Nancy's Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Within walking distance you have a plethora of choices. I've added some additional favorites in town.
Farley's
1315 18th StGreat Coffee
Plow
1299 18th StGreat breakfasts and lunch-opens at 7 during the week
Umi
1328 18th StTerrific Sushi and Pacific rim dishes. Very convenient.
Tiny French bistro-now with good indoor seating and outdoor tables. They serve perhaps the best burgers in town, crepes, entrees, salads etc.
178 locals recommend
Chez maman east
1401 18th StTiny French bistro-now with good indoor seating and outdoor tables. They serve perhaps the best burgers in town, crepes, entrees, salads etc.
Great thin crust pizzas, entrees, salads and desserts. Terrific coffee at their cafe.
162 locals recommend
Piccino
1001 Minnesota StGreat thin crust pizzas, entrees, salads and desserts. Terrific coffee at their cafe.
Fabulous fried chicken and other soul food. Entrees come with 2 generous (fattening) sides. Or you can get (double or single) green salad. Start your meal with 2 corn muffins. Yum.
87 locals recommend
Hard Knox Cafe
2526 3rd StFabulous fried chicken and other soul food. Entrees come with 2 generous (fattening) sides. Or you can get (double or single) green salad. Start your meal with 2 corn muffins. Yum.
If you like pizza, this is pretty darned good. And if you are here on a Monday, you can try All you Can Eat night- I call it Pizza Dim Sum with varied trays of pizza delivered to your table. They also do pick up and delivery which you can enjoy right at your kitchen table at the Haven.
108 locals recommend
Goat Hill Pizza
300 Connecticut StIf you like pizza, this is pretty darned good. And if you are here on a Monday, you can try All you Can Eat night- I call it Pizza Dim Sum with varied trays of pizza delivered to your table. They also do pick up and delivery which you can enjoy right at your kitchen table at the Haven.
I love this place right on the Bay. Great burgers, brunch starting at 10 a.m., fish & chips, and fish tacos. Plus more. You can enjoy the view from the deck or by the window.
62 locals recommend
Mission Rock Resort
817 Terry A Francois BlvdI love this place right on the Bay. Great burgers, brunch starting at 10 a.m., fish & chips, and fish tacos. Plus more. You can enjoy the view from the deck or by the window.
Sunflower
3111 16th StVery reasonable good Vietnamese food. Nice space, friendly staff.
Nopa
560 Divisadero StCome here for fabulous California cuisine, fresh, imaginative.
Fabulous salads and "tartines" (open face sandwiches) for a healthy delicious meal. There or at the Haven table.
12 locals recommend
PARKER Potrero
1399 18th StFabulous salads and "tartines" (open face sandwiches) for a healthy delicious meal. There or at the Haven table.
Excellent food, amazing views of the Bay. With a wonderful patio.
14 locals recommend
STEM Kitchen & Garden
499 Illinois StExcellent food, amazing views of the Bay. With a wonderful patio.
A great new addition to the neighborhood. Where Papitos used to be. Louisiana food. Owned by the brother of the Papitos owner. Lovely person. Great food. Can eat inside or out.
PoBoys Kitchen
317 Connecticut StreetA great new addition to the neighborhood. Where Papitos used to be. Louisiana food. Owned by the brother of the Papitos owner. Lovely person. Great food. Can eat inside or out.
Papitos serves imaginative Mexican food-everything from Duck to grilled shrimp and chorizo. You can select tacos, burritos and other options. Great salads and entree specials as well.
80 locals recommend
Papito
1457 18th StPapitos serves imaginative Mexican food-everything from Duck to grilled shrimp and chorizo. You can select tacos, burritos and other options. Great salads and entree specials as well.
Essentials
After my Welcome Breakfast or your feast at Plow, I recommend the Good Life for organic fruit, cereal and other items you may enjoy at the Haven
282 locals recommend
The Good Life Grocery
448 Cortland AveAfter my Welcome Breakfast or your feast at Plow, I recommend the Good Life for organic fruit, cereal and other items you may enjoy at the Haven
Arts & Culture
Lovely modern building with an extensive art collection in the heart of Golden Gate Park, where you can take a free elevator to the top floor with a great view of the surrounding area.
999 locals recommend
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrLovely modern building with an extensive art collection in the heart of Golden Gate Park, where you can take a free elevator to the top floor with a great view of the surrounding area.
Wonderful building by Renzo Piano with a living room. Inside you can explore an aquarium, Planetarium, walk through a rain forest and see many other science exhibits. Well worth the admission fee.
816 locals recommend
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse DrWonderful building by Renzo Piano with a living room. Inside you can explore an aquarium, Planetarium, walk through a rain forest and see many other science exhibits. Well worth the admission fee.
This is just reopening after an addition was built to house the Fisher Collection. The building(s) are a main attraction. Visit the sculpture garden. Then go across the street to Yerba Buena Gardens for more nature in the midst of the City.
813 locals recommend
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StThis is just reopening after an addition was built to house the Fisher Collection. The building(s) are a main attraction. Visit the sculpture garden. Then go across the street to Yerba Buena Gardens for more nature in the midst of the City.
