San Francisco Guide
*Written Pre-Covid. Updated guide coming soon.
HOTELS
Hotel Vitale - my family's favorite. It's right on the Embarcadero across the street from the Ferry Building.
Fairmont Heritage Place - this is my favorite hotel in the city, the suites are best.
The Battery - members only, good restaurant & bar.
Ritz Carlton - always a classic.
The Fairmont SF - this place is an iconic SF hotel. During the holiday season, they have a massive gingerbread house & Christmas tree that loads of tourists check out.
THINGS TO DO
Academy of Sciences - I'm not typically a museum kind of person, but this place is dope.
Off the Grid - all of the best food trucks & small shops.
SF MOMA
DeYoung Museum
Walt Disney Museum
Ferry Building / Ferry Building Farmers Market - One of my favorite places to visit in the city. A mix of quick meals, sit down meals, markets, artisan shops, bookstore, coffee shop & more.
Muir Woods - gorgeous hikes
Baker Beach - super pretty views of the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge - bike or walk across
Sausalito - cross the bridge, & visit Sausalito, there are tons of shops & restaurants that are adorable
Palace of Fine Arts - absolutely beautiful, there are tons of wedding photoshoots here.
16th Ave Tiled Stairs - Instagrammable staircase up to a gorgeous panoramic view of San Francisco. There are multiple sets of stairs each with a different tiled design. Also, check out The Hidden Garden Steps.
Hayes Valley - one of my favorite areas in the city, loads of good shops (great vintage) bars, restaurants & parks.
Telegraph Hill / Coit Tower - iconic in SF, & randomly you may see a few parrots on your walk up to the top.
The Presidio - grassy fields, hikes & pretty views.
Ghirardelli Square - besides the obvious, Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, there are gorgeous views of the city. Multiple restaurants & shops here.
Lombard Street - the most insanely curvy cool street. Drive down if possible, you can take cool pictures from the top of the hill of city views, and then from the bottom of the hill looking back up at the street.
Japanese Tea Garden
Chrissy Field - fun place to have a picnic.
Escape Room - there are multiple escape rooms all over the city with different themes & expertise levels. Really fun bonding experiment that lasts 1-2 hours. You have to try to escape from a room using clues hidden all over.
Alamo Square / Painted Ladies - go to the park across the street & snap pics of the houses featured in the Full House opening video.
Mission Dolores Park - popular place for picnics & sunny day hang outs. Stop by Bi Rite Creamery for Ice Cream before heading to the park.
AT&T Park - if you are in town during Baseball season, get tickets to a Giants game. Even if you aren't a sports fan, it is the most gorgeous setting with tons of yummy food.
Fortune Cookie Factory - watch how fortune cookies are made.
Castro Theater - go see a movie here.
Exploratorium - one of the most fun interactive museums. On Thursdays, from 6-10 its open for 18+ & for 21+ there is a bar so you can drink while playing around in the museum.
RESTAURANTS
Zero Zero - one of my all-time favorite restaurants ever. Everything on the menu is fantastic, but save room for dessert, they have a fill-in menu for a make your own ice cream sundae.
A16 - located in the Marina, good selection of wines & bougie pizzas.
Del Poppolo - tiny restaurant filled with old portrait paintings, I could eat every pizza on the menu.
The Slanted Door - make a reservation. Save room for dessert & order the cotton candy.
Delfina - good family spot for pizza & appetizers. The lemonade here is phenomenal.
15 Romolo - in a weird alley, but once you get inside its a super cool bar that gives off speakeasy vibes. The burger is like a fancy In N Out, the fries were some of the best I've had & for dessert - churro waffles with chocolate sauce. Yes please!!
Delarosa - always packed but worth the wait.
Fiorella - tiny, cute neon, fun sign outside.
Flour & Water - amazing handmade pasta & perfectly fluffy pizza.
Cotogna - steaks, pizza & pasta. Get the pancetta pizza.
Barzotto - fantastic pasta.
Mac'd - custom mac & cheese bar, super casual.
Locanda - get the cacio e pape.
Mijita - located in the ferry building, small menu, quick sit down, order up at the front place, but their tacos are amazing.
Tacolicious - always packed, good margaritas, & tacos.
El Techo - rooftop patio, good drinks, & small plates. Definitely an after work hangout.
Pancho Villa - locals spot, super casual. Some of my favorite burritos ever.
Foreign Cinema Club - they project old school movies during dinner time, go to their site to see what movies they are playing.
Zuni Cafe - classic SF place, everything is so good & fresh here.
Nopa - another classic SF spot, the burger is killer.
Alba Rays - yummy cajun food. They serve Cafe Du Monde beignets!!!!
