Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Great brunch and dinner, and almost never a line. Fresh, local California cuisine and wood fired pizzas.
135 locals recommend
Starbelly
3583 16th StGreat brunch and dinner, and almost never a line. Fresh, local California cuisine and wood fired pizzas.
Easier to enter through 16th St, actually. Cheap, fresh banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), and open until 10pm!
53 locals recommend
Dinosaurs
50 Eureka DrEasier to enter through 16th St, actually. Cheap, fresh banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), and open until 10pm!
Sofia Cafe
3463 16th StreetCute cafe good for working at, and delicious Bay area brewed coffee.
El Castillito
136 Church StMy favorite taqueria in the area!
Philz Coffee
3101 24th StGreat coffee served up as a single-brewed cup. Many options!
Another local SF roaster. Very hip, delicious single-cup brewed coffee.
348 locals recommend
Four Barrel Coffee
375 Valencia StAnother local SF roaster. Very hip, delicious single-cup brewed coffee.
Delicious Indian food - and good for take-out if it's crowded. If you eat in, it's BYOB.
90 locals recommend
Pakwan
3182 16th StDelicious Indian food - and good for take-out if it's crowded. If you eat in, it's BYOB.
L'Ardoise
151 Noe StPricey but very romantic and delicious French cuisine.
Great for a splurge and treat. Usually need a reservation, but if you have a small group, show up early (6pm or before) and you can usually get a spot at the bar for dinner. Amazing food and wine.
149 locals recommend
Frances
3870 17th StGreat for a splurge and treat. Usually need a reservation, but if you have a small group, show up early (6pm or before) and you can usually get a spot at the bar for dinner. Amazing food and wine.
Amazing fresh daily baked bread and pastries, coffee, and really good fresh sandwiches and soup. No wifi, but you can pick up a good treat here whenever.
93 locals recommend
Thorough Bread and Pastry
248 Church StAmazing fresh daily baked bread and pastries, coffee, and really good fresh sandwiches and soup. No wifi, but you can pick up a good treat here whenever.
American food, healthy and comforting. The portions aren't huge, but the food is tasty and made with good ingredients. Also a good breakfast option.
96 locals recommend
Chow Food Bar
215 Church StAmerican food, healthy and comforting. The portions aren't huge, but the food is tasty and made with good ingredients. Also a good breakfast option.
Recommend this highly as a reasonable lunch, although still good (but a bit pricier) for dinner. Korean food and Korean-inspired fusion food that is delicious and tasty. Try the okonomiyaki!
73 locals recommend
Commissary
59 9th StRecommend this highly as a reasonable lunch, although still good (but a bit pricier) for dinner. Korean food and Korean-inspired fusion food that is delicious and tasty. Try the okonomiyaki!
Good, cheap Vietnamese. Good for eating in (although the ambience is better if you go in around the corner on the entrance on Valencia) and take-out.
28 locals recommend
Sunflower
3111 16th StGood, cheap Vietnamese. Good for eating in (although the ambience is better if you go in around the corner on the entrance on Valencia) and take-out.
Really really good sushi, but this place doesn't take reservations and gets a crazy line. Go early if you want a seat (or later if you don't mind waiting).
49 locals recommend
Sushi Zone
1815 Market StReally really good sushi, but this place doesn't take reservations and gets a crazy line. Go early if you want a seat (or later if you don't mind waiting).
Great cafe for working. Delicious huge sandwiches and salads too if you need a meal while you work.
H Cafe
3801 17th StreetGreat cafe for working. Delicious huge sandwiches and salads too if you need a meal while you work.
Great for coffee and a pastry on the go, or a delicious brunch in (though always a line on the weekend!). Tasty dinner of local foods in California cuisine as well; good for a date.
161 locals recommend
Mission Beach Cafe
Great for coffee and a pastry on the go, or a delicious brunch in (though always a line on the weekend!). Tasty dinner of local foods in California cuisine as well; good for a date.
Tiny but delicious sushi spot slightly underground in this shopping complex. Also, great happy hour sushi deals if you get there between 5-6pm.
20 locals recommend
Sushi Time
2275 Market StTiny but delicious sushi spot slightly underground in this shopping complex. Also, great happy hour sushi deals if you get there between 5-6pm.
