San Francisco is known for many things: its hippie history, its massive and culturally significant Chinatown district, its quirky culture, and its coastal views, all watched over by the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. You'll want to pack good walking shoes, since the city is notoriously hilly, and a sweater, since it's also notoriously foggy, so you're totally comfortable as you explore this incredibly diverse and distinctive city.
Delessio Market and Bakery is probably best known for its tres leches cake and rabanada (a Brazilian sweet that's basically bread dipped in custard, fried, and covered in cinnamon-sugar) but they sell pre-prepped food and sandwiches too. Their version of a boring-sounding grilled chicken sandwich involves onion jam, wild arugula and aioli on housemade focaccia. Yes, please.
Take your sammies and baked goods to the park here to check out some of San Francisco's iconic and colorful Victorian homes, also known as the Painted Ladies. You probably recognize them from the opening credits of 'Full House'! The actual home used for establishing shots of their actual house is located a few blocks away. The door is no longer red, but if you're discreet, you can still snap a photo or two.
Not quite as famous as Golden Gate Park, The Presidio of San Francisco is just as loaded with things to see. Inspiration Point offers views of Alcatraz, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Angel Island, art installations along trails make for beautiful hikes, and there's even a Yoda statue hidden in here!
Seafood that's just as delicious as it is Instagram-worthy-- what's not to love? Hog Island Oyster Co. serves up all kinds of the freshest seafood, from geoducks to scallops, along with craft cocktails, and a few other dinner options (their grilled cheese is also incredibly popular as well).
Aub Zam Zam is a beloved, old-school dive that's the perfect place to disappear for a bit. Known for their exotic, 1940's decor, their incredible jukebox (and the fact that it has a jukebox at all) and their stiff martinis, you'll seriously feel like you've stepped into a film noir.
With a cocktail menu that offers really great takes on classics (which range from bourbon old-fashioneds to corpse revivers) and some really intriguing new drinks, The Alembic is a really classy place to get a little tipsy.
With a constantly rotating selection of beers that range from refreshing to funky, Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery is a little different from the cocktail bars above, but it's still a super San Francisco-y place to grab a pint. I mean, the name is a Grateful Dead reference!
Head back to your colorful room at The Maker for the night! The artsy vibes in this boutique hotel are pure San Francisco, and fun details, like a complimentary goldfish upon request, add to the charm. Plus, the old building is in a great location and has a great bar inside!
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so start the day right at a neighborhood gem: Sweet Maple. Deep fried French toast, deep-fried bacon, and breakfast pizza are great if you're famished, but they also offer lighter options, like sweet potato pancakes and Dungeness crab omelettes. Plus, the value of friendly service, even while crowded, goes a long way, especially if you're still feeling the pain from the night before.
Load up on change and then head to the Musee Mecanique, a super old-school arcade where most of the games were popular well before the 1980's. An impressive (and amusing and sometimes creepy) collection of machines from the 1930's through the present day are kept in working condition and only cost a few cents to play. It's one of the most impressive displays of vintage games in the world, and everyone loves a museum where you can play with the exhibits!
21st Amendment is one of SF's most well-known craft breweries (mostly because of their much-loved Hell or High Watermelon wheat beer-- order it if it's in season when you visit!) but the brewpub makes a great place to grab a pre-lunch drink. It's a good place to catch a Giants game as well, or just chat with the locals.
The generically-named La Taqueria is a no-frills, cash-only burrito that joint serves up some of the best Mexican food in NorCal. They're known for offering "traditional, rice-free" burritos, so what you're really getting is a hand grenade of meat, veggies and toppings. Considering sharing a super burrito, or risk touting the juicy leftovers around: it's too good to waste.
You've probably seen pictures of the famously squiggly Lombard Street before, but it's the kind of thing you have to see in person to fully appreciate. San Francisco is notoriously hilly, and their way of building streets to compensate for that is one of the city's most charming quirks.
Come for the sea lions, stay for the... everything else. Tours, shops, restaurants, bars, attractions and more compose the famed tourist attraction known as Pier 39. Whether you just check out the atmosphere and get a picture of the iconic sea lions lazing about on the dock, or you spend a full afternoon here doing a tour, it's worth it to stop by.
San Francisco is also known for its history with the beatnik scene of the 1950's and 1960's. City Lights is an indie bookstore that was founded by famous poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti as the first all-paperback bookstore and a beat publishing house. To this day, it retains an impressive selection of interesting titles. Go soak up the literary history!
San Francisco is home to the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, so explore around! R & G Lounge is Cantonese eatery that makes for a solid option when looking for good Chinese food-- try the the salt and pepper fried crab, the clay pots, the lettuce cups, or the Peking duck and you won't be disappointed.
Another spot rich in history! Vesuvio Cafe is a European-style coffee shop (by that, I mean that they serve booze as well) that has liquored up greats like Bob Dylan, Jack Kerouac, Dylan Thomas, Allen Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, and Francis Ford Coppola. There's definitely something about this place that inspires!
And if the bookstore and Vesuvio weren't funky enough for you, then you'll want to stop here at Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe. The eclectic collection of oddities lining the walls, the old beatnik regulars, and the old-school drinks (and cheese and crackers) make this a great place to strike up a conversation with the locals.
Summer can get a little busy here, but the sun on the coast is worth it if you don't mind some crowds. Spring is kind of chilly, so the waning warmth of fall makes it a better transitional season. Winters are mild but rainy, so should you choose to visit then, pack an umbrella.
chris.hudepohl
On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.