Tartine - some of the best bread you will ever have. Good croissants & sandwiches. Don't miss out on the baked goods.
Chez Maman - casual french food, worth the wait, get a panini, burger or french onion soup.
Petite Crenn - tasting menu starting at $95, must have reservations. Fabulous wine selection. Everything is served in courses, so this will be a lengthy meal.
Park Tavern - the Marlowe burger is out of this world with caramelized onion goodness.
Wayfare Tavern - three words, burrata whipped potatoes. They are heavenly - so is the baked mac & cheese, truffle polenta fries, & the fried chicken.
Hillstone - everything on the menu is good, the fries are my favorite anywhere. Save room for dessert, the chocolate sauce on the ice cream sundae is unreal.
Chubby Noodle - noodles & asian food. Make a reservation.
State Bird Provisions - famous restaurant in SF, trendy fresh food.
Gott's Burgers - fast super casual burger & fries. Nice patio to eat outside when warm. It's in the front of the Ferry Building.
Acme Bread - located in the Ferry Building, some of the best bread.
Mario's Bohemian Cigar Shop - sandwiches & tasty tiramisu.
Epic Steak - best views of the bridge with bougie steak dishes & good wine.
Jane - good salads, breakfast & sweets.
Belga - good brunch, make sure you order the beignets.
The Dorian - one of my favs for brunch, get the truffle fries & beignets.
Brenda's Soul Food - always a long line during brunch, known for fried chicken & beignets (can you tell I love a good beignet???).
Hog Island Oyster Co - packed, in the ferry building.
Tipsy Pig - good brunch & cocktails (also fun at night)
North Beach Pizza - a SF classic, casual Italian.
Mister Jiu's - best Chinese food in China Town.
Souvla - greek sandwich shop in Hayes Valley.
A Mano - some of the best pasta in the city.
Super Duper Burgers - kinda like a nicer fast food, looks sorta like a copy of Shake Shack.
Starbelly - in the castro, one of my fav places to go before a movie at the Castro Theater.
Finn Town - also in the castro, good cocktails & appetizers here.
Umami Burger - a chain restaurant, but consistently yummy
Balboa Cafe - bougie, but classic, nothing too special, its just cute on the outside.
Presidio Social Club - cute place to take your family for breakfast / lunch.
DESSERTS
Mr Holmes Bakeshop - go right at opening, there will be a line but its worth it. Once they sell out for the day, they close up shop. They have the "I got baked in SF" sign.
Hook't - mini doughnuts food truck (find them on social media)
Humphry Slocombe - unique, trendy ice cream flavors.
Smitten - ice cream made fresh with liquid nitrogen. Their flavors constantly change, check the website to see what they are offering. Get the cocoa nibs & chocolate sauce as a topping.
Salt & Straw - bomb ice cream, they have a few basic flavors, but mostly unique high end flavors.
Bi Rite Creamery - again, super fresh unique ice cream flavors . The banana split is super good.
Miette - located in the Ferry Building, some of my favorite cupcakes, macarons, & cookies. The Chocolate Pot de Creme is one of the best things I've ever eaten. They also have cute candies & birthday cards here.
Kara's Cupcakes - moist cupcake with basic flavors.
Milkbomb - donuts filled with a scoop of ice cream.
Mitchell's Ice Creams - mix of classic & unique flavors. A Kardashian favorite.
Dandelion Chocolate - amazing hot chocolate, located in the ferry building.
Trishs Donuts - while I hate Pier 39, this place makes it worth it to go. You can literally get a bucket of the best mini donuts.
Loving Cup - froyo & rice pudding
Hot Cookie - right next to the Castro Theater, has bomb rice krispy treats & funny erotic shaped cookies.
COFFEE
Phillz - get the mint mojito iced coffee.
Blue Bottle - there are two in the ferry building, if it's nice out, go to the one on the outside, there is usually a shorter line.
Sightglass Coffee
Tartine Bakery
Réveille Coffee Co
Boba Guys - I personally hate Boba, but my friends rave about this place.
DRINKS & MORE
The Riddler - champagne bar with small snacks. Very girly & cute.
Urban Putt - mini golf for adults with drinking involved.
Emporium SF - craft beers & arcade games.
Palm House - get the punch bowl, always packed late night.
Trickdog - cocktails & yummy appetizers
Tipsy Pig - late night food & drinks
Sabrosa - fun dancing late night
Biergarten - in Hayes Valley, fun area to go with friends for a drink.
Tonga Room - really kitchy, but funny, a band will play on the boat floating in the middle of the place.
Bissap Baobap - they play the best dancing music.
Beauty Bar - exactly what it sounds like, a bar set in an old beauty shop.
Makeout Room - live band & dancing.
