Mattina

Mattina is an all-day cafe and restaurant in Lower Pacific Heights by the SPQR people—and while the glossy, minimalist spot is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we like it best in the morning when you more casually order at the counter. Their pastries and baked goods are the stars: think flawless cookies, buttery yet light biscuit sandwiches, and black garlic scones, best enjoyed with a candy cap latte in the naturally lit space. At lunch and dinner, Mattina becomes a nicer-than-average sit-down spot—the food is perfectly nice but lacks pizzazz. The dishes change seasonally, but expect things like a brick-oven branzino and bucatini with arugula pesto.

photo credit: Stephanie Amberg