Guidebook for San Francisco

Laurie
Guidebook for San Francisco

Food Scene

Good food, good beer, good fun. Awesome ocean view to the west; opens into Golden Gate Park to the east. Live bands on the lawn Sunday afternoons in the summer.
236 locals recommend
Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant
1000 Great Hwy
236 locals recommend
Good food, good beer, good fun. Awesome ocean view to the west; opens into Golden Gate Park to the east. Live bands on the lawn Sunday afternoons in the summer.
Iconic historic landmark of SF. Unbeatable view. Delicious food, impeccable service. Offers casual bistro to fine dining.
285 locals recommend
Cliff House
1090 Point Lobos Ave
285 locals recommend
Iconic historic landmark of SF. Unbeatable view. Delicious food, impeccable service. Offers casual bistro to fine dining.
Diner with a panoramic view of the ocean, the bay, Land's End, Sutro Baths ruins and Marin Headlands. Pop into the Lands End Visitors Center just above the restaurant. Then go for a hike!
38 locals recommend
Louis'
902 Point Lobos Ave
38 locals recommend
Diner with a panoramic view of the ocean, the bay, Land's End, Sutro Baths ruins and Marin Headlands. Pop into the Lands End Visitors Center just above the restaurant. Then go for a hike!
Small neighborhood restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with indoor and sidewalk seating.
48 locals recommend
Cassava
401 Balboa St
48 locals recommend
Small neighborhood restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with indoor and sidewalk seating.
Several fresh fish options daily. Free wine while you wait for your table!
39 locals recommend
Pacific Cafe
7000 Geary Blvd
39 locals recommend
Several fresh fish options daily. Free wine while you wait for your table!
Delicious deli sandwiches plus sides; daily specials. Take your sandwich to the beach or Golden Gate Park. Few tables for dining in.
553 locals recommend
Ocean Beach
La Playa St
553 locals recommend
Delicious deli sandwiches plus sides; daily specials. Take your sandwich to the beach or Golden Gate Park. Few tables for dining in.
Great for take-out / delivery. Delicious hot and sour soup. Good prices. Tell Lily what you're hungry for and she'll help you order.
Hunan Cafe #2
4450 Cabrillo St
Great for take-out / delivery. Delicious hot and sour soup. Good prices. Tell Lily what you're hungry for and she'll help you order.
My go-to for Thai food delivery because its good, its nearby so will arrive hot, and the prices are fair.
22 locals recommend
Sri Thai Cuisine
4621 Lincoln Way
22 locals recommend
My go-to for Thai food delivery because its good, its nearby so will arrive hot, and the prices are fair.
XLB - xiaolongbao (Shanghai soup dumplings). Cash only. Expect to wait in line.
42 locals recommend
Shanghai Dumpling King
3319 Balboa Street
42 locals recommend
XLB - xiaolongbao (Shanghai soup dumplings). Cash only. Expect to wait in line.
Always - busy little coffee shop filled with regulars deep in conversation or on their wi-fi or reading the Chronicle or a book or just people-watching ... Coffee plus lots more. Open early til late.
43 locals recommend
Simple Pleasures Cafe
3434 Balboa St
43 locals recommend
Always - busy little coffee shop filled with regulars deep in conversation or on their wi-fi or reading the Chronicle or a book or just people-watching ... Coffee plus lots more. Open early til late.
Coffee shop plus books galore. Large space (many tables) for working on your wi-fi, reading, conversation, etc. Coffees, teas, sandwiches, desserts...
Zephyr Caffe
3643 Balboa Street
Coffee shop plus books galore. Large space (many tables) for working on your wi-fi, reading, conversation, etc. Coffees, teas, sandwiches, desserts...
SUSHI
7 locals recommend
Kitaro
5723 Geary Blvd
7 locals recommend
SUSHI
Unique Thai dining experience; delicious.
10 locals recommend
Khan Toke Thai House
5937 Geary Blvd
10 locals recommend
Unique Thai dining experience; delicious.
Crab, Crab and More Crab
34 locals recommend
PPQ Dungeness Island - San Francisco
5821 Clement St
34 locals recommend
Crab, Crab and More Crab
Locally owned and operated (this is their 2nd location in the city). Amazing breads, bakery items. Breakfast and lunch Tues - Sun
39 locals recommend
Marla Bakery & Catering
399 Business Park Ct
39 locals recommend
Locally owned and operated (this is their 2nd location in the city). Amazing breads, bakery items. Breakfast and lunch Tues - Sun
Fabulous Burmese (think Indian, Chines, Thai) food in a beautiful setting without the hour-long wait of other burmese restaurants. Must try: tea leaf salad!
62 locals recommend
Mandalay Restaurant
4348 California St
62 locals recommend
Fabulous Burmese (think Indian, Chines, Thai) food in a beautiful setting without the hour-long wait of other burmese restaurants. Must try: tea leaf salad!
4-star Yelp-rated and Zagat-rated Korean BBQ restaurant. May be a bit of a wait, but worth it. Some of the fun finds here are the hot pots, in which you choose your ingredients and cook them in boiling broth at your own table. There’s also a selection of meats that you can barbecue on an inset tabletop grill. Don’t be surprised when the waiter shows up with 11 plates. Many main dishes here come with a variety of banchan, small sides and mix-ins that range from kimchi to pickled veggies and mung-bean pancakes.
30 locals recommend
Han Il Kwan
1802 Balboa St
30 locals recommend
4-star Yelp-rated and Zagat-rated Korean BBQ restaurant. May be a bit of a wait, but worth it. Some of the fun finds here are the hot pots, in which you choose your ingredients and cook them in boiling broth at your own table. There’s also a selection of meats that you can barbecue on an inset tabletop grill. Don’t be surprised when the waiter shows up with 11 plates. Many main dishes here come with a variety of banchan, small sides and mix-ins that range from kimchi to pickled veggies and mung-bean pancakes.

