Well I’ve never really “traveled” here but since I’ve spent most of my adult years living in San Francisco (when I’m not galavanting around the world), I thought I might write out a few of my favorite things to recommend to people when they visit my favorite US city.

It’s not comprehensive but it’s a list of some of MY favorite things to do 🙂

Pro tips:

• Don’t call San Francisco “San Fran” or “Frisco”. Do call it SF, San Francisco, or The City.
• Don’t leave anything in your car when you park it. Notice I didn’t see leave anything valuable, I said don’t leave ANYTHING in your car. It will get broken into.
• While SF can be expensive, lot’s of my favorite things to do are free/cheap. Play pickleball in the most beautiful location in the Presidio, walk along Chrissy Fields, explore Haight Ashbury, picnic in any of the incredible parks, etc.
• From a weather perspective, I think September & October are the best times of year to visit. This is our summer when we get the most sun & it’s fairly warm (although SF has a microclimate and it’s always much cooler than any of the surrounding areas so DO NOT FORGET A JACKET). Runner up would be April/May when spring is doing its thing.
• Public transport & Uber are pretty widely available in SF, so if you can avoid renting a car, I’d recommend it. But if you are leaving SF, then just wait to rent a car once you are leaving.

Where to Stay:

I don’t have actual recommendations since I’ve never stayed in a hotel, and weirdly most of the hotels in San Francisco are in downtown or near Pier 39, which can be touristy or in the less cute parts of SF. My favorite neighborhoods are Hayes Valley/Alamo Square, North Beach, & Cow Hollow. There aren’t many hotels in these areas, but if you are staying in an Airbnb these would be good places to start. That being said, Downtown or Pier 39 are still good/central places to be since you’ll be running around the city anyway. If you want a guide on all the districts, check them out here. Here’s a comprehensive list of hotel options to check out.

Where to eat:

Here are some of my favorite restaurants. Caveat- I am not a foodie nor am I known for being in the know for the best restaurants so I humbly just offer where I like to go as an average eater living in San Francisco 🙂

Coffee/Bakery Spots

• The Mill – Cute coffee shop with spots to work on your computer in Nopa.
• Arsicault Bakery – very well known bakery in SF. Plan ahead and go early, but expect long lines no matter what 🙂 Their croissants (especially their almond croissant) are out of this world. Two locations (Inner Richmond & Civic Center).
• Jane the Bakery – fabulous baked goods near Japantown.
• b. Patisserie Famous for their chocolate almond croissant! Line can be long, but moves efficiently. Located in Lower Pac Heights.

Brunch spots (all are popular so factor in wait times)

• Zazie – Delicious brunch in Cole Valley! They pay livable wages so tipping isn’t required.
• Plow – in Portrero Hill, known for their crispy potatoes!
• Kitchen Story – known for Millionaire’s bacon & has an Asian influence. Located in the Mission.
• Brenda’s – soul food brunch (think French, Creole, and Southern cuisine, including beignets and po’ boys), but in a more dicey area of the city (Tenderloin) to be aware as you walk around or park (wouldn’t advise parking here).
• Devil’s Teeth Baking Company – less brunch and more of a breakfast sandwich to go type of place in Outer Sunset. Grab one (there will be a line) and then head to Ocean Beach to eat it.
• Le Cafe du Soleil – cute cafe with all day breakfast in Lower Haight.

Lunch spots

• Lucinda’s – Great sandwich to grab and then eat in Alamo Square.
• Gott’s burgers – Local Bay Area chain with yummy fries, burgers (including Impossible of course), and shakes. Located at the Ferry building so fun to walk through there.
• Radhaus – German pub vibe located right next to Fort Mason. Great beer options.
• Cheese plus – Great deli spot for a sandwich on Polk Street.
• Mayflower Market – Another favorite with my friends. We like grabbing a sandwich here and eating it in Alta Plaza in Pac Heights.

