Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
The most popular bakery in SF. Lines are normally out the door. They have great baguettes and the Kouign-amann is delicious.
176 locals recommend
b. patisserie
2821 California StThe most popular bakery in SF. Lines are normally out the door. They have great baguettes and the Kouign-amann is delicious.
Great sustainable Sushi bar that also has amazing ramen. The happy hour menu (get there before 7pm) is a bargain.
48 locals recommend
Tataki Sushi and Sake Bar
2827 California StGreat sustainable Sushi bar that also has amazing ramen. The happy hour menu (get there before 7pm) is a bargain.
A spin-off from the bakery serving gourmet sandwiches. Try the grilled cheese and banh mi.
7 locals recommend
B. on the Go
2794 California StA spin-off from the bakery serving gourmet sandwiches. Try the grilled cheese and banh mi.
The best coffee and cappuccino in Pacific Heights. Great breakfasts.
94 locals recommend
Jane on Fillmore
2123 Fillmore StThe best coffee and cappuccino in Pacific Heights. Great breakfasts.
Great Chinese food for eat-in or take-out. It's not a hole-in-the-wall - the decor is quite nice and so its a pleasant place to eat.
32 locals recommend
Eliza's
2877 California StGreat Chinese food for eat-in or take-out. It's not a hole-in-the-wall - the decor is quite nice and so its a pleasant place to eat.
1-Michelin Star restaurant. Amazing wine list, cocktails, and one of the best hamburgers in the city. You can usually get a seat in the bar area without a reservation. They also have great sandwiches for lunch on weekdays.
76 locals recommend
Spruce
3640 Sacramento St1-Michelin Star restaurant. Amazing wine list, cocktails, and one of the best hamburgers in the city. You can usually get a seat in the bar area without a reservation. They also have great sandwiches for lunch on weekdays.
OTD
2232 Bush StVietnamese. The more casual offshoot of the famous Slanted Door restaurant.
Roam Artisan Burgers
1785 Union StGreat hamburgers.
The Elite Cafe
2049 Fillmore StreetExcellent New Orleans-style restaurant.
Great thin crust pizza and other Italian food. The homemade mozzarella is delicious, as are the fried appetizers.
598 locals recommend
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th StGreat thin crust pizza and other Italian food. The homemade mozzarella is delicious, as are the fried appetizers.
Charming and small French restaurant. They serve a single 5-course menu each night. The wine pairings are excellent.
6 locals recommend
Nico
3228 Sacramento StreetCharming and small French restaurant. They serve a single 5-course menu each night. The wine pairings are excellent.
Octavia
1701 Octavia StGreat California cuisine in a charming neighborhood restaurant.
When you walk down the hidden alley to this Italian restaurant you feel as if you are transported to Rome. A great hidden find with delicious food. The courtyard is great on warm nights.
33 locals recommend
Sociale
3665 Sacramento StWhen you walk down the hidden alley to this Italian restaurant you feel as if you are transported to Rome. A great hidden find with delicious food. The courtyard is great on warm nights.
Ella's American Kitchen
590 Van Ness AvenueDelicious breakfasts.
Blue Bottle Coffee
315 Linden StThe best coffee in SF.
The best pizza in the city. They don't take reservations so try to get there when they open.
16 locals recommend
Del Popolo
855 Bush StThe best pizza in the city. They don't take reservations so try to get there when they open.
This is one of the hottest restaurants in the city. They are very unique for offering California cuisine served dim sum style. Definitely recommended.
141 locals recommend
State Bird Provisions
1529 Fillmore StThis is one of the hottest restaurants in the city. They are very unique for offering California cuisine served dim sum style. Definitely recommended.
Enjoy some of the best and most unusual donuts (try the Maple Bacon) as you peer out over the bay and enjoy a cappuccino. Its located in the kiosk at the end of the yacht harbor.
199 locals recommend
Dynamo Donut and Coffee
2760 24th StEnjoy some of the best and most unusual donuts (try the Maple Bacon) as you peer out over the bay and enjoy a cappuccino. Its located in the kiosk at the end of the yacht harbor.
Great high-end (2 Michelin Star) restaurant. 15+ courses of modernist cuisine.
22 locals recommend
Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore StGreat high-end (2 Michelin Star) restaurant. 15+ courses of modernist cuisine.
A great farmers market on Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday. There are also great permanent shops and restaurants.
679 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
A great farmers market on Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday. There are also great permanent shops and restaurants.
Sightglass Coffee
270 7th StDelicious coffee and a tech-industry power meeting place.
The most expensive and highly regarded restaurant in SF. There is a somewhat less expensive menu in the bar.
34 locals recommend
Saison
178 Townsend StThe most expensive and highly regarded restaurant in SF. There is a somewhat less expensive menu in the bar.
The new hot place for ramen. If you like waiting in line for delicious food, go here.
39 locals recommend
Mensho Tokyo SF
672 Geary StThe new hot place for ramen. If you like waiting in line for delicious food, go here.
A super quirky but awesome ice cream shop that a friend of mine started. They make each serving of ice cream individually using a special liquid nitrogen powered machine invented by an MIT professor. Only in Sf. Get the TCHO chocolate, its the best.
216 locals recommend
Smitten Ice Cream
432 Octavia StA super quirky but awesome ice cream shop that a friend of mine started. They make each serving of ice cream individually using a special liquid nitrogen powered machine invented by an MIT professor. Only in Sf. Get the TCHO chocolate, its the best.
I love this combo cafe and bike shop. The coffee and food are quite good, but the atmosphere is what wins it. Lots of outdoor seating and a truly SF vibe.
