Beautiful city! I debated moving here – NYC won, but SF is still special. I was lucky to have a consulting project here so explored the city a ton! Below is a list of the best things to do in SF (Also, thanks to friends and fam for adding to this list! (Nirali, Jamie, Swetha)
Things to do
- Drive/walk around Pacifica: Devil’s slide hike and Gray whale cove beach area. Stop by the Taco Bell on beach
- Take ferry to Sausalito: awesome view and walk around Sausalito 1/2 day
- Take a sailboat ride in the bay (if the weather is nice)
- Trolley ride (go to union square and get on the Powell Hyde line! Get on the sides for best experience)
- Lombard street: curvy street
- Watch the sunset from Sutro Baths, Fort Mason or Baker Beach
- Twin peaks: drive up here for a view
- Hendricks point or Battery Wagner: for a nice view of the Golden Gate
- Farmers market ( 2 spots – Fort Mason and the Ferry Building)
- Try the bakeries and sandwiches (below!)
- Muir Woods (Day Trip)
- Napa: Madonna winery is the best deal (Day Trip)
- Carmel by the sea (2 day trip – very cute, small town near Monterrey)
Dessert / Cafes:
- Arsicault bakery for their croissant (best croissant)
- Jane the bakery for their croissant (best croissant)
- Hazelnut cream croissant at la Boulangerie
- Neighbors Bakery
- Tartine bakery
- Bi rite ice cream: one of the best ice cream spots in the US. Get this and Tartine and sit in Dolores park
- Bobs donuts: only get the ones fresh out of the oven! It’s not as good cold!
- The mill: great place for toasts and coffee near Painted Ladies
- Saint frank: coffee shop
- HanaHaus: cute theatre turned workspace/coffee shop near Palo Alto
Brunch/Lunch/ Dinner:
- Sandwiches: Cheese shop & limoncello (get the Dutch crunch bread)
- Souvla
- Pearl 6101: dinner spot
- Burma super star or Burma love if you haven’t tried Burmese food
- Nojo ramen: great chicken broth options
- Troya: Turkish
- Lots of spots on Fillmore street and Hayes Valley
- Sweet maple for brunch: will be a wait
- Beehive for cocktails
- Nopa
- Saru Sushi
- Monte Sacro
- Early to Rise (Montreal style bagels)
**Don’t walk around at night unless you’re with a big group! Also avoid tenderloin area.
**best to Uber around because parking is difficult
