Best of the Best 2024

Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations? 

At the end of 2024, I am rating the following (in order of best to worst) based on my personal experience.

Restaurants

Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. It combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent tropical setting (overlooking Maui's North Shore, near the famous Ho'okipa Beach) to create an unforgettable dining experience using only the freshest fish caught on Maui.

At the end of 2024, I am rating the following (in order of best to worst) based on my personal experience.

1. Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
2. The Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
3. Lagoon Restaurant by Jean Georges, St. Regis, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia 
4. Manresa, Los Gatos, CA (3 Michelin Stars) (closed)
5. Solbar, Calistoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
6. Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
7. Ristrot Guivol, Turin, Italy
8. La Foret, San Jose, CA (Michelin Rated)
9. Bouchon, Napa, CA & Las Vegas (Michelin Rated)
10. Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
11. Plachutta, Vienna, Austria
12. Mistu, Porto, Portugal
13. Humuhumunukunuku'apua, Maui Hawaii 
14. Solo, Portland, Maine
15. Araxi, Whistler, BC
16. Cucina Rustica, Sedona, Arizona
17. Lenda Viriato, Unhais da Serra, Portugal
18. Eataly, WTC, New York City (and Munich)
19. Tatte Bakey, Boston
    
20. La Toque Restaurant, Napa, CA

SF Bay Area Restaurants

1. The Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
2. Solbar, Calistoga, CA
3. Bouchon, Napa, CA  (Michelin Rated)
4. Foreign Cinema, San Francisco (bad neighborhood)
5. Naschmarkt, Campbell
6. ASA Restaurant, Los Gatos
7. Cote Ouest Bistro, San Francisco
   
8. Chez Philippe, Los Gatos
   
9. Napizza, San Francisco
10. Red House Cafe, Monterey
11. Sotto Mare, San Francisco
12. Passionfish, Monterey
13. Cracked & Battered, Marina, San Francisco
14. Teleferic Barcelona, Los Gatos
15. Golden Triangle, Los Gatos

SF Bay Area Coffee Shops

1. Philz, Los Gatos, CA
2. Captain + Stoker Cafe, Monterey, CA
3. Equator Coffees, San Francisco, CA
4. Blue Bottle, Los Gatos, CA
5. Coffee People, Portland, OR

SF Bay Area Bakeries

1. One65, San Francisco
2. Tartine Bakery, San Francisco
3. Bouchon, Napa
4. Arsicault Bakery, San Francisco
   
5. Schubert's Bakery, San Francisco (Cakes)
6. Fleur de Cocoa, Los Gatos
    

Dishes

• Apple Strudel: Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria 
• Bread: "Country Bread," Tartine Bakery, San Francisco, CA 
• Cakes: A tie!
• Cafe Demel, Vienna, Austria 
• Extraordinary Desserts, San Diego, CA
• Croissants: "Pistachio Croissants", Thes Comptoirs Richard, Metz, France 
• Flammkuchen: Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
• Fried Chicken & Waffles: Cracked & Battered, San Francisco, CA
• Gelato: Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, Canada
• Gnocchi: Osteria Nonna Gina, Siena, Italy 
• Opah, Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
• Pancakes: "Lemon Ricotta Pancakes," Solbar, Calistoga 
• Pastel de Nata: Pastéis de Belém
• Patisserie: Gerard Mulot Patisserie, Paris, France 
• Pizza: Vesuviana, Pizzaria D'Angeli, Naples, Italy
• Ramen: Matsumoto, Japan
• Sandwiches: Small World Sandwich Shop, Amsterdam, Netherlands 
• Sushi: Shou Tsukiji Sushi, Tokyo, Japan
• Tafelspitz: Plachutta, Vienna, Austria 
• Tapas: El Pinton, Seville, Spain 
  

Pizzeria

We have had pizza everywhere in the United States (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, etc.), France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan. So far, our favorite pizza restaurant is Pizzaria D'Angeli in Naples, Italy. We also had fantastic pizza in Japan - at Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli in Tokyo.

