Guidebook for San Francisco

Tina
Guidebook for San Francisco

Essentials

Great local boutique gourmet market! Excellent butcher/seafood options & they make excellent sandwiches if you are headed out sailing, to wine country or just taking a picnic to the park.
277 locals recommend
Mollie Stone's Markets
2435 California St
277 locals recommend
Great local boutique gourmet market! Excellent butcher/seafood options & they make excellent sandwiches if you are headed out sailing, to wine country or just taking a picnic to the park.
A typical big-box grocery store, they have everything and lots of brands to choose from, just as you'd expect
73 locals recommend
Safeway
1335 Webster St
73 locals recommend
A typical big-box grocery store, they have everything and lots of brands to choose from, just as you'd expect
For those who love Trader Joe's, and their prepared meals, this one is the closest.
203 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3 Masonic Ave
203 locals recommend
For those who love Trader Joe's, and their prepared meals, this one is the closest.
Fantastic selection of champagnes & bubbles, as well as higher end wines & liquors
D&M Wine And Liquor Co
2200 Fillmore St
Fantastic selection of champagnes & bubbles, as well as higher end wines & liquors
Closest pharmacy/drugstore, photo lab & the spot to pick up your SF Muni Clipper Card (ask at the photo counter).
116 locals recommend
Walgreens
1496 Market St
116 locals recommend
Closest pharmacy/drugstore, photo lab & the spot to pick up your SF Muni Clipper Card (ask at the photo counter).
High-end beauty products
Kiehl's Since 1851
1971 Fillmore St
High-end beauty products
Beauty products. Great place if you need to get your eyebrows done while you're here.
12 locals recommend
Benefit Cosmetics Boutique & BrowBar
2117 Fillmore St
12 locals recommend
Beauty products. Great place if you need to get your eyebrows done while you're here.
Want someone to blow out (or set) your hair for you - here's a fantastic & fun, local option to consider.
7 locals recommend
Drybar Pacific Heights
1908 Fillmore St
7 locals recommend
Want someone to blow out (or set) your hair for you - here's a fantastic & fun, local option to consider.
Cosmetics. An especially helpful local stop if the airlines lost your baggage!
MAC Cosmetics
2011 Fillmore St
Cosmetics. An especially helpful local stop if the airlines lost your baggage!
Closest Chase ATM
62 locals recommend
Chase Bank
3998 24th St
62 locals recommend
Closest Chase ATM
Closest BofA ATM/branch
Bank of America Financial Center
3250 Mission St
Closest BofA ATM/branch
No ATMs, but a branch.
81 locals recommend
Wells Fargo Bank
2100 Fillmore St
81 locals recommend
No ATMs, but a branch.
LOTS of yoga classes!
26 locals recommend
YogaWorks San Francisco
1823 Divisadero St
26 locals recommend
LOTS of yoga classes!
Leading Hospital & Cancer specialists
UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion
1600 Divisadero St
Leading Hospital & Cancer specialists
Focus on women's medicine.
Women's Health Center
2356 Sutter St
Focus on women's medicine.
Closest Kaiser facility
6 locals recommend
Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center and Medical Offices
2425 Geary Blvd
6 locals recommend
Closest Kaiser facility
Our closest post office. Walk, there's nowhere to park.
35 locals recommend
United States Postal Service
4083 24th St
35 locals recommend
Our closest post office. Walk, there's nowhere to park.
A fantastic, little traditional Japanese spa. They have days that are men-only, ladies-only, but there's only one day a week when you can go together for a steam/soak/plunge.
90 locals recommend
Kabuki Springs and Spa
1750 Geary Blvd
90 locals recommend
A fantastic, little traditional Japanese spa. They have days that are men-only, ladies-only, but there's only one day a week when you can go together for a steam/soak/plunge.
They always deliver a nice massage!
6 locals recommend
Imperial Day Spa
1875 Geary Blvd
6 locals recommend
They always deliver a nice massage!
Excellent hair salon if you need a cut or color, or up-do.
Acabello Salon
2423 California St
Excellent hair salon if you need a cut or color, or up-do.
Closest gym!
Pacific Heights Health Club
2356 Pine St
Closest gym!
The oldest, private (members-only) tennis club west of the Mississippi. Part of the Centenary Tennis Clubs Assoc. If you're a member, you can play! www.centenarytennisclubs.org/
California Tennis Club
1770 Scott St
The oldest, private (members-only) tennis club west of the Mississippi. Part of the Centenary Tennis Clubs Assoc. If you're a member, you can play! www.centenarytennisclubs.org/
Closest hospital emergency room
California Pacific Medical Center: Pacific Campus
Closest hospital emergency room
Great gym!
34 locals recommend
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
3200 California St
34 locals recommend
Great gym!
Closest yoga to my place, just 1/2 block away
Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco
3245 Sutter St
Closest yoga to my place, just 1/2 block away

