Rob’s guidebook
Nearby Favorite Restaurants
Only 1.5 blocks away, this friendly local spot will welcome you to sit at the bar and be social or have a meal in the dining area. For food, beer or a cocktail: Social Kitchen and Brewery is the only brewpub in the Inner Sunset. Whether you’ve already discovered your go to brew, looking to explore something unique, or fine tuning your palette, Social is the place to expand your knowledge and taste for craft style beers. They also believe that craft beers play a central role in the kitchen and are passionate about using their brews in recipes as well as pairing it with items on our menu.
46 locals recommend
Social Kitchen & Brewery
1326 9th AveOnly 1.5 blocks away, this friendly local spot will welcome you to sit at the bar and be social or have a meal in the dining area. For food, beer or a cocktail: Social Kitchen and Brewery is the only brewpub in the Inner Sunset. Whether you’ve already discovered your go to brew, looking to explore something unique, or fine tuning your palette, Social is the place to expand your knowledge and taste for craft style beers. They also believe that craft beers play a central role in the kitchen and are passionate about using their brews in recipes as well as pairing it with items on our menu.
Only 2 blocks away, this local spot is family friendly, has good food, and a friendly bar area.
111 locals recommend
Pacific Catch
1200 9th AveOnly 2 blocks away, this local spot is family friendly, has good food, and a friendly bar area.
A 15 minute walk, or hop on the streetcar; this true locals spot is located in the center of the Cole Valley Neighborhood and is a great place to meet friends and get a burger.
50 locals recommend
Kezar Bar & Restaurant
900 Cole StA 15 minute walk, or hop on the streetcar; this true locals spot is located in the center of the Cole Valley Neighborhood and is a great place to meet friends and get a burger.
Only 1 block away, considered by many to be one of the top sushi restaurants in the Bay Area. Unless you come on a sunny afternoon when everybody else is at the park, the atmosphere is guaranteed to be frenetic and the wait strenuous. Most patrons wax poetic about Ebisu's aquatic concoctions.
101 locals recommend
Ebisu Restaurant
1283 9th AveOnly 1 block away, considered by many to be one of the top sushi restaurants in the Bay Area. Unless you come on a sunny afternoon when everybody else is at the park, the atmosphere is guaranteed to be frenetic and the wait strenuous. Most patrons wax poetic about Ebisu's aquatic concoctions.
Only 2 blocks away, this Korean restaurant has friendly service, affordable prices, tasty food and a quaint SF atmosphere.
33 locals recommend
Manna
845 Irving StOnly 2 blocks away, this Korean restaurant has friendly service, affordable prices, tasty food and a quaint SF atmosphere.
Only a block away, this tiny, old-school, no frills diner has a Korean twist. Famous for their Hashbrown Sandwich. This is the type of neighborhood gem nobody wants to lose to gentrification. Locals wait in line to sit at the long counter, tuck into American breakfasts or Korean barbecue, and survey the postcards customers have sent from their travels around the world. 747 Irving St. (between 8th and 9th Avenue), (415) 665-7440.
31 locals recommend
Art's Cafe
747 Irving StOnly a block away, this tiny, old-school, no frills diner has a Korean twist. Famous for their Hashbrown Sandwich. This is the type of neighborhood gem nobody wants to lose to gentrification. Locals wait in line to sit at the long counter, tuck into American breakfasts or Korean barbecue, and survey the postcards customers have sent from their travels around the world. 747 Irving St. (between 8th and 9th Avenue), (415) 665-7440.
Located on the other side of GG Park about a 10 minute Uber away, this is one of our absolute favorite local places for dinner and a cocktail.
20 locals recommend
Violet's
2301 Clement StLocated on the other side of GG Park about a 10 minute Uber away, this is one of our absolute favorite local places for dinner and a cocktail.
