Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
An SF favorite, this is the second location for Brenda's French Soul Food. Shrimp and grits, fried chicken, cream biscuits, everything is fantastic. Great for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
92 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tony's Market & Liquor
2751 24th StAn SF favorite, this is the second location for Brenda's French Soul Food. Shrimp and grits, fried chicken, cream biscuits, everything is fantastic. Great for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Quintessential neighborhood breakfast cafe. Huge assortment of entertaining coffee mugs : )
42 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Eddie's Cafe
800 Divisadero StQuintessential neighborhood breakfast cafe. Huge assortment of entertaining coffee mugs : )
Second location of this well loved SF grocery store. Local, organic, artisanal, housemade, etc… everything is fresh and expertly crafted or selected. Great deli and wine & beer selection too.
Don't miss getting an ice cream cone on the way out!
651 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th StSecond location of this well loved SF grocery store. Local, organic, artisanal, housemade, etc… everything is fresh and expertly crafted or selected. Great deli and wine & beer selection too.
Don't miss getting an ice cream cone on the way out!
"A vibrant San Francisco neighborhood Mexican kitchen, celebrating the traditional cookery of Mexico and utilizing local, organic and sustainable ingredients."
We get the totopos every time, and then choose a couple small plates to share. It's always busy and always good.
306 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nopalito
306 Broderick St"A vibrant San Francisco neighborhood Mexican kitchen, celebrating the traditional cookery of Mexico and utilizing local, organic and sustainable ingredients."
We get the totopos every time, and then choose a couple small plates to share. It's always busy and always good.
Our go-to coffee spot, because it's a nice short walk, the ambiance is cozy, and the staff are super friendly. A non-pretentious cafe that actually makes good coffee!
They also recently added a "parklet" for outdoor seating.
Did I mention they have Dynamo Donuts?
Repose Coffee
262 Divisadero StreetOur go-to coffee spot, because it's a nice short walk, the ambiance is cozy, and the staff are super friendly. A non-pretentious cafe that actually makes good coffee!
They also recently added a "parklet" for outdoor seating.
Did I mention they have Dynamo Donuts?
This great dive bar also happens to sport the best Ethiopian food you'll find almost anywhere in SF.
30 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Club Waziema
543 Divisadero StThis great dive bar also happens to sport the best Ethiopian food you'll find almost anywhere in SF.
One of the best known and loved restaurants in SF.
It's not cheap, and the wait is always long… but their perfect cocktails and classic dishes like pork chops or roast chicken more than make up for it.
504 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nopa
560 Divisadero StOne of the best known and loved restaurants in SF.
It's not cheap, and the wait is always long… but their perfect cocktails and classic dishes like pork chops or roast chicken more than make up for it.
Turtle Tower Restaurant
5716 Geary BlvdBest pho in SF.
Unparalleled Parisian & Viennese-style pastries.
Although well known for their kouign amann, you pretty much can't miss here.
176 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
b. patisserie
2821 California StUnparalleled Parisian & Viennese-style pastries.
Although well known for their kouign amann, you pretty much can't miss here.
Delicious shanghai style soup dumplings, plus all of the Chinese staples like green onion pancakes and stir fried green beans. Don't forget to order the egg puffs for dessert (order them in advance when ordering everything)
42 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Shanghai Dumpling King
3319 Balboa StreetDelicious shanghai style soup dumplings, plus all of the Chinese staples like green onion pancakes and stir fried green beans. Don't forget to order the egg puffs for dessert (order them in advance when ordering everything)
Claire and I met here! This great hole in the wall coffee spot originated the $4 toast trend with their "Build Your Own Damn House" special ($10 for a coffee, whole coconut, and thick slice of cinnamon sugar toast). Get a coffee and then walk to the beach!
142 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Trouble Coffee
4033 Judah StClaire and I met here! This great hole in the wall coffee spot originated the $4 toast trend with their "Build Your Own Damn House" special ($10 for a coffee, whole coconut, and thick slice of cinnamon sugar toast). Get a coffee and then walk to the beach!
Deliciously glamorous!
This might be Claire's favorite place in the city. Great bagels, Eastern-European influenced food, delicious cakes and pastries, and some of the best decor and ambiance around!
(make sure to get the honey cake!)
