Small but mighty, Little Vine punches above its weight when it comes to selection, quality, and customer service. Owned by the same folks as Russian Hill wine bar Union Larder, this retail shop boasts an encyclopedic array of bottles and fresh sandwiches to go. Cured meats, stinky cheese, and wines are all top quality.

San Francisco is a city that loves a serious sandwich, and this old-school Italian-American deli has been setting the bar since 1929. Everyone has a favorite special, from the #1 Italian Combo with salame, ham, mortadella, and provolone, to the Pat Burrell roast beef with pepper jack and peppers. The party platters of meats, sandwiches, cheeses, and deviled eggs make for crowd-pleasing picnic fare.

An 1896-founded delicatessen that’s as well-preserved as its meats, Molinari is a North Beach institution fully stocked with housemade salami plus cheese, olives, and a bounty of Italian imports. Its longstanding sandwich ordering process has changed in the pandemic, but it’s worth the wait.

This shop is cozy, but the selection is vast, and the knowledgable mongers at Cheese Plus have been at it for more than a decade. Let them stock you up with dairy, crusty bread, and wine for your next outing. Or, if you’re really on the go, grab a gourmet sandwich from their deli in the back. The Caprese is a favorite thanks to fresh mozzarella, as is the Cow Hollow, made with roast beef and double-creme brie. Plan ahead, and order online here.

Le Beau is a Nob Hill specialty market masquerading as a corner store, with a wild origin story. Locals appreciate the grocery selection while visitors to the neighborhood swear by the sandwiches. For a quick, hit-the-road breakfast, try their breakfast box: A to-go box stuffed with french toast, eggs, sausage, and potatoes.

Limoncello is an institution, known for super stacked sandwiches, gourmet Italian products, imported wines, and owner Jalal Heydari’s relationship with the store’s Pacific Heights neighborhood. The beloved sandwich shop announced plans to expand with a second shop on the corners of 24th and Bryant Streets, lucky for the Mission.

The meat case at Fatted Calf is a sight to behold, and its pates, rillettes, and beef jerky are among the finest in the game. This place is equally good for heading to the backyard to grill or heading out of town, in which case you’ll probably want their pulled pork sandwich to go.

This subterranean bodega on the border of Alamo Square offers some of the city’s best sandwiches, with an oft-changing menu of meat-stuffed monsters, like a mortadella with a haunting hot pepper chili relish and a tissue-thin-sliced soppressata with artichoke cream cheese. Lines get long at peak times, so order pickup online or stop by at off hours for a socially distanced experience.

The gigantic hoagie sandwiches at Palm City have quickly become the stuff of legend, reason number one to stop by on your way to a Golden Gate Park picnic. The second reason is their extensive selection of beer and wine to go, as well as their endless patience in making sure you grab the perfect bottle. Third is that their to-go salads come already dressed, an imperative in a picnic setting (who can even deal with those leaky plastic containers of dressing or tossing a salad with plastic utensils from inside a takeout box).

The same fine spirits that go into the drinks at the Royal Cuckoo Organ Lounge, the much-loved Mission/Bernal bar, are available for purchase at this charming store, which arrived in 2014 from the same owners. You’ll also sense the care — and eccentric sensibilities — that go into the bar in the market, from the high quality groceries they stock to the tasty grilled panini sandwiches they serve to the jazz on vinyl they typically play.

Guerra’s has been holding it down since 1954, and this classic butcher shop is now in the third generation of the family. Resist the temptation to stock up on steaks, chops, and grind while you’re there (you’re picnicking, not stocking up on perishables) and head straight to the lunch meats — or place an order at its popular sandwich counter, with pulled pork and brisket on big rolls.