83 locals recommend
Mojo Bicycle Cafe
639-A Divisadero StreetI love this combo cafe and bike shop. The coffee and food are quite good, but the atmosphere is what wins it. Lots of outdoor seating and a truly SF vibe.
Amazing coffee and the fanciest toast in the city made with freshly baked bread. On Sunday nights they also do great homemade pizza.
281 locals recommend
The Mill
736 Divisadero StAmazing coffee and the fanciest toast in the city made with freshly baked bread. On Sunday nights they also do great homemade pizza.
My Ivy
1901 Divisadero StA decent Thai place. Nothing special, but good if you want some Thai food.
Drinks & Nightlife
Wild Hare
2801 California StreetA good bar to watch the game or meet a friend.
SPQR
1911 Fillmore St1-Michelin Star pasta restaurant. I highly recommend the pasta tasting menu.
Fun speakeasy bar. The best greyhounds in the city (they fresh squeeze the grapefruit juice).
34 locals recommend
Lion Pub
2062 Divisadero StreetFun speakeasy bar. The best greyhounds in the city (they fresh squeeze the grapefruit juice).
The San Francisco Athletic Club
1750 Divisadero StFabulous sports bar.
Everything Else
Alta Plaza Park
Steiner StreetA great view of the city.
A quiet library if you want a spot to read. The lawn in back is pleasant.
9 locals recommend
Presidio Branch Library
3150 Sacramento StA quiet library if you want a spot to read. The lawn in back is pleasant.
Vogue Theatre
3290 Sacramento StOur local movie theater.
Landmark's Clay Theatre
2261 Fillmore StA great movie theater for independent films.
Sightseeing
A stunning view of the bay. Lyon Street becomes two blocks of stairs at Broadway. Great for workouts. Can you guess which house in Nancy Pelosi's? (hint, it has the big heart sculpture in front and lots of security cameras)
65 locals recommend
Lyon Street Steps
2545-2551 Lyon StA stunning view of the bay. Lyon Street becomes two blocks of stairs at Broadway. Great for workouts. Can you guess which house in Nancy Pelosi's? (hint, it has the big heart sculpture in front and lots of security cameras)
It's a radio tower, but then again so is the Eiffel Tower. Amazing views of the city.
9 locals recommend
Sutro Tower
It's a radio tower, but then again so is the Eiffel Tower. Amazing views of the city.
A very special street that becomes pedestrian-only steps for two blocks. Its great for a stair workout or to take in the view. Can you guess which house in Nancy Pelosi's (hint: its the one with all the cameras)?
If you are here with kids, let them pop-into the presidio to run around.
65 locals recommend
Lyon Street Steps
2545-2551 Lyon StA very special street that becomes pedestrian-only steps for two blocks. Its great for a stair workout or to take in the view. Can you guess which house in Nancy Pelosi's (hint: its the one with all the cameras)?
If you are here with kids, let them pop-into the presidio to run around.
If you want the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, go here. Don't stop at the intermediate view points. Head straight to the top.
194 locals recommend
Marin Headlands
If you want the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, go here. Don't stop at the intermediate view points. Head straight to the top.
Shopping
D&M Wine And Liquor Co
2200 Fillmore StIf you need a great bottle of wine, Scotch, or Bourbon, this is the place.
Zinc Details
1633 Fillmore StSuper cool modern home goods store.
Sue Fisher King
3067 Sacramento StBoutique home decor store.
March
3075 Sacramento StVery cool kitchen & home goods store. Just don't look at the price tags!
The Big 4
1075 California StreetTrendy retro/modern home furnishings.
Scotch & Soda
2031 Fillmore StDutch men & woman's clothing boutique.
Joie
2116 Fillmore StHigh end woman's clothing.
Lilith
2029 Fillmore StreetAnother woman's clothing boutique on Fillmore Street.
The nicest cycling apparel available on the market. And they make a great espresso.
10 locals recommend
Rapha San Francisco
2198 Filbert StThe nicest cycling apparel available on the market. And they make a great espresso.
Browser Books
2195 Fillmore StA great, old-fashioned bookstore.
A very cool Japanese shop with an assortment of inexpensive clothes, stationary, and home goods.
10 locals recommend
MUJI SOMA
540 9th StA very cool Japanese shop with an assortment of inexpensive clothes, stationary, and home goods.
Essentials
High-end grocery store with and *amazing* meat counter. Closed on Sundays.
36 locals recommend
Bryan's
High-end grocery store with and *amazing* meat counter. Closed on Sundays.
Walgreens
1333 Castro StConvenient drug store.
Another great grocery store within walking distance. I prefer Bryan's, but Mollie Stone's is excellent as well.
277 locals recommend
Mollie Stone's Markets
2435 California StAnother great grocery store within walking distance. I prefer Bryan's, but Mollie Stone's is excellent as well.
Arts & Culture
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StAmazing modern art museum.
A great natural sciences museum for kids and the young at heart. There is a 3 story rain forest, aquarium, planetarium, dinosaur fossils, and many interactive exhibits. Don't miss the library upstairs, its one of the hidden gems.
816 locals recommend
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse DrA great natural sciences museum for kids and the young at heart. There is a 3 story rain forest, aquarium, planetarium, dinosaur fossils, and many interactive exhibits. Don't miss the library upstairs, its one of the hidden gems.
A really fun museum for kids. It highlights Walt Disney's personal history, and offers a lot of fun memorabilia, movie clips, and interactive exhibits. They screen a full-length movie every day (included with admission), and there is also a craft room with projects for kids.
90 locals recommend
Walt Disney Family Museum
104 Montgomery StA really fun museum for kids. It highlights Walt Disney's personal history, and offers a lot of fun memorabilia, movie clips, and interactive exhibits. They screen a full-length movie every day (included with admission), and there is also a craft room with projects for kids.