Food Scene
Esperpento Restaurant
3295 22nd StLocal restaurant, reasonable prices, lively atmosphere.
Local bakery for over 50 years. Try their almond torte, rum cake or Napoleons. Yum!
16 locals recommend
Dianda's Italian American Pastry
2883 Mission StLocal bakery for over 50 years. Try their almond torte, rum cake or Napoleons. Yum!
Authentic Turkish Restaurant...family-owned, friendly atmosphere, and delicious food.
20 locals recommend
Tuba Authentic Turkish Restaurant
1007 A Guerrero StAuthentic Turkish Restaurant...family-owned, friendly atmosphere, and delicious food.
Locally-owned by Martha and her brothers, they make excellent (and strong) coffee. Beats Starbucks by a mile. Se habla español.
57 locals recommend
Martha & Brothers Coffee Company
3868 24th StLocally-owned by Martha and her brothers, they make excellent (and strong) coffee. Beats Starbucks by a mile. Se habla español.
Local co-op making delicious scones, muffins and baked goods. Close to our house. Check out their wheat-free carrot muffin, cherry scones and seeded jalapeno cheese stick. :)
319 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
1331 9th AveLocal co-op making delicious scones, muffins and baked goods. Close to our house. Check out their wheat-free carrot muffin, cherry scones and seeded jalapeno cheese stick. :)
Amazing almond croissants and breads. Reasonably priced sandwiches. Outdoor backyard is nice and relaxing.
93 locals recommend
Thorough Bread and Pastry
248 Church StAmazing almond croissants and breads. Reasonably priced sandwiches. Outdoor backyard is nice and relaxing.
They've been around for 50 years - traditional Italian menu, quiet restaurant with cool pictures from the 60's. Close by!
11 locals recommend
La Traviata
2854 Mission StThey've been around for 50 years - traditional Italian menu, quiet restaurant with cool pictures from the 60's. Close by!
Located by the beach, there are actually two restaurants - the one in the back has music on the weekends during the summer, where you can sit outside and drink beer. The upstairs restaurant has wonderful ocean views.
235 locals recommend
Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant
1000 Great HwyLocated by the beach, there are actually two restaurants - the one in the back has music on the weekends during the summer, where you can sit outside and drink beer. The upstairs restaurant has wonderful ocean views.
Foodie heaven, located in the iconic Ferry Building, which is at the foot of Market Street. Food isn't cheap, but everything is very good quality. Located right on the Embarcadero with great views. On nice days you can sit outside with wine and cheese and enjoy the views. Take BART to Embarcadero (10 minute ride from 24th & Mission BART station) and you're there.
678 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
Foodie heaven, located in the iconic Ferry Building, which is at the foot of Market Street. Food isn't cheap, but everything is very good quality. Located right on the Embarcadero with great views. On nice days you can sit outside with wine and cheese and enjoy the views. Take BART to Embarcadero (10 minute ride from 24th & Mission BART station) and you're there.
Clean and delicious, this taqueria has affordable food without all the hype of La Taqueria down the block. Try their "super baby prawn burrito with black beans." Indicate spicy or mild and your stomach will thank you.
117 locals recommend
La Corneta Taqueria
2834 Diamond StClean and delicious, this taqueria has affordable food without all the hype of La Taqueria down the block. Try their "super baby prawn burrito with black beans." Indicate spicy or mild and your stomach will thank you.
Dandelion is a popular spot, known for their in-house chocolates, wonderful selection of chocolate samples and hot chocolate.
152 locals recommend
Dandelion Chocolate
740 Valencia StDandelion is a popular spot, known for their in-house chocolates, wonderful selection of chocolate samples and hot chocolate.
Essentials
High quality foods, not really cheap, but their everyday brands are good.
903 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3950 24th StHigh quality foods, not really cheap, but their everyday brands are good.
Walgreens
1333 Castro StPharmacy
Right around the corner. High quality organic foods. Family-owned.
33 locals recommend
26th & Guerrero Market
1400 Guerrero StRight around the corner. High quality organic foods. Family-owned.
Sightseeing
Lots of interesting Japanese shops near the Fillmore district. Check out the sushi-boat restaurant - Tenroku Sushi.
246 locals recommend
Japan Town
Lots of interesting Japanese shops near the Fillmore district. Check out the sushi-boat restaurant - Tenroku Sushi.
Some of the best 360-degree views of San Francisco and beyond, without having to go to Twin Peaks. You can walk from our house and back in about an hour.
136 locals recommend
Bernal Heights
56 Ellsworth StSome of the best 360-degree views of San Francisco and beyond, without having to go to Twin Peaks. You can walk from our house and back in about an hour.
Classic tourist spot for amazing views of SF, Golden Gate Bridge and beyond. Lots of cars and tourists...Bernal Heights recommended if you're looking for a quieter spot with great views.
