San Francisco is surprisingly nature-filled for a city, and thanks to the year-round mild weather, residents are all about soaking up the great outdoors. So don some layers, grab your water bottle and sunscreen, and head outside. Beaches -- Most days it’s too chilly to hang out at…
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San Francisco Attractions
San Francisco Attractions
Golden Gate Bridge ranks as one of the world's great landmarks, but it ain’t the only attraction in town. Dive into the arts and sciences at world-class museums, then hitch a ride on San Francisco’s colourful, museum-worthy cable cars.
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Sports Venue
AT&T Park
If you're a baseball fan, you'll definitely want to schedule a visit to the magnificent AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants and hailed by the media as one of the finest ballparks in America. From April through October, an often sellout crowd of 40,800 fans packs the… -
Landmark
Alcatraz Island
If you can only do one tour while in San Francisco, make it Alcatraz. Probably the most famous prison in America, if not the world, this was where the worst of the worst criminals were marooned to suffer and freeze in the Bay. The building has barely changed at all from its days as a…$$$ -
The Performing Arts
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)
The Tony Award-winning American Conservatory Theater made its debut in 1967 and quickly established itself as the city's premier resident theater group and one of the nation's best. Numerous big-name actors have tread the boards here, including Annette Bening and Nicolas Cage. The… -
Zoo/Aquarium
Aquarium of the Bay
Set streetside at Pier 39, this little, overpriced aquarium is a quick tour that you can turn to if you want to indulge the kids. With over 20,000 sea creatures swimming about, you’ll see the usual eels, octopuses, and jellyfish; you can pat bat rays and leopard sharks at the touch…$ -
Museum
Asian Art Museum
The largest collection of Asian art in the United States, this stellar museum boasts over 18,000 treasures from Asian countries as varied as China, Tibet, India, and The Middle East. With items spanning a 6,000-year history, it’s also the largest museum of its kind in this… -
Landmark
Boudin at the Wharf
After more than 30 years of being simply a bread shop in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, Boudin Bakery super-sized into this swank, 26,000-square-foot flagship baking emporium into a place to eat and learn. Nearly half a block long, it houses their demonstration bakery, museum,…$ -
Museum
Cable Car Museum
Here, in this warehouse that combines a museum experience with a real inside look at the inner machinations of the system, four mighty winding machines work the underground cables that propel the entire system, and if there’s a cable break, this is where engineers splice it back…$$ -
Tour
Cable Cars
Although they may not be San Francisco's most practical means of transportation, cable cars are certainly the best loved and are a must-experience when visiting the city. Designated official moving historic landmarks by the National Park Service in 1964, they rumble up and down the… -
Museum
California Academy of Sciences
A Golden Gate Park tenant for over 150 years and stunningly renovated in 2008, this fantastic—and yes, shockingly pricy—family-friendly museum is a spectacular mélange of aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and more, with plenty of cool, hands-on things for kids to do and…$$ -
Museum
California Historical Society
Established in 1871, and filled with a large collection of Californiana—including photos, documents, and fine art, this museum celebrates the diverse heritage that is California. Exhibits rotate, and have featured topics as varied as a celebration of the 75th birthday of the Golden…$ -
Attraction
California Palace of the Legion of Honor
The most beautiful museum in San Francisco sits perched high on the headlands with a stellar view of the Golden Gate Bridge, so come camera-ready for stunning “wish you were here” shots. Built in 1924 in the Beaux Arts style, the Legion of Honor is a [bf]3/4 replica of the Palais de…$$ -
Museum
Cartoon Art Museum
This cool museum is exactly what it sounds like—a place to browse the works by seminal and well-known comic artists, particularly ones whose efforts primarily appeared on newsprint. It began in 1987 with an endowment from Charles M. Schulz, the “Peanuts” creator and since then, it’s…$$ -
Museum
Children’s Creativity Museum
Also in Yerba Buena Gardens you’ll find this innovative, hands-on multimedia, arts, and technology museum for children of all ages. Kids howl tunes to the karaoke machine, and make art projects from boxes and scraps of material. One of the most popular stations is the Claymation area…$ -
Historic Site
City Hall
San Francisco’s Beaux Arts City Hall was not built to be just another city hall. After its predecessor crumbled during the '06 quake, residents wanted to show the world that San Francisco was still an American powerhouse. In 1913, the new City Hall was designed to be as handsome,…$$ -
Landmark
Coit Tower
In a city known for its great views and vantage points, Coit Tower is one of the best. Located atop Telegraph Hill, just east of North Beach, the round stone tower offers panoramic views of the city and the bay. Completed in 1933, the 1933 tower, more than 400 feet over the rest of…$ -
Park/Garden
Conservatory of Flowers
Opened to the public in 1879, this glorious Victorian glass structure is the oldest existing public conservatory in the Western Hemisphere. But it’s not just a place of historic interest: The Conservatory is a cutting-edge horticultural destination with over 1,700 species of plants,…$$ -
Museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Set in the heart of the Yerba Buena cultural hub, this museum is dedicated to the celebration of L’Chaim (“To Life”). Inside, under the skylights and soaring ceilings designed by celebrated architect Daniel Libeskind, are displays of art, music, film, and literature that celebrate… -
Park/Garden
Dolores Park
If it’s a sunny day and you want to hang with the locals, head to this hilly 16-acre park. Blanketed with lush green lawns and dotted with palm trees, a soccer field, tennis courts, a basketball court, a playground, and great views, it can be quite the scene of modern bohemia, with…$$ -
The Performing Arts
Eureka Theatre Company
Eureka houses contemporary performances throughout the year, usually Wednesday through Sunday. Check their website or call the theater for information on upcoming shows and how to purchase tickets (but be aware: Since they don't produce the shows themselves, they won't take… -
Market
Ferry Building Marketplace
Completed in 1898, the Ferry Building was, in its heyday, a travel hub serving as many as 50,000 people a day. After the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge opened in the late 1930s, however, cars quickly replaced ferries as the preferred mode of transport. It would take until 2003 for…$$$ -
Historic Site
Fisherman's Wharf
Few cities in America are as adept at wholesaling their historical sites as San Francisco, which has converted Fisherman's Wharf into one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. Unless you come early in the morning to watch the few remaining fishing boats depart, you… -
Landmark
Ghirardelli Square
This National Historic Landmark property dates from 1864, when it served as a factory making Civil War uniforms, but it’s best known as the former chocolate and spice factory of Domingo Ghirardelli (pronounced Gear-ar-dell-y), who purchased it in 1893. The factory has since been…$ -
Religious Site
Glide Memorial United Methodist Church