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
20th Century Cafe
198 Gough StDeliciously glamorous!
This might be Claire's favorite place in the city. Great bagels, Eastern-European influenced food, delicious cakes and pastries, and some of the best decor and ambiance around!
(make sure to get the honey cake!)
Drinks & Nightlife
My favorite neighborhood bar in SF.
Go early and avoid the crowds.
Live music during Happy Hour on Wednesdays!
99 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Page
298 Divisadero StMy favorite neighborhood bar in SF.
Go early and avoid the crowds.
Live music during Happy Hour on Wednesdays!
Toronado
547 Haight StOne of the best beer bars in the country.
My favorite bar in SF, and likely one of the most unique.
It sports a horse-shoe shaped bar, a fantastic non-digital juke box, and straight up classic martinis.
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Zam Zam Bar
1633 Haight StMy favorite bar in SF, and likely one of the most unique.
It sports a horse-shoe shaped bar, a fantastic non-digital juke box, and straight up classic martinis.
Parks & Nature
Another amazing park that is only a few blocks from our home. This park has sharp hills, winding trails, giant trees, and fantastic city views.
205 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Buena Vista
Another amazing park that is only a few blocks from our home. This park has sharp hills, winding trails, giant trees, and fantastic city views.
Iconic SF park with the famous view of the "Painted Ladies". It's in the midst of a major renovation, but it should be fully reopening soon.
390 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Alamo Square
Iconic SF park with the famous view of the "Painted Ladies". It's in the midst of a major renovation, but it should be fully reopening soon.
I doubt that you need an introduction to this beautiful and famous park. It starts just under a mile from our home, and stretches all the way out to Ocean Beach. Some of our favorite spots include the Conservatory of Flowers, the Botanical Gardens, the running trails in the woods, the buffalo, and the James Turrell SkySpace in the De Young Museum Sculpture Garden (free!). Picnic spots, tennis courts, paddle boats, bike trails, this park is amazing.
1721 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Golden Gate
I doubt that you need an introduction to this beautiful and famous park. It starts just under a mile from our home, and stretches all the way out to Ocean Beach. Some of our favorite spots include the Conservatory of Flowers, the Botanical Gardens, the running trails in the woods, the buffalo, and the James Turrell SkySpace in the De Young Museum Sculpture Garden (free!). Picnic spots, tennis courts, paddle boats, bike trails, this park is amazing.
Truly a hidden gem! These breathtaking hiking trails wind around the Mount Sutro green space through giant blue eucalyptus trees. Come here when it's foggy for the full "Ferngully" effect.
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve
Truly a hidden gem! These breathtaking hiking trails wind around the Mount Sutro green space through giant blue eucalyptus trees. Come here when it's foggy for the full "Ferngully" effect.
It's only a block away!
One of the best things about our home is it's proximity to the Panhandle. This long, block-wide park is perfect for a morning stroll, an afternoon run, or when the sun is out, lunch on a park blanket!
This park also plays a large part in the history of San Francisco in the 1960/70's, with its free food programs, concerts, and other events organized by The Diggers, as well as others.
43 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Panhandle
It's only a block away!
One of the best things about our home is it's proximity to the Panhandle. This long, block-wide park is perfect for a morning stroll, an afternoon run, or when the sun is out, lunch on a park blanket!
This park also plays a large part in the history of San Francisco in the 1960/70's, with its free food programs, concerts, and other events organized by The Diggers, as well as others.
Shopping
Well loved and iconic record store. I could (and do!) spend hours here, digging for new and used records.
79 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Amoeba Music
1855 Haight StWell loved and iconic record store. I could (and do!) spend hours here, digging for new and used records.
A modern general store, featuring new and vintage clothing, books, home and kitchen goods, nic-nacs, as well as a custom hatmaker.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Perish Trust
728 Divisadero StA modern general store, featuring new and vintage clothing, books, home and kitchen goods, nic-nacs, as well as a custom hatmaker.
Only the best, off-kilter, punk rock, and random vintage shop in SF. Take a look before or after getting a bowl of pho at Turtle Tower next door.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Vacation
1499 Larkin StOnly the best, off-kilter, punk rock, and random vintage shop in SF. Take a look before or after getting a bowl of pho at Turtle Tower next door.
Great new and used bookstore. An institution!
