From winners like SF-based drag queen Nicki Jizz to the “Showtime” mural outside of Oasis nightclub, this year’s queer nominees came out shining ahead.
Well… it’s been — rather: was — a year. We saw the emergence of another pathological threat, MPX (monkeypox), be successfully thwarted before it became uncontainable. Optimism around San Francisco’s downtown ebbed and flowed in degrees of uncertainty; it’s become incredibly unclear what that bright future will be… without repurposing empty offices into habitable domiciles. It’s been a year underscored by impeccable highs and demolishing lows — and, as of most recent, epic floods.
2022 was the closest to a somewhat normal calendar year we’ve had since the Covid-19 pandemic was announced in March 2020, with rising rents and all. The past year was also made better by our beloved local bipeds, bars, eateries, nonprofits, and so many more touchstones that we found stability in through the prior 52 weeks.
Y’all spoke — all 179 of you, in fact — and voted on your favorites this past year. And, proverbial drum roll please: We’re happy to announce our winners for Underscore_SF’s Best of Awards for 2022 today, as both a celebration of the past year’s peaks and a reminder of why this city remains such a magical place to call home (or spend any amount of time in) coming into 2023.
Here are your winners and runner-ups, below:
Best Takeout in San Francisco
Winner: La Taqueria
Runner-Up: Mission Chinese
Best Parklet in San Francisco
Winner: Santeria
Runner-Up: The Page
Best ‘Slow Street Corridor’ in San Francisco
Winner: The JFK Promenade
Runner-Up: Upper Great Highway
Best New San Francisco Eatery
Winner: Kaiyo (Rooftop)
Runner-Up: Wicked 6
Best Dispensary in San Francisco
Winner: Grass Roots
Runner-Up: Purple Star
Best Overall Bar in San Francisco
Winner: Twin Peaks Tavern
Runner-Up: Madrone Art Bar
Best Overal Restaurant in San Francisco
Tied Winners: Che Fico and Chao Pescao
Best Piece of SF Street Art n 2022
Winner: “Showtime” (Oasis)
Runner-Up: Whale Sculpture (JFK Promenade)
Best SF Non-profit Organization
Winner: SF CASA
Runner-Up: La Cocina
Best Local Journalist/Author in San Francisco
Winner: Heather Knight (San Francisco Chronicle)
Runner-Up: Joe Eskenazi (Mission Local)
Best Drag Performer
Winner: Nicki Jizz
Runner-Up: Juanita MORE!
Best Muni Line in San Francisco
Winner: N Judah
Runner-Up: F Market & Wharves
Best Bodega/Corner Store in San Francisco
Winner: Rhea’s
Runner-Up: Tahona Mercado
Best Book Store in San Francisco
Winner: Green Apple Books (Clement St.)
Runner-Up: Dog Eared Books (Valencia St.)
Best Coffee Shop/Cafe in San Francisco
Winner: Flywheel Coffee & Roasters
Runner-Up: Stable
Best Gym/Fitness/Yoga Studio in San Francisco
Winner: Fitness SF (The Castro)
Runner-Up: Haum Yoga (Mission District)
