From great shopping to a mansion with views, Burlingame continues to evolve and attract day-trippers.
Kohl Mansion hosts special events and weddings throughout the year.
Located 16 miles south of San Francisco and a stone’s throw from SFO, Burlingame beautifully balances the energetic, skies-the-limit ethos of the Bay Area with idyllic, picturesque town charm. In addition to being an extraordinary place to live, it has become a dining and shopping destination. Residential neighborhoods have a utopian vibe, with historic homes beside modern remodels. Dubbed Tree City USA, leafy, tree-lined streets add to the endless curb appeal of the community.
An emphasis on philanthropy is central to residents and businesses that call Burlingame home. Some of the most successful fundraisers outside of San Francisco occur in the mansions that adorn hills around Burlingame, including Partners & Advocates for Remarkable Children & Adults, or PARCA (parcaauxiliary.org). The keynote fashion show and fundraiser of the impactful nonprofit has been a beloved annual event for more than 30 years.
Water sports are one of the hottest pastimes in Burlingame.
WHERE TO SHOP
The streets of downtown Burlingame offer European charm, world-class dining and a shopper’s paradise. Best spots? Burlingame Avenue from California Drive to El Camino Real. The lively area, with hundreds of locally-owned shops and restaurants, is home to many indie boutiques, including Les Deaux Copines (lesdeuxcopines.com) and Unseen (shopunseenclothing.com). The area’s side streets include small shopping emporiums and independent boutiques.
Gourmands love the authentic Peruvian fare at Limón.
Top of the list for luxury men’s and women’s retailers is Sam Malouf Authentic Luxury (sammalouf.com). The open, modern and inviting space provides a high-end shopping experience. Whether sourcing the perfect look for a special event or outfitting a closet brimming with couture, this boutique is the go-to spot. The family-founded shop offers a rich heritage of tailoring expertise, design sensibility and styling guidance.
For more than 100 years, Studio Shop Gallery (studioshopgallery.com) has connected artists with collectors. Look for art consultation, collection management, framing and installation. A new exhibit, Heaven and Earth (through Oct. 7), features landscapes and tells a compelling story of how nature and the human soul intersect.
Looks from Y Project at Sam Malouf Authentic Luxury
Home furnishing store Arhaus (arhaus.com) has one of its two The Arhaus Studios in Burlingame. This design center provides a high level of service to shoppers who can envision their dream room designs with hundreds of swatches and 3D room-planning technology.
Farm-to-table fans rejoice at Burlingame Fresh Market (burlingamechamber.org), the year-round farmers market in the downtown corridor. Held Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the market lures city dwellers for a day of sunshine and artisan products. An evening market is held from May through October on Thursday evenings. It’s a great night with live music and entertainment for all ages.
Dries van Noten at Sam Malouf
WHERE TO DINE
Pizzeria Delfina (pizzeriadelfina.com), which began as a dream project of James Beard Award-recipients Craig and Annie Stoll, has a bustling location in downtown Burlingame. A draw for families and date nights, the Neapolitan-inspired pizza from a wood-fired oven is creative and consistently incredible. Look for seasonal sides, fresh salads and a dessert menu with incredible soft-serve ice cream.
White Lady from Taste Catering
Burlingame is also home to the local culinary powerhouse Taste Catering (tastecatering.com). As the first major caterer in the Bay Area to become green-certified by the San Francisco Department of the Environment, Taste Catering continues to define luxury catering with the highest quality food and cocktails. The women-owned luxury event business is the preferred caterer for San Francisco’s premier venues.
Peruvian restaurant Limón (limonrestaurants.com) showcases spectacular ceviche, rotisserie chicken and other traditional Peruvian fare. The brothers-owned restaurant boasts three locations throughout the Bay Area. With Martin Castillo serving as the executive chef and Antonio and Eduardo Castillo handling operations, these restaurants proudly showcase the cooking style of their mother, Luz.
Salmon from Taste Catering
After many successful years of sourcing live Maine lobster for restaurants from Napa Valley to Monterey, New England Lobster (newenglandlobster.net) finally opened a retail seafood market and New England-style eatery. Live Maine lobsters are flown in daily, and the brick-and-mortar shop has expanded its menu to include local seafood. Dungeness crab plates, rolls, salads, soups and a friendly staff make the restaurant and market a must-visit.
WHAT TO DO
Adventure seekers take advantage of Burlingame’s location—between rolling hills and dramatic bay coastline—for kite- and windsurfing. Newcomers and seasoned kitesurfers rely on Wind over Water (wowkiteboarding.com) sports for lessons and gear.
The team at Studio Shop Gallery offers consultation, collection management, framing and installation.
Boogie by the Bay (boogiebythebay.com, Oct. 5-7) invites all jazz and dance fans to San Francisco’s premier swing dance event. Top DJ, dance workshops, competitions and a red carpet event and dinner offer activities for all levels of dancers and spectators.
Studio Shop Gallery
Kohl Mansion (kohlmansion.com) is a place of honor within the community and the topography. Breathtaking views of the Bay and the hills are just the beginning of what this historic home offers. Built in 1914, Kohl Mansion is a four-story, Tudor-style home built for celebrations. The mansion was the site of lavish parties for San Francisco’s elite when it was a private residence. Nowadays, the local landmark hosts weddings and other special events throughout the year.
Photography by: COURTESY OF BRANDS; STUDIO SHOP GALLERY PHOTOS BY ERIC STEVEN PEREZ