82 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Green Apple Books
506 Clement StGreat new and used bookstore. An institution!
Arts & Culture
A new arts hub in SF, the Minnesota Street Project hosts over a dozen of the best art galleries in San Francisco.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Minnesota Street Project
1275 Minnesota StA new arts hub in SF, the Minnesota Street Project hosts over a dozen of the best art galleries in San Francisco.
One of the foremost photography galleries in the country. Representing artists like Lee Friedlander, Alec Soth, Christian Marclay, and Garry Winogrand.
Make sure to wander and browse the other great galleries in the 49 Geary building.
Fraenkel Gallery
49 Geary StOne of the foremost photography galleries in the country. Representing artists like Lee Friedlander, Alec Soth, Christian Marclay, and Garry Winogrand.
Make sure to wander and browse the other great galleries in the 49 Geary building.
Jessica Silverman Gallery
621 Grant AvenueMy favorite contemporary art gallery in the city.
Since it's recent expansion, SFMOMA has doubled down on it's position as a world class institution with a hugely expanded building and collection, as well as an renewed focus on photography.
It doesn't hurt that its restaurant, In Situ, has also been consistently chosen as one of the best new (and most interesting) restaurants in America.
813 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo de Arte Moderno de San Francisco
151 3rd StSince it's recent expansion, SFMOMA has doubled down on it's position as a world class institution with a hugely expanded building and collection, as well as an renewed focus on photography.
It doesn't hurt that its restaurant, In Situ, has also been consistently chosen as one of the best new (and most interesting) restaurants in America.
This is truly a one of a kind music theatre, pioneering the experience of space with sound. Featuring a reputed 169 speakers playing experimental music—in the dark—this is a singular and wonderful experience.
Shows are every Friday and Saturday at 8pm.
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Audium
1616 Bush StThis is truly a one of a kind music theatre, pioneering the experience of space with sound. Featuring a reputed 169 speakers playing experimental music—in the dark—this is a singular and wonderful experience.
Shows are every Friday and Saturday at 8pm.
Make sure to book an appointment ahead of time! This is the pre-eminent photography museum in the US, and although it's free, they only let in 60 people per day, by appointment only.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pier 24 Photography Museum
24 PierMake sure to book an appointment ahead of time! This is the pre-eminent photography museum in the US, and although it's free, they only let in 60 people per day, by appointment only.
Essentials
A great grocery store with friendly staff—and it's literally across the street! Skip Peet's and get coffee and croissants from Delessio at the South West corner of the store.
122 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Falletti Foods
308 Broderick StA great grocery store with friendly staff—and it's literally across the street! Skip Peet's and get coffee and croissants from Delessio at the South West corner of the store.
Sightseeing
In addition to the museum, the De Young also has a terrific observation tower that is free and open to the public during regular hours. Great, sweeping 360 views.
1000 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo de Young
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrIn addition to the museum, the De Young also has a terrific observation tower that is free and open to the public during regular hours. Great, sweeping 360 views.
When it opened in 1896, the Sutro Baths were the largest indoor swimming facility in the world. Today, it's just the site of ruins next to the ocean; which makes for wonderful wandering and ocean side views.
Start here and hike the Lands End trail to the north for great views of Marin and the Golden Gate Bridge.
246 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Baños Sutro
1004 Point Lobos AveWhen it opened in 1896, the Sutro Baths were the largest indoor swimming facility in the world. Today, it's just the site of ruins next to the ocean; which makes for wonderful wandering and ocean side views.
Start here and hike the Lands End trail to the north for great views of Marin and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Amazing views of the Presidio and Alcatraz. Hike in the opposite direction to see Andy Goldsworthy's 100ft tall Spire sculpture made from 37 Monterey cypress trunks from trees felled at the site and meticulously fastened together.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Inspiration Point station
Amazing views of the Presidio and Alcatraz. Hike in the opposite direction to see Andy Goldsworthy's 100ft tall Spire sculpture made from 37 Monterey cypress trunks from trees felled at the site and meticulously fastened together.
This iconic intersection is now home to a Ben & Jerry's : ) and it's walking distance from our home.
379 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Haight-Ashbury
This iconic intersection is now home to a Ben & Jerry's : ) and it's walking distance from our home.
Up near Sutro Tower, Twin Peaks is a famous landmark for iconic views of the city.
727 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Twin Peaks
Up near Sutro Tower, Twin Peaks is a famous landmark for iconic views of the city.