Allison Speer Takes You To Her SF Haute Spots

Photo Credit: May Ramirez

Luxury brands know to call Allison Speer when they need to get their name in front of the “right” people in San Francisco. She’s the PR maven whose firm has introduced luxury brands, products and boutiques to high-end consumers in Northern California for well over a decade. Well, we’ve called upon Speer for a different reason and that’s to share with us her fave haunts — the places she goes when she’s not brilliantly organizing a haute event for a client such as Dior, Valentino or Christian Louboutin. We figure if anyone knows San Francisco it is this always stylish California girl who previously headed public relations and special events for I. Magnin [a store we still miss dearly] followed by eight years as West Coast Director of Public Relations and Special Events for Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani. Without further ado:

How long have you lived in San Francisco/the Bay Area?: Since 1991 when I graduated from UC Berkeley

Hood you call home: Presidio Heights

Best thing about your neighborhood: I can walk to everything—my hair salon, my manicurist, CPMC Hospital, Starbucks and one of my favorite restaurants Spruce.

Favorite place to go after a nighttime event you put on: Tosca, the bar is always lively and open late.

Favorite movie theater: The VOGUE Theater on Sacramento Street

Photo Credit: Kelly E. Carter

Favorite shopping area/boutiques: Fillmore Street; Curve, Betty Lin on Presidio

Favorite designer: Andrew Gn

Favorite bookstore: Books Inc. in Laurel Village

Favorite jewelry store: De Grisogono in NY on Madison Avenue, Lang Estate Jewelry

Best nail salon: Laurel Nails

Best place to get a massage: Marilyn Jaeger on Sacramento Street

Best hair salon: I go to May at Estila on Sacramento Street. I also send out of town guests and clients to Alex Chases on Geary

Favorite park: Golden Gate Park, the Tea Gardens

Photo Credit: Courtesy: The Penthouse at The Fairmont San Francisco

Best place to enjoy a view of city: The Fairmont Penthouse has an amazing view of downtown and the Golden Gate Bridge

Most romantic spot/place: Lands End Trail

Best museum: The Legion of Honor, the French Neoclassical Architecture is so spectacular.

Favorite touristy place: The Ferry Building—I love to see all the local purveyors like Cowgirl Creamery and the Gardener.

Best health club: I play tennis and work out at the California Tennis Club. The Battery has one of the best gyms in town.

Hotel you recommend to out-of-town visitors: I recommend the Battery Hotel. The rooms they are super chic and have a great courtyard and city view; or Campton Place in Union Square.

Place where you always take visitors: I take them to the Lands End Trail, Crissy Field, The Legion of Honor and the Ferry Building.

Favorite coffee house: Jane on Filmore has great coffee and baked goods.

Best bakery: Love Sweet Things at Laurel Village

Favorite weekend getaway, within driving distance: The Lodge at Pebble Beach; I love the drive and views from the Lodge.

Best place to “do lunch”: Cotogna

Best place for cocktails: Spruce Bar

Best overall restaurant: Quince and Gary Danko

Photo Credit: Courtesy Sushi Ran

Best sushi: Sushi Ran in Sausalito

Best Vietnamese: Out the Door

Best Italian: Cotogna and AI6

Best French: La Folie

Restaurant is on your must-try list: State Bird Provisions

Best doggie boutique: GEORGE!

Best dog park: Julius Kahn field and playground

Favorite place to take your dog: On the Presidio Trails

Best place to go in the city when you want to get away from it all: Crissy Field to you can just look out at the Bay and you feel instantly relaxed.