Amanda's Guide to San Francisco
Attractions
This is a not-to-miss spot for art lovers of all ages, and is very close!
813 locals recommend
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StThis is a not-to-miss spot for art lovers of all ages, and is very close!
Union Square
333 Post StGreat shopping, live music, and tasty restaurants.
The de Young Museum, located in Golden Gate Park, is another must-see place. It has great exhibits, cool architecture, and a great view of the park from the top.
999 locals recommend
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrThe de Young Museum, located in Golden Gate Park, is another must-see place. It has great exhibits, cool architecture, and a great view of the park from the top.
Head to Golden Gate Park on the weekend, or any day of the week, and bring your roller skates! The Skatin' Place at 6th Avenue and JFK is a super fun outside roller rink where you can practice your skating and watch the locals show off.
Skatin' Place
Head to Golden Gate Park on the weekend, or any day of the week, and bring your roller skates! The Skatin' Place at 6th Avenue and JFK is a super fun outside roller rink where you can practice your skating and watch the locals show off.
Great place to hang out on a sunny afternoon. Get awesome ice cream across the street at Bi-rite ice cream shop, or go a little further down 18th to the Bi-Rite grocery and pick up a picnic lunch to take to the park.
1244 locals recommend
Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetGreat place to hang out on a sunny afternoon. Get awesome ice cream across the street at Bi-rite ice cream shop, or go a little further down 18th to the Bi-Rite grocery and pick up a picnic lunch to take to the park.
We LOVE Golden Gate Park! And now the major road going through the park is closed to cars 7 days/week, which means it's a great place to head to on a bike or scooter. We like to picnic at the conservatory of flowers or one of the meadows, enjoy music and dancing at the bridge near the de Young museum Sunday mornings, or play in one of the structures with our daughter.
1721 locals recommend
Golden Gate Park
We LOVE Golden Gate Park! And now the major road going through the park is closed to cars 7 days/week, which means it's a great place to head to on a bike or scooter. We like to picnic at the conservatory of flowers or one of the meadows, enjoy music and dancing at the bridge near the de Young museum Sunday mornings, or play in one of the structures with our daughter.
This little oasis of lush gardens, flowing water, and beautiful skyline is a favorite of ours, and is just a few blocks from our house. And if you have kids, they'll love the children's museum right across Howard street, and the carousel. There is also a bowling alley and an ice-skating rink on that side.
124 locals recommend
Yerba Buena Gardens
750 Howard StThis little oasis of lush gardens, flowing water, and beautiful skyline is a favorite of ours, and is just a few blocks from our house. And if you have kids, they'll love the children's museum right across Howard street, and the carousel. There is also a bowling alley and an ice-skating rink on that side.
Food scene
The Saturday farmer's market is awesome, but every day is great at this indoor market full of gourmet food, stellar coffee, and interesting shopping.
189 locals recommend
Ferry Building
The Saturday farmer's market is awesome, but every day is great at this indoor market full of gourmet food, stellar coffee, and interesting shopping.
If you haven't had Burmese food before, you have to try this place. We recommend the tea leaf salad, but really everything on the menu is excellent.
Burma Club
8 Mint PlazaIf you haven't had Burmese food before, you have to try this place. We recommend the tea leaf salad, but really everything on the menu is excellent.
Really fabulous Israeli food! If you've never had Israeli hummus before, you've really never had hummus. It is absolutely amazing. And their pitas are like eating bread clouds. So yummy. We especially love the cauliflower hummus bowl and the roasted eggplant hummus bowl. Our daughter says their chicken kebab is the best chicken she's ever had.
102 locals recommend
Oren's Hummus
261 University AveReally fabulous Israeli food! If you've never had Israeli hummus before, you've really never had hummus. It is absolutely amazing. And their pitas are like eating bread clouds. So yummy. We especially love the cauliflower hummus bowl and the roasted eggplant hummus bowl. Our daughter says their chicken kebab is the best chicken she's ever had.
This hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant just blocks from our house has excellent food, including fabulous Bahn Mi sandwiches. If you're not eating indoors during the pandemic, order takeout, since they do not have outdoor seating.
8 locals recommend
Miss Saigon
100 6th StThis hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant just blocks from our house has excellent food, including fabulous Bahn Mi sandwiches. If you're not eating indoors during the pandemic, order takeout, since they do not have outdoor seating.
There is a ghost kitchen (no restaurant -- just a kitchen preparing takeout and delivery) just blocks from us that offers food in a variety of styles. Our favorite of these is a Korean bowls place called Moonbowls. They offer healthy food with tons of flavor, including impossible meat.
moonbowls (Healthy Korean Bowls- SOMA)
60 Morris StreetThere is a ghost kitchen (no restaurant -- just a kitchen preparing takeout and delivery) just blocks from us that offers food in a variety of styles. Our favorite of these is a Korean bowls place called Moonbowls. They offer healthy food with tons of flavor, including impossible meat.
This coffee shop is just down the street from us. You can get a great cup of coffee and a pastry, and watch them roast their own beans.
