Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
My favorite neighborhood coffee shop. Fresh made in-house scones and pastries. Try their famous drink, the Snowy Plover (sparkling water, espresso, and house made whipped cream).
109 locals recommend
Andytown Coffee Roasters
3655 Lawton StMy favorite neighborhood coffee shop. Fresh made in-house scones and pastries. Try their famous drink, the Snowy Plover (sparkling water, espresso, and house made whipped cream).
Extremely popular brunch spot that is renowned for their toast. Expect wait times of upwards of 1.5 hours on weekends (but since it is 4 blocks from our airbnb, you can wait at home). Interior is covered in reclaimed wood. Also a good option for dinner and cocktails (you can set a reservation).
259 locals recommend
Outerlands
4001 Judah StExtremely popular brunch spot that is renowned for their toast. Expect wait times of upwards of 1.5 hours on weekends (but since it is 4 blocks from our airbnb, you can wait at home). Interior is covered in reclaimed wood. Also a good option for dinner and cocktails (you can set a reservation).
Beautiful restaurant with breathtaking views overlooking Sutro Baths and the ocean. Great for a romantic brunch or dinner.
285 locals recommend
Cliff House
1090 Point Lobos AveBeautiful restaurant with breathtaking views overlooking Sutro Baths and the ocean. Great for a romantic brunch or dinner.
Perfect place to grab a sandwich and take a walk along the beach.
131 locals recommend
Java Beach Café
1396 La Playa StPerfect place to grab a sandwich and take a walk along the beach.
Once featured on the This American Life podcast, this coffee shop is known for its grungy vibe. They sell only coffee, coconuts, and toast. They're not particularly known for customer service, but it's worth experiencing!
141 locals recommend
Trouble Coffee
4033 Judah StOnce featured on the This American Life podcast, this coffee shop is known for its grungy vibe. They sell only coffee, coconuts, and toast. They're not particularly known for customer service, but it's worth experiencing!
A nice craft brewery and restaurant (lobster rolls, burgers, etc.) with outdoor picnic seating. It sits across from the beach and faces Golden Gate Park. Great for sunny days. Dogs and kids welcome.
71 locals recommend
Park Chalet Coastal Beer Garden
1000 Great HwyA nice craft brewery and restaurant (lobster rolls, burgers, etc.) with outdoor picnic seating. It sits across from the beach and faces Golden Gate Park. Great for sunny days. Dogs and kids welcome.
Local pizza joint with good beer on tap. Perfect for families and groups.
75 locals recommend
The Pizza Place on Noriega
3901 Noriega StLocal pizza joint with good beer on tap. Perfect for families and groups.
Beachside Coffee Bar & Kitchen
Good option for brunch. Eggs, waffles, and coffee.
Delicious and authentic Chinese food with real mainland flavors. Order the shanxi mianpi (cold noodles), pork noodle soup, cucumber cold dish, and lamb pita soup. The list goes on and on. Closed Mondays and closed for lunch and randomly just closed, so check before going.
24 locals recommend
Terra Cotta Warrior
2555 Judah StDelicious and authentic Chinese food with real mainland flavors. Order the shanxi mianpi (cold noodles), pork noodle soup, cucumber cold dish, and lamb pita soup. The list goes on and on. Closed Mondays and closed for lunch and randomly just closed, so check before going.
Delicious sushi at an affordable price! One of my favorite places for take out.
19 locals recommend
Tazaki Sushi
3420 Judah StreetDelicious sushi at an affordable price! One of my favorite places for take out.
The BEST pho in the city by far! My favorite place. If you've never had pho, go with the beef pho with rare steak and a Vietnamese iced coffee, can't go wrong!
27 locals recommend
Pho Huynh Hiep 2 - Kevin’s Noodle House
1833 Irving StThe BEST pho in the city by far! My favorite place. If you've never had pho, go with the beef pho with rare steak and a Vietnamese iced coffee, can't go wrong!
Some of the best unique Chinese food. A bit off the beaten path. Spicy, halal, and authentic. Try the cumin lamb, and beef pancakes!
23 locals recommend
Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant
3132 Vicente StSome of the best unique Chinese food. A bit off the beaten path. Spicy, halal, and authentic. Try the cumin lamb, and beef pancakes!
