Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Lolo is a must. Upscale and inventive Mexican with California influences. Lots of fun. Great cocktails. Gets crowded so reserve or be prepared for a wait. Good solo spot, eat at the bar. $$
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Loló
974 Valencia StLolo is a must. Upscale and inventive Mexican with California influences. Lots of fun. Great cocktails. Gets crowded so reserve or be prepared for a wait. Good solo spot, eat at the bar. $$
Cal-Ital at its best. Sophisticated food in a fairly casual environment. Wine and beer only. Gets crowded so reserve or be prepared for a wait. Good solo spot, eat at the bar. $$$
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Flour + Water
2401 Harrison StCal-Ital at its best. Sophisticated food in a fairly casual environment. Wine and beer only. Gets crowded so reserve or be prepared for a wait. Good solo spot, eat at the bar. $$$
Light roast espresso, fourth wave style. I don't prefer this style but the cafe is lovely and has many fans. $$
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Sightglass Coffee
270 7th StLight roast espresso, fourth wave style. I don't prefer this style but the cafe is lovely and has many fans. $$
The best place for carne asada, delicious. Crowded on the weekends. Order first then find a seat. Zagat Rated! Expensive by taqueria standards but still $
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La Taqueria
2889 Mission StThe best place for carne asada, delicious. Crowded on the weekends. Order first then find a seat. Zagat Rated! Expensive by taqueria standards but still $
The best taqueria for stewed chicken tacos and burritos. Order a "super" for the full SF experience: added guacamole, sour cream, lettuce and tomato. $
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El Toro Taqueria
598 Valencia StThe best taqueria for stewed chicken tacos and burritos. Order a "super" for the full SF experience: added guacamole, sour cream, lettuce and tomato. $
The best taqueria for carnitas. Order a "super" for the full SF taste: + guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, tomato. A hole in the wall & open til 4 am. Check out the great painting of rotisserie pork. $
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Taquería El Farolito
2779 Mission StThe best taqueria for carnitas. Order a "super" for the full SF taste: + guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, tomato. A hole in the wall & open til 4 am. Check out the great painting of rotisserie pork. $
Our go-to Vietnamese hole in the wall. They also deliver. Good chicken noodle soups and noodle bowls. $
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Thanh Tam II
577 Valencia StOur go-to Vietnamese hole in the wall. They also deliver. Good chicken noodle soups and noodle bowls. $
Ridiculously huge and delicious pastries and warm sandwiches. Great in the morning for a decadent pastry of for a wine and lunch in the afternoon. Lines are incredibly long but it's a must try. $$
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Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero StRidiculously huge and delicious pastries and warm sandwiches. Great in the morning for a decadent pastry of for a wine and lunch in the afternoon. Lines are incredibly long but it's a must try. $$
Excellent Greek food in an upscale environment. Very elegant and grown up. Nice spot to eat by the bar, solo or in a pair. $$$$
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Kokkari Estiatorio
200 Jackson StExcellent Greek food in an upscale environment. Very elegant and grown up. Nice spot to eat by the bar, solo or in a pair. $$$$
Upscale vegan Mexican. Go if you are craving healthy food and nut cheese. $$
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Gracias Madre
2211 Mission StUpscale vegan Mexican. Go if you are craving healthy food and nut cheese. $$
If you are running low on food budget here's great choice for dinner. Large portions, low prices and quite decent simple Spanish food & wine. Bring a dollar for mariachi guy who regularly stops in. $
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Esperpento Restaurant
3295 22nd StIf you are running low on food budget here's great choice for dinner. Large portions, low prices and quite decent simple Spanish food & wine. Bring a dollar for mariachi guy who regularly stops in. $
Wonderful spot in North Beach (SF’s Italian hood). Craft cocktails and excellent Italian American fare. $$$$
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Tosca
242 Columbus AveWonderful spot in North Beach (SF’s Italian hood). Craft cocktails and excellent Italian American fare. $$$$
A comfy taste of old North Beach, this is a good spot for cafe Italian style. $
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Caffe Trieste
601 Vallejo St.A comfy taste of old North Beach, this is a good spot for cafe Italian style. $
Phil is the father of SF drip coffee by the cup. The original 24th st location is full of funky charm. Get a pastry from Knead next door, and try it with the Turkish with mint & cardamom. $
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Philz Coffee
3101 24th StPhil is the father of SF drip coffee by the cup. The original 24th st location is full of funky charm. Get a pastry from Knead next door, and try it with the Turkish with mint & cardamom. $
Worth the long waits for upscale Burmese goodness. Have the Tea Leaf Salad!