Food Scene

Great trendy Italian (Rome) restaurant, excellent Italian wine list, with some great options by the glass. Sister restaurant to A16 in the Marina (also yummy!)
93 locals recommend
SPQR
1911 Fillmore St
93 locals recommend
Great trendy Italian (Rome) restaurant, excellent Italian wine list, with some great options by the glass. Sister restaurant to A16 in the Marina (also yummy!)
Chef Charles Phan (famous chef) of The Slanted Door (Ferry Building dtwn). He lives a block away in the apt above sister restaurant, OTD. I especially LOVE Vietnamese breakfast & their wines on tap.
41 locals recommend
OTD
2232 Bush St
41 locals recommend
Chef Charles Phan (famous chef) of The Slanted Door (Ferry Building dtwn). He lives a block away in the apt above sister restaurant, OTD. I especially LOVE Vietnamese breakfast & their wines on tap.
Casual & fun. I love their fresh & local seafood specials - and I often CRAVE their famous traditional Maine Lobster Roll & fries, with a glass of chardonnay or a bottle of bubbles!
53 locals recommend
Woodhouse Fish Co.
1914 Fillmore St
53 locals recommend
Casual & fun. I love their fresh & local seafood specials - and I often CRAVE their famous traditional Maine Lobster Roll & fries, with a glass of chardonnay or a bottle of bubbles!
Super quick & casual Vietnamese sandwiches (& salads).
30 locals recommend
Bun Mee
2015 Fillmore St
30 locals recommend
Super quick & casual Vietnamese sandwiches (& salads).
A very famous casual gourmet pizza spot. It's almost ALWAYS packed, with a long wait. Instead, call in an order and bring it back to my place to enjoy, that's what we usually do.
598 locals recommend
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th St
598 locals recommend
A very famous casual gourmet pizza spot. It's almost ALWAYS packed, with a long wait. Instead, call in an order and bring it back to my place to enjoy, that's what we usually do.
Super casual, traditional pizza. You can just grab a slice, or order a whole pie.
26 locals recommend
Extreme Pizza
7th Street
26 locals recommend
Super casual, traditional pizza. You can just grab a slice, or order a whole pie.
Yummy food, cute small bar, recommend reservation. They've got 2 cute tables in their front windows, if you like to watch the crowd walk by - make sure to special request one. 2 tables outside too.
20 locals recommend
Florio Bar & Cafe
1915 Fillmore St
20 locals recommend
Yummy food, cute small bar, recommend reservation. They've got 2 cute tables in their front windows, if you like to watch the crowd walk by - make sure to special request one. 2 tables outside too.
One of the oldest restaurants (& bars) in the neighborhood. Great cocktails. Super fun to sit at a table outside. Make a reservation!
32 locals recommend
The Elite Cafe
2049 Fillmore Street
32 locals recommend
One of the oldest restaurants (& bars) in the neighborhood. Great cocktails. Super fun to sit at a table outside. Make a reservation!
Casual & super close breakfast spot. Absolutely packed on weekends after 9am, we usually walk down to put our names on the list, before hopping in the shower so we don't have to wait so long.
84 locals recommend
Sweet Maple
2101 Sutter St
84 locals recommend
Casual & super close breakfast spot. Absolutely packed on weekends after 9am, we usually walk down to put our names on the list, before hopping in the shower so we don't have to wait so long.
This is my go-to super close & casual Thai restaurant. While it's cute inside, I often call to place an order on my drive home from work & I just stop to pick it up on my way.
6 locals recommend
Sweet Lime Thai Cuisine
2100 Sutter St
6 locals recommend
This is my go-to super close & casual Thai restaurant. While it's cute inside, I often call to place an order on my drive home from work & I just stop to pick it up on my way.
Super casual restaurant, with a bar. A couple tables outside. The kids LOVE to "build their own" hamburgers (or bison, or veggie burgers) + truffle or sweet potato fries.
156 locals recommend
Roam Artisan Burgers
1785 Union St
156 locals recommend
Super casual restaurant, with a bar. A couple tables outside. The kids LOVE to "build their own" hamburgers (or bison, or veggie burgers) + truffle or sweet potato fries.
Great little local bakery, whether you want a macaroon, savory pastry, quiche or a fresh baguette - or even a quick little french lunch sandwich to go.
206 locals recommend
La Boulangerie de San Francisco
1000 Cole St
206 locals recommend
Great little local bakery, whether you want a macaroon, savory pastry, quiche or a fresh baguette - or even a quick little french lunch sandwich to go.
Bakery - especially for sweet things!
10 locals recommend
Sift Dessert Bar
2411 California St
10 locals recommend
Bakery - especially for sweet things!
Made-to-order ice cream, using liquid nitrogen!
216 locals recommend
Smitten Ice Cream
432 Octavia St
216 locals recommend
Made-to-order ice cream, using liquid nitrogen!