1. Pizzaria D'Angeli, Naples, Italy
2. Pizzeria Scugnizzo, Turin, Italy
3. Waikiki Pizza Restaurant, Bardonecchia, Italy
4. Bricks Restaurant Pizza, Turin, Italy
5. Don Kilo, Barcelona, Spain
6. Napizza, San Francisco, CA
7. Keste Pizza, Greenwich Village, New York City (Keste #1)
8. Eataly, World Trade Center, New York City ("Capricciosa" pizza)
9. Eataly Lingotto, Turin, Italy
10. Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli, Tokyo, Japan ("DLC winner" pizza)
11. Juliana's Pizza, Brooklyn, New York City (#1 Special)
12. Hearthstone in Red Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

Gelato and Ice Cream

We loved Fresco Gelateria in Sorrento and tried many exceptional gelaterias in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, and Lucca.

1. Fresco Gelateria, Sorrento, Italy
2. Gelato in Bologna, Italy (near Piazza Maggiore)
3. Gelato in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, Lucca (Italy) 
4. Fresco Sorrento Gelato, Sorrento, Italy
5. DelaCrem, Barcelona, Spain
6. Bacio di Latte, Fashion Island, Newport Beach, CA
7. Gio Gelati, San Francisco, CA
8. Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, BC 
9. Grom Gelateria, Turin, Italy
10. Grom Gelateria, New York City (also in Florence and Siena) 
11. Kamakura Gelato, Kamakura, Japan
12. Eataly, New York City (and Munich)
13. Gelateria La Romana, Turin, Italy
14. Dolce Gelato, Laguna Beach

Spas

Our favorite spa is Aquadome, in Langenfeld, Austria (near Tyrol), but we also really liked the thermal baths in San Montano in Ischia, Italy.

1. Aquadome, Langenfeld, Austria
2. San Montano Resort & Spa, Ischia, Italy
3. H2otel / Aquadome, Unhais da Serra, Portugal
4. Friedrichsbad Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany 
5. Caracalla Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany
6. Alpentherme Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Austria 
7. Miri-Miri Spa by Clarens, St. Regis, Bora-Bora 
8. Scandinave Spa, Whistler, Canada 
9. Tabacon, Costa Rica 
10. Spa LaQua, Tokyo, Japan
11. Spa World, Osaka, Japan
12. Solage, Calistoga, CA 
13. Indian Springs, Calistoga, CA 

Hotels

Our favorite hotel is St. Regis in Bora Bora, Tahiti.

1. St. Regis, Bora Bora, Tahiti, French Polynesia
2. San Montano Resort e Spa, Ischia, Italy
3. The Four Seasons, Punta Mita, Mexico
4. Nayara Springs Relais & Chateaux, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
5. Makanda by the Sea, Costa Rica
6. Torel Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
7. H2otel / Aquadome, Unhais da Serra, Portugal
8. Hotel zur Pfeffermühle, St. Anton am Alberg, Austria
9. Tabacon Thermal Spa, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
10. Hotel Davanzati, Florence, Italy

Books (all-time)

1. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
2. Night by Elie Wiesel
3. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
4. The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
5. The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer
6. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
7. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
8. 1984 by George Orwell
9. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
10. The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk
11. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
12. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
13. Shogun by James Clavell
14. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
15. Sophie's Choice by William Styron
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
17. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada

Books (2024)

1. The Incredible Life of Hubert Wilkins by Peter FitzSimons
2. The Good Shepherd by C.S. Forester
3. Kim by Rudyard Kipling
4. The Unknown Shore by Patrick O'Brian
5. The Golden Ocean by Patrick O'Brian
6. Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon
7. Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem by Carol Delaney
8. Table for Two by Amor Towles
9. My Effin' Life by Geddy Lee
10. Tears of the Giraffe (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency) by Alexander McCall Smith

Movies (all-time)

1. The Godfather (1972)
2. Schindler's List (1993)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Gone with the Wind (1939)
5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
6. Dead Poet's Society (1989)
7. High Noon (1952)
8. 12 Angry Men (1957)
9. The Lord of the Rings (2001)
10. Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
11. The Matrix (1999)
12. Sophie's Choice (1982)
13. Goodfellas (1990)
14. Amadeus (1984)
15. Aliens (1986)
16. All Quiet on the Western Front (1939)
17. Good Morning Vietnam! (1987)
18. Modern Times (1936)
19. Das Boot (1981)
20. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
21. The Godfather, Part II (1974)
22. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
23. Unforgiven (1992)
24. Point Break (1991)
25. Double Indemnity (1944)
26. Some Like It Hot (1959)
27. Scarface (1983)
28. Judgment at Nurenburg (1961)
29. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
30. Seven Samurai (1954)
31. Groundhog Day (1993)
32. Before Sunrise (1995)

