The Bay” TV program.  

Using the EPIC Steak’s enviable location with an amazing view of the San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge, the event unfolds outdoors, where the Guide Dogs for the Blind representatives have an opportunity to bring along their well-trained service animals. Always popular with the festival attendees, beautiful four-legged companions add cheerfulness to the very special atmosphere of this heartwarming, charitable event.

“Headquartered in San Rafael, California, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) is the largest guide dog school in North America. It is a passionate community that prepares highly qualified guide dogs to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired to move through the world more safely and confidently. More than 16,000 guide teams have graduated from GDB since it was founded in 1942. Over the course of 80+ years, GDB’s mission has expanded to three kinds of programs: Guide Dog Mobility Program, Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Program, and K9 Buddy Program. GDB not only improves mobility for its clients, but it also furthers inclusion and advocates for policy reforms that change how the world views blindness. GDB’s services are provided free of charge, and it receives no government funding. The organization was the subject of an award-winning documentary feature called Pick of the Litter, which continues to be available on various streaming platforms. For more information, visit www.guidedogs.com, or call 800.295.4050.” 

EPIC Steak is located at 369 The Embarcadero South. For reservations call (415) 369-9955. For more information, visit www.epicsteak.com.

Asia Live at Westfield Valley Fair, Santa Clara, California

Just opened, the first in the San Francisco Bay Area location of Asia Live is nestled within Westfield Valley Fair shopping mall in Santa Clara, the geographic and industrial heart of Silicon Valley.

The founders of the newly introduced dining concept of multinational Asian cuisine prepared in open kitchens throughout the 350-seat venue, George Chen and his wife and business partner Cindy Wong-Chen, are well known and loved by the dining public. Their China Live restaurant is a centerpiece of the San Francisco’s Chinatown—the oldest and the largest Chinatown in the United States, while multiple other innovative, award-winning restaurants, created by the power couple at home and abroad, speak to their business acumen and deep dedication to culinary art.

At the new restaurant opening, an enthusiastic crowd of Asian cuisine fans had a chance to engage in food tastings ranging from Chinese Peking duck in sesame pockets to Indian Tandoori butter chicken, to offerings from Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean culinary traditions.  

“Asia Live is the next natural step in our journey,” said Chen, founder, CEO and executive chef of Asia Live at the venue opening. “The intention is to respectfully showcase Asia’s hospitality and diverse culinary and design traditions, presenting them in a manner that resonates with contemporary international audiences.  San Francisco was our foundation and Silicon Valley gives us a new stage to share that story.”

The two-level space is lined with glass-walled kitchens, each specializing in a particular menu. Among the names of the food stations are Woks & Grills, Noodle Making & Dumplings, Charcuterie Barbeque & Tandoori, Sushi & Yakiniku, and Shaved Ice & Asian Bakery. 

Asia-inspired libations, served in three bars, offer sake, whisky, wine, beer, and tea as well as signature cocktails based on seasonal produce. Wine tastings and tea degustations are a part of beverage program.

Asia Live was developed in partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. Speaking at the opening, David Ruddick, Group Director of Strategic Relationships, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said, “We’re delighted that George and Cindy Chen are joining the tremendous restaurant and dining platform we have at Westfield Valley Fair. They have truly redefined not only the Chinese dining experience but the broader culinary scene in San Francisco, capturing the heart and imagination of food connoisseurs and everyday diners alike. The vision for the center is to create unforgettable moments for our customers that resonate through connection. At Asia Live, Chef George Chen delivers this through the creativity of his cuisine and the curation of a world-class bar and cocktail experience. This is a much-anticipated opening for our community that will complement our continued dining evolution.”

Besides the spacious dine-in area, the new eatery introduces Asia Live on the Go concept with a grab-and-go counter, featuring the most popular dishes.

The founding spouses put a lot of thought and inspiration into the design of the new space. Antique and semi-antique artifacts abound throughout the restaurant, with many decorative elements coming from Asian countries for an authentic and original display.

Both George Chen and Cindy Wong-Chen spoke at the opening as well as multiple local dignitaries and participants in the grand project—all speeches preceded by a festive lion dance.

“It is a passion of mine to search for beautiful things from all around the world, and it brings me so much joy to be able to share those special items with our customers,” said Wong-Chen. “Whether you want to add Asian ingredients to your pantry, detailed dishware to your table, or find the perfect gift, our retail program will offer that and so much more to inspire you to explore Asian culture.”

“With Asia Live opening, Westfield Valley Fair’s Asian Food Collection is more expansive than ever before,” said Sue Newson, Senior General Manager at Westfield Valley Fair. “Bay Area residents visit Westfield Valley Fair to not only shop, but to discover and enjoy unique flavors from around the world, and Asia Live’s innovative culinary concept delivers just that.”

Asia Live is located at 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd #1891, Santa Clara, California. For more information and reservations, call (408) 889-7774 or visit www.asialivesv.com.