The Chinese answer to Eataly, Mario Batali’s tribute to Italian food in New York City, China Live is one of the biggest openings to hit San Francisco.
Located at the intersection of Chinatown and North Beach, the multi-faceted food emporium is the project of veteran restaurateur, George Chen and his partner Cindy Wong, and features a retail section; a tea and pastry café; a speakeasy; two restaurants (including a fine-dining option) and a soon-to-open rooftop destination with views of Oakland Bay Bridge and downtown San Francisco.
For those on the run, Oolong Café offers a curated list of artisanal teas, sourced directly from farmers in Taiwan and China along with quick grab ‘n go bites, but we suggest lingering in the ground floor Market Restaurant, where all sorts from dim sum and dumplings to noodles and rice bowls are served from open kitchen stations.
All designed by New York-based AvroKO, expect the design firm’s usual cultural references laced with a sense of place, like the bespoke blue and white Chinese tiles depicting images of The City by the Bay.