Great breakfast & lunch spot!
94 locals recommend
Jane on Fillmore
2123 Fillmore St
94 locals recommend
Great breakfast & lunch spot!
Seriously good coffee & tea
238 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
2080 Chestnut St
238 locals recommend
Seriously good coffee & tea
Are you addicted to Starbuck's? If so, here you go! Walk, it's impossible to park here.
512 locals recommend
Starbucks
2132 Chestnut St
512 locals recommend
Are you addicted to Starbuck's? If so, here you go! Walk, it's impossible to park here.
This one has a couple of parking spaces if you want to grab coffee and you're on your way out in a car.
512 locals recommend
Starbucks
2132 Chestnut St
512 locals recommend
This one has a couple of parking spaces if you want to grab coffee and you're on your way out in a car.
Peruvian. If you want to try some new ethnic flavors.
30 locals recommend
Fresca Fillmore
2114 Fillmore St
30 locals recommend
Peruvian. If you want to try some new ethnic flavors.
Sometimes you just NEED a bagel. NOTE: Starbucks is directly across the street. In case you want to stop there first.
Noah's Bagels
2213 Fillmore Street
Sometimes you just NEED a bagel. NOTE: Starbucks is directly across the street. In case you want to stop there first.
Fantastic Southern Indian cuisine (including seafood) & trendy cocktails. Make a reservation, they're always packed for lunch & dinner. Directly across the street form the Sundance Kabuki theatre.
81 locals recommend
DOSA on Fillmore
1700 Fillmore St
81 locals recommend
Fantastic Southern Indian cuisine (including seafood) & trendy cocktails. Make a reservation, they're always packed for lunch & dinner. Directly across the street form the Sundance Kabuki theatre.
Killer Southern restaurant - try the fried chicken! Great cocktail seating area too, often there's a band playing there at night. Known for their Gospel Brunch!
7 locals recommend
1300 Fillmore St
1300 Fillmore Street
7 locals recommend
Killer Southern restaurant - try the fried chicken! Great cocktail seating area too, often there's a band playing there at night. Known for their Gospel Brunch!
Do you love it when Japanese food is cooked on the grill right in front of you? If so, this is for you! Great place for a larger party (6-8). Make a reservation.
18 locals recommend
Benihana
1496 Old Bayshore Hwy
18 locals recommend
Do you love it when Japanese food is cooked on the grill right in front of you? If so, this is for you! Great place for a larger party (6-8). Make a reservation.
Best Chinese in the 'hood!
32 locals recommend
Eliza's
2877 California St
32 locals recommend
Best Chinese in the 'hood!
Super casual, blue collar restaurant - but they have very authentic Phillie Cheese Steaks if you feel a craving coming on.
8 locals recommend
The Cheese Steak Shop
1716 Divisadero St
8 locals recommend
Super casual, blue collar restaurant - but they have very authentic Phillie Cheese Steaks if you feel a craving coming on.
James Beard's: Best Chef of the West - 2015! Best New Restaurant - 2013! Make a reservation or get in line early (at 4:30pm) before they open!
141 locals recommend
State Bird Provisions
1529 Fillmore St
141 locals recommend
James Beard's: Best Chef of the West - 2015! Best New Restaurant - 2013! Make a reservation or get in line early (at 4:30pm) before they open!
Adorable little French restaurant, with a cute outside patio.
15 locals recommend
Chouquet's
2500 Washington St
15 locals recommend
Adorable little French restaurant, with a cute outside patio.
My favorite little casual sushi joint, maybe eight seats at the bar, & 10 tables. No reservations.
18 locals recommend
Godzila Sushi
1800 Divisadero St
18 locals recommend
My favorite little casual sushi joint, maybe eight seats at the bar, & 10 tables. No reservations.
Spectacularly fresh seafood & sushi. Super tiny. I recommend making reservations far in advance.
8 locals recommend
Kiss Seafood
1700 Laguna St
8 locals recommend
Spectacularly fresh seafood & sushi. Super tiny. I recommend making reservations far in advance.
Super casual breakfast/coffee & lunch spot. There's a handful of tables outside too.
75 locals recommend
The Grove - Fillmore
2016 Fillmore St
75 locals recommend
Super casual breakfast/coffee & lunch spot. There's a handful of tables outside too.
The most authentic NY bagels in SF. Just opened (March 2016), so expect a line. I take a travel mug of coffee with me while I wait!
146 locals recommend
Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen
3150 24th St
146 locals recommend
The most authentic NY bagels in SF. Just opened (March 2016), so expect a line. I take a travel mug of coffee with me while I wait!
Sister restaurant to the famous State Bird Provisions & right next store too, seriously good food!
46 locals recommend
The Progress
1525 Fillmore Street
46 locals recommend
Sister restaurant to the famous State Bird Provisions & right next store too, seriously good food!