One of my go-to sushi restaurants in the city. It's a bit fancier and pricier but totally worth it. I highly recommend the omakase, and reservations required.
16 locals recommend
Wako Japanese Restaurant
211 Clement StOne of my go-to sushi restaurants in the city. It's a bit fancier and pricier but totally worth it. I highly recommend the omakase, and reservations required.
The Pot's
2652 Judah StIf you like hot pot, this is your place. All you can eat and delicious!
#1 pizza place for those of us that love a nice, thin Italian crust! Get the burrata pizza, arancini balls, and the bucatini pomodoro if they have it. Also great for delivery!
19 locals recommend
Fiorella Clement
2339 Clement St#1 pizza place for those of us that love a nice, thin Italian crust! Get the burrata pizza, arancini balls, and the bucatini pomodoro if they have it. Also great for delivery!
Great place! Delicious food with an amazing vibe, the bartenders also make great drinks. Highly recommend! This caliber of restaurant is rare on this side of town.
20 locals recommend
Violet's
2301 Clement St Great place! Delicious food with an amazing vibe, the bartenders also make great drinks. Highly recommend! This caliber of restaurant is rare on this side of town.
Go-to weekend lunch spot! They started as two dudes selling their daily catch and now they have their own restaurant. The fish burrito has the best value, my fiance raves about the fish sandwich, and try their carrot habanero hot sauce. You can't go wrong here! Also walking distance.
62 locals recommend
Hook Fish Co
4542 Irving StGo-to weekend lunch spot! They started as two dudes selling their daily catch and now they have their own restaurant. The fish burrito has the best value, my fiance raves about the fish sandwich, and try their carrot habanero hot sauce. You can't go wrong here! Also walking distance.
Best. Croissants. Ever. If you miss your summer vacance in France, come here for a reminder of the delicious pastries.
77 locals recommend
Arsicault Bakery
397 Arguello BlvdBest. Croissants. Ever. If you miss your summer vacance in France, come here for a reminder of the delicious pastries.
Popular, local bakery where people wait in lines for their breakfast sandwich.
170 locals recommend
Devil's Teeth Baking Company
3876 Noriega StPopular, local bakery where people wait in lines for their breakfast sandwich.
Arts & Culture
A fine arts museum located in Golden Gate Park. I love their special exhibits and stopping by the Observation Tower (free) for a view of the city.
999 locals recommend
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrA fine arts museum located in Golden Gate Park. I love their special exhibits and stopping by the Observation Tower (free) for a view of the city.
It's a Natural History Museum, Planetarium, Aquarium, and Biodome all in one! Check out rainforests of the world in a 90ft glass dome and the albino alligator. Great for families! For adults, I highly recommend the adults only nightlife event on Thursdays from 6PM to 10PM (check the website beforehand for tickets) where the museum is open late and drinks are served.
816 locals recommend
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse DrIt's a Natural History Museum, Planetarium, Aquarium, and Biodome all in one! Check out rainforests of the world in a 90ft glass dome and the albino alligator. Great for families! For adults, I highly recommend the adults only nightlife event on Thursdays from 6PM to 10PM (check the website beforehand for tickets) where the museum is open late and drinks are served.
Enormous modern museum that's been recently expanded and renovated.
813 locals recommend
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StEnormous modern museum that's been recently expanded and renovated.
Parks & Nature
The best park in San Francisco. You can grab some beers, lay out and have a picnic. It's the best place to people watch and where a lot of San Franciscan's spend their weekends in the summer.
1244 locals recommend
Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetThe best park in San Francisco. You can grab some beers, lay out and have a picnic. It's the best place to people watch and where a lot of San Franciscan's spend their weekends in the summer.
Beautiful (and easy) hiking trail overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Pick a sunny day for the views although I also love the misty fog or as we call him, Karl the Fog! He even has his own instagram @KarlTheFog
694 locals recommend
Lands End Trail
Lands End TrailBeautiful (and easy) hiking trail overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Pick a sunny day for the views although I also love the misty fog or as we call him, Karl the Fog! He even has his own instagram @KarlTheFog
Walk down to Ocean Beach! I may be biased, but this is hands down my favorite thing to do. It's 2 blocks from our house and there is no better way to end the day than watching the sunset on the beach.
