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The insider’s guide to San Francisco
What to do when you’re in “The City.” (Tip #1: We don’t call it “Frisco.” Or “San Fran.”)
If you’re arriving early, staying a few days after, or just want to occupy your free
time, here’s the inside scoop on the best SF has to offer.
For foodies
Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
Southern French and Italian, traditional yet modern.
Famous for its coq au vin.
Address: 398 Hayes St at Gough
District: Hayes Valley
Phone: (415) 551-1590
Takes reservations: Yes
Alegrias
Authentic Spanish tapas perfect for sharing. Cozy
and romantic ambiance, with an extensive wine list
featuring a host of Spanish vintages.
Address: 2018 Lombard St at Webster
District: Marina
Phone: (415) 929-8888
Takes reservations: Yes
Belden Place
Also known as SF’s French Quarter, this cobblestone
street is closed to traffic and filled with wicker tables,
chairs, heat lamps, and umbrellas. French, Italian, and
Mediterranean restaurants line this European-style
alleyway.
Address: Belden Pl
District: Financial
Takes reservations: Yes
Chambers Eat + Drink
Restaurant and lounge inside the iconic Phoenix Hotel.
The seasonal menu marries its California origin with
Japanese, Mediterranean, and French influences.
Address: 601 Eddy St between Larkin St & Polk St
District: Tenderloin
Phone: (415) 496-5178
Takes reservations: Yes
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Elephant Sushi
Hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant with unique, high-quality
options. Order the monkfish appetizer!
Address: 1916 Hyde St between Green St &
Delgado Pl
District: Russian Hill
Phone: (415) 440-1905
Takes reservations: Yes
La Taqueria
The Mission boasts some of the best Mexican food in
the city, and La Taqueria is the place to see why. Get
the carne asada dorado-style with guacamole and an
agua fresca.
Address: 2889 Mission St between 24th St & 25th St
District: Mission
Phone: (415) 285-7117
Takes reservations: No
Ramen Underground
Tiny Japanese noodle shop a few blocks from Union
Square. Go for the spicy miso broth!
Address: 355 Kearny St at Pine St
District: Financial
Phone: (415) 765-9909
Takes reservations: No
SOMA StrEat Food Park
Different food trucks every day. Walk around, check
out the menus, and grab a spot at an outside table or
inside a bus decked out with tables and chairs.
Address: 428 11th St between US Highway
101 & Harrison St
District: SOMA
Takes reservations: No
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana
Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Little Italy,
specializing in Neapolitan pizza. An array of antipasti,
pastas, and ensalatas are also available at this
authentic Italian eatery.
Address: 1570 Stockton St at Union St
District: North Beach
Phone: (415) 835-9888
Takes reservations: No
Umami
Japanese tavern with a great selection of izakaya,
nigiri, and house sushi rolls. The chef works closely
with Tokyo’s Kyushu market to provide unique and rare
fish for weekend specials.
Address: 2909 Webster St between Union
St & Filbert St
District: Cow Hollow
Phone: (415) 346-3431
Takes reservations: Yes
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For serious shoppers
Fillmore St
One of the city’s most vibrant shopping streets.
Leisurely peruse one of the vintage clothing stores or
people-watch at a quiet sidewalk cafe. With its variety
of boutiques, galleries, and dining, you could spend the
whole day exploring here!
Address: Fillmore St at California St
District: Pac Heights
Haight-Ashbury
Once the epicenter of hippie culture, this eclectic
neighborhood still boasts vintage boutiques and one-of-a-
kind costume shops alongside urban clothing stores.
Don’t forget to stop by for a pint and picnic chicken
sandwich at Magnolia’s Gastropub along the way!
Address: Haight St at Ashbury St
District: The Haight
Sacramento St
If you’re looking for something a little more chic, head
down to tree-lined Sacramento St. Browse upscale
boutiques and unique novelty shops and check out the
Victorian and French architecture from Broderick St. to
Spruce St.
Address: Sacramento St at Presidio Ave
District: Presidio Heights
Union St
Arguably the best street in the city to window-shop the
hours away. Top off your day of shopping with a casual
lunch and a glass of wine in one of the numerous
restaurants lining the street.
Address: Union St at Fillmore St
District: Cow Hollow
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Hopper’s Hands
Park at Crissy Field and run the path along the water
to the base of the bridge at Fort Point, where you’ll see
this famous set of black and orange hands. Here you’ll
turn around and retrace your steps, but don’t forget to
high-five Hopper’s Hands!