Shopping

Shopping extroidinaire!
53 locals recommend
Fillmore District
53 locals recommend
Shopping extroidinaire!
All sorts of stores & restaurants in this multi-block complex, as well as across the street.
246 locals recommend
Japan Town
246 locals recommend
All sorts of stores & restaurants in this multi-block complex, as well as across the street.
Really fun casual and stylish clothing, with a yoga feel to it
prAna San Francisco
1928 Fillmore St
Really fun casual and stylish clothing, with a yoga feel to it
Super fun, modern furnishings & lighting store.
Design Within Reach
200 Fillmore St
Super fun, modern furnishings & lighting store.
A consignment chain, if you have the patience to look, you can often pick up some slightly used designer bargains here!
34 locals recommend
Crossroads Trading
1901 Fillmore St
34 locals recommend
A consignment chain, if you have the patience to look, you can often pick up some slightly used designer bargains here!
Fantastic high-end boutique
8 locals recommend
Ralph Lauren
2040 Fillmore St
8 locals recommend
Fantastic high-end boutique
Funky ladies clothing & accessories
Mio, Inc.
2031 Fillmore St
Funky ladies clothing & accessories
GREAT boutique, very LA.
9 locals recommend
rag & bone
2060 Fillmore St
9 locals recommend
GREAT boutique, very LA.
Fun boutique, with a Euro clothing vibe.
Cotelac
1930 Fillmore St
Fun boutique, with a Euro clothing vibe.
Our local, "Indie", book store.
9 locals recommend
Browser Books
2195 Fillmore St
9 locals recommend
Our local, "Indie", book store.
High-end lingerie. Great place to stop if you need something sexy!
Toujours Lingerie
2484 Sacramento St
High-end lingerie. Great place to stop if you need something sexy!
Another fun/funky high-end clothing boutique.
Marc Jacobs
2142 Fillmore St
Another fun/funky high-end clothing boutique.
Another fun & funky ladies boutique!
alice + olivia
2259 Fillmore St
Another fun & funky ladies boutique!
Check out the athletic clothing store from The Gap, Inc. This is their first/flagship store. Great stop if you forgot your running clothes or yoga gear!
Athleta - with Curbside Pickup
2226 Fillmore St
Check out the athletic clothing store from The Gap, Inc. This is their first/flagship store. Great stop if you forgot your running clothes or yoga gear!
Ladies Boutique. I remember seeing Hillary Clinton in an outfit from Margaret O'Leary's when she was our First Lady.
10 locals recommend
Margaret O'Leary
2400 Fillmore St
10 locals recommend
Ladies Boutique. I remember seeing Hillary Clinton in an outfit from Margaret O'Leary's when she was our First Lady.
Japanese book store
Kinokuniya Book Store
1581 Webster St
Japanese book store
I absolutely adore this tiny Japanese stationary/gift store: beautiful papers, fine-point pens, pencils, kids erasers in the shape of animals, gifts. Great place for unique kids gifts, adults too.
Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts - San Francisco
1581 Webster St
I absolutely adore this tiny Japanese stationary/gift store: beautiful papers, fine-point pens, pencils, kids erasers in the shape of animals, gifts. Great place for unique kids gifts, adults too.
Super fun place for all of your gift & wrapping needs!
Paper Source
1925 Fillmore St
Super fun place for all of your gift & wrapping needs!
They specialize in imported teas, and ceramics used with tea
Song Tea & Ceramics
2120 Sutter St
They specialize in imported teas, and ceramics used with tea