Essentials

Open 24/7. Full-service grocery store, pharmacy, deli counter, bakery, wines and liquor, firewood for beach bonfires.
140 locals recommend
Safeway
735 7th Ave
140 locals recommend
Open 24/7. Full-service grocery store, pharmacy, deli counter, bakery, wines and liquor, firewood for beach bonfires.

Everything Else

18-hole public golf course, overlooking the GG Bridge, the Bay, Marin Headlands, the city ...
32 locals recommend
Lincoln Park Golf Course
300 34th Ave
32 locals recommend
18-hole public golf course, overlooking the GG Bridge, the Bay, Marin Headlands, the city ...
Full service during regular business hours, 2 ATM's outside open 24/7.
Bank of America Financial Center
3701 Balboa St
Full service during regular business hours, 2 ATM's outside open 24/7.

Arts & Culture

Built to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War !, impressive collection of 4,000 ys of art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the GG Bridge. Includes Rodin's The Thinker.
208 locals recommend
Legion of Honor
100 34th Ave
208 locals recommend
Built to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War !, impressive collection of 4,000 ys of art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the GG Bridge. Includes Rodin's The Thinker.

Entertainment & Activities

Sweet little neighborhood theater, been around since 1926. Two (2) screens. Cash only - $10 general admission.
60 locals recommend
Balboa Theatre
3630 Balboa St
60 locals recommend
Sweet little neighborhood theater, been around since 1926. Two (2) screens. Cash only - $10 general admission.

Parks & Nature

GGP offers a plethora of things to see and do: trails, art and science museums, lakes, japanese and botanical gardens, swing-dancing, music festivals, bocce courts, fly fishing, archery, paddle-boating and so much more.
1721 locals recommend
Golden Gate Park
1721 locals recommend
GGP offers a plethora of things to see and do: trails, art and science museums, lakes, japanese and botanical gardens, swing-dancing, music festivals, bocce courts, fly fishing, archery, paddle-boating and so much more.

Sightseeing

Walking / hiking the 1.2 mile trail from Lands End to Eagles Point offers breathtaking views on clear days and an iconic SF experience on cool, foggy days. The trail skirts the bluff above the melding of the Pacific Ocean with SF Bay.
16 locals recommend
Lands End Trail Eagles Point
916 El Camino Del Mar
16 locals recommend
Walking / hiking the 1.2 mile trail from Lands End to Eagles Point offers breathtaking views on clear days and an iconic SF experience on cool, foggy days. The trail skirts the bluff above the melding of the Pacific Ocean with SF Bay.
Photo op extraordinaire! Walk among the not-so-ancient ruins of the Sutro Baths ~ a large, privately owned public saltwater swimming pool complex built in 1896 at the ocean's edge, destroyed by fire in 1967. What remains looks like the site of an archeological dig, and a seagull's paradise. Bask in the ocean mist and cool breeze.
246 locals recommend
Sutro Baths
1004 Point Lobos Ave
246 locals recommend
Photo op extraordinaire! Walk among the not-so-ancient ruins of the Sutro Baths ~ a large, privately owned public saltwater swimming pool complex built in 1896 at the ocean's edge, destroyed by fire in 1967. What remains looks like the site of an archeological dig, and a seagull's paradise. Bask in the ocean mist and cool breeze.
A visit to San Francisco is not complete without a visit to the Bridge. Whether you drive across, walk, run or bike across ~ make your way to the bridge at least once, at least for a minute, day or night. The views are magical and inspiring. One of my all-time favorite spots!
1321 locals recommend
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
1321 locals recommend
A visit to San Francisco is not complete without a visit to the Bridge. Whether you drive across, walk, run or bike across ~ make your way to the bridge at least once, at least for a minute, day or night. The views are magical and inspiring. One of my all-time favorite spots!