Back in the 1960s, Glide Memorial’s legendary pastor, Texas-born Cecil Williams, took over this 1931 church and began his famed, 90-minute “celebration” services. Williams has since retired the pastorship but he is usually on hand anyway, like a kindly high school principal, and his…$$ -
Landmark
Golden Gate Bridge
Few cities possess an icon that so distinctly pronounces, “I’m here.” New York has the Statue of Liberty, Sydney has its Opera House, but nothing makes you sigh “San Francisco” like the elegant profile of the stupendous Golden Gate Bridge, which links the city peninsula to the…$$$ -
Tour
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
Not much has changed at this tiny Chinatown storefront since it opened in 1963. Workers sit at a conveyor belt, folding messages into thousands of fortune cook-ies—20,000 a day—as tourists line up to watch the cookies being made and buy a bag of 40 for about $3. You can purchase…$ -
Religious Site
Grace Cathedral
Although this French Gothic cathedral, the third-largest Episcopal cathedral in the nation, appears to be made of stone, it is in fact constructed of reinforced concrete beaten to achieve a stone-like effect. Construction began on the site of railroad magnate Charles Crocker’s ruined…$ -
Park/Garden
Japanese Tea Garden
While the aquarium across the way is the obvious draw for families with children, this park, with its charmingly intricate pathways and jungle gym of a bridge, will appeal to all ages and is the perfect place to let the little ones toddle around a bit. John McLaren, the man who began…$ -
Landmark
Lombard Street
Known (erroneously) as the “crookedest street in the world,” this whimsically winding block of Lombard Street between Hyde and Leavenworth streets draws thousands of visitors each year (much to the chagrin of neighborhood residents, most of whom would prefer to block off the street…$ -
The Performing Arts
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
San Francisco's top African-American theater group performs in a 300-seat state-of-the-art theater. It mounts special adaptations from literature along with contemporary dramas, classics, and music. -
Activity
Metreon Entertainment Center
This 350,000-square-foot high-tech complex houses great movie theaters, an IMAX theater, the one-of-a-kind Walk of Game (à la Hollywood's stars in the sidewalk, these steel stars honor the icons of the video-game industry), a luxurious arcade (think big screens and a pub), a "Taste… -
Landmark
Mission Dolores
The history of this church, more formally known as Misíon San Francisco de Asís, is the history of the early city, and there is no other surviving building that is more intrinsic to the early days of the town’s formation. The tale goes back to the storied summer of 1776, when this…$$ -
Museum
Musée Mécanique
Less of a traditional museum and more a source of interactive amusement, this old-fashioned penny arcade (with some modern video games thrown in for good measure) has been one of my favorite places to go since I was a child. Once located at the Cliff House, this mechanical-minded…$$ -
The Performing Arts
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
This orchestra of baroque, classical, and "early Romantic" music performs in San Francisco and all around the Bay Area. The season lasts September through April. -
Museum
Pier 24 Photography
At over 90,000 square feet, this former warehouse-turned-museum is one of the largest galleries in the world devoted exclusively to photography and video. But even with this amount of space, the main worry here seems to be that it will get too crowded. So, in an eccentric move (hey,…$$ -
Landmark
Pier 39
Anchoring the eastern boundary of Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 is a multilevel waterfront complex constructed on an abandoned cargo pier. It is, ostensibly, a re-creation of a turn-of-the-20th-century street scene, but don’t expect a slice of old-time maritime life here: Today, Pier 39…$$ -
The Performing Arts
San Francisco Ballet
Founded in 1933, the San Francisco Ballet is the oldest professional ballet company in the United States and is regarded as one of the country's finest. It performs an eclectic repertoire of full-length neoclassical and contemporary ballets. The Repertory Season generally runs… -
Park/Garden
San Francisco Botanical Gardens at Strybing Arboretum
With more than 8,000 plant species on 55 acres, among them some ancient plants in a special “primitive garden” and a grove of California redwoods, this place is as lovely as it is peaceful. And it’s one of the few places you’ll be able to wander through a Mesoamerican Cloud Garden…$ -
Historic Site
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Since 1962, the Hyde Street Pier has been lined with one of the world’s best collections of rare working boats, maintained by the National Park Service’s San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. They include the Glasgow-built Balclutha, a gorgeous 1886 three-mated sailing ship…$ -
Museum
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
I’ll be honest: Until now, I was disappointed in our MOMA. Small, with cramped museum spaces and a design that seemed more about itself than about showcasing art, it wasn’t world-class enough for a destination city. But in 2016, after a 3-year closure for renovation and expansion,…$$ -
The Performing Arts
San Francisco Opera
The San Francisco Opera was the second municipal opera in the United States and is one of the city's cultural icons. Brilliantly balanced casts may feature celebrated stars like Frederica Von Stade and Plácido Domingo along with promising newcomers and regular members in productions… -
The Performing Arts
San Francisco Symphony
Founded in 1911, the internationally acclaimed San Francisco Symphony has long been an important part of the city's cultural life under such legendary conductors as Pierre Monteux and Seiji Ozawa. In 1995, Michael Tilson Thomas took over from Herbert Blomstedt; he has led the… -
Attraction
San Francisco Zoo
Located between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Merced in the southwest corner of the city, the San Francisco Zoo, which once had a reputation for being a bit shoddy and out-of-date, has come a long way in recent years. Though grown-ups who are into wildlife will enjoy the visit, it’s…$ -
Natural Attraction
Strawberry Hill/Stow Lake
One of the sweetest ways to spend a few hours is to rent a boat and cruise around circular Stow Lake, watching painters dab at canvasses, joggers pass along the grassy shoreline, ducks waddle around waiting to be fed, and turtles sunbathe on rocks and logs. At the center of Stow Lake…$ -
Historic Site
The Bay Lights
If you stand at the waterfront anywhere along the Embarcadero, your natural tendency will be to look left, toward our beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. If it’s after sunset, however, look right—at the much-less-fussed-over Bay Bridge that connects San Francisco to Oakland and Berkeley.…$ -
Landmark
The Cannery
The Cannery was built by Del Monte in 1907 as the world's largest fruit-canning plant. It was converted into a mall in the 1960s and now contains 30-plus shops and several restaurants, including Jack's Cannery Bar and Oyster Pier (tel. 415/931-6400). Vendors' stalls and sidewalk… -
Museum
The Exploratorium
Relocated in 2013 to hip concrete-and-glass digs on Pier 15, the “world’s greatest science museum”—according to Scientific American magazine—is cooler than ever, though it’s also annoyingly crowded. This hands-on museum is all about demonstrating scientific concepts in such a sneaky…$$$ -
Museum
The GLBT History Museum
North America’s first full-fledged gay history museum, set in a former storefront in the Castro, is tiny but formidable, and ultimately quite moving. Recent exhibits have included quirky recaps of 25 years of queer history, with profiles of the first lesbians to marry legally in…$ -
The Performing Arts
The Magic Theatre
