Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
This is a real Roman restaurant - better than most in North Beach - try the Fettucine Tartufate (pasta with truffle sauce). They used to have a dish named after Rome's infamous main prison so tip well, just in case ;-)
45 locals recommend
Lupa Trattoria
4109 24th StThis is a real Roman restaurant - better than most in North Beach - try the Fettucine Tartufate (pasta with truffle sauce). They used to have a dish named after Rome's infamous main prison so tip well, just in case ;-)
People come from all over the city to dine at Firefly - modern California cuisine; entrees priced $30-35, the braised pork shoulder is excellent - this place is always bustling, so make reservations.
120 locals recommend
Firefly
4288 24th StreetPeople come from all over the city to dine at Firefly - modern California cuisine; entrees priced $30-35, the braised pork shoulder is excellent - this place is always bustling, so make reservations.
Tiny sushi bar, great atmosphere. great sushi - make reservations! (or get your name on the list)
101 locals recommend
Saru Sushi Bar
3856 24th StTiny sushi bar, great atmosphere. great sushi - make reservations! (or get your name on the list)
Very good sushi, but as much ambiance as a Walmart - so order your sushi here and then have it back at the house (particularly on a warm evening, outside on the deck) - it's only a 5 min walk away.
27 locals recommend
Hamano Sushi
1332 Castro StVery good sushi, but as much ambiance as a Walmart - so order your sushi here and then have it back at the house (particularly on a warm evening, outside on the deck) - it's only a 5 min walk away.
Great coffee shop: this is the place where locals go, better than Starbucks (across the street)
37 locals recommend
Bernie's
3966 24th StGreat coffee shop: this is the place where locals go, better than Starbucks (across the street)
Excellent Italian coffee shop - recommended (if a little further away)
36 locals recommend
Fiore Caffe
3599 24th StExcellent Italian coffee shop - recommended (if a little further away)
The Little Chihuahua
292 Divisadero StGood Mexican restaurant - great quesadillas
Philz is a San Francisco institution - custom blends from around the world, but no espresso machines here - all drip coffee, made with love
913 locals recommend
Philz Coffee
3101 24th StPhilz is a San Francisco institution - custom blends from around the world, but no espresso machines here - all drip coffee, made with love
Think French country cafe - great to start the day with a light continental breakfast
206 locals recommend
La Boulangerie de San Francisco
1000 Cole StThink French country cafe - great to start the day with a light continental breakfast
Radio Habana Social Club
1109 Valencia StThe ultimate dive bar - Cuban, whimsical, tiny
The Front Porch
65 29th StGood southern cuisine, great ambiance
Possibly the best Sardinian restaurant off the island - try the octopus stew, with a Cannonau
146 locals recommend
La Ciccia
291 30th StPossibly the best Sardinian restaurant off the island - try the octopus stew, with a Cannonau
Very good Chinese restaurant - although sometimes maligned as a Chinese restaurant for white people - we like it!
63 locals recommend
Eric's Restaurant
1500 Church StVery good Chinese restaurant - although sometimes maligned as a Chinese restaurant for white people - we like it!
A Mission institution - great modern California cuisine, inspired by Italy - don't try without a reservation
598 locals recommend
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th StA Mission institution - great modern California cuisine, inspired by Italy - don't try without a reservation
Always full, good pizzas, lively bar, great alternative to Delfina Pizzeria
282 locals recommend
Beretta
1199 Valencia StAlways full, good pizzas, lively bar, great alternative to Delfina Pizzeria
Great view of San Francisco's former industrial waterfront; often great latin music on weekends; this is the place for a margarita
113 locals recommend
The Ramp
855 Terry A Francois BlvdGreat view of San Francisco's former industrial waterfront; often great latin music on weekends; this is the place for a margarita
Arts & Culture
Video Wave Of Noe Valley
4027 24th StOur local video store - great advice, good selection, free popcorn
Great if you are curious about how things work. Awesome After Dark: see some of the smartest geeks in the world go on dates (I'm a geek myself so I hope I can say this ;-) Quintessential San Francisco.
432 locals recommend
Exploratorium
Green StreetGreat if you are curious about how things work. Awesome After Dark: see some of the smartest geeks in the world go on dates (I'm a geek myself so I hope I can say this ;-) Quintessential San Francisco.
Northern California at its best: hot springs and a very chill clothing optional crowd. Try a dance night, watch the stars. Rated five crystals.
65 locals recommend
Harbin Hot Springs
18424 Harbin Springs RdNorthern California at its best: hot springs and a very chill clothing optional crowd. Try a dance night, watch the stars. Rated five crystals.
San Francisco's try at Soho House. Sometimes great events; sometimes fun techie watching. Find a member to get you in.
The Battery
717 Battery StSan Francisco's try at Soho House. Sometimes great events; sometimes fun techie watching. Find a member to get you in.
Really cool members-only club, and much harder to get in than the Battery (and the polar opposite). Mix with longshoremen that have worked on the waters of the bay, and help in the kitchen and at the bar (if a member invites you)
Bay View Boat Club
489 Terry A Francois BlvdReally cool members-only club, and much harder to get in than the Battery (and the polar opposite). Mix with longshoremen that have worked on the waters of the bay, and help in the kitchen and at the bar (if a member invites you)
Imagine aliens abduct a building in Beverly Hills and transplant it into San Francisco, and now it just stands there waiting for red carpet events - except it's in San Francisco and the tech companies next door all work from home now, so there's no-one there. Mesmerizing in it's out-of placeness. Go to the Ramp afterwards.