Dinner spots

• Beretta – reasonable Italian food (one location in NOPA & one in the Mission).
• Souvla – cheap, casual, yummy greek food (there are a few locations around SF).
• Flores – in the heart of the fun going out young part of town (Marina/Cow Hollow neighborhood). Known for delicious margaritas and good Mexican food.
• Burma Superstar or Burma Love – well known delicious Burmese food.
• Cotogna– Expensive, but worth it! A very special, delicious Italian place. Requires reservation!
• Rich Table – High end California fare. Used to have a michelin star.
• China Live – yummy Chinese food in North Beach near China Town.
• Delfina – Located in the Mission, a great pizza spot.
• Wildseed – best vegan spot in SF, you can’t even tell all their food is plant-based. Love their Impossible burgers & they have fun drinks.

Dessert

• Bi-Rite Ice Cream in the Mission (Pro Tip: come here while hanging in Dolores Park on a hot afternoon).
• Over the Moon Creamery – yummy ice cream + cookie spot in the Marina.
• Bob’s Donuts – they have two locations (NOPA & Polk). Delicious donuts, including great vegan options (their vegan apple fritter is so yummy).

Bars 

• Balboa Cafe – known for Espresso Martinis in the Marina
• Wilder – very fun vibes + a backroom with jenga & other games in the Marina
• Westwood – cowboy, western bar in the Marina
• Harper & Rye – Upscale, rustic vibe on Polk Street

What to do within SF:

• See the Golden Gate Bridge
• Walk along Chrissy Fields for the best views of Golden Gate Bridge
• For a European moment, walk around the Palace of Fine Arts (near Chrissy Field so easy to couple these together)
• Visit Alamo Square for the Painted Ladies & views of the SF skyline (great during the day or sunset). Pro tip: as mentioned above, get a sandwich from Lucinda’s and sit in Alamo Square for some fabulous people watching
• Picnic in Dolores Park for some even better (read: weirder) people watching, but also great SF skyline views
• Visit Coit Tower for panoramic views of SF on a clear day! Pro tip: if it’s foggy, don’t both coming here
• Drive or walk town Lombard Street, the most crooked street in the world!
• Take a cable car
• Visit Alcatraz! Pro tip: tickets CAN sell out so it’s worth booking tickets ahead of time if you don’t have lots of flexibility
• Explore the hippy neighborhood of Haight Ashbury for great thrifts shops
• Walk around Golden Gate Park & discover lakes, Bison, art, & windmills. Pro tip: rent a lyft e-bike & cycle your way all the way to Ocean Beach. Grab a Devil Teeth’s breakfast sandwich and enjoy it while sitting on the beach, listening to the waves
• Head to Fort Mason for sunset, especially on a warm Friday afternoon. There’s always tons of people enjoying the green space, with plenty of dogs to say hello to!
• Walk around the Presidio – tons of lovely walks to do
• Peruse all the fun shops & food stands at the Ferry Building. Great spot for picking up some artisan gifts. Pro Tip: There’s a great farmer’s market on Saturdays!
• Visit any of the fabulous museums like the De Young or Museum of Modern Art. Check out this guide to some of the best museums. Pro Tip: if you are visiting on a Thursday, go to the Exploratorium after dark. It’s a very cool interactive science museum & on Thursdays it’s open for 18+ with alcoholic beverages available
• Check out a Bay Area sports game. Between the Giants, Warriors, 49ers, the A’s and the Sharks you have plenty to choose from!

What to do outside of SF (Day Trip):

North of SF

• Muir Woods – Get lost in some big beautiful old growth coast redwood trees. Pro tip: you need to reserve parking permits ahead of time & there is little service in the park so plan ahead.
• Sausalito – Drive over from the city or take the ferry over & enjoy the gorgeous views of SF. Tons of cute restaurants & a yummy ice cream shop.
• Hike Mt Tam – a lovely, big hike with great views on a clear day.
• Napa Valley – some fabulous wine tasting. Pro tip: Sonoma, St Helena, Calistoga, & Livermore all also offer great wine tasting (and can be less busy & often less expensive).