Address: Marine Dr
District: Presidio
House of Air
Go airborne in this converted Presidio air hangar.
Come practice your trampoline tricks during open air
time or join a hourly trampoline dodgeball session.
Reservations are recommended.
Address: 926 Old Mason St
District: Presidio
Phone: (415) 345-9675
Lyon Street Steps
Historical stairway that consists of 288 steps. Great
workout to the top, where you’ll be rewarded with
panoramic views of the city.
Address: 2450 Lyon St between Broadway
St & Green St
District: Pac Heights
Mission Cliffs Climbing & Fitness
There’s something for everyone at this indoor rock
climbing facility. Choose from a 50-foot lead wall,
23,000 square feet of climbing terrain, 2,000 square
feet of bouldering, and over 100 top and lead ropes.
If you’re looking for something more grounded, they
also offer kickboxing, yoga, and bootcamp.
Address: 2295 Harrison St between 18th St
& 19th St
District: Mission
Phone: (415) 550-0515
SenSpa
Gorgeous spa in a renovated barrack in the Presidio.
Great place to unwind and rejuvinate after a
long week.
Address: 1161 Gorgas Ave
District: Presidio
Phone: (415) 441-1777
Yoga to the People
Located in the heart of the Mission, this studio
welcomes all levels of yogis. Classes are power
vinyasa flow based. The suggested donation is a mere
$10 and there’s no need to pre-register.
Address: 2973 16th St
District: Mission
Phone: (917) 573-9642
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For fitness fanatics

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15 Romolo
Prohibition-style bar tucked in a secluded alleyway
that in previous lives has been a speakeasy, brothel,
and Basque Hotel. Now known as 15 Romolo, this
historic building has great drinks, good food, and
plenty of seating.
Address: 15 Romolo Pl between Broadway St
& Fresno St
District: North Beach
Phone: (415) 398-1359
Bourbon & Branch
Exquisitely crafted cocktails by master mixologists.
There’s a secret bar in the library that requires a
password to get in (it’s “books”). Reservations required
on weekend nights.
Address: 501 Jones St between O’Farrell St
& Geary St
District: Tenderloin
Phone: (415) 346-1735
Butter
Head here for a 40 in a paper bag, tater tots, deep
fried twinkies, and jello shots. Need we say more?
Address: 354 11th St between Folsom St & Harrison St
District: SOMA
Phone: (415) 863-5964
Jones
A perfect rooftop place to enjoy drinks on an Indian-summer
evening.
Address: 620 Jones St between Colin Pl & Geary St
District: Tenderloin
Phone: (415) 496-6858
Little Shamrock
Old Irish bar with board games and darts right across
from Golden Gate Park. Head over after a visit to
the De Young Museum or the California Academy of
Sciences.
Address: 807 Lincoln Wy between 10th Ave & 9th Ave
District: Inner Sunset
Phone: (415) 661-0060
Smuggler’s Cove
Pirate-themed tiki bar. The puka punch and smuggler’s
rum barrel are house favorites.
Address: 650 Gough St between McAllister St &
Ash St
District: Fillmore
Phone: (415) 869-1900
Soda Popinski’s
Fully stocked bar with an interior that looks like a
Siberian hunting lodge. Spin the roulette wheel or
play old-school Nintendo games on a giant projector
screen.
Address: 1548 California St between Polk St &
Larkin St
District: Nob Hill
Phone: (415) 857-1548
Specs’ Twelve Adler Museum
Cafe
Get the cheese wheel and the warm draft beer in this
old sailor bar. It’s a dive, but it’s got character.
Address: 12 Saroyan Pl
District: Chinatown
Phone: (415) 421-4112
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For bar hoppers, pub crawlers, and clubbers

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Balmy Alley
Take a stroll down this block-long alley to see the
most concentrated collection of murals in the city. The
murals began in the mid-1980s as an expression of
artists’ outrage over human rights and political abuses
in Central America. The artwork changes regularly to
reflect current issues around the world.
Address: Balmy Alley between 24th St & 25th St
District: Mission
Cartoon Art Museum
This museum houses 6,000 pieces of original cartoon
and animation art. You’ll find everything from editorial
cartoons to comic books, graphic novels to anime,
and Sunday funnies to Saturday morning cartoons on
display.
