Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Rare, salty, serious burger. Voted best in SF 2013. Full bar. Dark atmosphere. Great stuff. Falafel burger has great coriander sauce. "Juicy Lucy" is two small patties pressed between melted cheese.
9 Einheimische empfehlen
KronnerBurger
4063 Piedmont AvenueRare, salty, serious burger. Voted best in SF 2013. Full bar. Dark atmosphere. Great stuff. Falafel burger has great coriander sauce. "Juicy Lucy" is two small patties pressed between melted cheese.
Terrible location, incredible baker. Salted chocolate cookies. Beautiful morning buns. Great sandwiches. Great eggs.
14 Einheimische empfehlen
L'acajou Bakery and Cafe
498 9th StTerrible location, incredible baker. Salted chocolate cookies. Beautiful morning buns. Great sandwiches. Great eggs.
Not revamped, not chic, not hipster. Old school tacos made on a cart by the guy up near the front.
64 Einheimische empfehlen
Taqueria Vallarta
3033 24th StNot revamped, not chic, not hipster. Old school tacos made on a cart by the guy up near the front.
Famous and extraordinary. Kung-pao pastrami is a must. Huge lines. Go early.
153 Einheimische empfehlen
Mission Chinese Food
2234 Mission StFamous and extraordinary. Kung-pao pastrami is a must. Huge lines. Go early.
Foreign Cinema
2534 Mission StGreat food while you watch movies projected on a wall.
Truly Mediterranean
3109 16th StCheap good shwarma.
Super cheap amazing noodles. Truly. Six-seat noodle house -- feels like Bladerunner. Get the cold noodles.
75 Einheimische empfehlen
Yamo
3406 18th StSuper cheap amazing noodles. Truly. Six-seat noodle house -- feels like Bladerunner. Get the cold noodles.
Nuevo rustic french / California cuisine. The food SF is famous for. Order the pork chop, it will change your life. Seriously. And sunshine fix cocktail. Guillotine if adventurous.
504 Einheimische empfehlen
Nopa
560 Divisadero StNuevo rustic french / California cuisine. The food SF is famous for. Order the pork chop, it will change your life. Seriously. And sunshine fix cocktail. Guillotine if adventurous.
The quality coffee and hipster ambience you came here for. People watch in the parklet. My friend's husband supplies the pastries. They're great.
348 Einheimische empfehlen
Four Barrel Coffee
375 Valencia StThe quality coffee and hipster ambience you came here for. People watch in the parklet. My friend's husband supplies the pastries. They're great.
Luna Park
694 Valencia StreetGreat food, great cocktail program.
Beautiful renovated high-ceilinged turn-of-the-century space. Best mocha in the city (real chocolate), good wine selection, deep comfy booth, great place to watch Market Street.
27 Einheimische empfehlen
Mavelous Coffee Bar & Little Griddle
1455 Market StBeautiful renovated high-ceilinged turn-of-the-century space. Best mocha in the city (real chocolate), good wine selection, deep comfy booth, great place to watch Market Street.
We Be Sushi
538 Valencia StreetEvery sandwich involves bacon and every sandwich is great.
Great space to sit and get your bearings. There's wifi, coffee, sandwiches, beer, donuts, but only the wifi is any good. Less than a block from our door. Hard to beat.
7 Einheimische empfehlen
Flying Pig Bistro Pub
433 S Van Ness AveGreat space to sit and get your bearings. There's wifi, coffee, sandwiches, beer, donuts, but only the wifi is any good. Less than a block from our door. Hard to beat.
Serious whiskey bar, serious Japanese food. Happy hour is affordable.
46 Einheimische empfehlen
Nihon Whisky Lounge
1779 Folsom StSerious whiskey bar, serious Japanese food. Happy hour is affordable.
Swanky baking operation. A semi-savory muffin with crumbly bacon and a runny egg baked in the exact center. Great brioche. Great coffee. Beautiful clean (Brooklynesque) aesthetic.
137 Einheimische empfehlen
Craftsman and Wolves
746 Valencia StSwanky baking operation. A semi-savory muffin with crumbly bacon and a runny egg baked in the exact center. Great brioche. Great coffee. Beautiful clean (Brooklynesque) aesthetic.
Sugarlump
2862 24th StreetPretty interiors, great place to work.
