Nikki's Favorite Hidden Gems and Can't Miss San Francisco Spots
Essentials
THE place to get meats, seafood, and ICE CREAM! This little food emporium is lots of fun to browse, and find locally made foodie gifts for all of your friends back home! 5-7 minute walk.
651 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th StTHE place to get meats, seafood, and ICE CREAM! This little food emporium is lots of fun to browse, and find locally made foodie gifts for all of your friends back home! 5-7 minute walk.
Wonderful Japanese grocery store! Lots of fun to browse. It is inside the large Japantown Mall, which has lots of fun and unique stores to browse. Good place to get gifts.
17 locals recommend
Nijiya Market
1737 Post StWonderful Japanese grocery store! Lots of fun to browse. It is inside the large Japantown Mall, which has lots of fun and unique stores to browse. Good place to get gifts.
Food Scene
Delicious Mexican food! In addition to the usual meat fillings, they offer Plantain burritos, which are SO GOOD!
187 locals recommend
The Little Chihuahua
292 Divisadero StDelicious Mexican food! In addition to the usual meat fillings, they offer Plantain burritos, which are SO GOOD!
Lovely place for morning breakfast! Outdoor seating too! Great coffee. 0.1 miles from the house (3 minute walk)
281 locals recommend
The Mill
736 Divisadero StLovely place for morning breakfast! Outdoor seating too! Great coffee. 0.1 miles from the house (3 minute walk)
Best XiaoLongBao in the city! This is a TINY hole in the wall in the sunset. Not a fancy place. Very inexpensive. Good chicken and corn dumplings and onion pancakes too.
42 locals recommend
Kingdom Of Dumpling
1713 Taraval StBest XiaoLongBao in the city! This is a TINY hole in the wall in the sunset. Not a fancy place. Very inexpensive. Good chicken and corn dumplings and onion pancakes too.
Little Star Pizza
846 Divisadero StOne of the best Pizza places in the city! (2 minute walk)
My favorite Brunch place in the city! Great little French restaurant with a kid-friendly back patio,
286 locals recommend
Zazie
941 Cole StMy favorite Brunch place in the city! Great little French restaurant with a kid-friendly back patio,
The BEST breakfast in San Francisco! If you are jet-lagged and wake up super early, hop in an UBER and get here before 8am for a short wait. Otherwise, anticipate at least a 45 minute wait.
127 locals recommend
Mama's On Washington Square
1701 Stockton StThe BEST breakfast in San Francisco! If you are jet-lagged and wake up super early, hop in an UBER and get here before 8am for a short wait. Otherwise, anticipate at least a 45 minute wait.
One of several locations in the bay area. Excellent salads and thin crust pizzas. One of my all-time favorites. Go with a crowd and eat family style to sample more of their delicacies!
598 locals recommend
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th StOne of several locations in the bay area. Excellent salads and thin crust pizzas. One of my all-time favorites. Go with a crowd and eat family style to sample more of their delicacies!
The little sister to Burma Superstar. Excellent Burmese food- try the tea salad and rainbow salad. Noodle dishes are all excellent
58 locals recommend
B Star
127 Clement StThe little sister to Burma Superstar. Excellent Burmese food- try the tea salad and rainbow salad. Noodle dishes are all excellent
Sister restaurant to B Star. Excellent Burmese food. Make a reservation on OpenTable in advance.
458 locals recommend
Burma Superstar
309 Clement StSister restaurant to B Star. Excellent Burmese food. Make a reservation on OpenTable in advance.
This is my favorite restaurant in the city. Casual cool vibe. Don't bother looking at the menu, just go for their seasonal pasta tasting menu- you won't regret it!
266 locals recommend
Flour + Water
2401 Harrison StThis is my favorite restaurant in the city. Casual cool vibe. Don't bother looking at the menu, just go for their seasonal pasta tasting menu- you won't regret it!
Marin Sun Farms Beef Burgers just a short stroll from our front door! Excellent burgers- constantly rated best in the city!
504 locals recommend
Nopa
560 Divisadero StMarin Sun Farms Beef Burgers just a short stroll from our front door! Excellent burgers- constantly rated best in the city!
Another wonderful burger place just a short stroll from our door. I like that all of their meat is grass fed! Definitely must try this burger when you are in town.
122 locals recommend
4505 Burgers & BBQ
705 Divisadero StAnother wonderful burger place just a short stroll from our door. I like that all of their meat is grass fed! Definitely must try this burger when you are in town.