The highly acclaimed Magic Theatre, which celebrated its 40th season in 2006, is a major West Coast company dedicated to presenting new plays; over the years it has nurtured the talents of such luminaries as Sam Shepard and David Mamet. Shepard's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Buried… -
Museum
The Pacific Heritage Museum
If Asian art is an interest for you, the grandiosely named Pacific Heritage Museum may have something modest to offer. Its several hushed rooms mount displays of artworks by Asian-descended artists, both living and dead, but for me, the most interesting aspect of the place is the…$ -
Historic Site
The Painted Ladies of Alamo Square
San Francisco’s collection of Victorian houses, known as the Painted Ladies, is one of the city’s most famous assets. Most of the 14,000 extant structures date from the second half of the 19th century and are private residences. Spread throughout the city, many have been beautifully…$ -
Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum
While this museum features the expected collection of Walt Disney memorabilia, it’s is really more of a tribute to the life of the man behind the mouse. It takes a serious look at Walt Disney’s personal life, including his childhood in Kansas City, his move to California with nothing…$ -
Sports Venue
The Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center
Right behind Zeum, you'll find the Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center, a great stopover if you're looking for fun indoor activities, including a 12-lane bowling alley and an ice-skating rink with public sessions daily. -
The Performing Arts
Theatre Rhinoceros
Founded in 1977, this was America's first (and remains its foremost) theater ensemble devoted solely to works addressing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues. The company presents main-stage shows and studio productions of new and classic works each year. The theater is 1… -
Historic Site
USS Pampanito
This storied sub sank six Japanese ships during four tours of the Pacific in World War II. The vessel has been painstakingly restored to its 1945 condition by admirers, who also run a smart, war-themed gift shop on the dock alongside it. (Note that an interior visit is not…$ -
Museum
Wells Fargo History Museum
Surprisingly, the Wells Fargo Museum paints a vivid portrait of early California life by using the company’s once-vital stagecoaches as a centerpiece. For generations, the Wells Fargo wagon was the West Coast’s primary lifeline; if you didn’t want to or couldn’t afford to use it (a…$ -
Cultural complex
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
The YBCA, which opened in 1993, anchors the sprawling Yerba Buena complex, with two buildings that offer music, theater, dance, and visual arts programs and shows. It’s a bit of an architectural showpiece in its own right as well: James Stewart Polshek designed the 755-seat theater,…$ -
Park/Garden
Yerba Buena Gardens
This 5-acre patch of grass and gardens is the centerpiece of Yerba Buena’s cultural activity, and a great place to relax in the grass on a sunny day. The most dramatic outdoor piece is an emotional mixed-media memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr. Created by sculptor Houston Conwill,…$ -
Museum
de Young Museum
Founded in 1894 for the California Midwinter International Exposition, the de Young evolved from what was originally an eclectic collection of exotic oddities into a quality showcase of fine arts from around the world (many pieces of which were donated by the Rockefeller family), and…$$
San Francisco Shopping
Shopping in San Francisco
They say you'll leave your heart in San Francisco but, judging from our shopping suggestions, it’s more likely to be your wallet. Fill your bags with a lion dance costume from Chinatown, a political poetry tome or Scandinavian antique.
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Fashion
440 Brannan Studio Showroom
In this massive factory space, local designers sell limited-edition lines to the public; you’ll sometimes see one stitching a hem or constructing a jacket in the back. In business since 1998, the Studio’s been an incubator for several talented San Francisco designers. While it does…$ -
826 Valencia/Pirate Supply Store
When A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius author Dave Eggers wanted to set up a literary salon to inspire under-resourced young people to write, the city said his Mission District space was zoned for retail. Naturally, he opened a pirate supply store as a front for the tutoring,…$ -
Fashion
A-B Fits
The solution for those who’ve given up finding a flattering pair of jeans, this North Beach boutique specializes in finding denim that, well, fits. Doing so requires a broad range of options and a dedicated staff. Luckily, A-B Fits has both—the shop carries over 100 styles. Open…$ -
Bookstores
Adobe Books & Arts Cooperative
Yes, they sell books, both new and used at great prices, but to call this beloved Mission District institution just a bookstore would be selling it short. It’s also a haven for emerging musicians and artists and a sort of salon for the city’s eccentrics. Charming corners to read, art…$ -
Kitchenware
Alessi
Functional yet whimsical—that about describes the kitchen utensils of Italian designer Alberto Alessi (love his spiderlike lemon squeezer), and this is his North American flagship. It’s a great place to find a gift, though most shoppers end up getting something for themselves, too,…$ -
Bookstores
Argonaut Book Shop
When Alfred Hitchcock walked into this bookstore while filming the movie Vertigo, he said something to the effect of “This is exactly what a bookstore should look like,” and promptly recreated every detail of it on a Hollywood sound stage. This antiquarian book shop specializes in…$ -
Gifts
Art of China
Since 1974, this shop has been selling refined Chinese exports—no plastic here! Instead you’ll find genuine collectibles, from elegant hand-carved Chinese figurines to cloisonné, porcelain vases, and decorative items (and jewelry) created from ivory, quartz, and jade. Hours vary.$ -
Barbary Coast Collective
Marijuana culture is alive and well, if not totally transformed, in the city long known for counterculture. No San Francisco cannabis dispensary better proves the point than this swank Mission District spot. There’s everything you can imagine and more to choose from, but what makes…$ -
Fashion
Bell Jar
Bell Jar is the type of boutique that makes you want to move in. From essentials like luxe lotions and chic dresses to things you didn’t even know you needed (like a vintage set of tarot cards and artful glass bottles), this store is home to “gorgeous little things”—just as its sign…$ -
Fashion
Betabrand
Quirky, functional, hipster, Burner (i.e., Burning Man attendee) . . . this innovative local clothing manufacturer relates to them all, and it’s not just due to very clever marketing. They hit their first homerun with “corduround” pants (corduroys with horizontal rather than vertical…$ -
Kitchenware
Biordi Art Imports
Exquisite Italian majolica pottery is the lure here. Some use it to eat off of, but it’s so pretty, my guess is most buyers take these plates, bowls, and other items and stick them on the wall for decoration. The owner has been importing these hand-painted collectibles since 1946.…$ -
Antiques
Bonhams
Part of a world-renowned chain of auction houses, Bonham’s deals in international goodies, from exquisite ancient Japanese screens to Hopi pottery to Art Deco jewelry and more. Open Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.$ -
Bookstores
Book Passage
Run by the ebullient Elaine Petrocelli, this bookstore in the Ferry Building may be small but it’s wonderfully well curated, meaning you’re sure to find something entertaining to read here. Book Passage is also known for its excellent author events and writer’s conferences, both in…$ -
Bookstores
Books Inc.