Entertainment & Activities

World famous and intimately small concert venue
119 locals recommend
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Blvd
119 locals recommend
World famous and intimately small concert venue
Fantastic movie threatre complex - you can pre-reserve your exact seat, and a number of the theatres inside allow you to bring in alcohol from their bar.
190 locals recommend
AMC Kabuki 8
1881 Post St
190 locals recommend
Fantastic movie threatre complex - you can pre-reserve your exact seat, and a number of the theatres inside allow you to bring in alcohol from their bar.
Our local "indie" movie theatre
20 locals recommend
Landmark's Clay Theatre
2261 Fillmore St
20 locals recommend
Our local "indie" movie theatre
Tennis courts, basketball & newly redone kids' playground. Set on the top of our local SF peak, so a beautiful 360 degree view too!
114 locals recommend
Alta Plaza Park
Steiner Street
114 locals recommend
Tennis courts, basketball & newly redone kids' playground. Set on the top of our local SF peak, so a beautiful 360 degree view too!

Everything Else

St Dom's is our local & very beautiful old catholic church, built before the 1906 earthquake.
St. Dominic's Catholic Church
2390 Bush St
St Dom's is our local & very beautiful old catholic church, built before the 1906 earthquake.
Our local Hebrew temple.
Congegration Sherith Israel
2266 California St
Our local Hebrew temple.
Many of my 20-30 something friends go here. Lots of singing!
City Church San Francisco
2460 Sutter St
Many of my 20-30 something friends go here. Lots of singing!
City Park. Newly refinished lighted tennis courts & basketball + indoor pool.
7 locals recommend
Hamilton Recreation Center
1900 Geary Blvd
7 locals recommend
City Park. Newly refinished lighted tennis courts & basketball + indoor pool.

Drinks & Nightlife

LOTS of TVs, if you want to catch a sports game and have a beer (or wine/cocktail). Their Bar Menu is pretty good too.
36 locals recommend
Harry's on Fillmore
2020 Fillmore St
36 locals recommend
LOTS of TVs, if you want to catch a sports game and have a beer (or wine/cocktail). Their Bar Menu is pretty good too.
I have seen more visiting LA celebrities here in this dark bar/club then anywhere else in SF (except maybe the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel). And it's easy to walk home from here!
34 locals recommend
Lion Pub
2062 Divisadero Street
34 locals recommend
I have seen more visiting LA celebrities here in this dark bar/club then anywhere else in SF (except maybe the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel). And it's easy to walk home from here!
A small, funky little wine bar, with some limited bar food options.
42 locals recommend
Fat Angel Food & Libation
1740 O'Farrell St
42 locals recommend
A small, funky little wine bar, with some limited bar food options.
A cool little bar, often has a DJ playing.
33 locals recommend
The Social Study
1795 Geary Blvd
33 locals recommend
A cool little bar, often has a DJ playing.
Not my favorite, but definitely the closest wine bar.
13 locals recommend
Wine Jar
1870 Fillmore St
13 locals recommend
Not my favorite, but definitely the closest wine bar.
If you are between 20 & 30, this is the bar you'll most likely head to when you want to watch sports in my neighborhood.
33 locals recommend
The San Francisco Athletic Club
1750 Divisadero St
33 locals recommend
If you are between 20 & 30, this is the bar you'll most likely head to when you want to watch sports in my neighborhood.
Super spot for cocktails!
50 locals recommend
Palmer's Tavern
2298 Fillmore St
50 locals recommend
Super spot for cocktails!
Across the street from The Fillmore, often bands playing at the Fillmore can be found drinking at the bar before their shows (sometimes afterwards too). The Boom Boom Room has their own live music lineup too, lots of R&B, and Funk.
48 locals recommend
Boom Boom Room
1601 Fillmore St
48 locals recommend
Across the street from The Fillmore, often bands playing at the Fillmore can be found drinking at the bar before their shows (sometimes afterwards too). The Boom Boom Room has their own live music lineup too, lots of R&B, and Funk.

Sightseeing

Walk ~10 blocks south to the park to see the much-photographed "Painted Ladies" (Beautiful row of colorfully painted Victorians, with the SF city skyline behind them). Take pics just before sunset.
300 locals recommend
Painted Ladies
Hayes Street
300 locals recommend
Walk ~10 blocks south to the park to see the much-photographed "Painted Ladies" (Beautiful row of colorfully painted Victorians, with the SF city skyline behind them). Take pics just before sunset.