378 locals recommend
Sightglass Coffee
270 7th StThis coffee shop is just down the street from us. You can get a great cup of coffee and a pastry, and watch them roast their own beans.
This is Stuart's favorite coffee place in SOMA. The coffee is excellent, and the ambience is great.
17 locals recommend
Sextant Coffee Roasters
1415 Folsom StThis is Stuart's favorite coffee place in SOMA. The coffee is excellent, and the ambience is great.
This place makes the most amazing focaccia I have ever had. They are so popular, in fact, that they routinely sell out and close by noon or 1pm. Plan to visit early so that you can get a sampling of all of their flavors!
28 locals recommend
Liguria Bakery
1700 Stockton StThis place makes the most amazing focaccia I have ever had. They are so popular, in fact, that they routinely sell out and close by noon or 1pm. Plan to visit early so that you can get a sampling of all of their flavors!
This place is tiny, but has fabulous produce, snacks, deli sandwiches, and drinks. And it's right down the street from Dolores Park. Stop here to grab your picnic food before you head to the park!
651 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th StThis place is tiny, but has fabulous produce, snacks, deli sandwiches, and drinks. And it's right down the street from Dolores Park. Stop here to grab your picnic food before you head to the park!
On a sunny day at Dolores park, pop across the street to get ice cream. The ice cream here is always great!
476 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th StOn a sunny day at Dolores park, pop across the street to get ice cream. The ice cream here is always great!
Great place for brunch. Super popular though, and very tiny, so get there pretty early unless you want to be waiting for a long time. Also right across from Liguria bakery.
127 locals recommend
Mama's On Washington Square
1701 Stockton StGreat place for brunch. Super popular though, and very tiny, so get there pretty early unless you want to be waiting for a long time. Also right across from Liguria bakery.
This place has the best falafel and schwarma wraps around. And they do a pretty good burger, chicken sandwich, and other comfort foods as well. And to top it off, they're super nice. :)
Oasis Grill
711 Market StreetThis place has the best falafel and schwarma wraps around. And they do a pretty good burger, chicken sandwich, and other comfort foods as well. And to top it off, they're super nice. :)
Zero Zero
826 Folsom StGreat Italian place for a date night.
Tin
937 Howard StGreat Vietnamese place just a couple of blocks from our house!
Basil
1175 Folsom StCasual Thai place with good food just down the street from our house.
Our go-to Thai place for takeout. The food is delicious, and they have a pretty killer red curry salmon dish that we love. But really, everything is good here. And the ambience is nice too, if you're eating in. No outdoor seating, unfortunately.
18 locals recommend
Basil Canteen
1489 Folsom StOur go-to Thai place for takeout. The food is delicious, and they have a pretty killer red curry salmon dish that we love. But really, everything is good here. And the ambience is nice too, if you're eating in. No outdoor seating, unfortunately.
This place is right around the corner from our house, and does really excellent deli sandwiches. Very limited outdoor seating, so better for either take-out. It's right across from a park, so you can get a sandwich and then go enjoy it in the park.
63 locals recommend
Deli Board
1058 Folsom StThis place is right around the corner from our house, and does really excellent deli sandwiches. Very limited outdoor seating, so better for either take-out. It's right across from a park, so you can get a sandwich and then go enjoy it in the park.
This is the best sit-down Indian place near us. The food is fabulous, and the restaurant has plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. Plus, Yerba Buena lane is just a cool little area.
21 locals recommend
Amber
25 Yerba Buena LnThis is the best sit-down Indian place near us. The food is fabulous, and the restaurant has plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. Plus, Yerba Buena lane is just a cool little area.
Great salad and sandwich place, although the real standout are the salads. You can create your own, or have them make one of their chef specialties. Pretty casual, with both indoor and outdoor seating in beautiful Yerba Buena Lane, right near the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Mixt
51 Yerba Buena LaneGreat salad and sandwich place, although the real standout are the salads. You can create your own, or have them make one of their chef specialties. Pretty casual, with both indoor and outdoor seating in beautiful Yerba Buena Lane, right near the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Good Mexican food, great location, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
21 locals recommend
Tropisueño Mexican Kitchen
75 Yerba Buena LnGood Mexican food, great location, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
City/town information
If you are into biking, rent a bike and head over the Golden Gate Bridge to the bayside town of Sausalito, a charming hamlet with great views and food. Then when you're done with brunch or lunch, take the ferry back with your bike.
317 locals recommend
Sausalito
If you are into biking, rent a bike and head over the Golden Gate Bridge to the bayside town of Sausalito, a charming hamlet with great views and food. Then when you're done with brunch or lunch, take the ferry back with your bike.
Sightseeing
Muir Woods, home to hundreds of year old giant redwood trees, is a must see for everyone. There are easy paved, flat trails for everyone, and harder mountain trails for the more mobile. You can even hike over the mountain to Stinson beach, enjoy some beach time and hike back.
660 locals recommend
Muir Woods National Monument
Muir Woods, home to hundreds of year old giant redwood trees, is a must see for everyone. There are easy paved, flat trails for everyone, and harder mountain trails for the more mobile. You can even hike over the mountain to Stinson beach, enjoy some beach time and hike back.
