Guidebook for San Francisco
Shopping
Stonestown Galleria
3251 20th AveFood Scene
Starbucks
549 Oceana Blvd Can't go wrong with Starbucks coffee!
Park Chow
Great comfort food.
Bangkok Garden Thai Cuisine
201 Southgate AveVery good thai food.
Xiao Loong Restaurant
250 W Portal AveGood Chinese food.
Eric's Restaurant
1500 Church StGreat Chinese food, try the Shanghai chicken!
Original Joe’s Westlake
11 Glenwood Ave
Submarine Center
820 Ulloa StGreat sandwiches!
Bursa Restaurant
60 W Portal Ave Good Mediterranean food. Don't miss their falafels.
Roti Indian Bistro
53 W Portal AveYummy Indian food. They deliver.
Extreme Pizza
7th StreetPizza for delivery.
Try their chicken katsu, they make their own sauce which contains apples! Unique.
Ninki Sushi Bar & Restaurant
1439 Taraval StTry their chicken katsu, they make their own sauce which contains apples! Unique.
Thick Chicago-style and thin crust pizza, salad, pasta, beer and wine.
85 locals recommend
Blue Line Pizza
1201 San Carlos Ave Thick Chicago-style and thin crust pizza, salad, pasta, beer and wine.
Panda Express
701 Westlake Center Good Chinese fast food.
Enjoy a meal while having a view of Ocean Beach at this restaurant.
236 locals recommend
Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant
1000 Great HwyEnjoy a meal while having a view of Ocean Beach at this restaurant.
Great brunch, known for its organic and eclectic menus. Definitely check this out!
259 locals recommend
Outerlands
4001 Judah StGreat brunch, known for its organic and eclectic menus. Definitely check this out!
Our personal favorite restaurant in San Francisco. Tried and true and consistently good!
123 locals recommend
Universal Cafe
2814 19th StOur personal favorite restaurant in San Francisco. Tried and true and consistently good!
Gialina
2842 Diamond StGreat pizza restaurant.
Bursa Restaurant
60 W Portal AvePeruvian restaurant.
Squat & Gobble
1 W Portal AveCrepes, salads, coffee.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
3271 Lakeshore AveGood Mexican Fast Food.
Essentials
Trader Joe's
417 Westlake CenterCity Sports
3201 20th AveGym
Lucky
1750 Fulton St
Safeway
601 Westlake CenterBikram Hot Yoga
203 Southgate AveWestlake Laundry
169 Southgate AvePlace to get off the shelf medications, lotions, soap, and other essentials.
55 locals recommend
Walgreens
216 Westlake CenterPlace to get off the shelf medications, lotions, soap, and other essentials.
Parks & Nature
Lands End Trail
Lands End TrailExcellent views of the Golden Gate bridge
Home to numerous gardens, lakes, and museums. Don't miss the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers and the California Academy of Sciences (aquarium).
1721 locals recommend
Golden Gate Park
Home to numerous gardens, lakes, and museums. Don't miss the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers and the California Academy of Sciences (aquarium).
Ocean Beach
La Playa StCheck out serious surfers tackling the waves at this beach.
Yosemite National Park
https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
Getting Around
Daly City Bart Station
500 John Daly Blvd511 SF Bay
375 Beale Streethttp://511.org/
Use this website to plan how to get around using public transportation.
https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/routemaps/57%20Parkmerced.pdf
This is the direct link for the bus #57 route which stops right outside the Lake Merced Hill complex. It has a route that goes to the Daly City BART station and the West Portal MUNI station which can take you to downtown San Francisco and the East Bay.
SFMTA Central Subway Project Office
530 Bush Streethttps://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/routemaps/57%20Parkmerced.pdf
This is the direct link for the bus #57 route which stops right outside the Lake Merced Hill complex. It has a route that goes to the Daly City BART station and the West Portal MUNI station which can take you to downtown San Francisco and the East Bay.
Sightseeing
Haight-Ashbury
Known for the Summer of Love.
Talk a walk or bike across this famous San Francisco landmark.
1321 locals recommend
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate BridgeTalk a walk or bike across this famous San Francisco landmark.
The Castro
Famous for it's gay scene.
Fisherman’s Wharf is also home to PIER 39, a festive waterfront marketplace that is one of the city’s most popular attractions. A community of California sea lions has taken up residence on the floats in the PIER 39 Marina and visitors line the nearby railing to watch their antics. From there it’s a short walk to the San Francisco Dungeon and Madame Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and the famous crab vendors selling walk-away crab and shrimp cocktails.
