Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Nopa
560 Divisadero StBustling and ever-popular. Make a reservation if you go.
Great coffee (pour over) and fun people-watching. Some outdoor seating. Walk to alamo sq park afterwards or with your coffee. Sundays there is a farmer's market at Grove and Divis; BiRite is close too
281 locals recommend
The Mill
736 Divisadero StGreat coffee (pour over) and fun people-watching. Some outdoor seating. Walk to alamo sq park afterwards or with your coffee. Sundays there is a farmer's market at Grove and Divis; BiRite is close too
Tasty upscale mexican food...the "garage" space adjacent to the restaurant is super low key. Chicken mole, all kinds of tacos, etc.
47 locals recommend
La Urbana
661 Divisadero StreetTasty upscale mexican food...the "garage" space adjacent to the restaurant is super low key. Chicken mole, all kinds of tacos, etc.
Less crowded than the Mill; shorter walk. Makes "actual food" - egg sandwiches, etc. Outdoor seating. Get a pour over, espresso drink or drip coffee.
99 locals recommend
Matching Half
1799 McAllister StLess crowded than the Mill; shorter walk. Makes "actual food" - egg sandwiches, etc. Outdoor seating. Get a pour over, espresso drink or drip coffee.
small and charming, mostly pizza - very good pizza - and some nice other dishes.Like the food!
117 locals recommend
Ragazza
311 Divisadero Stsmall and charming, mostly pizza - very good pizza - and some nice other dishes.Like the food!
We love ordering a thin crust pizza with 2 toppings - fresh tomatoes and pesto topping. Walk here, bring a pizza home or pay $6 for bicycle delivery. Salad is also nice. Serve limited wine/beer.
360 locals recommend
Little Star Pizza
846 Divisadero StWe love ordering a thin crust pizza with 2 toppings - fresh tomatoes and pesto topping. Walk here, bring a pizza home or pay $6 for bicycle delivery. Salad is also nice. Serve limited wine/beer.
Japanese whiskey bar with great sushi. Reserve if you want to sit upstairs.
46 locals recommend
Nihon Whisky Lounge
1779 Folsom StJapanese whiskey bar with great sushi. Reserve if you want to sit upstairs.
Same bread as the bakery (yum!) and solidly good food. Despite the name, it's a restaurant.
79 locals recommend
Bar Tartine
561 Valencia StreetSame bread as the bakery (yum!) and solidly good food. Despite the name, it's a restaurant.
Reliably good seafood, oysters, etc. Same owners (and sometimes same menu items) as Salt House down the street from there.
8 locals recommend
Anchor & Hope
83 Minna StReliably good seafood, oysters, etc. Same owners (and sometimes same menu items) as Salt House down the street from there.
Small, romantic restaurant in an off-the-beaten-path location. Mid-scale.
123 locals recommend
Universal Cafe
2814 19th StSmall, romantic restaurant in an off-the-beaten-path location. Mid-scale.
Off the beaten path; a bit more likely to see families (but still with hipster parents ;-) ). Good coffee (but not pourover). Both pastries and hot food for breakfast. Outdoor seating.
260 locals recommend
Precita Park Cafe & Grill
500 Precita AvenueOff the beaten path; a bit more likely to see families (but still with hipster parents ;-) ). Good coffee (but not pourover). Both pastries and hot food for breakfast. Outdoor seating.
if you're in this neighborhood for some reason (I work near here) go to Red Door / 111 Minna for great coffee (but not pour-over) in an art gallery. High ceilings and appealing natural wood seating
111 Minna St
111 Minna Streetif you're in this neighborhood for some reason (I work near here) go to Red Door / 111 Minna for great coffee (but not pour-over) in an art gallery. High ceilings and appealing natural wood seating
If you're in Berkeley, stop by here. It's an "institution" of the neighborhood. The pizza is amazing - and the line moves REALLY FAST, I promise. There is only one type of pizza offered each day
83 locals recommend
Cheese Board Bakery
1504 Shattuck AveIf you're in Berkeley, stop by here. It's an "institution" of the neighborhood. The pizza is amazing - and the line moves REALLY FAST, I promise. There is only one type of pizza offered each day
Peet's Coffee
2124 Vine StThe very first original Peet's. There is a little museum inside.
Really funky. A million different kinds of coffee to choose from, brewed one at a time, pour-over style. Do not have "for here" cups, so bring your own mug if you don't like drinking from paper.
913 locals recommend
Philz Coffee
3101 24th StReally funky. A million different kinds of coffee to choose from, brewed one at a time, pour-over style. Do not have "for here" cups, so bring your own mug if you don't like drinking from paper.
Solid Italian restaurant; more expensive than others listed here but not outlandish. Atmosphere is a bit conservative. Bar Perbacco next door.
15 locals recommend
Perbacco
230 California StSolid Italian restaurant; more expensive than others listed here but not outlandish. Atmosphere is a bit conservative. Bar Perbacco next door.
A bit pricey. Atmosphere is funky-ish, but older/quieter crowd vs. packed bars elsewhere. The food is very good.
76 locals recommend
Spruce
3640 Sacramento StA bit pricey. Atmosphere is funky-ish, but older/quieter crowd vs. packed bars elsewhere. The food is very good.