South of SF

• Santa Cruz – have yourself a beach boardwalk day, complete with some roller coaster rides.
• Pacifica – it can often be foggy, but it’s a classic Northern California beach town. You can often spot whales in the ocean on their migration.

East of SF

• Berkeley – fun, hippie city across the bay. Easy to take the metro over for a few hours to walk around.

What to do outside of SF (overnight/weekend Trip):

• Yosemite – my favorite national park in the US
• Lake Tahoe – my favorite place in the US (but I grew up coming here so there’s nostalgia mixed in) & it’s great year round, but summer & winter are the most popular times. Pro tip: of course spend some time at Lake Tahoe itself, but don’t be afraid to spend time hiking to one of the many other lakes in the region during the summer. Desolation Wilderness is beautiful!!
• Mendocino – moody, green, & quiet is how I would describe this area. Check out the fun airbnbs up there for a cozy weekend.
• Carmel & Monterey – charming seaside towns along the central coast
• Big Sur – where Big Little Lies is filmed. Gorgeous ocean views, but check out road closures as access here often is tough with Highway 1 collapsing at times.

Events to visit SF for:

There are tons of events throughout the year in SF (see a more comprehensive list here), but these are some of the most popular:

• Bay to Breakers – Usually in May. This is a classic SF event. It’s a 12k race from the SF Bay (east side of SF) all the way to Ocean Beach (West side of SF). Essentially you run from one side of the city to the other. The aim of the game is to dress as silly as possible. In classic SF fashion, you will see plenty of boobs & dicks – any excuse to get naked. Pro tip: You can still participate even if you don’t sign up for the race. Most people just get dressed up with friends and drink along the course 🙂
• Bottle Rock – Usually in May. A music festival held in Napa Valley, so there’s a heavy wine influence on the festival. Past artists include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Imagine Dragons, Bruno Mars, Tom Petty, Eric Church, Kygo, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, & Stevie Nicks.
• SF Pride Parade – Usually at the end of June. It’s a beautiful, vibrant day celebrating folks from all colors of the rainbow flag. One of the best in all of the US 🙂
• SF Marathon – Usually in the back half of July. Very fun event to see all the runners take over the city. I’ve done both the 1st half marathon & the 2nd half marathon. It’s a very fun route. Enjoy as a spectator or a runner!
• Outside Lands – Usually in August. A very fun music festival in the gorgeous Golden Gate Park. Past artists include: Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Killers, Elton John, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, & Megan Thee Stallion. Pro tip: Uber/lyft can get very expensive during the festival so think about your transportation ahead of time. Also if you don’t plan to go to the festival, I would avoid visiting SF this weekend.
• Fleet Week – Usually in October. More than a million people gather to watch the Blue Angels fly overhead. It’s quite spectacular to witness. There’s also a parade to celebrate veterans & active duty military members
• Hardly Strictly Bluegrass – Usually in October. A free bluegrass festival held in Golden Gate Park.
• SantaCon – Usually in December. A fun day of drinking & merriment, where everyone dresses at Santa!

Overall Thoughts:

While folks often read/see horrendous things about San Francisco on the news, I think it’s one of the best cities in the US. Yes, there are some homeless people, but this isn’t unique to SF. Yes, there are some neighborhoods to avoid. Yes, cars do get broken into (seriously don’t leave anything, and I mean ANYTHING, in your car at any time). But truly San Francisco is magical. It’s charming. It’s a foodie’s playground. It’s a nature lovers’ heaven. It’s inclusive. It’s has everything. I just love it! It has so much to offer in such a tiny footprint (Fun fact: San Francisco is only ~7 miles by 7 miles). In a weekend, you would barely scratch the surface, so start planning your second trip, before you even take the first 😉