Holding the title “The West’s Oldest Independent Bookseller,” Books Inc., established in 1857, is living proof that an indie book seller can adapt, survive, and even prosper, despite Gold Rush busts and booms, numerous earthquakes, the Great Depression, fires, death, bankruptcy, and,…$ -
Shoes
Bulo
Fashion-forward footwear from designers like Donald J. Pliner, Yuko Imanishi, and Bed Stu draws shoppers to this small, hip store. In addition to shoes, Bulo sells belts, socks, wallets, jewelry, and shoe-care products. Open Monday through Saturday 11am to 7pm and Sunday from 11am to…$ -
Fashion
Cable Car Clothiers
Since 1939, this gentlemen’s store has been helping San Francisco’s elite look their most dashing. Selling everything from three-button suits to fedoras to pocket squares, it sources the best from around the world for its clientele, even esoteric buys such as wool hosiery from France…$ -
Fashion
Cary Lane
If you love designer clothes and great deals, beeline to this boutique offering designer apparel for men and women—all up to 80% less than the suggested retail price. Its private label menswear line is relaxed but of solid quality, as is most of the fashion the store carries. Also at…$ -
Art
Catharine Clark Gallery
Hailed as the first West Coast gallery with a dedicated media room, this gallery’s artwork is in a wide range of media, all by exceptional emerging and established contemporary artists. Shows change every 6 weeks. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm.$ -
Fashion
Citizen Clothing
Ben Sherman, Jack Spade, Fred Perry are just a few of the swanky brands this Castro shop carries to keep the neighborhood fellows looking dapper. Topnotch service is another hallmark of the store. Open Sunday through Thursday 11am to 7pm. Friday and Saturday 10am to 8pm.$ -
Bookstores
City Lights Booksellers & Publishers
The city’s iconic bookstore—once owned by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the renowned Beat Generation poet—is still going strong. The three-level store is particularly good for art, poetry, and political paperbacks, though it also carries more mainstream books. Open daily 10am to midnight.$ -
Gifts
Cost Plus World Market
It sometimes feels like the entire world is on sale at this Fisherman’s Wharf store (it’s right at the cable car turnaround). You’ll find biscuits from Australia, inlaid stools from India, artisanal beers from across the U.S. (they let you build your own six-pack so you can do a…$ -
Food
Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Shop
One of the farms that pioneered the artisanal cheese craze, the small-production Cowgirl Creamery is headquartered up in Point Reyes, but its city outpost in the Ferry Building Marketplace offers all their signature cheeses, including robust Red Hawk; smooth, creamy Mt. Tam; and…$ -
Gifts
Dandelion
Paperweights and trivets, bookends and multi-colored garden trowels, 90 different teapots—these are just some of the pretty and well-designed goods on sale at local favorite Dandelion, many imported from India and Japan. If you can’t find a gift here, well, you’ve got extraordinarily…$ -
Food
Dandelion Chocolate
I eat a lot of chocolate, and I also own and operate a food magazine, so I feel confident in saying Dandelion makes some seriously outstanding chocolate. You can tour and taste for yourself at the “bean-to-bar” factory, cafe, and shop in the Mission, where they transform raw beans to…$ -
Jewelry
Dianne’s Old & New Estates
A preferred pick for vintage engagement rings, this family-owned shop has baubles for all tastes, from fine antique jewels to contemporary pieces. It also has a very forgiving payment policy: you can buy jewelry on layaway here and pay no interest for the first 12 months. Open Monday…$ -
Fashion
Dish
Don’t come here without expecting to buy more than you planned. (I’ve learned this the hard way.) This well-curated selection of women’s wardrobe essentials in the middle of oh-so-chic Hayes Valley sells tops, bottoms, dresses, jewelry, shoes, and purses—all sophisticated, relaxed,…$$ -
Flight 001
he store for jetsetters, it sells the coolest of luggage tags, TSA-friendly manicure sets, sleek travel pillows, and all sorts of gadgets to make your flight home that much more comfortable and/or fun. Open Monday through Saturday 11am to 7pm and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.$ -
Art
Fraenkel Gallery
Photography is the focus here; world-class artists from around the globe are featured in shows that change every 2 months. Open Tuesday through Friday 10:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 11am to 5pm.$ -
Fashion
Good Byes
The style-conscious citizens of San Francisco consign their cast-offs to this shop, meaning the quality of the goods is high, but the prices often surprisingly low (we’ve seen $350 pre-owned shoes going for just $35 here). Menswear is the focus at this store; womenswear is in a…$ -
Gifts
Good Vibrations
This female-oriented sex-toy shop is more straightforward and empowering than seedy, thanks to the open, nonjudgmental attitude of the staff (who own the place, incidentally; this is a woman-owned, worker-owned co-operative). Even if you’re not in the market for any new gadgets, stop…$ -
Fashion
Goorin Brothers
Fabulous hats, for both men and women, are the stock in trade of this boutique chain. You’ll find porkpie hats, cowboy hats, funky straw fedoras (made by local artists), modern cloth cloches in all colors, and wide-brimmed hats perfect for fashionable garden parties (or gardening).…$ -
Bookstores
Green Apple Books
A massive purveyor of both new and used books—the store boasts more than 160,000 tomes!—it’s an excellent resource for those seeking special books, like modern first editions and rare graphic comics. We also have to give kudos to the knowledgeable and friendly staff, who will help…$ -
Art
Hang
Only Bay Area artists are exhibited at Hang, and since many are at the beginning of their careers, prices for pieces tend to be more affordable than at other galleries. Open Monday through Saturday 10 am to 6pm and Sunday noon to 5pm.$ -
Kitchenware
Heath Ceramics
If you’re in the culinary scene, you know that Heath is the tableware provider of choice for chefs, artists, and pretty much anyone around the city with a healthy home-decorating budget. Check out this brand-new showroom, tucked in a quiet area of SoMa right next to the factory, and…$ -
Clothing
Held Over
Considered one of the premier vintage/consignment clothing stores in San Francisco, this is where to shop for decade-specific duds, with racks organized accordingly. Open Monday through Thursday 11am to 7pm and Friday through Sunday 11am to 8pm.$ -
Fashion
Hero Shop
Former Vogue fashion-news editor Emily Holt is behind this fashion stylists’ favorite haunt for easy, chic, wearable everyday clothing, shoes, and accessories. Drop in if you want to wear something you can be sure not everyone else will have, and explore her picks from top local…$$ -
Malls
Japan Center
Locals head here for its numerous authentic restaurants, teahouses, shops, and the crazy-expensive Sundance Kabuki multiplex movie theater. At its center stands the five-tiered Peace Pagoda, designed by world-famous Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi “to convey the friendship and… -
Discount Shopping
Jeremys
Fashionistas flock to Jeremys because they can scoop up top-of-the-line name brand clothing at bargain-basement prices. Jeremys fills its shelves with shirts, dresses, trousers, you name it, that were either used in window displays at big department stores, were created as samples,…$ -
Fashion
La Rosa