When in San Francisco, it is easy to forget that we are right next to the ocean. If you get a chance, head west to the beach and enjoy a day of sand and sun. It gets chilly in the evenings (and sometimes during the day), so bring layers.
553 locals recommend
Ocean Beach
La Playa StWhen in San Francisco, it is easy to forget that we are right next to the ocean. If you get a chance, head west to the beach and enjoy a day of sand and sun. It gets chilly in the evenings (and sometimes during the day), so bring layers.
Lands End and the Sutro Baths provide beautiful vistas of the ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin headlands. Definitely a must see. The walking trail along the headland is only about a mile, and is flat and easy to traverse for the first half mile.
694 locals recommend
Lands End Trail
Lands End TrailLands End and the Sutro Baths provide beautiful vistas of the ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin headlands. Definitely a must see. The walking trail along the headland is only about a mile, and is flat and easy to traverse for the first half mile.
We only go here to see the sea lions with our daughter, but it is a very popular area, and definitely worth seeing at least once.
713 locals recommend
Fisherman's Wharf
2801 Leavenworth StWe only go here to see the sea lions with our daughter, but it is a very popular area, and definitely worth seeing at least once.
Neighborhoods
The Mission Bay neighborhood, located to the south of us on the other side of the Caltrain station, is the newest neighborhood in the city. It is full of great eateries, wonderful parks, a cool new beach and waterfront walk and bikeway, and hip clubs.
20 locals recommend
Mission Bay
The Mission Bay neighborhood, located to the south of us on the other side of the Caltrain station, is the newest neighborhood in the city. It is full of great eateries, wonderful parks, a cool new beach and waterfront walk and bikeway, and hip clubs.
This historically predominantly latino area has a lot to offer. If you head south on Mission Street, you will find tons of great eateries, grocery stores, and shops, and more of the Latino feel of the area. One street to the west you have hipster Valencia street, which offers more upscale shopping and dining. If you go all the way south to 24th street you'll find the Latino Cultural Heritage area. Here you can get amazing food, freshly made tortillas, ripe plantains, and great shopping. We used to live nearby, and love the area.
355 locals recommend
Mission District
This historically predominantly latino area has a lot to offer. If you head south on Mission Street, you will find tons of great eateries, grocery stores, and shops, and more of the Latino feel of the area. One street to the west you have hipster Valencia street, which offers more upscale shopping and dining. If you go all the way south to 24th street you'll find the Latino Cultural Heritage area. Here you can get amazing food, freshly made tortillas, ripe plantains, and great shopping. We used to live nearby, and love the area.
This is the far eastern side of our South of Market neighborhood, between 2nd street and the waterfront. There are a bunch of good eateries, bars, and coffee shops, and it's just a really pleasant place to be.
The East Cut
This is the far eastern side of our South of Market neighborhood, between 2nd street and the waterfront. There are a bunch of good eateries, bars, and coffee shops, and it's just a really pleasant place to be.
Grocery stores
Whole Foods Market
450 Rhode Island StOnly a couple of blocks away, and has everything you'll need.
While not as well stocked as Whole Foods, this small local market has a lot of great stuff, and is also nearby.
74 locals recommend
Harvest Urban Market
191 8th StWhile not as well stocked as Whole Foods, this small local market has a lot of great stuff, and is also nearby.
This place is less than a block away, and is a good place to go in an emergency for that one ingredient you forgot. The owner, Ali, is super sweet. They definitely don't stock everything we need, but they have basic produce and snacks.
8 locals recommend
SOMA Supermarket
1000 Howard StThis place is less than a block away, and is a good place to go in an emergency for that one ingredient you forgot. The owner, Ali, is super sweet. They definitely don't stock everything we need, but they have basic produce and snacks.
This place is a little farther away, but is awesome. Their bulk section alone is a good reason to make the trip. The store is an employee owned co-op that specializes in local, organic, natural foods. It is also completely vegetarian. You can get cheese, milk, and eggs, but no meat.
275 locals recommend
Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom StThis place is a little farther away, but is awesome. Their bulk section alone is a good reason to make the trip. The store is an employee owned co-op that specializes in local, organic, natural foods. It is also completely vegetarian. You can get cheese, milk, and eggs, but no meat.
Bars
Local Edition
691 Market StGreat cocktails, and great ambience.
Mikkeller Bar
34 Mason StHuge selection of beers, including a lot of local craft beers.
This place is great for a date night. The bar is great, the thai food is fabulous, if a bit pricey, and there's often live music.
28 locals recommend
Le Colonial
20 Cosmo PlThis place is great for a date night. The bar is great, the thai food is fabulous, if a bit pricey, and there's often live music.
This place is very unassuming from the outside, in fact, you probably wouldn't even know it's there. It's a super fun tiki bar featuring a ton of different rum based drinks and exotic cocktails.
100 locals recommend
Smuggler's Cove
650 Gough StThis place is very unassuming from the outside, in fact, you probably wouldn't even know it's there. It's a super fun tiki bar featuring a ton of different rum based drinks and exotic cocktails.
Jamber Wine Pub
858 Folsom St