Will Cat Bars and Flower Markets Save San Francisco in 2025?
Mimi, one of the owner’s cats at Lost Cat in Lower Nob Hill
As I wrapped up 2024 and reflected on all the content I created about life in San Francisco, two of my standout videos in December weren’t about the most fun things to do in SF during Christmas or the newest coffee shops to visit in 2025. Instead, they were about cat bars and flower markets .
San Francisco in 2024 was an exciting year full of new recurring public music events, restaurants, cafes, and parks. But of all the videos I posted on Instagram and TikTok, my first video about Lost Cat in Lower Nob Hill was my most viral video , racking up over 3 million views and hundreds of thousands of shares and saves. I’ve never had so many people repost a video to their stories, saying things like:
“Who wants to visit San Francisco with me and check out this cat bar?”
That said, the video’s virality did bring some unintended consequences. It sparked concerns about the health and safety of the bar, ultimately leading to a temporary absence of the cats until they confirmed they complied with all the standards. So don’t worry—they’re fully up to the health codes, and the cats are happily roaming in their new enclosure. If you’re bar hopping in Lower Nob Hill, definitely end here for some late night bites before heading home.
As for flower markets, I’ve always been a huge fan of making bouquets for birthdays, and it’s become quite a fun hobby of mine. I used to source flowers at grocery stores or farmers' markets, then go home to arrange them, wrap them in floral paper, and tie them with twine. So you can imagine my FOMO when I heard the San Francisco Flower Market had closed its Brennan Street location before I ever got the chance to visit.
However, when I learned they were reopening in January, I made sure to attend their soft opening. Walking through the new warehouse, I was surrounded by the scent of fresh flowers, and I left with a stunning orange orchid at a great price. Of course, I had to make a video about the experience—and it gained 100K views in less than a day on both Instagram and TikTok (surprisingly, the TikTok post carousel performed even better than the TikTok video ).
Soft opening of the San Francisco Flower Market’s new location
The San Francisco Flower Market is actually the largest wholesale flower market in Northern California. The fact that it’s just a couple of blocks from my studio in SoMa, I’m so grateful it’s here. And for anyone visiting, they do have a huge paid parking garage that’s easy to park at.
So, will cat bars and flower markets actually save San Francisco in 2025?
The short answer: no. But you can’t deny they bring much-needed positive attention to the city. In a time when the more light we can shine on San Francisco, the better, these small joys matter. If cat bars and flower markets can disrupt the constant stream of “doom and gloom” that tarnishes the city’s image, then why not support them? You’ll definitely find me back at these spots very soon.
