Summer is basically here, and with it comes a slate of exciting new restaurant openings across the Bay Area. A trio of new restaurants in the Presidio means more reasons to visit Tunnel Tops park, while an acclaimed Thai chef establishes his first U.S. restaurant in San Francisco. Meanwhile, a pizza pop-up puts down roots in the Inner Richmond, while a celebrated Russian bakery finally throws the doors open to its new location in the Mission. Here are the most anticipated restaurant and bar openings in the Bay Area this summer.
Reem’s
Opening: Early summer
Celebrated chef Reem Assil returns to Oakland with the opening of her new flagship bakery at Jack London Square. The 3,000-square-foot space will serve mostly as a production spot for her wholesale
and catering businesses, but it will also have a cafe space where visitors can pick up food. Assil told East Bay Nosh that the cafe will feature some Reem’s favorites, such as saj flatbread wraps, halawa cookies, plus dips, salads, desserts, rotating specials, and espresso drinks. 85 Webster Street, Oakland
The DeLuxe
Opening: Mid-June
Another era of jazz is coming back to Haight Street with the opening of the DeLuxe, a reborn version of Club Deluxe, which shuttered in April 2023. Former Club DeLuxe bartender Christian Beaulieu and Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club owner Jay Bordeleau are the duo behind the club’s comeback, promising to retain much of what made the 33-year-old club an original. That means plenty of bands making their way through the space — the DeLuxe won approval for live music seven nights a week, until 2 a.m., if they please — and classic cocktails, all in one spot. 1511 Haight Street, San Francisco
Oklava Cafe
Opening: July
Saluhall is down, but not out — despite a parade of businesses exiting the mid-Market food hall in the last two years, there are still some updates to come that should breathe new life into the building. Along with word that bar operator Spirited Beverage Co. is set to take over the hall’s three bars comes the news that a new cafe from the team behind modern Turkish restaurant, Turquaz, opens in July. Oklava Cafe brings with it a Turkish coffee program and pastries, like baklava and kunefe, alongside “Mediterranean-inspired” pizzas by the slice and grab-and-go salads. 945 Market Street, San Francisco
The Mess Hall
Opening: Mid-July
The Presidio and Tunnel Tops park has a new food destination entering the arena in mid-July: The Mess Hall opens inside a 6,200-square-foot space within a former U.S. Army building. The Mess Hall incorporates three restaurants, including Breadwinner, which serves burgers and sandwiches; Dayboat, a dedicated seafood spot; and Korean restaurant Boda. Included alongside those restaurants is a new cocktail bar, cafe, and marketplace for grab-and-go items. James Beard Award-winning chef Peter Serpico, formerly of Serpico and the Momofuku restaurant group, is consulting on the project. 201 Halleck Street, San Francisco
Cinderella Bakery
Opening: Late July
Cinderella Bakery established itself as one of the premier places for piroshkis, pelmenis, and honey cake, and its lengthy 73-year reign on Balboa Street shows its enduring fanbase. Owners Mike and Marika Fishman decided to open a second location, this time on 24th Street in the Mission, set inside the former La Victoria space. A Precita Eyes mural celebrating Russian and Mexican cultures, and paying homage to La Victoria, has been installed outside of the building, and visitors can expect much of what made the original a hit in the Richmond. 2937 24th Street, San Francisco
Saam
Opening: Late July
Acclaimed chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn of Bangkok’s Nusara and Michelin-starred Le Du (both of which are on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list), is set to open a new restaurant in San Francisco in late July. Tassanakajohn announced his new restaurant Saam on Instagram, and while details are scarce, he shares that the team is creating “a dining experience rooted in authenticity, craftsmanship, and hospitality—where heritage and innovation come together through bold Thai flavors.” In an Instagram post from online publication Friday Bangkok, Tassanakajohn explains that Saam “draws inspiration from the balance of spicy, sour, and salty notes” of Thai cuisine. 415 Brannan Street, San Francisco
Piedays
Opening: August
Although Jake Savas is known about town as a co-owner of Wishing Well Workshop, a print press and art supply store, his fascination with pan-style pizzas has led him in a new direction: Detroit-inspired pies. His pop-up, Piedays, is where he sells those pizzas at places like Batches Bakehouse and Tomorrows Wine, and now he’s taking his plan to the next level with a new permanent location in the Inner Richmond. For his pop-up, he’s done classics like pepperoni, of course, but there are also fun options like Yiayia Betty, a take on spanakopita made by Savas’s grandmother employing a pesto sauce with feta, ricotta, spinach, and herbs on top. Savas told Mission Local that the new shop will also include an assortment of vegetarian and vegan options alongside seasonal pizzas. 600 5th Avenue, San Francisco
Flora
Opening: Late Summer
Flora is a new all-day restaurant and bar coming to Santana Row from South Bay restaurant vets Danny Shafazand, Russ Fukushima, and Jameson Parvizad. The menu will highlight California cuisine from brunch to dinner, with late-night cocktails to wrap up the night. The restaurant design comes from San Diego-based Basile Studios, which designed a plant- and floral-filled space with a wraparound bar that weaves through the outdoor and indoor spaces of the restaurant. 355 Santana Row #1060, San Jose
