Grabbing lunch from Off the Grid at Salesforce? Make a day of your trip by exploring the parks, gardens, museums, and cafes in the neighborhood. Whether you want to stroll in a park above the city or learn more about African culture in a museum, we’ve got you covered. Make sure to also check out our guide on What to Do Near Levi’s Plaza.
Where to Eat
Join Off the Grid at Salesforce from 11-2pm from Monday to Friday. We bring new creators every day, so you’re always in for an exciting treat. Take a gondola ride and enjoy your meal at the park. See our daily Salesforce Plaza lineup here.
The Bird isn’t just the best fried chicken in the area, we’d argue it’s some of the best in the city. Their fried chicken sandwich is crispy, juicy, and aromatic. What really sets them apart is that they bake their buns daily and use a slaw that contains celery and thinly sliced apple. Leave room for dessert because their apple fritters are a must-try item.
Yank Sing is a historic dim sum restaurant that opened back in 1958. Although they’ve been around for a while, their menu offers both contemporary and traditional dishes. Their dumplings are filled with snow pea shoots, scallops, and Kurobuta pork. We love their mouth-numbing Szechuan chicken paired with gai lan tossed in oyster sauce. Finish off your meal with a round of egg tarts for the table.
Akiko’s was San Francisco’s first omakase restaurant. If you’re looking for a fancy nine-course meal, this is the place for you. The tasting menu highlights dry-aged fish and sushi. The menu changes with the season, but expect to find unique creations like a wagyu dumpling filled with parmesan; shokupan topped with caviar; and chawanmushi.
What to Do
Salesforce Transit Center Park has arguably the best views of the city. Catch a ride on the one-way gondola up to the rooftop park where you can enjoy your lunch. It’s a 5.4-acre rooftop park with a bamboo grove, glass floor, and walking trail. You can also book a tour to check out the Ohana Floor’s viewing deck on the 61st floor.
Yerba Buena Gardens is a short walk from Salesforce and another great option to sit down for lunch. There’s plenty of green space to set up a picnic, and it’s a community space that’s alive with activities in the garden and fun zone. There’s also a collection of public art scattered throughout the park.
The Museum of the African Diaspora is a perfect place for a stroll after lunch. We love that the museum has an emerging artists program to showcase visual artists through unique exhibitions. Our favorite work of art here is the three-story mural composed of 2,100 images to create the face of a child. The first floor gallery features a new installation of sixteen interior spaces put together by contemporary designers.
101 2nd Street is a privately-owned public space that’s ideal for sitting down to do work or enjoy a meal. The space is adorned with contemporary art and indoor trees. There’s plenty of seating and the large windows let in plenty of sunlight.
555 California Street is another privately-owned public space, this time it’s an urban garden with six large wooden planters, olive trees, and bamboo. This spot is great for cozying up with a book on the teak benches or enjoying lunch by the massive black granite sculpture.
Where to Drink
Andytown is a can’t miss stop for coffee lovers. The shop roasts their own coffee beans and serves up traditional drinks as well as unique creations. Their signature drink is known as The Original Bird which is an espresso cream soda made with coffee, sparkling water, brown sugar syrup, and freshly made whipped cream. We recommend trying the match variation which swaps the espresso for matcha powder.
Blue Bottle is one of the best coffee chains around. You won’t find overly sweet coffee here, it’s a more calculated coffee shop that allows their meticulously selected and roasted beans to shine. This winter season, they’ve added a New Orleans-style iced coffee with roasted chicory and cane sugar. Go for the iced winter NOLA which adds chocolate ganache and mint for a quintessential holiday drink.
83 Proof is one of the closest bars to Salesforce and is a cozy spot to enjoy specialty cocktails. It’s open from 2pm-2am, so it’s a solid option whether you’re starting your day or ending your night. They’re always featuring new drinks, so make sure to ask for their specials. We recommend their recently upgraded espresso martini crafted with coconut vodka, nutty Bacardi, and a tequila reposada with notes of caramel.