Specializing in clothes from the 1940s through the 1960s, this long-established store (founded in 1978) has a lot of great buys for folks who enjoy vintage fashions. Rumor has it that Dita Von Teese shops here regularly. Their sister store, Held Over (1543 Haight St., near Ashbury;…$ -
Jewelry
Love and Luxe
There’s jewelry and then there’s wearable art: The highly curated conversation-starters at this Mission District jewelry atelier are the latter. A tad on the edgy side, necklaces, rings, earrings, and accessories are all handmade by a rotating crop of emerging artists, giving you a…$ -
Fashion
MAC
Nope, not the makeup store. The name stands for Modern Appealing Clothing, and that about sums up what’s sold here. The owners source attractive and (sometimes) unusual pieces from around the world—Belgium’s Dries Van Noten, Tokyo’s Minä Perhonen, and Spain’s Sybilla, to name a…$ -
Housewares
March
Everything is so tastefully designed at this Pacific Heights boutique, even the oven mitts and aprons are chic. Most of the gorgeous floor coverings, furnishings, tabletop and kitchen items, candles, scarves, and totes come with a wince-worthy price tag. But it’s always fun to look,…$$ -
Fashion
Marine Layer
Comfort is Marine Layer’s raison d’être. The firm makes basic, ultrasoft tops that are great for layering—T’s, polos, button-downs, cardigans, hoodies—made of a special blend of pima cotton and micro modal that feels already broken-in. Open daily 10am to 7pm.$ -
Antiques
McCarney’s Furniture
Treasure hunters come here for affordable diamonds in the rough imported from Scotland. Since they carry a wide variety of styles (and lots of “grandma’s house”-style pieces), lots of stuff won’t appeal. But all you need is one killer find to make a visit here a triumph. Open Monday,…$ -
Art
Meyerovich Gallery
A blue chip gallery, Meyervoich concentrates on selling the works of such modern masters as Chagall, Matisse, Miró, and Picasso. A Contemporary Gallery, across the hall, features works by Lichtenstein, Stella, Motherwell, and Hockney. Open Monday through Friday 10:30am to 6:30pm and…$ -
Food
Molinari Delicatessen
You can’t help but pull out your camera when you walk into this North Beach institution dating back to 1896 (see p. ###). It’s a food sensory overload. Everywhere you look, shelves, counters, and rafters are filled with jars of colorful sauces, olive oils, cheeses, and imported…$ -
Housewares & Furniture
Nest
It’s hard to categorize Nest—it carries everything from throws and handmade quilts to flowing boho dresses and sleepwear. What ties it all together is the impeccable taste of the owner, and the fact that you won’t find a lot of these items anywhere else. This one’s fun to just…$ -
Gifts
New People World
More than just a store, New People is a $15-million complex dedicated to modern Japanese culture, both its Zen side and its over-the-top anime wackiness. In the basement, a THX-certified theater showcases Japanese cinema; the other floors (there are five altogether) feature a nail…$ -
Occidental Cigar Club
Hinton Rowan Harper, an 1800s Gold Rush–era writer, once remarked he’d seen “the purest liquor, the best segars (sic), the finest tobacco, the prettiest courtezans (sic)” and it was his “unbiased opinion that California can and does furnish the best bad things that are available in…$ -
Bookstores
Omnivore Books on Food
Cookbook lovers and chefs know this sweet destination bookstore crammed from floor to ceiling with food tomes. It’s the place to come for any and every cookbook and food magazine, plus opportunities to meet famous food authors. Owner Celia Sack knows her stuff. She also buys and…$ -
Shoes
Paolo Shoes
Paolo is short for Paulo Iantorno, the owner who designs the store’s colorful wedges and towering stilettos for women and funky purple suede ankle boots for men—and then sends his designs to Italy to be handcrafted. But what makes these shoes unique that is they’re not only creative…$ -
Gifts
Picnic
We all need a place to dash to for the perfect affordable gift—and for folks living around Russian Hill, Picnic is it. Decor, jewelry, clothing, even adorable San Francisco–themed onesies make this a sure thing for tasteful, modern, on-trend items. Open Sunday 11am to 6pm; Monday…$ -
Housewares & Furniture
Propeller
For ultra-contemporary furniture and accessories, often by up-and-coming designers from around California and the globe, head to this stylish shop. Perpetually voted as a top shop by locals, its success is due to owner Lorn Dittfeld, who handpicks pieces, promising that they are…$ -
Fashion
RAG
RAG stands for Residents Apparel Gallery, and it’s a co-op shop for 55 new to newish designers to showcase their trousers, blouses, T-shirts, and dresses. Prices are low; fashions are forward, youthful, and of-the-moment. Daily 11:30am to 7pm.$ -
Gifts
Rare Device
A curated collection of chic, modern, well-designed local and international accessories, books, home appointments, and more is the focus at this shop. The owners’ exceptional eye promises you’ll find something you must have, which explains why it’s a favorite stop among San…$ -
Gifts
SFMOMA Museum Store
As it should, the remodeled Museum of Modern Art store has one of the city’s most spectacular collections of gifts, books, jewelry, toys, home decor, and other objets d’art—and at reasonable prices. Open daily 10am to 6pm (until 9:30 Thursday; closes at 5pm Wednesday).$ -
Antiques
Stuff
If you can’t make it across the Bay Bridge to the Alameda Flea market but want to do some digging for “vintage modern” or other antique awesomeness, come to this coop featuring the finds of more than 60 independent curators. The huge Mission-District store is packed with curios and…$ -
Fashion
Sunhee Moon
Clothing for the “modern day Audrey Hepburn” is the goal of local designer SunHee Moon, and with her eye for color and fit, I’d say she’s doing a fine job. Her dresses come in a variety of streamlined shapes and exuberant colors, and she creates equally flattering separates: sleek…$ -
Food
Tcho Chocolate
Tcho is far more than just another candy store. It offers free, 1-hour factory tours (online reservations required) which include serious sampling. You’ll also learn about the widespread problem of slavery in the chocolate biz. Who knew? If you don’t do the tour, drop in for a sweet…$ -
Bookstores
The Booksmith
A true gem, with erudite, handwritten recommendations for books dotting the shelves. This Haight store may not be huge, but it is smartly curated and has more than 1,000 different magazines on sale. Open Monday through Sat 10am to 10pm and Sunday 10am to 8pm.$ -
Bookstores
The Booksmith
A true gem, with erudite, handwritten recommendations for books dotting the shelves. This Haight store may not be huge, but it’s smartly curated and has more than 1,000 different magazines on sale. Open Monday through Saturday 10am to 10pm and Sunday 10am to 8pm.$ -
Toys
The Chinatown Kite Shop
This delightful Chinatown classic sells all sorts of kites, from ones you design yourself to color-saturated fish kites, windsocks, hand-painted Chinese paper kites, wood-and-paper biplanes, pentagonal kites, and more. All of it makes great souvenirs and decorations. Open daily from…$ -
Housewares & Furniture
The Wok Shop
Every implement ever created for Chinese cooking is available in a store that goes well beyond woks. Cleavers, circular chopping blocks, dishes, oyster knives, bamboo steamers, strainers, aprons, linens, and baskets . . . they’re all here at great prices and all imported from China.…$ -
Fashion
Therapy
At this fast-fashion boutique, merchandise ranges from the latest garb to housewares to novelty items, at prices just reasonable enough to be dangerous. You may come in for a small splurge on, say, a scented candle, and find yourself leaving with a new pair of Toms, a locally…$ -
Antiques
Therien & Co.