Amazing museum of Asian art and culture. In what was once our Main Library, wonderfully renovated.
286 locals recommend
Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin StAmazing museum of Asian art and culture. In what was once our Main Library, wonderfully renovated.
Parks & Nature
A wonderful sculpture in the Presidio of SF. You can walk to the Woodline. A unique moving experience.
12 locals recommend
Spire by Andy Goldsworthy
Arguello Boulevard A wonderful sculpture in the Presidio of SF. You can walk to the Woodline. A unique moving experience.
Andy Goldsworthy's Wood Line
Presidio BoulevardWonderful serpentine sculpture of fallen logs
The SF Botanical Garden is a special place, right in GG Park.
182 locals recommend
San Francisco Botanical Garden
1199 9th AveThe SF Botanical Garden is a special place, right in GG Park.
This spot is an oasis in the midst of the action. Lovely grassy hills, waterfalls, memorial to MLKing, dining, right across from the SF Museum of Modern Art. Try it as a change of pace.
124 locals recommend
Yerba Buena Gardens
750 Howard StThis spot is an oasis in the midst of the action. Lovely grassy hills, waterfalls, memorial to MLKing, dining, right across from the SF Museum of Modern Art. Try it as a change of pace.
Right near ATT park is some wonderful scenery: landscaped walking paths along the creek, house boats, birds. Grass.
10 locals recommend
Mission Creek Park
Channel StreetRight near ATT park is some wonderful scenery: landscaped walking paths along the creek, house boats, birds. Grass.
This lovely building wood and glass building at the beginning of GG Park is filled with exotic plants, surrounded by beds of flowers. A beautiful scene.
232 locals recommend
Conservatory of Flowers
100 John F Kennedy DrThis lovely building wood and glass building at the beginning of GG Park is filled with exotic plants, surrounded by beds of flowers. A beautiful scene.
One bus ride from the Haven, you have amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge as you walk along the Bay and the reclaimed marshland.
426 locals recommend
Crissy Field
One bus ride from the Haven, you have amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge as you walk along the Bay and the reclaimed marshland.
Secret pleasure just minutes from the Haven, complete with sandy beach and nearby kayak rentals.
10 locals recommend
Crane Cove Park
Illinois StreetSecret pleasure just minutes from the Haven, complete with sandy beach and nearby kayak rentals.
Sightseeing
Walking the Filbert Steps is my favorite secret sight. Up stairs from the Embarcadero to Telegraph Hill with a bench for resting as needed. You arrive at an amazing sweet garden (similar to mine), essentially the yards of small charming cottages. You might spies kitties napping in the sun. You could climb further to the top of Coit Tower, or finish the walk on the route I provide you, have espresso and a treat.
23 locals recommend
Filbert Steps
Walking the Filbert Steps is my favorite secret sight. Up stairs from the Embarcadero to Telegraph Hill with a bench for resting as needed. You arrive at an amazing sweet garden (similar to mine), essentially the yards of small charming cottages. You might spies kitties napping in the sun. You could climb further to the top of Coit Tower, or finish the walk on the route I provide you, have espresso and a treat.
Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr This is a lovely spot to visit at the beginning of GG Park.
The Ferry Building was transformed in 2003, opened up, bringing in food and other quirky stalls with the Slanted Door Restaurant as an anchor tenant. It's lots of fun walking through, tasting, smelling. You can sit in the back along the water, have something to eat or drink, watch the ferries come in an out. Or even take one to Sausalito.
679 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
The Ferry Building was transformed in 2003, opened up, bringing in food and other quirky stalls with the Slanted Door Restaurant as an anchor tenant. It's lots of fun walking through, tasting, smelling. You can sit in the back along the water, have something to eat or drink, watch the ferries come in an out. Or even take one to Sausalito.
One of our special spots, a beaux arts palace, with goddess statues, a lovely lagoon complete with swans.
463 locals recommend
Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon StOne of our special spots, a beaux arts palace, with goddess statues, a lovely lagoon complete with swans.
A wonderful place to walk along our waterfront, filled with sailboats, sculpture, restaurants. Join folks walking, biking, and skating. You feel part of the human community. You can walk to Fisherman's Wharf all or part way from the Haven.
138 locals recommend
Embarcadero
A wonderful place to walk along our waterfront, filled with sailboats, sculpture, restaurants. Join folks walking, biking, and skating. You feel part of the human community. You can walk to Fisherman's Wharf all or part way from the Haven.
Entertainment & Activities
You could walk or take the light rail to our baseball stadium, right on the water.
596 locals recommend
Oracle Park
24 Willie Mays PlazaYou could walk or take the light rail to our baseball stadium, right on the water.
Wonderful home to the Golden State Warriors Basketball team, and music events. Lovely promenade, sculpture etc. Excited it is nearby. A great destination for a short walk, maybe after brunch at Mission Rock Resort
60 locals recommend
Chase Center
1 Warriors WayWonderful home to the Golden State Warriors Basketball team, and music events. Lovely promenade, sculpture etc. Excited it is nearby. A great destination for a short walk, maybe after brunch at Mission Rock Resort