Two Sisters Bar and Books
When sisters Mary and Mikha Diaz returned from their grand European tour, they missed the intellectual culture of the cafes and salons. The result: Two Sisters Bars and Books, serving a seasonal menu of wine and comfort foods like bread pudding, braised short ribs, and grilled cheese. Amid the vintage parlor and library furnishings, it’s easy to imagine yourself in a 19th century novel, where you are the heroine scorning (at first) and then accepting the advances of your Mr. Darcy. And like Jane Austen's novels, a visit may even end in marriage. Since the sisters opened for business in the spring of 2011, three of their regular couples have gotten engaged and one more has gotten married. Nuzzle up to your guy in the table furthest in the back or the front window seat, and get ready to be courted.
579 Hayes Street (near Laguna Street); 415-863-3655.

Photographed by Anna-Alexia Basile