El Metate
2406 Bryant StGood tacos.
Designed by one of SF's most famous architecture firms, this place is as beautiful to look at as it is to eat in. Incredible cocktail program, one of the best in the city. Classy deconstructed dishes.
56 Einheimische empfehlen
Bar Agricole
1540 11th StDesigned by one of SF's most famous architecture firms, this place is as beautiful to look at as it is to eat in. Incredible cocktail program, one of the best in the city. Classy deconstructed dishes.
The only reason to come out to the Sunset. Incredible bread (baked in-house), killer food. Braised pork shoulder open-faced sandwich. Hot cider with Buffalo Trace bourbon.
259 Einheimische empfehlen
Outerlands
4001 Judah StThe only reason to come out to the Sunset. Incredible bread (baked in-house), killer food. Braised pork shoulder open-faced sandwich. Hot cider with Buffalo Trace bourbon.
Excellent independent coffee roaster/house with big windows facing the park.
51 Einheimische empfehlen
Flywheel Coffee Roasters
672 Stanyan StExcellent independent coffee roaster/house with big windows facing the park.
You can't get in here anymore, the lines are prohibitive, but they make all their jams and pastries in-house, the eggs benedicts, seafood omelets, monte cristo sandwich, pain d'or - all truly amazing.
127 Einheimische empfehlen
Mama's On Washington Square
1701 Stockton StYou can't get in here anymore, the lines are prohibitive, but they make all their jams and pastries in-house, the eggs benedicts, seafood omelets, monte cristo sandwich, pain d'or - all truly amazing.
Great Chinese fusion food on the water watching ferries arrive, killer cocktail program. Hard to get into -- sit at the community table / lounge with your cocktail by the windows.
95 Einheimische empfehlen
The Slanted Door
Ferry BuildingGreat Chinese fusion food on the water watching ferries arrive, killer cocktail program. Hard to get into -- sit at the community table / lounge with your cocktail by the windows.
Burmese food that will change your handwriting. Fermented tea-leaf salad, samusa soup, key-lime iced tea.
58 Einheimische empfehlen
B Star
127 Clement StBurmese food that will change your handwriting. Fermented tea-leaf salad, samusa soup, key-lime iced tea.
Dave's Bar
99 Yerba Buena LnKiller cream puffs.
Arts & Culture
Movies are expensive but this place is a great spectacle. Overlooks the park, has La Boulange coffee & pastries down below, and of course Target.
124 Einheimische empfehlen
Metreon
135 4th StMovies are expensive but this place is a great spectacle. Overlooks the park, has La Boulange coffee & pastries down below, and of course Target.
Art house movie theatre. We have very few.
10 Einheimische empfehlen
Landmark Theaters Opera Plaza Cinema
601 Van Ness AveArt house movie theatre. We have very few.
DNA Lounge
375 11th StDancing. Like, serious nightclub dancing.
Drinks & Nightlife
Longest happy hour in the city. Pint-sized dark & stormys. Allows outside food, so get a basket of fries from frijtz and spend the evening playing pinball or pacman on real sit-down table games.
89 Einheimische empfehlen
The Valencia Room
647 Valencia StLongest happy hour in the city. Pint-sized dark & stormys. Allows outside food, so get a basket of fries from frijtz and spend the evening playing pinball or pacman on real sit-down table games.
Beautiful slender library bar with great cocktails and a strong kitchen. Get the meatballs.
37 Einheimische empfehlen
Two Sisters Bar and Books
579 Hayes StreetBeautiful slender library bar with great cocktails and a strong kitchen. Get the meatballs.
Reasonably priced cocktails of reasonable quality. I learned to salsa dance here on a Wednesday. Their happy hour is pretty good and so is the art and DJ.
131 Einheimische empfehlen
Madrone Art Bar
500 Divisadero StReasonably priced cocktails of reasonable quality. I learned to salsa dance here on a Wednesday. Their happy hour is pretty good and so is the art and DJ.
Cheapest martinis in town and they always come with a sidecar (which makes them really 2.5 martinis).
55 Einheimische empfehlen
Bond Bar
3079 16th StCheapest martinis in town and they always come with a sidecar (which makes them really 2.5 martinis).