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Burma Love
211 Valencia StWorth the long waits for upscale Burmese goodness. Have the Tea Leaf Salad!
Drinks & Nightlife
Terrific cocktails, popular with the hipsters. Gets crowded so go early. $$
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Trick Dog
3010 20th StTerrific cocktails, popular with the hipsters. Gets crowded so go early. $$
Casanova Lounge
527 Valencia StExcellent divey and casual cocktail lounge. Cash Only. $
Terrific wine bar serving upscale wines (mainly European), snacks and dinner in a small corner shop decorated with mid century modern furniture. $$$
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20 Spot
3565 20th StTerrific wine bar serving upscale wines (mainly European), snacks and dinner in a small corner shop decorated with mid century modern furniture. $$$
A bar near Union Square that is always quiet and civilized--kind of an old man/hotel bar. Admire the Maxfield Parish art, huge and beautiful. $$
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The Pied Piper Bar
2 New Montgomery StA bar near Union Square that is always quiet and civilized--kind of an old man/hotel bar. Admire the Maxfield Parish art, huge and beautiful. $$
Excellent craft cocktails, though the bar area is annoyingly small so it gets crowded. Call ahead on a nice day to book an outdoor table. Good food, too. $$$
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Dirty Habit
12 4th StExcellent craft cocktails, though the bar area is annoyingly small so it gets crowded. Call ahead on a nice day to book an outdoor table. Good food, too. $$$
Essentials
Beautiful small grocery with the best meats, veggies, cheeses & wines. Extensive prepared foods. Join the hipster throngs: buy a bottle of rose & some glasses, grab some take-out & go to Dolores Park.
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Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th StBeautiful small grocery with the best meats, veggies, cheeses & wines. Extensive prepared foods. Join the hipster throngs: buy a bottle of rose & some glasses, grab some take-out & go to Dolores Park.
Not affiliated with the Whole Foods chain, this is our go-to easy grocery for organic foods, meats and cheeses. Open til 9pm. $$
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Valencia Whole Foods
999 Valencia StNot affiliated with the Whole Foods chain, this is our go-to easy grocery for organic foods, meats and cheeses. Open til 9pm. $$
The holy grail of food co-ops, Rainbow is a vegetarian worker owned grocery with great bulk foods, organic produce, and a staggering array of vitamins. Nice wine selection too. $$
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Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom StThe holy grail of food co-ops, Rainbow is a vegetarian worker owned grocery with great bulk foods, organic produce, and a staggering array of vitamins. Nice wine selection too. $$
Shopping
A quirky little shop showcasing the neo-hippy aesthetic and featuring handmade housewares and clothing from local makers. $$
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Gravel & Gold
3266 21st StA quirky little shop showcasing the neo-hippy aesthetic and featuring handmade housewares and clothing from local makers. $$
Upscale clothes for the casual SF style male. Beautiful custom made shirts. $$$
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Taylor Stitch
383 Valencia StUpscale clothes for the casual SF style male. Beautiful custom made shirts. $$$
This is a cornerstone of Beat culture, owned by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Worth a browse when you are in North Beach. $$
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City Lights Booksellers
261 Columbus AveThis is a cornerstone of Beat culture, owned by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Worth a browse when you are in North Beach. $$
A Mission fixture, Adobe moved from its original 16th st location after a successful Kickstarter campaign. A great used bookstore with lots of interesting events. $
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Adobe Books & Arts Cooperative
3130 24th StA Mission fixture, Adobe moved from its original 16th st location after a successful Kickstarter campaign. A great used bookstore with lots of interesting events. $
Another hot spot for vintage furniture aficionados. A huge place capable of providing some great finds. $$-$$$
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Stuff
150 Valencia StAnother hot spot for vintage furniture aficionados. A huge place capable of providing some great finds. $$-$$$
Everything Else
Store is now called DeAngelis. If you are into great vintage furniture the go admire the wares here. Very spendy but fun to browse. $$$$
Monument
Store is now called DeAngelis. If you are into great vintage furniture the go admire the wares here. Very spendy but fun to browse. $$$$
This is our Little Italy and was also home to the Beat Poets of the 60s, like Jack Kerouac. Strip clubs, bars and nightclubs share space with Italian cafes and pizzerias. Avoid on weekends if you can.
