Can you believe Outside Lands returns August 5th-7th? After taking last year off, my first ever (Miss Rona was headlining in the Heineken tent, kidding), I’m really looking forward to heading back into the foggy fray (my personal lineup includes Washed Out, SZA, Disclosure, Kim Petras, Franc Moody, Purple Disco Machine, Lido Pimienta, and Pussy Riot!). Of course, Outside Lands is known for having the best food and drink lineup of any festival I have ever attended, and this year includes 91 Bay Area restaurants and 300-plus items, the most ever to date! Nearly all 91 vendors offer a gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian option. There will also be 35 Napa and Sonoma wineries and brews from 30 northern California breweries—did someone say bubbles and oysters in the Courtyard? Mommenpop aperitifs? Cocktail Magic will also be in effect.
There are 18 new businesses joining the festival for the first time, including The Bussdown, Wahpepah’s Kitchen, El Chino Grande, Fowl + Fare (serving their bomb fried chicken sandwiches), Daytrip (with pork butt Parker House buns), alaMar Kitchen & Bar (braised oxtail or jerk chicken nachos), Jo’s Modern Thai (drunken Thai noodles, pork laab burgers, famous party wings, yessss), Trick Dog’s Quik Dog, and Fish-GO-Tec (a take on fish and chips) by Lord Stanley.
Returning faves include Abacá, El Garage, Merkado, Media Noche, Peaches Patties, Shawarmaji, Son’s Addition (with their chorizo dirty fries), The Lumpia Company (um, bacon cheeseburger lumpia!), and The William Tell House (lobster-loaded tots!).
I’m most excited to see there’s a La Cocina Incubator booth making its first appearance at Outside Lands, hosting a different entrepreneur each day of the festival: MexiQ with smoked chicken sandwiches on Friday, Origen with tlayudas Oaxacan on Saturday, and Noodle Girl with blue pea flower rice noodle bowls on Sunday.
If you’re one of those people who minted money during the pandemic, you’ll want to consider the Golden Gate Club, with an ultra-luxe festival experience (as in much more than VIP) designed by Ken Fulk, featuring bites from chefs Nancy Oakes and Dana Younkin of Boulevard Restaurant and Ravi Kapur (Good Good Culture Club and Liholiho Yacht Club), with more to be announced.
Look forward to seeing you out there!
Whoa, was there something in my beer? Nope, Outside Lands always delivers on the trippy lights! Photo: Tom Tomkinson.