Once a showroom primarily for Scandinavian, French, and eastern European antiques, in the past few years they’ve expanded to include Mid-century Modern furniture, as well. You’ll find both the real thing and replicas here, as well as made-to-order furniture. Monday through Friday,…$ -
Wines & Liquors
True Sake
Some 150 different brands of sake are available at this specialty store, many of which, owner Beau Timken claims, are available at no other retail store in the U.S. Don’t be intimidated if you know nothing about sake: The informed staff will help you make the best decision to suit…$ -
Jewelry
Union Street Goldsmith
Locally made contemporary jewelry is the focus here, and many of the pieces feature vibrantly colorful stones. The staff will also create custom designs upon request. Open Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 5:30pm.$ -
Vendetta Men’s Apparel & Vintage Cuban Cigars
Vendetta’s motto is “living well is the best revenge.” and owner Bruce Rothenberg is all about the finer things in life. At his shop in Nob Hill’s Fairmont Hotel, he sells high quality items like fine Italian caps and Persol sunglasses, but Bruce’s real specialty is the pre-embargo…$ -
Fashion
Wilkes Bashford
The couture boutique that first introduced Armani to the U.S. underwent a total facelift in 2012, making this elegant Union Square temple of commerce even more hoity-toity. The fashions are primarily from France and Italy; services include custom fittings on-site, free wine and…$ -
Wines & Liquors
Wine Club San Francisco
The Wine Club is a discount warehouse that offers excellent prices on more than 1,200 domestic and foreign wines. If you can’t find your favorite on sale, the well-informed staff should be able to find you a similar tipple. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 7pm and Sunday…$ -
Food
Z. Cioccolato
This sweet-tooth wonderland offers 40 flavors of fresh fudge, plus saltwater taffy, classic brands of candies of all sorts, and such novelty items as candy bras or G-strings. A decadent North Beach store that’s sure to satisfy. Open Monday through Thursday 11am to 11pm and Friday…$ -
Housewares & Furniture
Zinc Details
This high-style furniture and accessories store just about defines the San Francisco aesthetic, with alternately hip, colorful, and quirky pieces to dress up any home. While many of the furniture comes from international brands like Knoll, a portion are made specifically for the…$ -
Fashion
emily lee
Not everyone is 22 and a size 2. For those who like to look stylish, but have bodies that are, well, like the majority of our bodies, emily lee offers artsy, generously cut duds that make most everyone look good. Among the designers sold here: Blanque, Eileen Fisher, Flax, Ivan…$
San Francisco Nightlife
San Francisco Nightlife
The sun has dropped over the Pacific horizon, now what? Stay in Pacific mode with a Mai Tai and fill-your-face buffet in the Tonga Room. Rock to hot jazz to work it off and come over all sophisticated with a single-malt nightcap.
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Bar
15 Romolo
Opened in the late '90s by Jon Gasparini and Greg Lindgren, the duo widely known for serving up expertly made cocktails in compelling environments, this hidden North Beach watering and dining hole has become a San Francisco classic. Mood-lit with a jovial, relaxed vibe, it’s one of…$$ -
Gay & Lesbian Bars
440 Castro
At this warm and fuzzy bear bar for the Levis-and-leather crowd, most cruise between the video bar downstairs to the dark intimate bar up a few stairs in the back. Always popular, Monday is Underwear Night; Tuesday features $2 beers all day and night. No matter the day, drinks are…$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Alembic
The highly curated drink menu at this Haight Street bar is divided into two parts: One pays homage to the classic cocktail canon, the other offers inventive, new-school concoctions you can’t get anywhere else. Gin lovers who need a pick-me-up will love the Nine Volt—gin mixed with…$$$ -
The Performing Arts
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)
This is, quite simply, one of the best theater companies in the U.S., with peerless acting, design and show-selection. Since its debut in 1967, a number of big names have “trod the boards” here, including Annette Bening, Denzel Washington, Danny Glover, and Nicolas Cage. The A.C.T.…$$$ -
The Club & Music Scene
Amnesia
Live performances by local musicians and craft brews are the selling points at this often-cramped, dimly lit, totally awesome Mission District hot spot favored by pretty much everyone, especially given its varied lineup; jazz, swing, bluegrass, comedy, and more are on the calendar… -
Comedy Clubs
BATS Improv
Born out of the improvisational comedy craze that swept the U.S. in the ‘80s, BATS Improv is the longest-running improv theater in Northern California, and every weekend it serves up new plays, competitions, and even musicals. The award-winning theater focuses on “long form” improv,…$ -
Gay & Lesbian Bars
Badlands
The barely legal Abercrombie crowd comes here to dance under the giant disco ball and throw back happy hour two-for-one cocktails, from 3 to 8pm Monday through Saturday. Videos blast the music played by the DJ while lights flash. It’s one noisy, energetic party filled with a crowd…$ -
Bars & Pubs
Bar Agricole
In mixology circles, the name Thad Vogler carries major weight. He’s the drink master behind this chic, sleek cocktail bar, which opts for a look of modern sophistication with clean industrial lines and reclaimed wood. The heated outdoor patio is also a rare draw. As for the…$$$ -
Production Shows
Beach Blanket Babylon
Note: After nearly five decades, Beach Blanket Babylon gave its final performance at the end of 2019. We're leaving this review up for visitors who might not have heard that news yet.The longest-running musical revue in America, and by far one of the most “San Francisco” things to…$$$ -
The Performing Arts
Berkeley Repertory Theater
Across the bay, this theater was founded in 1968 and has been mopping up awards ever since. It rivals A.C.T. (see above) in the quality of its shows, sometimes skewing a bit more avant-garde. Contemporary plays are offered throughout the year, usually Wednesday through Sunday.$$$ -
The Club & Music Scene
Bimbo's 365 Club
Family-owned-and-operated since 1931, this intimate, retro-stylish North Beach performance venue still manages to be hip, with its wide variety of fresh musical acts (I’ve seen Beck here), while maintaining its old dance-hall feel. Lavish Art Deco details, cabaret seating, and…$$ -
Bar
Bix
Though it’s mostly a restaurant, longtime San Franciscans like me rank this dining room’s mahogany bar high on the “favorite local bar” list, satisfying our cravings for a taste of old-school San Francisco. The atmosphere is grand and retro-posh, with a piano man tickling the keys…$$ -
The Club & Music Scene
Bottom of the Hill
One of the few places in town to offer a ton of all-ages shows, this Potrero Hill venue’s savvy programming (and excellent sound system) bring in the crowds. You’ll hear everything from indie punk to rockabilly to hard funk, and all of it is top-notch. Doors open nightly around…$ -
Bars & Pubs
Bourbon & Branch
Meet San Francisco’s modern-day speakeasy, right down to the password you have to give at the door to get in. The folks behind Bourbon & Branch are determined to create an authentic Prohibition-era atmosphere, which means only those who have reservations are admitted, and…$$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Buena Vista Café
It’s become a modern tradition to visit Buena Vista Cafe to order a $10.50 Irish Coffee, said to have been conceived here in 1952 by a local travel writer. This punch-packing quaff lures hordes of tourists before they wobble toward the cable car turnaround across the street. You may…$ -