Essentials
expensive but lovely. great pre-made food, wine selection, treats, organic produce
651 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th Stexpensive but lovely. great pre-made food, wine selection, treats, organic produce
Everything Else
Ridiculous line but moves quickly and the chocolate eclairs are amazing. Also recommend the lemon poppy seed cake with coffee.
768 locals recommend
Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero StRidiculous line but moves quickly and the chocolate eclairs are amazing. Also recommend the lemon poppy seed cake with coffee.
Sightseeing
Sometimes a little crowded (but never that much); nice to walk around; ducks/birds, man-made waterfall
152 locals recommend
Stow Lake
Sometimes a little crowded (but never that much); nice to walk around; ducks/birds, man-made waterfall
Park here, great view, can walk down stairs to trail and go along the cliff. Sometimes if you are patient and the water is relatively calm you can see dolphins.
694 locals recommend
Lands End Trail
Lands End TrailPark here, great view, can walk down stairs to trail and go along the cliff. Sometimes if you are patient and the water is relatively calm you can see dolphins.
Limantour Beach
Totally worth the drive. Check the weather first, though.
Muir Beach
Not too far away; decently pretty beach (we're so spoiled here!)
Not that far to drive, pretty, can hike in the grassy hills above. Gives you a destination for a beautiful drive through the marin headlands...not that you need one!
58 locals recommend
Rodeo Beach
Mitchell RdNot that far to drive, pretty, can hike in the grassy hills above. Gives you a destination for a beautiful drive through the marin headlands...not that you need one!
Did you know there are Bison in Golden Gate Park? Yep. Pretty weird.
67 locals recommend
Bison Paddock
1237 John F Kennedy DrDid you know there are Bison in Golden Gate Park? Yep. Pretty weird.
Solidly good museum (not the louvre, but...). Make sure you take the elevator up the tower (go to the far right when you enter the museum - you don't even need to pay) - amazing views!
999 locals recommend
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrSolidly good museum (not the louvre, but...). Make sure you take the elevator up the tower (go to the far right when you enter the museum - you don't even need to pay) - amazing views!
I like walking up the funky paths/stairs you can take to get up there, and if the sky is clear, there are great views.
545 locals recommend
Coit Tower
I like walking up the funky paths/stairs you can take to get up there, and if the sky is clear, there are great views.
Fun and worth visiting even though it's touristy. Various little shops and restaurants. I like the tacos at Mijita and the macaroons at Miette Patisserie. Great Bay view.
679 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
Fun and worth visiting even though it's touristy. Various little shops and restaurants. I like the tacos at Mijita and the macaroons at Miette Patisserie. Great Bay view.
If it's the right weather, there are a bunch of hang gliders launching from here and it's fascinating. If not, keep driving and go to the beach at Pacifica.
162 locals recommend
Fort Funston
Fort Funston RoadIf it's the right weather, there are a bunch of hang gliders launching from here and it's fascinating. If not, keep driving and go to the beach at Pacifica.
Moss Landing State Beach
There are Otters here. That's all you need to know!
Purely amazingly beautiful. drive down to big sur with your binoculars if you have them. We stay at Asilomar in Pacific Grove for a lot less $ and then drive to Big Sur during the day.
332 locals recommend
Big Sur
Purely amazingly beautiful. drive down to big sur with your binoculars if you have them. We stay at Asilomar in Pacific Grove for a lot less $ and then drive to Big Sur during the day.
Not special itself but low priced, clean, cafeteria breakfast that might remind you of summer camp, super close to the beach, close to Monterey Bay & Big Sur.
19 locals recommend
Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds
800 Asilomar AveNot special itself but low priced, clean, cafeteria breakfast that might remind you of summer camp, super close to the beach, close to Monterey Bay & Big Sur.
Drinks & Nightlife
Really cool decor, free live jazz, great cocktails. Actual food is decent, nothing amazing.
48 locals recommend
Comstock Saloon
155 Columbus AveReally cool decor, free live jazz, great cocktails. Actual food is decent, nothing amazing.
Arts & Culture
El Valenciano
1153 Valencia StTuesday night tango (tangomango.org)
Sunday tango. 6-10 pm. Decent quality floor, good DJs, always some good dancers there, friendly vibe. You can take the BART from downtown SF or it's a bit of a drive.
Studio 1924
1924 Franklin StreetSunday tango. 6-10 pm. Decent quality floor, good DJs, always some good dancers there, friendly vibe. You can take the BART from downtown SF or it's a bit of a drive.
Thursday evening tango slanted to the over-50 set; there is a bar, plenty of seating and a big dance floor. Music quality is very spotty.
7 locals recommend
Verdi Club
2424 Mariposa StThursday evening tango slanted to the over-50 set; there is a bar, plenty of seating and a big dance floor. Music quality is very spotty.
Wednesday tango 9-12. 1 of 2 alternative milongas in san francisco. Going on for over 10 years. Will only be in this space til end of 2014. Hope they find a new one! Ridiculously funky space.
Cellspace
Wednesday tango 9-12. 1 of 2 alternative milongas in san francisco. Going on for over 10 years. Will only be in this space til end of 2014. Hope they find a new one! Ridiculously funky space.
Really nice cinema and you could plausibly walk there or take a super cheap Uber / taxi. Reserve tickets online ahead of time for some of the theaters.
190 locals recommend
AMC Kabuki 8
1881 Post StReally nice cinema and you could plausibly walk there or take a super cheap Uber / taxi. Reserve tickets online ahead of time for some of the theaters.