We wanted to tell you a little about our adopted city - where to eat, hang out, and explore. San Francisco is a beautiful but small city, only 7 miles across. Weather is neighborhood dependent, and nothing is more beautiful than seeing the fog rolling in over the city. Warm clothing and layers are usually wise even in May. Bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes and be eco-friendly if you want to fit in! Walk or take the MUNI (our bus/metro system), recycle your plastic bags/bottles, maybe even buy a reusable canvas shopping bag!
The neighborhood rundown:
Inner Richmond and Sunset: North and South of the Golden Gate Park (respectively), they contain less touristy Chinatowns with good and cheap food
Mission district: largely Hispanic, any taqueria will show you what goes into an authentic burrito
Marina/Russian Hill: trendy and young, lots of hills and amazing views including the famous Lombard street
Haight-Ashbury: slightly seedy, the place to hang for the bohemian artistes and those in search of second-hand clothing, piercings, and tatoos
Tenderloin: avoid it. Unless you _wanted_ to have your car stolen.
Japantown: small, but worth a visit
Castro: come see what the rainbow flag is all about!
Where we hang:
De Young Museum (Tea Garden Drive in Golden Gate Park)
Golden Gate Park (perfect for walking and biking) - Strybring Arboretum; Japanese Tea Garden, and even the buffalo paddock! (yes, there are real buffalo in the park)
Clement Street (the less touristy Chinatown) between Arguello and 12th Ave
Green Apple Books (at 6th Ave & Clement)
The Ferry Building Farmer's Market (Saturday AM; on the Embarcadero)
Good coffee:
Martha Brothers (multiple locations; Clement & 3rd Ave)
Blue Bottle coffee (on Mint St off Mission St)
Philz coffee (18th Street & Sanchez)
Where we brunch/lunch:
Tartine Bakery (18th & Guerrero)
Ella's (Presidio & California)
Arizmendi Bakery (9th Ave between Judah & Irving)
Ton Kiang (dim sum; Geary & 22nd Ave)
Mama's on Washington Square (Stockton & Filbert)
Cole Valley Boulangerie (Parnassus & Cole)
Marta's Kitchen in the Jay Bee Club (note: this is a bar, but the Mexican food is terrific; 20th & Hampshire)
Hiking and walking:
Chrissy Field or the Land's End trail (in the Presidio)
Golden Gate Park
Marin Headlands
Muir Woods National Park
Tourist sites:
Golden Gate bridge - walk across it!
Alcatraz - really great audio tour, reserve tix early!
Upscale shopping:
Fillmore Street
Union Square
Snack time:
(Ice cream)
Mitchell's (tropical flavors; San Jose Ave & 29th Street)
Swensen's (homemade goodness; Hyde & Union)
Bi-Rite creamery (salty caramel! 18th Street & Dolores)
(Cookies)
Specialty's (now this is a chocolate chip cookie!; multiple locations, Montgomery MUNI station)
(Late night snack)
Taqueria Cancun (a real Mission burrito; Mission St & 19th St)
Where we dine:
Sociale (Italian) (Sacramento & Spruce)- $$$
Chez Panisse (Berkeley)- $$$
Little Star (deep dish on Divisadero & Fulton) or Giorgio's (homestyle on Clement St) - $
Oyaji or Zushi Puzzle (sushi) - $$
My Tofu House (Korean on Geary & 10th Ave) - $
Singapore-Malaysian (yes, that's the name of the restaurant, on Clement) - $
Bissap baobab (Senegalese on Mission & 19th St) - $
South Sea Seafood Village (Chinese) - $$
Pacific Catch (seafood/fusion; 9th & Lincoln) - $$
PPQ Dungeness Island (garlic crab! Clement & 24th Ave)-$$
Go to this map for precise locations.
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