Bars & Pubs
Burrit Room
If you want a Prohibition-era cocktail without the fussiness and exclusivity of Bourbon & Branch, pop into this stylish upstairs bar in Union Square’s Mystic Hotel. Some of the city’s best bartenders, clad in suspenders and vests, serve up classic and new-age cocktails without a…$$ -
Castro Theatre
Built in 1922 by renowned Bay Area architect Timothy Pflueger and listed as a City of San Francisco registered landmark, the beautiful Castro Theatre is known for its screenings of classics and for its Wurlitzer organ, which is played before each evening show. A different film is… -
Comedy Clubs
Cobb’s Comedy Club
Since 1984, some of the hottest names in comedy—Louis C.K., Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle—as well as up-and-coming local comics have been performing at Cobb’s. With cabaret seating and higher stools along the back bar, there’s not a bad seat in the house. Cover charges vary by act.…$$ -
Bar
Cold Drinks
One of the hottest new bars in town, the masculine, swank, “hidden” upstairs bar in China Live is no secret to anyone. But it is everything you want an upscale bar to be—comfy-chic with clustered seating areas, lighting that makes everyone look good, a heavy dose of glamour, and a…$$ -
Dance Clubs
DNA Lounge
After a wild nightclub scene? DNA Lounge, host of the famous mash-up party Bootie SF, is where it’s at. While Bootie is now in several cities around the country, San Francisco is where it originated, and this SoMa hangout continues to be voted Best Dance Club and Best Theme Night…$ -
Gay & Lesbian Bars
Diva’s Nightclub and Bar
Located in the Tenderloin, all is not as it appears at this transgender-friendly dance and drag bar. Want to go back to school? Naughty schoolgirls appear each Wednesday at 10pm. The Diva Darlings take center stage each Thursday at 10pm. With dance floors, regular shows, and numerous…$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Downstairs@Black Cat
Yet another joint harking to days of yore, this Tenderloin supper club’s downstairs bar is spacious, mood-lit, and comfy, with couches, tables, and barstools, all with solid views of the small performance area where live jazz or cabaret is played nightly. You can order food here,…$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Edinburgh Castle
An oldie but a goodie (founded in 1958), this Scottish pub has the finest selection of single-malt scotches in the city as well as a number of unusual British ales on tap. Beloved of ex-pats (and Britophiles), the decor is filled with U.K. bric-a-brac, and the bar menu, naturally,…$ -
Bars & Pubs
El Rio
Just a few blocks south of the most hopping stretch of Mission-area bars, you’ll come to this gem that bills itself as a neighborhood bar with “heck of a lot to offer.” And it delivers: There’s a garden patio, space for regular live shows, juke box, pool table, shuffle board, and…$ -
Bars & Pubs
Elbo Room
Not sure whether you want a dive, a lounge, or a dance floor? Veteran nightlife hub Elbo Room offers all three in one playful two-story saloon. Cozy up with no-fuss, strong well cocktails or a PBR-and-shot deal in one of the big booths, try your luck at a classic arcade game in the…$ -
The Club & Music Scene
Feinstein's at the Nikko
Union Square’s Hotel Nikko is doing its part to keep quality cabaret and jazz alive in the city with this plush, intimate, 140-seat venue. A wide range of entertainers grace the stage (Kathleen Turner, Darren Criss, Lea Salonga, Melissa Manchester, Jane Lynch, Bernadette Peters, Liza…$$ -
The Club & Music Scene
Great American Music Hall
Acts and audiences alike revere this saloon-like ballroom in the Tenderloin that recalls San Francisco’s scandalous past. Opened by a crooked politician as Blanco’s Café, at one time it was an elegant bordello catering to the hedonism of the emerging metro. (If only the frescoed…$$ -
Bar
Jones
Think of this large, tucked-away, and notably sexy bar and restaurant just off Union Square as a rooftop bar at ground level. The steep prices correspond with the chic-rooftop notion (and the bar is cash-only), but you’re sure to find the young and the beautiful convened at the…$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Local Edition
Hidden in the bowels of the historic Hearst Building on Market Street, this subterranean bar pays homage to San Francisco’s newspaper history, while its craft cocktails nod to the current mixology craze. Inspired by the newspaper business of the '50s and '60s, the decor features…$$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Madrone Art Bar
San Francisco’s bar scene can be a bit quiet during the work week, but that’s not the case at this favorite in the Lower Haight area, where a rotating crop of DJs and bands draw crowds every night of the week. Monday nights are the new Saturday with cult-favorite theme night, Motown…$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Martuni’s Piano Bar
Open 7 nights a week, this friendly watering hole is the best place in the city to catch casual cabaret–style performances from talented singers and piano players. Patrons range in age from 20s to 60s, but everyone enjoys the strong drinks and convivial atmosphere. Come for the…$$ -
Wine bar
Nectar Wine Lounge
Few places in the city, or in North America for that matter, have as copious a menu when it comes to wine: 50 are available by the glass (from all around the globe) and a good 800 by the bottle. Just as impressive is the handsome crowd this hip, industrial-chic watering hole draws.…$ -
Bars & Pubs
Perry’s
Made famous by Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, this nightspot is not the crazy pick-up scene it was in the book. Still, locals and visitors alike enjoy chilling at the dark mahogany bar. An attached dining room offers up all sorts of simple food (think burgers or grilled fish)…$ -
Wine bar
Press Club
Come here if you can’t get to the wine country this trip but still want a wine-tasting experience. Calling itself an “urban wine-tasting bar,” this huge space features eight separate bars which are often manned by reps from regional Northern California wineries (the list of wineries…$ -
Comedy Clubs
Punch Line Comedy Club
As San Francisco’s longest-running comedy club, Punch Line has played host to celebrity comics such as Ellen DeGeneres and Robin Williams, and continues to bring established and emerging stars to its stage, which features a mural of San Francisco as a backdrop. Showcase night is…$ -
The Club & Music Scene
SFJAZZ
The only structure in the U.S. built just for jazz, this $64-million building, which debuted in 2013, is a must-visit for music fans. The lineup consists mostly of jazz, though everything from gospel brunches to Ethiopian blues bands has been on the bill. The main hall’s circular…$ -
The Performing Arts
San Francisco Ballet
This venerable company (founded in 1933), is the oldest professional ballet company in the United States and is still regarded as one of the country’s finest. Along with its beloved annual Nutcracker, it performs a varied repertoire of full-length contemporary and classic ballets.…$$$ -
The Performing Arts
San Francisco Opera
The second largest opera company on the continent, this opera company is also one of the most courageous. Along with presenting the classics in lavish, huge productions, the SFO commissions new works each year, and sometimes these new operas can be quite controversial, such as the…$$$ -
The Performing Arts
San Francisco Playhouse
The city’s oldest off-Broadway company is located in the intimate upstairs theater of a charming old theater district hotel. Located a quick stroll from Union Square hotels, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy San Francisco culture without leaving the downtown area.$ -
The Performing Arts
San Francisco Symphony