Basil
1175 Folsom StGreat noodles, full bar.
Great noodles, full bar, beautiful red brick landmark building.
18 Einheimische empfehlen
Basil Canteen
1489 Folsom StGreat noodles, full bar, beautiful red brick landmark building.
Great cocktails, delicious small plates. One of the saving graces of an otherwise touristed-out Haight-Ashbury.
137 Einheimische empfehlen
The Alembic
1725 Haight StGreat cocktails, delicious small plates. One of the saving graces of an otherwise touristed-out Haight-Ashbury.
Essentials
Cheap large items. Butcher, on-site bakery, cheap (good) whiskey, cheap (good) champagne, incredibly cheap polish hot dogs, and chicken-bakes. If you're into that.
171 Einheimische empfehlen
Costco Wholesale
450 10th StCheap large items. Butcher, on-site bakery, cheap (good) whiskey, cheap (good) champagne, incredibly cheap polish hot dogs, and chicken-bakes. If you're into that.
Heaven. Everything organic, bulk, medicinal, fresh, and wonderful is here. Costly, but high quality and worker owned. Best fromager in the city. No joke. Vegan. (except cheese).
275 Einheimische empfehlen
Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom StHeaven. Everything organic, bulk, medicinal, fresh, and wonderful is here. Costly, but high quality and worker owned. Best fromager in the city. No joke. Vegan. (except cheese).
Sometimes if Rainbow Grocery seems too expensive, I shop here. And it's incredibly cheap. But the lines are terrible. And there's no good cheese.
23 Einheimische empfehlen
Foodsco
1800 Folsom StSometimes if Rainbow Grocery seems too expensive, I shop here. And it's incredibly cheap. But the lines are terrible. And there's no good cheese.
Everything Else
Transport: this is how you will get to the airport. It's a block away, it's wonderful. But the crowd is colorful and lively. Connects with all BART lines to East Bay and the Peninsula.
162 Einheimische empfehlen
16th St Mission BART Station
2000 Mission StTransport: this is how you will get to the airport. It's a block away, it's wonderful. But the crowd is colorful and lively. Connects with all BART lines to East Bay and the Peninsula.
Closest MUNI subway station to our house. Connects with all other MUNI lines.
21 Einheimische empfehlen
Van Ness MUNI Metro Station
Closest MUNI subway station to our house. Connects with all other MUNI lines.
Some great exhibitions come thru here -- climb the twisty steel tower for great views.
999 Einheimische empfehlen
M. H. de Young Memorial Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrSome great exhibitions come thru here -- climb the twisty steel tower for great views.
Boudin at the Wharf
160 Jefferson StA safe bet for great clam chowder.
Shopping
Most bizarre/wonderful ice cream. Flavors include "Elvis (the fat years)" banana peanut butter chocolate, "Secret Breakfast" bourbon cornflakes cream. Featured in NYTimes Magazine. Amazing place.
224 Einheimische empfehlen
Humphry Slocombe
Most bizarre/wonderful ice cream. Flavors include "Elvis (the fat years)" banana peanut butter chocolate, "Secret Breakfast" bourbon cornflakes cream. Featured in NYTimes Magazine. Amazing place.
Dynamo Donut and Coffee
2760 24th StDynamo Donut. Enough said.
My favorite bookshop in America. The staff-chosen book tables and displays are indispensable -- nothing directs my reading habits more. Beats poetry room upstairs. Cinema/philosophy downstairs.
86 Einheimische empfehlen
City Lights Booksellers
261 Columbus AveMy favorite bookshop in America. The staff-chosen book tables and displays are indispensable -- nothing directs my reading habits more. Beats poetry room upstairs. Cinema/philosophy downstairs.
Massive farmer's market Saturday and great trendy eating shops week-long.
679 Einheimische empfehlen
Ferry Building Marketplace
Massive farmer's market Saturday and great trendy eating shops week-long.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StClosed for expansion but beautiful.
Cask
3185 College AveRare and amazing spirits and knowledge.
Sightseeing
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
1201 Mason StGreat fun.
Go up to the parabolic living roof -- and wait in line for the planetarium -- great stuff. Super high quality science museum.
816 Einheimische empfehlen
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse DrGo up to the parabolic living roof -- and wait in line for the planetarium -- great stuff. Super high quality science museum.