713 locals recommend
Fisherman's Wharf
2801 Leavenworth StFisherman’s Wharf is also home to PIER 39, a festive waterfront marketplace that is one of the city’s most popular attractions. A community of California sea lions has taken up residence on the floats in the PIER 39 Marina and visitors line the nearby railing to watch their antics. From there it’s a short walk to the San Francisco Dungeon and Madame Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and the famous crab vendors selling walk-away crab and shrimp cocktails.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) runs three cable car lines. These historic vehicles are not self-powered; rather they move using a mechanism that grips cables that run beneath San Francisco's streets.
The three cable lines are:
Powell-Hyde
Powell-Mason
California Street
207 locals recommend
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
1201 Mason StThe San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) runs three cable car lines. These historic vehicles are not self-powered; rather they move using a mechanism that grips cables that run beneath San Francisco's streets.
The three cable lines are:
Powell-Hyde
Powell-Mason
California Street
Alcatraz, the notorious former prison, is located on an island of the same name in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Some of the United States’ most notorious criminals were incarcerated there. Though several tried, no inmate ever made a successful escape from “The Rock.” The prison was closed in the 1960’s and stories about Alcatraz are legendary. A visit to Alcatraz today is fascinating. Recorded cell-house tours are available, allowing visitors to learn about the prison as they explore the buildings and grounds. To reach the island, take an Alcatraz Cruises ferry from Pier 33. Advance reservations are recommended, 415-981-ROCK (7625). www.alcatrazcruises.com
503 locals recommend
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz, the notorious former prison, is located on an island of the same name in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Some of the United States’ most notorious criminals were incarcerated there. Though several tried, no inmate ever made a successful escape from “The Rock.” The prison was closed in the 1960’s and stories about Alcatraz are legendary. A visit to Alcatraz today is fascinating. Recorded cell-house tours are available, allowing visitors to learn about the prison as they explore the buildings and grounds. To reach the island, take an Alcatraz Cruises ferry from Pier 33. Advance reservations are recommended, 415-981-ROCK (7625). www.alcatrazcruises.com
North Beach, the city’s Italian quarter, isn’t a beach at all. It’s a neighborhood of romantic European-style sidewalk cafes, restaurants and shops centered near Washington Square along Columbus and Grant avenues. The beautiful Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a beloved landmark. Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill offers a splendid vantage point for photos of the bridges and the Bay. Inside the tower, floor-to-ceiling murals painted in the 1930s depict scenes of early San Francisco.
229 locals recommend
North Beach
North Beach, the city’s Italian quarter, isn’t a beach at all. It’s a neighborhood of romantic European-style sidewalk cafes, restaurants and shops centered near Washington Square along Columbus and Grant avenues. The beautiful Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a beloved landmark. Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill offers a splendid vantage point for photos of the bridges and the Bay. Inside the tower, floor-to-ceiling murals painted in the 1930s depict scenes of early San Francisco.
The entrance to Chinatown at Grant Avenue and Bush Street is called the "Dragon's Gate." Inside are 24 blocks of hustle and bustle, most of it taking place along Grant Avenue, the oldest street in San Francisco. This city within a city is best explored on foot; exotic shops, renowned restaurants, food markets, temples and small museums comprise its boundaries. Visitors can buy ancient potions from herb shops, relax and enjoy a "dim sum" lunch or witness the making of fortune cookies.
551 locals recommend
Chinatown
The entrance to Chinatown at Grant Avenue and Bush Street is called the "Dragon's Gate." Inside are 24 blocks of hustle and bustle, most of it taking place along Grant Avenue, the oldest street in San Francisco. This city within a city is best explored on foot; exotic shops, renowned restaurants, food markets, temples and small museums comprise its boundaries. Visitors can buy ancient potions from herb shops, relax and enjoy a "dim sum" lunch or witness the making of fortune cookies.
About 2 hours drive from here. Great for whale watching, kayaking and cold water scuba diving.
118 locals recommend
Monterey
About 2 hours drive from here. Great for whale watching, kayaking and cold water scuba diving.
Drinks & Nightlife
Que Syrah
230 W Portal AveGood wine bar.
The Monk's Kettle
3141 16th StreetGreat selection of beers and the food is not bad as well!
The Hotel Utah Saloon
500 4th StCheck out the open mic nights. Some good musicians show up.
The Riptide
3639 Taraval StGood musicians play here.