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North Beach
This is our Little Italy and was also home to the Beat Poets of the 60s, like Jack Kerouac. Strip clubs, bars and nightclubs share space with Italian cafes and pizzerias. Avoid on weekends if you can.
Foodie heaven, with a huge farmers market on Sat AMs and plenty of gourmet goodies the rest of the week. Highlights include The Slanted Door (upscale Vietnamese) and Hog Island Oyster Bar. $$-$$$
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Ferry Building Marketplace
Foodie heaven, with a huge farmers market on Sat AMs and plenty of gourmet goodies the rest of the week. Highlights include The Slanted Door (upscale Vietnamese) and Hog Island Oyster Bar. $$-$$$
On Thursday evening this farmers market takes over a stretch of 22nd street. A nice neighborhood market complete with fancy organic veggies, food stands and musical buskers. $$
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Mission Community Market
84 Bartlett StOn Thursday evening this farmers market takes over a stretch of 22nd street. A nice neighborhood market complete with fancy organic veggies, food stands and musical buskers. $$
I prefer Upper Fillmore to Union Square for upscale shopping. Highlights include Gimme Shoes, Rag & Bone, Jonathan Adler, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Stop for lunch at Out the Door or Pizzeria Delfina. $$$
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Lower Pacific Heights
I prefer Upper Fillmore to Union Square for upscale shopping. Highlights include Gimme Shoes, Rag & Bone, Jonathan Adler, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Stop for lunch at Out the Door or Pizzeria Delfina. $$$
Hotels & dept stores abound here so it's less popular w/ locals. Plenty of $$ boutiques & chains. Hi-lights: Barney's NY & Neiman Marcus, housed in a building with a historic stained glass atrium.
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Union Square
333 Post StHotels & dept stores abound here so it's less popular w/ locals. Plenty of $$ boutiques & chains. Hi-lights: Barney's NY & Neiman Marcus, housed in a building with a historic stained glass atrium.
The main thoroughfare of the gentrified Mission. Shops, bars & restaurants galore, some great & some awful, catering mainly to an upscale crowd. Interesting stuff from 23th all the way to 14th st.
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Valencia Street
Valencia StreetThe main thoroughfare of the gentrified Mission. Shops, bars & restaurants galore, some great & some awful, catering mainly to an upscale crowd. Interesting stuff from 23th all the way to 14th st.
Nice drop in yoga classes, one hour long. They rent mats and play cool music. No chanting. $$
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MOXIE: 20th Street
3315 20th StNice drop in yoga classes, one hour long. They rent mats and play cool music. No chanting. $$
Arts & Culture
Cool small local venue featuring local and international live music. $
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Red Poppy Art House
2698 Folsom StCool small local venue featuring local and international live music. $
Southern Exposure
3030 20th StGreat local gallery with lots of thinky contemporary art.
Sightseeing
This is hipster heaven on a sunny weekend. If you want to check out San Francisco being freaky, and don't mind crowds, head to Dolores Park. Free.
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Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetThis is hipster heaven on a sunny weekend. If you want to check out San Francisco being freaky, and don't mind crowds, head to Dolores Park. Free.
A great SF landmark and one of the tourist spots that I recommend. Go on a clear day and take in the views and the great depression-era murals. $8
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Coit Tower
A great SF landmark and one of the tourist spots that I recommend. Go on a clear day and take in the views and the great depression-era murals. $8
Charming residential area accessed only by steps. Walk down from Coit Tower, and you will spot flocks of wild parrots. If you are intrigued watch "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill". End @ Ferry Bldg
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Filbert Steps
Charming residential area accessed only by steps. Walk down from Coit Tower, and you will spot flocks of wild parrots. If you are intrigued watch "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill". End @ Ferry Bldg
This section of the Mission retains a bit more of its Hispanic soul, and the newer shops and cafes still have an edgy feel. Well worth a stroll.
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24th Street
24th StreetThis section of the Mission retains a bit more of its Hispanic soul, and the newer shops and cafes still have an edgy feel. Well worth a stroll.