727 locals recommend
Twin Peaks
Classic tourist spot for amazing views of SF, Golden Gate Bridge and beyond. Lots of cars and tourists...Bernal Heights recommended if you're looking for a quieter spot with great views.
Built for the World's Fair, it is located in SF's Marina district. A little touristy, but it is beautiful and worth visiting. Bring bread crumbs to feed the ducks.
463 locals recommend
Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon StBuilt for the World's Fair, it is located in SF's Marina district. A little touristy, but it is beautiful and worth visiting. Bring bread crumbs to feed the ducks.
If you *must* take a cable car, this is where you can avoid the craziness of Powell & Market street (we have a HUGE homeless problem). The cable car goes up California Street, where you can transfer at Powell Street towards the tourist areas (Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Square).
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
5 Embarcadero CtrIf you *must* take a cable car, this is where you can avoid the craziness of Powell & Market street (we have a HUGE homeless problem). The cable car goes up California Street, where you can transfer at Powell Street towards the tourist areas (Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Square).
Parks & Nature
A hidden gem in San Francisco. Take BART to Glen Park Station and walk west on O'Shaunessy. A beautiful canyon with hiking trails.
51 locals recommend
Glen Park
A hidden gem in San Francisco. Take BART to Glen Park Station and walk west on O'Shaunessy. A beautiful canyon with hiking trails.
Nice location for a 4.5 mile run or bike ride around Lake Merced. Right next to the beach. Bathrooms located near the Boathouse.
75 locals recommend
Lake Merced Park
Nice location for a 4.5 mile run or bike ride around Lake Merced. Right next to the beach. Bathrooms located near the Boathouse.
Drinks & Nightlife
Local bar, gay friendly, Salsa music on Sundays during the day. Relaxed vibe, outdoor dance area.
195 locals recommend
El Rio
3158 Mission StLocal bar, gay friendly, Salsa music on Sundays during the day. Relaxed vibe, outdoor dance area.
Located in iconic Haight Ashbury area, serves a great selection of beer. Lively atmosphere.
177 locals recommend
Magnolia Brewing - Haight
1398 Haight StLocated in iconic Haight Ashbury area, serves a great selection of beer. Lively atmosphere.
Etcetera has a nice selections of wine, and if you can grab one of their two tables out front, a fun place to people-watch. Inside, it is nice, mellow and quiet. They also have a tasty menu of small bites.
29 locals recommend
Etcetera Wine Bar
795 Valencia StEtcetera has a nice selections of wine, and if you can grab one of their two tables out front, a fun place to people-watch. Inside, it is nice, mellow and quiet. They also have a tasty menu of small bites.
Entertainment & Activities
A little-known but interesting "sound experience" where you sit in the dark and listen to a variety of sounds. It's been around for about 40 years. Very unique.
17 locals recommend
Audium
1616 Bush StA little-known but interesting "sound experience" where you sit in the dark and listen to a variety of sounds. It's been around for about 40 years. Very unique.
On Friday nights, ODC is a go-to place to learn salsa dancing, but they teach lots of other styles of dance from hip-hop to samba. Check out their website - lots of classes for beginners. Beautiful studios in a large building, next to the Valencia St. corridor.
21 locals recommend
ODC Dance Commons
351 Shotwell StOn Friday nights, ODC is a go-to place to learn salsa dancing, but they teach lots of other styles of dance from hip-hop to samba. Check out their website - lots of classes for beginners. Beautiful studios in a large building, next to the Valencia St. corridor.
Great for kids of all ages, the Exploratorium relocated from the Palace of Fine Arts. Tons of science activities. You can also walk along the Embarcadero to Pier 39 (warning: tourist trap), or go in the other direction to the Ferry Building.
432 locals recommend
Exploratorium
Green StreetGreat for kids of all ages, the Exploratorium relocated from the Palace of Fine Arts. Tons of science activities. You can also walk along the Embarcadero to Pier 39 (warning: tourist trap), or go in the other direction to the Ferry Building.
You can buy an inexpensive ticket on StubHub or stand in the bleacher section. Too bad beer is $14 a cup, BUT, they're famous for garlic fries. Beautiful stadium, easy to get to by public transportation. Even if you're not into the SF Giants, it's worth checking out.
Giants
You can buy an inexpensive ticket on StubHub or stand in the bleacher section. Too bad beer is $14 a cup, BUT, they're famous for garlic fries. Beautiful stadium, easy to get to by public transportation. Even if you're not into the SF Giants, it's worth checking out.
Great venue with amazing acoustics, an intimate place to hear music. Highly recommend.
114 locals recommend
SFJAZZ
201 Franklin StGreat venue with amazing acoustics, an intimate place to hear music. Highly recommend.
Arts & Culture
Newly built a few years ago...great SF modern museum.
813 locals recommend
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StNewly built a few years ago...great SF modern museum.
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrWonderful museum - on Friday nights they have music and wine.