Try to make a reservation here if you want really good nontraditional sushi and Japanese side dishes and really delicious in-house made tofu. Very cute and cozy local ambience.
35 locals recommend
Eiji
317 Sanchez StTry to make a reservation here if you want really good nontraditional sushi and Japanese side dishes and really delicious in-house made tofu. Very cute and cozy local ambience.
Essentials
Golden Produce
172 Church StRecommend this local grocer - great seasonal produce!
The meat and booze extension of Golden Produce; both owned by the same family. These are a great local grocery option, if you don't want to go to Safeway.
18 locals recommend
Golden Natural Foods
130 Church StThe meat and booze extension of Golden Produce; both owned by the same family. These are a great local grocery option, if you don't want to go to Safeway.
Upscale grocery with a great deli counter. Definitely pricey (and a line on good picnic days in the park!), but if you're willing to pay, truly delicious meats, wine, produce, etc.
651 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th StUpscale grocery with a great deli counter. Definitely pricey (and a line on good picnic days in the park!), but if you're willing to pay, truly delicious meats, wine, produce, etc.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great cocktails, draft beers served in mason jars, and a pool table. Trendy, local happy hour location, and it gets busy on weekend evenings.
89 locals recommend
Churchill
198 Church StGreat cocktails, draft beers served in mason jars, and a pool table. Trendy, local happy hour location, and it gets busy on weekend evenings.
Trendy gay bar. It has great cocktails and although can be a bit of a crowded scene on the weekends, it is great and relaxed for happy hour.
118 locals recommend
Blackbird
2124 Market StTrendy gay bar. It has great cocktails and although can be a bit of a crowded scene on the weekends, it is great and relaxed for happy hour.
Major dive bar with a juke box, foosball tables, and a really big draft beer selection.
58 locals recommend
Lucky 13
1301 Park StMajor dive bar with a juke box, foosball tables, and a really big draft beer selection.
Hipster neighborhood dive bar with PBR and Jameson combo deals, a pool table, and TVs usually showing sports.
20 locals recommend
Thieves Tavern
Hipster neighborhood dive bar with PBR and Jameson combo deals, a pool table, and TVs usually showing sports.
More upscale than a typical bar on 16th, this is a must go for beer aficionados. There are over 100 craft beers on tap, and the bartenders are experts to help you pick. Also a pretty good burger.
177 locals recommend
The Monk's Kettle
3141 16th StreetMore upscale than a typical bar on 16th, this is a must go for beer aficionados. There are over 100 craft beers on tap, and the bartenders are experts to help you pick. Also a pretty good burger.
Total hidey-hole of a bar. If you go to the back room (the Hideout), you'll find a cramped but cozy space with a separate bar that has always changing but delicious craft cocktails.
36 locals recommend
The Hideout
3121 16th StTotal hidey-hole of a bar. If you go to the back room (the Hideout), you'll find a cramped but cozy space with a separate bar that has always changing but delicious craft cocktails.
The best spot for drinking on a nice day other than Dolores park. A huge yard with picnic tables and a huge draft beer selection good for pitchers makes it ideal (also a grill with burgers).
222 locals recommend
Zeitgeist
199 Valencia StThe best spot for drinking on a nice day other than Dolores park. A huge yard with picnic tables and a huge draft beer selection good for pitchers makes it ideal (also a grill with burgers).
Everything Else
Rub a Dub Dub
The closest laundromat, if you need to do laundry.
Sightseeing
Great people watching for all the characters of San Francisco. Wonderful picnic spot to have beers and sandwiches (pick up from Bi-Rite nearby!) and just hang out on a nice day.
1244 locals recommend
Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetGreat people watching for all the characters of San Francisco. Wonderful picnic spot to have beers and sandwiches (pick up from Bi-Rite nearby!) and just hang out on a nice day.
Shopping
Amazing ice cream in intriguing flavors like salted caramel, olive oil, basil, roasted coconut, etc. Watch out for a long line though, although if you're getting soft serve, try the second window.
476 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th StAmazing ice cream in intriguing flavors like salted caramel, olive oil, basil, roasted coconut, etc. Watch out for a long line though, although if you're getting soft serve, try the second window.