RH San Francisco | The Gallery at the Historic Bethlehem Steel Building
Imagine aliens abduct a building in Beverly Hills and transplant it into San Francisco, and now it just stands there waiting for red carpet events - except it's in San Francisco and the tech companies next door all work from home now, so there's no-one there. Mesmerizing in it's out-of placeness. Go to the Ramp afterwards.
World-famous hot springs overlooking the ocean; if you don't want to attend a weekend retreat try the night slot from 1-3am for $25; reservations required. This was closed due to Covid so please check first
Esalen Institute
World-famous hot springs overlooking the ocean; if you don't want to attend a weekend retreat try the night slot from 1-3am for $25; reservations required. This was closed due to Covid so please check first
Essentials
The best grocery store in Noe Valley - not cheap, but great selection.
905 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3950 24th StThe best grocery store in Noe Valley - not cheap, but great selection.
Amazing selection of bulk foods, and any organic vegetable you can think of. Great friendly staff; vegetarian
275 locals recommend
Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom StAmazing selection of bulk foods, and any organic vegetable you can think of. Great friendly staff; vegetarian
Shopping
One of the best old-style bakeries in town - if you want to send someone on an early morning run to pick up freshly baked croissants, this is where you'd send them (bonus: only about a 5 minute walk)
79 locals recommend
Noe Valley Bakery
4073 24th StOne of the best old-style bakeries in town - if you want to send someone on an early morning run to pick up freshly baked croissants, this is where you'd send them (bonus: only about a 5 minute walk)
The ultimate Mission hipster bakery. Seriously good, seriously hip, stand in a very long line on weekends and suffer from single speed bike envy
768 locals recommend
Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero StThe ultimate Mission hipster bakery. Seriously good, seriously hip, stand in a very long line on weekends and suffer from single speed bike envy
If you *need* a taxidermied cobra, seek no more. Great store.
Also check out the Pirate supply store next door. If you are or know a pirate, here's where you buy hooks and glass eyes. A great running joke on San Francisco's bureaucracy (the space was zoned retail and the City wouldn't allow after school classes - so - now it's a pirate supply store that also hosts after school classes)
133 locals recommend
Paxton Gate
824 Valencia StIf you *need* a taxidermied cobra, seek no more. Great store.
Also check out the Pirate supply store next door. If you are or know a pirate, here's where you buy hooks and glass eyes. A great running joke on San Francisco's bureaucracy (the space was zoned retail and the City wouldn't allow after school classes - so - now it's a pirate supply store that also hosts after school classes)
Great gardening store in a great part of town; also good coffee. Great excuse to check out the Bayview
55 locals recommend
Flora Grubb Gardens
1634 Jerrold AveGreat gardening store in a great part of town; also good coffee. Great excuse to check out the Bayview
Still holding out against Amazon, and very much worth a visit, if only for the rotating themed selections on display
20 locals recommend
Folio Books
3957 24th StStill holding out against Amazon, and very much worth a visit, if only for the rotating themed selections on display
Specialty chocolate from all over the world. Try Hogarth's Manuka Honey with Cocoa Nibs
14 locals recommend
Chocolate Covered
4069 24th StSpecialty chocolate from all over the world. Try Hogarth's Manuka Honey with Cocoa Nibs
Drinks & Nightlife
Valley Tavern
4054 24th StA nice beer garden in the back...
Dive bar with enchanted garden in the back - come here on a warm weekend afternoon, and be surprised - a garden with many nooks and crannies, part neighborhood hangout, part lesbian bar
121 locals recommend
Wild Side West
424 Cortland AveDive bar with enchanted garden in the back - come here on a warm weekend afternoon, and be surprised - a garden with many nooks and crannies, part neighborhood hangout, part lesbian bar
Great local bar - don't miss the Salsa sundays (Sunday afternoon), and free oysters on the half shell on Friday at 5:30
196 locals recommend
El Rio
3158 Mission StGreat local bar - don't miss the Salsa sundays (Sunday afternoon), and free oysters on the half shell on Friday at 5:30
A San Francisco classic: Beer, bikers and food (if you are patient and very very nice to the person at the grill)
222 locals recommend
Zeitgeist
199 Valencia StA San Francisco classic: Beer, bikers and food (if you are patient and very very nice to the person at the grill)
The Midway
900 Marin StPut on your dancing shoes
City/town information
San Francisco Bay backwater: go to the Warehouse Cafe on a weekend, for live music and lots of bikers. This is a different universe
Port Costa Community Garden
San Francisco Bay backwater: go to the Warehouse Cafe on a weekend, for live music and lots of bikers. This is a different universe
Go to the San Gregorio General Store on a weekend, and listen to live music with the local farmers.
27 locals recommend
San Gregorio State Beach
Cabrillo Hwy SGo to the San Gregorio General Store on a weekend, and listen to live music with the local farmers.
Sightseeing
Just up the road from our house: see coyotes and owls, and feel like you left the city while you are still right in the middle. San Francisco's version of Hampstead Heath.
180 locals recommend
Glen Canyon Park
Chenery StreetJust up the road from our house: see coyotes and owls, and feel like you left the city while you are still right in the middle. San Francisco's version of Hampstead Heath.