Michael Tilson Thomas, perhaps the most celebrated living American conductor, holds the baton here. Thanks in part to his leadership, the roster is full of world-class soloists, world-premiere pieces, and high-quality performances.$$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Smuggler’s Cove
Behind a nondescript Gough Street exterior lies this pirate-y tiki bar which also happens to be one of the world’s best bars. The space is transformed into a vintage pirate ship a la Pirates of the Caribbean, complete with a roped-off balcony area that resembles a ship’s crow’s nest.…$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Southern Pacific Brewing Company
In a city of narrow, hole-in-the-wall bars, it’s rare for beer to get such a grand setting. Two floors, a front patio, and 10,000 square feet doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be crowded, but your chances of snagging a table near one of the twinkle-light-lit trees inside the…$$ -
Wine bar
Terroir Natural Wine Merchant
With its rustic wooden beams and a library loft—not to mention a selection of wines to rival any Napa or Sonoma store—this is the oenophile’s Shangri-La. Sit at the bar and get an education about the art, science, and soul of the winemaking process—owners Luke, Billy, and Dagan will…$$$ -
The Club & Music Scene
The Boom Boom Room
To get a sense of what San Francisco was like when Fillmore Street was the most important scene for West Coast blues, head to this little venue that packs a big sound. Opened by the venerated Mississippi bluesman John Lee Hooker, in the last years of his life it wasn’t just his…$$ -
The Club & Music Scene
The Chapel
Named 2013’s best new live venue by SF Weekly, this bar/restaurant/venue is still an incredible place to catch dinner and a show in the Mission District. You don’t even need to change locations! Sister restaurant The Vestry, housed in the same complex, serves upscale comfort food in…$$ -
Gay & Lesbian Bars
The EndUp
Open 24 hours, this club is where you're likely to "end up" after a night on the town, likely at 6am and not sober. It's a different nightclub every night of the week, but regardless of who's throwing the party, the place is always throbbing with DJ beats and sweaty bodies. There are… -
The Club & Music Scene
The Fillmore
Though concert halls around the nation are now called the Fillmore, this is the original, and it’s a treasure of San Francisco history. In the 1960s it was the heartbeat of San Francisco counterculture, where legendary promoter Bill Graham booked the Grateful Dead, Jefferson…$ -
Bars & Pubs
The Ice Cream Bar
Mixology and nostalgia collide at this 1930s-style soda fountain. Add in locally sourced, organic ingredients and you’ve got a quintessential “new San Francisco” establishment—and perhaps the only bar that can satisfy both kids and adults in one delightfully retro space. While kids…$$ -
The Club & Music Scene
The Independent
The wonderful Nopa restaurant is not the only reason to head to gritty Divisadero Street, which bisects upper and lower Haight. This long-standing small music hall regularly hosts an eclectic collection of seriously fantastic bands (think the Breeders, Deer Tick, or George Clinton… -
Gay & Lesbian Bars
The Lexington Club
San Francisco’s premier lesbian bar features a full roster of events, an always-busy pool table, cheap drinks and a chill atmosphere. For those on the prowl, it’s also commended for having an “eye candy” clientele (and bartenders).$$$ -
Gay & Lesbian Bars
The Lookout
With two walls of glass and a massive deck looking down on the heart of the Castro, this karaoke bar is a good place to dance and belt out your best rendition of “I Will Survive.” Nightly DJs and a weekly drag show add to the excitement. If you get hungry, you don’t have to lose your…$ -
The Performing Arts
The Magic Theatre
Sam Shepard was a longtime artist-in-residence at the Magic, premiering his plays Fool for Love and True West here. That should give you an idea of the high quality of productions by this company, which has been performing since 1967.$$ -
The Club & Music Scene
The Saloon
A true dive, this is supposedly the oldest bar in the city and it certainly looks (and smells) like it. Floors are but worn planks, staff are grizzled and hairy, and the story goes that this place managed to survive the conflagration of 1906 by offering the firefighters free booze.…$ -
Bars & Pubs
The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar
This sublime, vast, one-of-a-kind bar and restaurant is the pinnacle of classic San Francisco kitsch. In this dim Polynesian-themed fantasia, decorated with rocks and 12-foot tikis, every half-hour lightning strikes, thunder rolls in, and rain falls above the pond in the middle of it…$$ -
The Performing Arts
Theatre Rhinoceros
Founded in 1977, this was America’s first theater created to address LGBT themes and stories. It’s still going strong. The theater is 1 block east of the 16th Street/Mission BART station.$ -
Bars & Pubs
Tipsy Pig
This cozy (and noisy) gastropub is a great starting point for a Chestnut Street bar crawl. The heated back garden patio, leather booths in the front window, and famous Strawberry Fields cocktails lure a crowd of all ages. For a neighborhood with the reputation of being a bit…$ -
Bar
Trick Dog
Ask locals to name their favorite bars, and this small, well-known neighborhood haunt is sure to be on several lists. Its award-winning status is due to the thoughtfulness that goes into everything, from the decor (warm, unpretentious industrial-chic) to the bar menu (designed to…$$ -
Gay & Lesbian Bars
Twin Peaks Tavern
Known locally as the gay “Cheers,” Twin Peaks was the first gay bar in the country to unblock the floor-to-ceiling windows and let the world see just what was going on inside. It sits at the corner of Market and Castro, the true heart of the gay community. In a culture that often…$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Vesuvio
You haven’t fully experienced San Francisco’s literary history without a trip to this famous, trinket-stuffed watering hole. It was opened in 1948, just in time to catch all the dissolute Beat writers as they staggered in and out of City Lights, located directly across Jack Kerouac…$$$ -
Bars & Pubs
Zeitgeist
It used to be a rough biker bar, but these days you’ll likely see more fixed-gear bicycles than Harleys locked up in front. Zeitgeist serves more than 20 types of German beer, most of them dead cheap, making the dive a favorite among the Mission’s hipster crowd. But it’s the relaxed,…$$
More To Do in San Francisco
Angel Island and Tiburon
8 miles N of San Francisco A California State Park, Angel Island is the largest of San Francisco Bay’s three islets (the others are Alcatraz and Yerba Buena). The island has been, at various times, a prison, a quarantine station for immigrants, a missile base, and even a favorite…
Architectural Highlights in San Francisco
San Francisco is a center of many architecturally striking sights. This section concentrates on a few highlights. The Union Square and Financial District areas have a number of buildings worth checking out. One is the former Circle Gallery, 140 Maiden Lane. Now a gallery housing Folk…
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Palace of the Legion of Honor: Located in a memorial to soldiers lost in World War I, this fine arts museum features Renaissance and pre-Renaissance works—many from Europe—spanning a 4,000-year history. Museum of Modern Art: A massive renovation and expansion resulted in a brand-new…
Before You Go
What to Bring Dress in layers, even in the summer. As the saying goes in San Francisco, if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes. With offshore breezes, microclimates, and the prevalence of fog in the summer, the temperature changes constantly in San Francisco, particularly if…