Book well in advance if you can, but call last minute to check if they can seat you. This was the top restaurant in SF 2 years ago. Serves California Dim Sum- small tapas like plates to share.
141 locals recommend
State Bird Provisions
1529 Fillmore StBook well in advance if you can, but call last minute to check if they can seat you. This was the top restaurant in SF 2 years ago. Serves California Dim Sum- small tapas like plates to share.
Sister restaurant to State Bird, with equally good food. Just opened in 2015, and reservations are necessary, although walk-up bar seating is available. Order the 6 course tasting menu!
46 locals recommend
The Progress
1525 Fillmore StreetSister restaurant to State Bird, with equally good food. Just opened in 2015, and reservations are necessary, although walk-up bar seating is available. Order the 6 course tasting menu!
Excellent higher end Mexican restaurant with a cult following! Don't miss the Queso Fundo!
306 locals recommend
Nopalito
306 Broderick StExcellent higher end Mexican restaurant with a cult following! Don't miss the Queso Fundo!
Good breakfast burritos and excellent coffee! 0.2 miles walk from the house
99 locals recommend
Matching Half
1799 McAllister StGood breakfast burritos and excellent coffee! 0.2 miles walk from the house
The most calories you will ever find in a single sandwich, but it is SO DELICIOUS! This is a permanent pop-up restaurant with limited seating. Good stop if you are exploring Cole Valley or Haight St
29 locals recommend
Bacon Bacon
205A Frederick StThe most calories you will ever find in a single sandwich, but it is SO DELICIOUS! This is a permanent pop-up restaurant with limited seating. Good stop if you are exploring Cole Valley or Haight St
Excellent cheap eats. Norther Style Vietnamese restaurant with very good pho. Hole in the wall. Nothing fancy, but the food is very good.
18 locals recommend
My Father's Kitchen
1655 Divisadero StExcellent cheap eats. Norther Style Vietnamese restaurant with very good pho. Hole in the wall. Nothing fancy, but the food is very good.
Out The Door is the smaller sister restaurant to world famous Slanted Door. Same amazing Vietnamese food! Very clean and upscale restaurant. Not your average hole in the wall.
41 locals recommend
OTD
2232 Bush StOut The Door is the smaller sister restaurant to world famous Slanted Door. Same amazing Vietnamese food! Very clean and upscale restaurant. Not your average hole in the wall.
Southern Comfort Food right across the street! Fried chicken, grits, beignets, gumbo, and eggs benedicts are all wonderful. Good brunch spot.
92 locals recommend
Tony's Market & Liquor
2751 24th StSouthern Comfort Food right across the street! Fried chicken, grits, beignets, gumbo, and eggs benedicts are all wonderful. Good brunch spot.
Entertainment & Activities
A MUST for families visiting SF! Perfect for Preschool - Adults. Plan on a full day, and arrive at 9am for EASY street parking. Skip the restaurant which is overpriced.
432 locals recommend
Exploratorium
Green StreetA MUST for families visiting SF! Perfect for Preschool - Adults. Plan on a full day, and arrive at 9am for EASY street parking. Skip the restaurant which is overpriced.
My favorite spot for Family Photos! Gorgeous gem of a park. There is a nominal entrance fee. Free parking in GG Park, arrive before 10 for easy parking. Plan on a WHOLE DAY for GGPark
348 locals recommend
Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrMy favorite spot for Family Photos! Gorgeous gem of a park. There is a nominal entrance fee. Free parking in GG Park, arrive before 10 for easy parking. Plan on a WHOLE DAY for GGPark
My favorite playground in the city! Huge play structures, big slides, and an antique Merry Go Round! You can walk into Cole Valley for lunch (plan on 20 minutes if you are pushing a stroller!)
52 locals recommend
Koret Playground
My favorite playground in the city! Huge play structures, big slides, and an antique Merry Go Round! You can walk into Cole Valley for lunch (plan on 20 minutes if you are pushing a stroller!)
Sightseeing
My favorite oceanside hiking trail in SF. Stunning views of GG bridge. Side trails lead down to the water. LOTS of stairs so its not stroller friendly. You will get a workout!
694 locals recommend
Lands End Trail
Lands End TrailMy favorite oceanside hiking trail in SF. Stunning views of GG bridge. Side trails lead down to the water. LOTS of stairs so its not stroller friendly. You will get a workout!
The Painted Ladies, a row of iconic Victorian homes, are best seen here.
390 locals recommend
Alamo Square
The Painted Ladies, a row of iconic Victorian homes, are best seen here.