Miniseries (all-time)

1. The Winds of War (1983)
2. War and Remembrance  (1988)
3. Band of Brothers (2001)
4. The Pacific
5. Pride & Prejudice (1995)
6. Shogun (1980)
7. Masada (1981)
8. The Thorn Birds (1983)
9. North & South (2004)
10. Black Mirror (2011)
11. Shogun (2023)

Rock Concerts

My favorite rock concert was Elton John's Made in England Tour at Tacoma Dome. It was my first Rock concert and a truly fantastic experience. I have been to his other concerts, i.e., the Red Piano in Las Vegas, but they had a different atmosphere and intensity.

1. Elton John's Made in England Tour, Tacoma Dome, Washington on 9/9/1995 
2. Leonard Cohen, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 11/7/2012. 
3. The History of the Eagles, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 1/29/2013 
4. Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road SAP Center, San Jose, 10/19/2018
5. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Harrah's Hotel and Casino, 5/30/2015 
6. Carlos Santana, Shoreline Amphitheater, 2002
7. Elton John's Million Dollar Piano, The Colosseum, Las Vegas, 10/13/2011
8. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Uptown Theatre, Napa, 2/23/2019
9. Postmodern Jukebox, The Warfield, San Francisco, 12/13/2015 
   
10. The Gipsy Kings, Mountain Winery, 8/27/2014. 
11. Lara Fabian 50, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 9/20/2019

Opera

My favorite opera is Carmen by Georges Bizet, due to the fantastic music and dramatic story. I am also partial to Puccini, especially Madame Butterfly.

1. Carmen, Houston Grand Opera
2. Madame Butterfly, Houston Grand Opera, 1993
3. Marriage of Figaro, San Francisco Opera, 6/21/15
4. Barber of Seville, San Francisco Opera, 11/23/13
5. La Traviata, Houston Grand Opera
6. Don Giovanni, San Francisco Opera
7. La Boheme, San Francisco Opera,  11/22/14
8. The Magic Flute, San Francisco Opera
9. Lucia di Lammermoor, Houston Grand Opera
10. Elektra, Houston Grand Opera
11. Salome, Houston Grand Opera

Musical Theater

My favorite musical is Chicago (most recently seen at Ambassador Theater on Broadway), but I am a massive fan of Kander & Ebb musicals (which also include Cabaret, Liza with a Z, and Fosse). I also like most Cole Porter musicals (Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate!) and George Gershwin (Crazy for You).

1. Chicago, Ambassador Theater, Broadway, New York City 12/18/2016, 9/25/2018
2. Fiddler on the Roof, Broadway Theater, New York City, 12/23/2016 
3. Cabaret, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
4. Anything Goes, Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco, 1/19/2013 
5. Grease, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
6. Monty Python's Spamalot, Orpheum, San Francisco 
7. My Fair Lady, Vivian Beaumont Theater, New York City, 9/22/2018
8. Kiss Me, Kate!, Orpheum, San Francisco 
9. Saturday Night Fever, Orpheum, San Francisco 
10. 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, 7/15/2017
11. Mary Poppins, Orpheum, San Francisco, 5/12/2013 
12. The Book of Mormon, San Francisco, 1/7/2014 
13. Showboat, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 6/13/2014 
14. Aladdin, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 4/17/19
15. Mamma Mia, Orpheum, San Francisco
16. Phantom of the Opera, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/21/2015
17. Cats, Neil Simon Theater, New York City, 12/24/2016 
18. The Lion King, Orpheum, San Francisco
19. Les Miserables, Orpheum, San Francisco
20. Avenue Q, New World Stages, New York City, 9/24/2018
21. Hello Dolly!, Orpheum, San Francisco
22. Mathilda, Orpheum, San Francisco, 7/23/2015
23. Wicked!, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 8/31/2019
24. Fosse, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
25. Hamilton, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/17/2019
26. Miss Saigon, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 11/15/2019
27. Evita, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
28. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
29. Annie, Portland, Oregon

Theater (Drama & Comedy)

I am incredibly partial to William Shakespeare's dramas, especially Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Having seen them long ago, I have yet to be exposed to more recent productions.

1. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 11/20/2019
2. Emma, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 12/4/2015 
3. Les Liaisons Dangereuses, New York City, 12/22/2016 
4. Disgraced, Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, 12/12/2015 
5. Cyrano, TheatreWorks, Mountain View, 4/24/2016 
6. Outside Mullingar, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 10/7/2016 
7. The Hard Problem, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 10/19/2016 
8. Daddy Longs Legs, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto, 12/3/2016 
9. Oleanna, Houston, 1992

Hiking Trails

Half-Dome was the longest, most challenging hike I have done. It has fantastic overlooks of Yosemite Valley. However, the other hikes in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon are also excellent.

1. Half-Dome, Yosemite, CA 
2. Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point, Sedona, Arizona
3. Silver Falls State Park, Oregon 
4. Dipsea Trail, Sausalito, CA 
5. Devil's Bridge, Sedona, Arizona
6. Big Basin Redwoods, Boulder Creek, CA 
7. Sanborn County Park, CA
8. Castle Rock State Park, CA 
9. Mt. Shasta, CA 
10. Point Lobos Natural Reserve, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 
11. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, CA 
12. Huddart County Park, Woodside, CA

Ski Resorts

My favorite place to ski and snowboard is Whistler, near Vancouver, British Columbia. Whistler usually has great snow with minimal elevation gain, excellent, inexpensive restaurants, and a tremendous youthful vibe (with many other nearby activities such as tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, & snowmobiling). It also has a fabulous Scandinave Spa! However, I also enjoy the fantastic powder at our local Mammoth Mountain.

1. St. Anton am Alberg, Austria
2. Whistler/Blackcomb, BC, Canada
3. Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, CA (best California powder)
4. Verbier, Switzerland
5. Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe, CA (best local powder)
6. Mount Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood, Oregon
7. Palisades Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
8. Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe, CA
9. Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe 
10. Mt. Bachelor, Bend, Oregon 
11. Mt. Rose, East Lake Tahoe, NV 
12. Sierra-at-Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
13. Bardonecchia, Turin, Italy (most delicious food of any resort)
14. Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe, CA (closest resort) 

Mountain Biking Trails

1. Soquel Demo Forest, Santa Cruz, CA
2. John Nicholas Trail, Los Gatos, CA
3. Almaden Quicksilver County Park, San Jose, CA
4. Saratoga Gap & Long Ridge, Saratoga, CA
5. Santa Teresa County Park, San Jose, CA
6. Joseph D. Grant County Park
7. Limekiln Trail, Los Gatos, CA
8. Monte Bello OSP
9. Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA

Off-Road Motorcycling Trails

My favorite place to ride off-road dirt bikes is in Hollister SVRA. I have taken classes with Brian Garrahan and have ridden multiple 4-stroke and 2-stroke motorcycles.

1. Hollister Hills SVRA, Hollister, CA
2. Carnegie SVRA, Tracy, CA
3. Metcalf, San Jose, CA

Windsurfing/Wing Foiling Spots

My all-time favorite place for windsurfing is Spreckelsville Beach on the northern shore of Maui. However, I also enjoyed windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge ("The Gorge" near Hood River, Oregon) at Sherman Island in Rio Vista, Coyote Point in San Mateo, and Crissy Field in San Francisco.

1. Spreckelsville, Maui, Hawaii
2. Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
3. Crissy Field, San Francisco, California
4. Sherman Island, Rio Vista, California
   
5. Coyote Point, San Francisco, California
6. Swell City, Hood River, Oregon
7. Rowena, Hood River, Oregon
8. Event Site, Hood River, Oregon
9. 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA
10. Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz, California

Surfing Spots

1. Trestles, San Clemente, CA
2. Ala Moana State Park, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
3. Rockpile Beach, Laguna Beach, CA
4. Huntington Beach, CA
5. Surfer's Point at Seaside Park, Ventura
6. "The Hook", Capitola
7. Newport Beach Pier
8. Dolores Beach, Laniakea Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
9. Pismo Beach Pier, Pismo Beach, CA
10. Pleasure Point, Capitola (great beginners spot)
11. Steamer Lane, Capitola (experts only)
12. San Clemente Pier, CA
13. Manresa State Beach, Capitola
14. Kalapaki Beach, Kauai (for SUP surfing)