Cavallo Point Lodge

Located amidst the Golden Gate National Parks, this elegant eco-lodge sets the standard when it comes to fine food and wine in the Bay Area. The LEED Gold certified property is home to the outstanding Murray Circle restaurant and a dynamic cooking school that emphasizes seasonal cuisine, sustainable practices and local, organic ingredients. Under the direction of chef Jayne Reichert, the bright and airy country-style kitchen classroom welcomes a variety of guest chefs and vintners to share their expertise. Topics are wide in range: one night you'll learn to make lobster rolls paired with a refreshing rosé, while another you'll prepare dishes from a specialist from San Francisco's Italian Cultural Institute. Especially popular are courses that focus on holiday fare. Along with the cooking school, the lodge has a gorgeous spa, located in a pine and eucalyptus grove, and a popular organic tea bar.