553 locals recommend
Ocean Beach
La Playa StWalk down to Ocean Beach! I may be biased, but this is hands down my favorite thing to do. It's 2 blocks from our house and there is no better way to end the day than watching the sunset on the beach.
There are cement fire pits set up along the coast where you are legally allowed to have fires and drink beers. Ends at 9 pm but the sun usually sets well before then. Fun with a group!
17 locals recommend
Ocean Beach Fire Pits
There are cement fire pits set up along the coast where you are legally allowed to have fires and drink beers. Ends at 9 pm but the sun usually sets well before then. Fun with a group!
The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Located inside Golden Gate Park.
348 locals recommend
Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrThe oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Located inside Golden Gate Park.
Built in 1896, this used to be a public saltwater swimming pool complex. The facility burned down in 1966 and the ruins are still there near the Cliff House. It's worth exploring.
246 locals recommend
Sutro Baths
1004 Point Lobos AveBuilt in 1896, this used to be a public saltwater swimming pool complex. The facility burned down in 1966 and the ruins are still there near the Cliff House. It's worth exploring.
Did you know there were bison in San Francisco? Located inside Golden Gate Park, this area is easy to get to and full of bison! If you ever wanted to see one up close, this is the place to go.
67 locals recommend
Bison Paddock
1237 John F Kennedy DrDid you know there were bison in San Francisco? Located inside Golden Gate Park, this area is easy to get to and full of bison! If you ever wanted to see one up close, this is the place to go.
Entertainment & Activities
A 100-acre zoo located in the southwestern corner of San Francisco.
299 locals recommend
San Francisco Zoo
Upper Great HighwayA 100-acre zoo located in the southwestern corner of San Francisco.
Drinks & Nightlife
Little honky-tonk bar by the beach with the look and feel of a small town lodge. Near White Cap cocktail bar. About a 20 min walk or a short Uber/Lyft ride.
73 locals recommend
The Riptide
3639 Taraval StLittle honky-tonk bar by the beach with the look and feel of a small town lodge. Near White Cap cocktail bar. About a 20 min walk or a short Uber/Lyft ride.
Fun local brewery with bar bites, Taco Tuesday, and trivia events. Good food, good drinks, and decently priced.
54 locals recommend
Sunset Reservoir Brewing Company
1735 Noriega StFun local brewery with bar bites, Taco Tuesday, and trivia events. Good food, good drinks, and decently priced.
Go-to cocktail bar. It's a 20 min walk, the cocktails are great, and it's very rarely crowded unlike all the bars close to the inner city.
35 locals recommend
White Cap
3608 Taraval StGo-to cocktail bar. It's a 20 min walk, the cocktails are great, and it's very rarely crowded unlike all the bars close to the inner city.
Shopping
Closest shopping mall (if you forgot to pack socks, underwear, or just want to shop)! Includes Nordstrom, H&M, Zara, Sephora, Apple, and more.
173 locals recommend
Stonestown Galleria
3251 20th AveClosest shopping mall (if you forgot to pack socks, underwear, or just want to shop)! Includes Nordstrom, H&M, Zara, Sephora, Apple, and more.
It's all about aesthetics here. There is one location on Judah St, one on Irving St, and the other is in Venice, CA. Featured often in local newspapers and magazines. Good selection of homeware and clothing (good for gifts, too)! Make sure to check out the back garden for some gorgeous cactus.
55 locals recommend
GENERAL STORE
4035 Judah StIt's all about aesthetics here. There is one location on Judah St, one on Irving St, and the other is in Venice, CA. Featured often in local newspapers and magazines. Good selection of homeware and clothing (good for gifts, too)! Make sure to check out the back garden for some gorgeous cactus.
Essentials
Co-op grocery store (not as affordable or as close Noriega Produce). Good grab and go food options located on Judah St. and close to Trouble Coffee, Judahlicious, Outerlands, the General Store.
74 locals recommend
Other Avenues Grocery Cooperative
3930 Judah StCo-op grocery store (not as affordable or as close Noriega Produce). Good grab and go food options located on Judah St. and close to Trouble Coffee, Judahlicious, Outerlands, the General Store.