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Big Spender: A Guide for Breaking the Bank in the Bay Area

Most of my guides have a very thrifty skew to them. Being a freelance writer my interests tend to fall along inexpensive outdoor activities and things you can get to using public transportation. I'd like to get my aspirational on for a moment and talk about the things you can do in the Bay Area when you have money to burn. Maybe you just won the lottery, or your startup just went public or you're Richard Pryor and you need to inherit some money in a wacky way. If you want to REALLY impress someone, or just dig yourself into credit card debt you will never walk away from, this is the guide for you.

Dining

Eating Rich

Manresa Restaurant

320 Village Ln, Los Gatos, CA 95030

A beautiful Spanish/French restaurant in Los Gatos. Their menu changes constantly and they offer either a four course meal for around $95 (more if you want them to pair with wine) or a Tasting Menu that when paired with premium wines will run you $300. Per Person.

A beautiful Spanish/French restaurant in Los Gatos. Their menu changes constantly and they offer either a four course meal for around $95 (more if you want them to pair with wine) or a Tasting Menu that when paired with premium wines will run you $300. Per Person.

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Gary Danko - San Francisco Restaurant

800 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Gary Danko is an incredibly upscale restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf that offers surprisingly affordable prices: Five Courses for $96? Not on my watch. Augment you dinner with an ounce of Golden Osetra caviar. Bam, that’s an extra $125. An ounce not enough? Awesome. Get four. Now you’re cooking with gas. If you really want to show off, get deep into their wine list. The Ermitage, M. Chapoutier, Le Méal 1999 will run you $675.

Gary Danko is an incredibly upscale restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf that offers surprisingly affordable prices: Five Courses for $96? Not on my watch. Augment you dinner with an ounce of Golden Osetra caviar. Bam, that’s an extra $125. An ounce not enough? Awesome. Get four. Now you’re cooking with gas. If you really want to show off, get deep into their wine list. The Ermitage, M. Chapoutier, Le Méal 1999 will run you $675.

The Dining Room - San Francisco Restaurant

600 Stockton Street The Ritz Carlton, San Francisco, CA 94108

Classy to the extreme. They have a “Salt and Pepper” tasting menu ($110 per person) that features an assortment of unique salts and peppers augmented by an assortment of..well…meats and fishes. No joke, the menu lists KONBU SALT & TASMANIAN PEPPER and then underneath mentions “lobster, veal cheeks, morels, asparagus” They have their priorities straight.

Classy to the extreme. They have a “Salt and Pepper” tasting menu ($110 per person) that features an assortment of unique salts and peppers augmented by an assortment of..well…meats and fishes. No joke, the menu lists KONBU SALT & TASMANIAN PEPPER and then underneath mentions “lobster, veal cheeks, morels, asparagus” They have their priorities straight.

Lodging

Sleeping Rich

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

The Ritz

Hope you like golf…

Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Sure, there’s a Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco, but if you really want to get away from it all (and want a cool place to drive that fancy car you rented) you can’t beat Half Moon Bay. Splurge a little and get a room with club access so you can stop in for full meals and afternoon tea whenever you want. Get a suite for a measly $3500 a night and really enjoy the luxury.

Sure, there’s a Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco, but if you really want to get away from it all (and want a cool place to drive that fancy car you rented) you can’t beat Half Moon Bay. Splurge a little and get a room with club access so you can stop in for full meals and afternoon tea whenever you want. Get a suite for a measly $3500 a night and really enjoy the luxury.

The Huntington Hotel

1075 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Nestled on Nob Hill overlooking Huntington Park, you can’t go wrong with this San Francisco Hotel. Easy access to shopping and fun in The City, it also has a renowned spa built right in if you want to get your pamper on. Aim for a Park View room if you can and get a view of Grace Cathedral.

Nestled on Nob Hill overlooking Huntington Park, you can’t go wrong with this San Francisco Hotel. Easy access to shopping and fun in The City, it also has a renowned spa built right in if you want to get your pamper on. Aim for a Park View room if you can and get a view of Grace Cathedral.

 

Transportation

Driving in Style

A1 Nationwide Limousine Service and Ground Transportation

311 South Canal Street, South San Francisco, CA 94080

Get around in style. Let those suckers rent a limo, get yourself a classic Rolls-Royce with a chauffeur and really make a splash. At $135 an hour (plus the cost of the driver) you’ll be spending a lot of money to get around. Make sure your hotel and your restaurant are in seperate towns to get the most out of the experience.

Get around in style. Let those suckers rent a limo, get yourself a classic Rolls-Royce with a chauffeur and really make a splash. At $135 an hour (plus the cost of the driver) you’ll be spending a lot of money to get around. Make sure your hotel and your restaurant are in seperate towns to get the most out of the experience.

The 1948 Silver Wraith Rolls Royce

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Ooooh, shiny.

Specialty Car Rental

150 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

If you’d rather drive yourself, go with a nice convertible sports car. Specailty Car Rentals will let you drive a Corvette around for just $675 (plus millage) for the whole weekend. Flashy.

If you’d rather drive yourself, go with a nice convertible sports car. Specailty Car Rentals will let you drive a Corvette around for just $675 (plus millage) for the whole weekend. Flashy.

Helicopter Tour San Francisco

San Francisco Helicopter Tours

240 Redwood Highway, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Sometimes a car just isn’t going to cut it. Charter a Helicopter for nearly two grand an hour and go somewhere in style. Hope that your date hasn’t spent TOO much time on her hair.

Sometimes a car just isn’t going to cut it. Charter a Helicopter for nearly two grand an hour and go somewhere in style. Hope that your date hasn’t spent TOO much time on her hair.

Spas and Beauty

Look like a Million Bucks

Remede Spa

125 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

A Bliss Spa that has a range of skin treatments and massages. One to keep an eye on is “The Hangover Herbie” which offers a revitalizing mask, a foot massage, an oxygen spray, an oil wrap and a free smoothie over the course of 105 minutes. The Hangover Herbie is not recommended during pregnancy.

A Bliss Spa that has a range of skin treatments and massages. One to keep an eye on is “The Hangover Herbie” which offers a revitalizing mask, a foot massage, an oxygen spray, an oil wrap and a free smoothie over the course of 105 minutes. The Hangover Herbie is not recommended during pregnancy.

Burke Williams

355 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128

This fancy Santana Row locale features an assortment of massages, from relaxing Swedish to deep tissue as well as a series of signature beauty treatments. Get one of the “Day at the Spa” packages for the ultimate awesome.

This fancy Santana Row locale features an assortment of massages, from relaxing Swedish to deep tissue as well as a series of signature beauty treatments. Get one of the “Day at the Spa” packages for the ultimate awesome.

Burke Williams Spa

Birthday 4: Burke Williams spa!

Is this the key to luxury? I have no idea.

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