Located in the Richmond district about a 10 minute Uber away, Pearl is one of our favorites! Located at an unassuming neighborhood corner spot, but the interior has all the feels of a classic seafood restaurant. As you'd expect, there are oysters, served with fermented hot sauce and horseradish, at the start, as well as apps of local halibut crudo and mussels escabeche. For something that sticks to your bones on chilly San Francisco nights, try a hearty pasta, including a savory white Bolognese or a potato gnocchi with roasted ricotta salata, or entrees of seared albacore tuna atop bountiful summer veggies; chicken remoulade; and grilled gulf prawns. In the hood in the morning, stop in for coffee and pastries as well as weekend brunch.
20 locals recommend
Pearl 6101
6101 California StLocated in the Richmond district about a 10 minute Uber away, Pearl is one of our favorites! Located at an unassuming neighborhood corner spot, but the interior has all the feels of a classic seafood restaurant. As you'd expect, there are oysters, served with fermented hot sauce and horseradish, at the start, as well as apps of local halibut crudo and mussels escabeche. For something that sticks to your bones on chilly San Francisco nights, try a hearty pasta, including a savory white Bolognese or a potato gnocchi with roasted ricotta salata, or entrees of seared albacore tuna atop bountiful summer veggies; chicken remoulade; and grilled gulf prawns. In the hood in the morning, stop in for coffee and pastries as well as weekend brunch.
Nearby Coffee and Tea
1 block away, to either of two locations in the neighborhood -- both are bite-sized and usually busy, but the 9th Avenue location is where the roasting's done- yes, they roast their own beans!.
16 locals recommend
Beanery
1307 9th Ave1 block away, to either of two locations in the neighborhood -- both are bite-sized and usually busy, but the 9th Avenue location is where the roasting's done- yes, they roast their own beans!.
Attractions
Academy Of Sciences station
Totally unique place to see!
Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrGreat place to go back in time and get a warm tea.
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drwonderful art.
Exploratorium
Green StreetMakes you think!
Nearby Bars and Late Night
Just 1 block away, denizens and loyal locals hit up the Fireside Bar for the unbeatable vibe: It's laid-back and perfectly divey. But, the establishment’s centerpiece — the fireplace — is the main draw. It can be hard to secure real estate on the adjacent couches, so feel free to kill time by playing DJ at the digital jukebox.
17 locals recommend
Fireside Bar
603 Irving StJust 1 block away, denizens and loyal locals hit up the Fireside Bar for the unbeatable vibe: It's laid-back and perfectly divey. But, the establishment’s centerpiece — the fireplace — is the main draw. It can be hard to secure real estate on the adjacent couches, so feel free to kill time by playing DJ at the digital jukebox.
Just 1 block away, this laid back wine bar & kitchen offers an amazing small plate menu, wine & beer with an atmosphere that feels like home.
22 locals recommend
InnerFog
545 Irving StJust 1 block away, this laid back wine bar & kitchen offers an amazing small plate menu, wine & beer with an atmosphere that feels like home.
Only 2 blocks away, a great choice for a drink and a game of backgammon. This is the second-oldest bar in the city but, unfortunately, it smells like it- but that's part of the "charm".
23 locals recommend
Little Shamrock
807 Lincoln WayOnly 2 blocks away, a great choice for a drink and a game of backgammon. This is the second-oldest bar in the city but, unfortunately, it smells like it- but that's part of the "charm".
Every day stuff
Andronico's
1200 Irving StIt's your basic grocery store.
The local Whole Foods is about a 15 minute walk away by cutting through Golden Gate Park. Your journey there would be your entrance into the Height Ashbury neighbored and is a great place to stop for a snack.
664 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
450 Rhode Island StThe local Whole Foods is about a 15 minute walk away by cutting through Golden Gate Park. Your journey there would be your entrance into the Height Ashbury neighbored and is a great place to stop for a snack.
