Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Spike's Coffees and Teas
4117 19th StBest coffee in the city, or so we think.
This tiny place across the street and features traditional San Francisco seafood favorites. No Reservations, but will call you if you sign in on their board.
148 locals recommend
Anchor Oyster Bar
579 Castro StThis tiny place across the street and features traditional San Francisco seafood favorites. No Reservations, but will call you if you sign in on their board.
We wish every neighborhood had a restaurant like Fable in it. Great contemporary American cuisine. Dinner nightly except Monday. Reservations are accepted and needed.
47 locals recommend
Fable
558 Castro StWe wish every neighborhood had a restaurant like Fable in it. Great contemporary American cuisine. Dinner nightly except Monday. Reservations are accepted and needed.
Good Thai Food just across the crosswalk. Great for take out or dining in. Barbara’s is favorite is the Pad Ma-keur,
while Mick enjoys the drunken noodles. Open for lunch/dinner seven days a week
31 locals recommend
Thai House Express Restaurant
599 Castro StGood Thai Food just across the crosswalk. Great for take out or dining in. Barbara’s is favorite is the Pad Ma-keur,
while Mick enjoys the drunken noodles. Open for lunch/dinner seven days a week
Part bakery, part breakfast spot, part Vietnamese restaurant. Nice little casual spot to enjoy simple breakfasts or pastries in the morning. And good Pho and Banh Mi for lunch. Open 7 days a week.
14 locals recommend
Castro Tarts
564 Castro StPart bakery, part breakfast spot, part Vietnamese restaurant. Nice little casual spot to enjoy simple breakfasts or pastries in the morning. And good Pho and Banh Mi for lunch. Open 7 days a week.
Spanish Tapas in a warm and friendly space. Owned by our chef friend Mat, Canela lets you unwind and enjoy great food. Dinner Tues-Sun. Brunch on Sunday. Closed Monday.
24 locals recommend
Canela Bistro & Wine Bar
2272 Market StSpanish Tapas in a warm and friendly space. Owned by our chef friend Mat, Canela lets you unwind and enjoy great food. Dinner Tues-Sun. Brunch on Sunday. Closed Monday.
Fine dining in a neighborhood setting with extremely hard to snag reservations as it is a Michelin Starred restaurant, but the 10 seat countertop is open to walk-in diners (get there early)
149 locals recommend
Frances
3870 17th St Fine dining in a neighborhood setting with extremely hard to snag reservations as it is a Michelin Starred restaurant, but the 10 seat countertop is open to walk-in diners (get there early)
This maybe the most romantic restaurant in San Francisco, with great traditional French food. Eating here is like escaping to a magical bistro in Paris.
111 locals recommend
L'Ardoise
151 Noe StThis maybe the most romantic restaurant in San Francisco, with great traditional French food. Eating here is like escaping to a magical bistro in Paris.
Great casual spot with delicious food w/ a large selection of handcrafted beers & wine based drinks. Open 7 days a week and for lunch and dinner. Brunch on the weekends and late night dinners.
135 locals recommend
Starbelly
3583 16th StGreat casual spot with delicious food w/ a large selection of handcrafted beers & wine based drinks. Open 7 days a week and for lunch and dinner. Brunch on the weekends and late night dinners.
24 hour diner, breakfast served at all hours, a great late night eating spot.
42 locals recommend
Orphan Andy's
3991 17th St24 hour diner, breakfast served at all hours, a great late night eating spot.
The best pizza in SF, served by a mostly deaf staff, this place serves pizza like you would get in Naples. No deep dish or stuff'd crust here this is the real deal.
21 locals recommend
Mozzeria
3228 16th StreetThe best pizza in SF, served by a mostly deaf staff, this place serves pizza like you would get in Naples. No deep dish or stuff'd crust here this is the real deal.
Our second favorite pizza spot in the city, go for lunch when the waits aren't as long. Or order to go for a great pizza picnic in Dolores Park.
598 locals recommend
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th StOur second favorite pizza spot in the city, go for lunch when the waits aren't as long. Or order to go for a great pizza picnic in Dolores Park.
Long time Castro restaurant serves Americanized Italian standards and they deliver.
18 locals recommend
The Sausage Factory
517 Castro StLong time Castro restaurant serves Americanized Italian standards and they deliver.
Decent food and you can't beat this corner location for viewing the local action. Crowded mostly at brunch.
46 locals recommend
Pauline's Pizza
260 Valencia StDecent food and you can't beat this corner location for viewing the local action. Crowded mostly at brunch.
Single cup brewed coffee is Philz thing. Now on Castro St. in the middle of the block across the street.
913 locals recommend
Philz Coffee
3101 24th StSingle cup brewed coffee is Philz thing. Now on Castro St. in the middle of the block across the street.
Like a taqueria, but with tasty Indian food. Counter service with beer and wine.
39 locals recommend
Kasa Indian Eatery
4001 18th StLike a taqueria, but with tasty Indian food. Counter service with beer and wine.
Wildly popular sandwich shop as seen on TV. Lines can be lllloooonnnnngggg.
87 locals recommend
Ike's Place
2239 Market StreetWildly popular sandwich shop as seen on TV. Lines can be lllloooonnnnngggg.
Mama Ji's
4416 18th StDelicious dim sum and fantastic beer list.
Because you love a burger and a meal for under $10 in SF makes it even more tasty.
179 locals recommend
Super Duper Burgers
721 Market StBecause you love a burger and a meal for under $10 in SF makes it even more tasty.
This is a great pastry shop, Satisfy you sweet tooth and have a savory bite too. The back patio is an oasis in the city.
93 locals recommend
Thorough Bread and Pastry
248 Church StThis is a great pastry shop, Satisfy you sweet tooth and have a savory bite too. The back patio is an oasis in the city.