Address: 655 Mission St between New Montgomery
St & Annie St
District: SOMA
Phone: (415) 227-8666
Maritime National Historic Park
Scope out the docked historic vessels and enjoy the
breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. Free to
wander outside the ships, $5 to board.
Address: 499 Jefferson St at Hyde St
District: Fisherman’s Wharf
Phone: (415) 447-5000
Musee Mecanique
As one of the world’s largest privately owned
collections of coin-operated machines, this museum
takes you back in time amongst the dusty antique
arcade games and stop-motion attractions. Be sure
to grab a cup of chowder or a lobster roll from the
seafood market right outside when you’re done.
Address: Pier 45 at the end of Taylor St
District: Fisherman’s Wharf
Stow Lake Boathouse
See Golden Gate Park in a different way. Rent a
paddleboat and glide across the lake’s calm waters.
Keep an eye out for birds, turtles, and waterfalls.
Address: 50 Stow Lake Dr
District: Golden Gate Park
Phone: (415) 386-2531
Sutro Baths
Here stand the ruins of a 25,000-person swimming
facility engineered to be open to the tides, but
destroyed by a fire in 1966. Now its a landmark along
a beautiful hike on the ocean. Grab a bite to eat at the
famous Cliff House and check out the giant Camera
Obscura afterwards.
Address: Point Lobos Ave
District: Sea Cliff
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For the offbeat and adventurous

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Alcatraz Island
Rich in history, this island houses the infamous
federal penitentiary – not to mention the ruins of
the West Coast’s first lighthouse and U.S.-built fort.
Feeling brave? Take a night tour of the abandoned
penitentiary. Save some time and book your tickets
ahead.
Address: 1398 The Embarcadero
District: Fisherman’s Wharf
Phone: (415) 981-7625
California Academy of Sciences
One of the largest national history museums in the
world. See an aquarium, planetarium, historic exhibits,
engaging technology, and a rainforest all under one
(living) roof.
Address: 55 Music Concourse Dr
District: Golden Gate Park
Phone: (415) 379-8000
Ferry Building
This historic building is a hub for ferry transit, artisans,
and world-class food. Come for the local farmer’s
market on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings.
Address: 1 Sausalito - San Francisco Ferry Bldg
District: Embarcadero
Golden Gate Bridge
What would a trip to San Francisco be without a
visit to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge? Park at the
neighboring Presidio Institute and walk the lush
grounds down to the Golden Gate visitor center with
prime viewing spots of the spectacular landmark.
Address: Golden Gate Bridge
District: Presidio
Japanese Tea Garden
This serene park-within-a-park is the perfect place to
gather your thoughts, take in the beautiful scenery,
and enjoy a pot of Japanese tea.
Address: 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr
District: Golden Gate Park
San Francisco Cable Cars
The cable car is the only moving national historic
monument in the world. Built in 1873, the cable cars
transport 9.7 million people around the city annually.
Tip: For fewer lines, take the California Street line
from the Ferry Building to Pacific Heights and back
again. It runs east-west through the Financial District
and Chinatown, over Nob Hill, and stops at Van Ness
Avenue.
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For the true tourist

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Blue Bottle Coffee
Modern coffee shop that serves a variety of espresso
drinks, drip coffee, and iced coffees. Organic treats,
light breakfast, and lunch are also available.
Address: 66 Mint Plaza between Jessie St
& Mission St
District: SOMA
Flywheel Coffee Roasters
Independent and family owned, all coffee is hand
roasted on-site to ensure freshness. Great place to get
some work done or hang out with a good book.
Address: 672 Stanyan St between Haight St & Page St
District: The Haight
Phone: (415) 682-4023
Four Barrel Coffee
Smooth, flavorful lattes. Open floor plan great for
people watching or checking out the roastery at the
back of the shop.
Address: 375 Valencia St at 15th St
District: Mission
Phone: (415) 896-4289
Saint Frank Coffee
Saint Frank Coffee is an independent and locally
owned venture that finds beauty and significance not
only in the sensory experience of coffee, but also in its
social aspects. It’s a modern space and they specialize
in drip coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos with an artistic
touch.
Address: 2340 Polk St between Union St
& Russian Hill
District: Russian Hill
Phone: (415) 775-1619
The Buena Vista Cafe
A favorite of San Francisco! Take a cable car down to
this historic cafe and try their famous Irish coffee.
Address: 2765 Hyde St between North Pt St
& Beach St
District: Fisherman’s Wharf
Phone: (415) 474-5044
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For coffee connoisseurs