Food Scene
For savory and sweet treats: This is a collection of hard-core bakers united together in a cooperative to produce the best in everything they make. Lines form early in the day for the delicious pastries and breads at this storefront bakery. Around lunchtime, people come in waves for a slice of whatever type of pizza the Arizmendi staff has chosen to bake that day.
320 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
1331 9th AveFor savory and sweet treats: This is a collection of hard-core bakers united together in a cooperative to produce the best in everything they make. Lines form early in the day for the delicious pastries and breads at this storefront bakery. Around lunchtime, people come in waves for a slice of whatever type of pizza the Arizmendi staff has chosen to bake that day.
Reasonably priced food, good salads: Prepare to be beamed up into a dining experience not quite like any other at this casual restaurant with a cheeky space theme. Diners carry their own tab to the various food stations, selecting from the salads, soups, starches and meats available, and then get rung out at the register. Dishes have fun, spacey names, like "Saturn's Garlic Potato Rings," "Orbital Soup" and "Crispy Chicken Asteroids."
29 locals recommend
Pluto's
482 University AveReasonably priced food, good salads: Prepare to be beamed up into a dining experience not quite like any other at this casual restaurant with a cheeky space theme. Diners carry their own tab to the various food stations, selecting from the salads, soups, starches and meats available, and then get rung out at the register. Dishes have fun, spacey names, like "Saturn's Garlic Potato Rings," "Orbital Soup" and "Crispy Chicken Asteroids."
Parks & Nature
Panoramic views of San Francisco and its environs are the reward for those who make the trek up the two peaks of Golden Gate Heights -- Grand View Park and Sunset Heights Park. It is actually fairly easy to access Grand View Park on foot. Head up to Kirkham Street and find the hidden staircase between 14th and 15th avenues. Follow it up the hill, and continue on 14th to Noriega. To your right is another steep staircase that leads to the top of the park. The park itself is not much to look at for most of the year -- it's just a tangle of weeds until spring, when wildflowers cover the hillside -- but the view, on a clear day, is spectacular. You'll see downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge
60 locals recommend
Grand View Park
1705 14th AvePanoramic views of San Francisco and its environs are the reward for those who make the trek up the two peaks of Golden Gate Heights -- Grand View Park and Sunset Heights Park. It is actually fairly easy to access Grand View Park on foot. Head up to Kirkham Street and find the hidden staircase between 14th and 15th avenues. Follow it up the hill, and continue on 14th to Noriega. To your right is another steep staircase that leads to the top of the park. The park itself is not much to look at for most of the year -- it's just a tangle of weeds until spring, when wildflowers cover the hillside -- but the view, on a clear day, is spectacular. You'll see downtown San Francisco and the Bay Bridge
A man-made lake with over a century of rich history, Stow Lake is a great place to rent paddle boats and rowboats. Be sure to check out Strawberry Hill, a naturally formed island in the middle of the lake with great views of the surrounding park and the Golden Gate Bridge. Other surprising sites on this little island include an artificially made waterfall and a small pavilion that was a gift from the city of Taipei.
152 locals recommend
Stow Lake
A man-made lake with over a century of rich history, Stow Lake is a great place to rent paddle boats and rowboats. Be sure to check out Strawberry Hill, a naturally formed island in the middle of the lake with great views of the surrounding park and the Golden Gate Bridge. Other surprising sites on this little island include an artificially made waterfall and a small pavilion that was a gift from the city of Taipei.
More than 7,500 varieties of flowers from around the world fill the 55 acres of the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, a place locals still refer to as Strybing Arboretum, with vibrant colors and scents. It is the largest garden of its kind on the West Coast and quite a sight! Fee to enter.
182 locals recommend
San Francisco Botanical Garden
1199 9th AveMore than 7,500 varieties of flowers from around the world fill the 55 acres of the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, a place locals still refer to as Strybing Arboretum, with vibrant colors and scents. It is the largest garden of its kind on the West Coast and quite a sight! Fee to enter.