Guidebook for San Francisco
Essentials
Amazing gourmet market. Made-to-order sandwiches. Pre-made dinners. Wonderful cheese and wine selection. This is the perfect first stop before your picnic in Dolores Park.
651 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th StAmazing gourmet market. Made-to-order sandwiches. Pre-made dinners. Wonderful cheese and wine selection. This is the perfect first stop before your picnic in Dolores Park.
Everything Else
Clarion Alley
Clarion Alleyan entire block of graffiti artists' murals
SW corner of the park is the “gay beach” (also straight-friendly and has one of the best views of SF skyline). Also known as “Speedo Row”. Or hang out on “hipster hill” down toward the tennis courts
20 locals recommend
Dolores Park West Pathway
Dolores Park West PathwaySW corner of the park is the “gay beach” (also straight-friendly and has one of the best views of SF skyline). Also known as “Speedo Row”. Or hang out on “hipster hill” down toward the tennis courts
beautiful and historic theater. don't miss the sing-along nights to classics like Sound of Music and The Little Mermaid (audience participation and costumes strongly encouraged)
332 locals recommend
Castro Theatre
429 Castro Stbeautiful and historic theater. don't miss the sing-along nights to classics like Sound of Music and The Little Mermaid (audience participation and costumes strongly encouraged)
Shopping
The Pirate Store
826 Valencia Streetjust awesome. created by author and SF resident Dave Eggers
Food Scene
awesome brunch, but the wait can be extremely long. get there by 10am.
161 locals recommend
Mission Beach Cafe
awesome brunch, but the wait can be extremely long. get there by 10am.
my favorite sit-down Mexican restaurant in the Mission. Usually a 30-40 minute wait. Head across the street to hip Casanova for a drink while you wait.
69 locals recommend
Puerto Alegre
546 Valencia Stmy favorite sit-down Mexican restaurant in the Mission. Usually a 30-40 minute wait. Head across the street to hip Casanova for a drink while you wait.
great affordable quick food. very friendly owners. mediterranean, breakfast foods, burgers, wraps, etc.
17 locals recommend
Morning Due Cafe
3698 17th Stgreat affordable quick food. very friendly owners. mediterranean, breakfast foods, burgers, wraps, etc.
Bi-Rite Creamery is extremely popular (long lines). In a pinch, you can try their soft-serve window (much shorter line) or you can buy Bi-Rite ice cream in frozen pints at Bi-Rite Market.
476 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th StBi-Rite Creamery is extremely popular (long lines). In a pinch, you can try their soft-serve window (much shorter line) or you can buy Bi-Rite ice cream in frozen pints at Bi-Rite Market.
crazy good Mexican food. tends more toward the healthy/organic side.
196 locals recommend
Papalote Mexican Grill
1777 Fulton Stcrazy good Mexican food. tends more toward the healthy/organic side.
one of my favorite restaurants in SF. had a Michelin star for a few years. unpretentious, great service, solid menu.
71 locals recommend
Range
842 Valencia Streetone of my favorite restaurants in SF. had a Michelin star for a few years. unpretentious, great service, solid menu.
great restaurant. popular for late night eats. also a great choice for brunch because for some reason there is never a wait (although I think it's one of the best brunch places in SF)
282 locals recommend
Beretta
1199 Valencia Stgreat restaurant. popular for late night eats. also a great choice for brunch because for some reason there is never a wait (although I think it's one of the best brunch places in SF)
one of the most popular restaurants in the city. you can walk-in without a reservation and eat at the bar if you are willing to wait a long time and/or eat late.
768 locals recommend
Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero Stone of the most popular restaurants in the city. you can walk-in without a reservation and eat at the bar if you are willing to wait a long time and/or eat late.
coffee and restaurant. grab an outdoor seat facing the park
260 locals recommend
Precita Park Cafe & Grill
500 Precita Avenuecoffee and restaurant. grab an outdoor seat facing the park
decent, affordable eats right at the epicenter of the gayborhood. great people-watching and a dose of gay history (named after Harvey Milk)
46 locals recommend
Pauline's Pizza
260 Valencia Stdecent, affordable eats right at the epicenter of the gayborhood. great people-watching and a dose of gay history (named after Harvey Milk)
Kasa Indian Eatery
4001 18th Streally good, cheap, fast Indian food
Drinks & Nightlife
best dive bar in the Mission. best on weeknights. it gets way too crowded on weekend nights.
57 locals recommend
Lone Palm
3394 22nd Stbest dive bar in the Mission. best on weeknights. it gets way too crowded on weekend nights.
wonderful bar with handcrafted cocktails. predominantly gay, but it's definitely a mixed crowd for happy hour or during the daytime
118 locals recommend
Blackbird
2124 Market Stwonderful bar with handcrafted cocktails. predominantly gay, but it's definitely a mixed crowd for happy hour or during the daytime
Heart
1270 Valencia Streetvery cool wine bar and restaurant. gritty, arty, and eccentric, befitting the Mission.
outdoor biker bar where all types congregate on a sunny day. sit down anywhere you can find a seat at one of the picnic tables. you'll make friends with the people sitting next to you
222 locals recommend
Zeitgeist
199 Valencia Stoutdoor biker bar where all types congregate on a sunny day. sit down anywhere you can find a seat at one of the picnic tables. you'll make friends with the people sitting next to you