Toronado

San Francisco hopheads had a collective heart attack in early 2025 after Toronado founder Dave Keene announced his retirement. At the time, it seemed as though the Lower Haight beer bar famed for its gruffness and insistence on cash might be sold to a crypto bro who dangled the possibility of a “ToronadoCoin.” That deal fell apart, and now the bar responsible for introducing San Francisco to Pliny the Younger will be under new ownership in late June, helmed by Bill Lewis, a novice operator who wants to keep things much as they were. Toronado will still be all-cash, Lewis says, promising sports on TV, exceptional pilsners, and a possible food concept in the former Rosamunde sausage space next door. The overall vibe? “Comfortingly familiar,” Lewis says. “Dave got it through the first 38 years. We’ve got it for the next 40.”

The Mess Hall

Just in time for summer, the Presidio’s Tunnel Tops Park is set to get a new food option in The Mess Hall, a giant food complex that will house three restaurants, a full bar, a market, and a cafe. The options inside the 6,200-square-foot space will include Breadwinner, serving smashburgers and hoagies; Korean restaurant Boda; and Dayboat Seafood. From the market, park-goers can stock up for a picnic, selecting from an array of grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, cheeses, and breads, plus both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Located just a few steps from the park’s western lawn, the Presidio’s largest food destination will have views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city beyond. 

The DeLuxe

A huge boon for the Upper Haight’s ever-cooler nightlife scene, The DeLuxe (formerly Club DeLuxe) is set to bring live jazz back to the neighborhood seven nights a week by the end of June. Under the direction of musician (and former Club DeLuxe bartender) Christian Beaulieu and Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club owner Jay Bordeleau, the club’s new incarnation will stay true to the original’s spirit, spanning genres from blues and surf rock to indie pop and Latin beats. A bandshell-style stage and new sound system augur the return of a crucial small-sized venue, plus there’s a menu featuring 10 house cocktails, including greyhounds and the absinthe-accented Mezcal Louisiane. Haight Street has seen numerous openings in the past two years, from Irish pub O’Reilly’s to LGBTQ+ hangout Mary’s to craft-beer mecca Magnolia Brewing. But the DeLuxe will be the grandaddy of them all.

Stir Crazy

Mezcalito bar manager Jacob Morris is gearing up to open a solo project just blocks away from that long-running Polk Street cocktail lounge. It’s called Stir Crazy, and it’s going in the former Black Magic Voodoo Lounge at the corner of Lombard and Van Ness. Details are slim, but it looks to be a neighborhood-focused spot — and given Mezcalito’s practice of a different daily margarita special and Morris’ role as brand ambassador for several agave distillates, it’s probably going to be a lively one, too. 

Flour & Branch

Having started online in 2020 before opening a brick-and-mortar in SoMa in 2022, Lauren Armsdorff and Walter Carrera’s upscale bakery Flour & Branch has found a new home on South Park. With the move, it’s transforming into an all-day restaurant with brunch and supper service complemented by fan favorites such as stuffed French toast and “brookies,” brownie-cookie hybrids topped with crepe crumble. Having already won plaudits from the Food Network and Forbes and repped the Bay at this year’s Super Bowl tailgate, Flour & Branch now takes a turn toward the theatrical with a dim sum dessert cart offering doughnuts, truffles, and canelés threading through the dining room every hour. Supper, meanwhile, involves melted cheese wheels and other dessert “performances.” Paris Baguette, this is not.

This story has been clarified to reflect that Toronado will relaunch in June under a new owner.

More about the authors

• Astrid Kane (they/them) aspires every day to be San Francisco’s No. 1 boom-loop booster, focusing on food and drink, culture, and LGBTQ+ issues. They live in the Mission.