If you’ve ever spent time in a North Beach café or nursed a drink at a classic San Francisco bar, chances are you’ve crossed paths—directly or on the page—with Chris Barnett. A fixture in Bay Area journalism (business, travel, saloons) for decades, Barnett has done what many only dream of: he made a living telling the stories of the cities he loves, and he’s still at it.
Known for his sharp wit, insatiable curiosity, and unmistakable voice, Barnett’s byline has appeared in just about every major publication on both sides of the Mississippi: Forbes, New York Journal of Commerce, Investors' Business Daily, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, leading inflight magazines, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Business Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Fillmore Street News and Porthole Magazine—to name only a few.
From business moguls to bartenders, taxi drivers to tech titans, Barnett has a knack for getting people talking and turning their tales into something memorable. What sets him apart isn’t just longevity—it’s his genuine affection for the people and places that give San Francisco its heartbeat.
His writing is as colorful as the city itself: playful, irreverent, and smart without taking itself too seriously. “Every person has a story,” Barnett likes to say, “and sometimes the best stories are the ones people don’t think are worth telling—until you ask the right question.” When he’s not pounding the keys, Barnett can often be found holding court in North Beach or the Marina, forever the keen observer, always with a pen (or pint) close at hand.
Friends describe him as “a classic reporter with a twinkle in his eye”—someone who’s never met a stranger and who can spin a yarn that leaves you both laughing and thinking. At a time when journalism is often in flux, Chris Barnett reminds us that good writing, like a good cocktail, never goes out of style.
"I first met Chris when I was a cub reporter at the old Hollywood Citizen News in LA back before computers. I ended up commissioning more articles to him than I can recall while I was editor of PSA Magazine, San Francisco Magazine, San Diego Magazine. He never missed a deadline and his copy was crisp and entertaining whether it was business, travel or general interest. One memorable link up was when I assigned Chris to a monthly column in PSA Magazine, an inflight popular during the 70s and 80s. It launched him into a liquid universe as the columnist for "In Search of the Great California Saloon." Despite for his boozy beat he was never one of those tipsy barstool hacks. An upstanding, well-dressed, sober, who made his old fashion (below) new fashion. Easily one of the finest generalist journalists in the business and hilarious friend. I'm so glad we're still hanging out," said Shess, who is in the photograph below with Barnett at Le Central Restaurant in San Francisco.
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| Chris Barnett, right, with long time friend and magazine editor Tom Shess at Le Central restaurant, San Francisco. Find Chris on LinkedIn. Photo: Phyllis Adkisson Shess. |
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