A most modern bakery. The Rebel Within is the one most delicious savory muffin with a soft cooked egg in it you can buy in the world.
137 locals recommend
Craftsman and Wolves
746 Valencia StA most modern bakery. The Rebel Within is the one most delicious savory muffin with a soft cooked egg in it you can buy in the world.
You scream, we scream, I scream and we all wait in line for Ice-cream. Salted Caramel is the best flavor.
476 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th StYou scream, we scream, I scream and we all wait in line for Ice-cream. Salted Caramel is the best flavor.
An amazing bakery, with equally amazing lines on the weekend. It's a short walk here on weekdays and worth the calories consumed.
768 locals recommend
Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero StAn amazing bakery, with equally amazing lines on the weekend. It's a short walk here on weekdays and worth the calories consumed.
Delicious tacos, margaritas and sangria - try the fried fish taco or the braised beef short rib - or get one of each, they are all so tasty
360 locals recommend
Tacolicious
741 Valencia StDelicious tacos, margaritas and sangria - try the fried fish taco or the braised beef short rib - or get one of each, they are all so tasty
the only bean-to-bar chocolatier in the city, yes they roast the cocoa beans and make chocolate on site. free samples, great coffee, hot chocolate and chocolate pastries. tours are also available
152 locals recommend
Dandelion Chocolate
740 Valencia Stthe only bean-to-bar chocolatier in the city, yes they roast the cocoa beans and make chocolate on site. free samples, great coffee, hot chocolate and chocolate pastries. tours are also available
Shopping
All organic produce and they're next door to us and super friendly.
25 locals recommend
Buffalo Whole Food & Grain Co
598 Castro StAll organic produce and they're next door to us and super friendly.
Mollie Stone's Markets
2435 California StFull service grocery store open 7am till 11pm daily.
It's the local hardware store, with more. Check it out its a great spot and a local institution.
69 locals recommend
Cliff's Variety
479 Castro StIt's the local hardware store, with more. Check it out its a great spot and a local institution.
If you want to take home a piece of original artwork from San Francisco this is the place to find a number of items from t-shirts to jewelry to unique works of art made locally.
19 locals recommend
Local Take
4122 17th StIf you want to take home a piece of original artwork from San Francisco this is the place to find a number of items from t-shirts to jewelry to unique works of art made locally.
Essentials
Wine bar and liquor store. Great wine selection and you can sample if you want to try before you buy.
23 locals recommend
Swirl on Castro
572 Castro StWine bar and liquor store. Great wine selection and you can sample if you want to try before you buy.
24 hour Pharmacy, if you forgot anything at home, they likely have it.
61 locals recommend
Walgreens Pharmacy
4129 18th St24 hour Pharmacy, if you forgot anything at home, they likely have it.
This is what Whole Foods wishes it was. Local and sustainable with hot food to go.
651 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th StThis is what Whole Foods wishes it was. Local and sustainable with hot food to go.
Drinks & Nightlife
A comfortable place serving great wine and beer along with simple food. A nice place to just relax, without the scene of other bars in the neighborhood.
27 locals recommend
Blush! Wine Bar
476 Castro StA comfortable place serving great wine and beer along with simple food. A nice place to just relax, without the scene of other bars in the neighborhood.
This place seems to be a fav for the dance crowd mostly younger gay crowd with straight women dance buddies.
67 locals recommend
San Francisco Badlands
4121 18th StThis place seems to be a fav for the dance crowd mostly younger gay crowd with straight women dance buddies.
Toad Hall
4146 18th StNot the original Toad Hall, but a popular gay bar more than club.
440 Castro
440 Castro StBased on yelp reviews this is a classic old school SF gay bar.
It's a dark place with cold beers and a loud jukebox. If you like a dive bar, jump in here. It will be closing soon to make room for new condos.
58 locals recommend
Lucky 13
1301 Park StIt's a dark place with cold beers and a loud jukebox. If you like a dive bar, jump in here. It will be closing soon to make room for new condos.
Blackbird
2124 Market StCocktails, well crafted.
The Monk's Kettle
3141 16th StreetBelgian beers rule the roost here.
Entertainment & Activities
Not just a SF institution, but an American Treasure. Built in 1922 this old film house hosts movies and events daily,
332 locals recommend
Castro Theatre
429 Castro StNot just a SF institution, but an American Treasure. Built in 1922 this old film house hosts movies and events daily,
Getting Around
From here you can catch a train to be downtown in 10 minutes, or out to the Zoo.
76 locals recommend
Castro Station
From here you can catch a train to be downtown in 10 minutes, or out to the Zoo.
The closest BART station, but it's easier to transfer from the Civic Center Station to get to Oscar's Place SF.
162 locals recommend
16th St Mission BART Station
2000 Mission StThe closest BART station, but it's easier to transfer from the Civic Center Station to get to Oscar's Place SF.
Take BART to this station then transfer to the MUNI Metro platform, Outbound on the K,L,M of Castro Shuttle to Castro Station when coming to Oscar's Place SF.
141 locals recommend
Civic Center station
1150 Market StTake BART to this station then transfer to the MUNI Metro platform, Outbound on the K,L,M of Castro Shuttle to Castro Station when coming to Oscar's Place SF.
Parks & Nature
This is the place to soak up the sun if the fog isn't engulfing the city. Summer weekends the lawns are packed with young San Franciscans hanging out in the sun. Best to go during the week when the crowds aren't so maddening.
1244 locals recommend
Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetThis is the place to soak up the sun if the fog isn't engulfing the city. Summer weekends the lawns are packed with young San Franciscans hanging out in the sun. Best to go during the week when the crowds aren't so maddening.