The ULTIMATE SF Travel Guide
I love SF. It might be because I was born and raised in the Bay Area, but you have to admit, the impeccable views of the Golden Gate Bridge, food, and the rolling hills are hard to stay away from.
One of my favorite things to do whenever I have a friend from out of town visiting is, of course, touring them around the city! Along with that are all the suggestions for things to do when I can't tour them around so I figured I'd also share some of my favorite spots with you in the many districts of SF.
TO EAT:
I'm a huge fan of Vietnamese cuisine and one of my favorite things about SF is the diversity in food and also quality. Here are some of my favorite spots!
Turtle Tower
this place serves traditional northern Vietnamese pho which is a fantastic alternative to the usual pho that you run into.
Soulva
love Greek food? this place has options between gyros and a salad mix with freshly roasted chicken, lamb, etc. There are a few locations in SF and I love this spot since it's so refreshing and filling (plus their fries are UH MAZE-ING)
Marlowe
I personally love this place for brunch since it's so aesthetic & yummy. Perfect spot for some American food
Ju-Ni
This was one of my first Michelin star experiences and is the best by far. An intimate seating setup with an expert sushi chef preparing and explaining the course to you. Reservations are to be made in advance.
Tony's
If you're looking for some quality pizza, Tony's will not disappoint! Just as a precaution- the line can get pretty long so be prepared for a wait.
Golden Boy Pizza
Don't like waiting in long lines to be seated? This spot allows you to grab a slice to-go and it's dellliiisshhh
Italian Homemade
This spot is perfect for some simple, hand made pasta. Its always packed but honestly so worth it and authentic!
HOME SF
If you love aesthetics like me, HOME SF is perfect for you. Enjoy some colorful lattes and some avocado toast while getting some work done.
Jane on Fillmore
Fillmore st is one of my favorite spots in SF because there's some amazing shopping there and it's so cute and aesthetic. Jane is one of the stops I always have to make since their food is yum and it's a great spot to do some work. Highly recommend their acai bowls!
Cafe Revelle
A spot for the workaholic and the insta-holic + the foodie inside you. Nuff said.
El Farralito
Mexican food is my weakness but El Farralito takes it to a whole other level with its authenticity and amazing food. Keep in mind this place is cash only!
Boba Guys
I'm not a major boba person but I do enjoy the drink from time to time. The one place that I always feel compelled to grab something from is Boba Guys since they have amazing tea flavors and creative, delicious drinks.
Swan Oyster Depot
If you love seafood, this semi hole in the wall is the spot for you. There's always a long line to get in but you'll get fresh oysters and other seafood options prepped in front of you. A must try!
El Techo
For that rooftop vibe but with Mexican food, El Techo is an awesome spot to hit up. They have a fantastic vibe that you can never go wrong with.
The Dorian
Did someone say trendy? This spot gives off major NYC vibes and I'm living for it. It's also on Chestnut St in the Marina district so you'll have quite a few things to do around there once you've finished your meal.
Leo's Oyster Bar
Amazing. Aesthetic. Love.
Delarosa
Such a fantastic option for some authentic Italian food that you can enjoy by yourself or with your friends & family. Their pizza is the bomb!
Shalimar
This place is the ultimate hole in the wall. You're going to walk in and be like how the heck did this place pass a health inspector test but at the same time, once you receive your food, you'll forget all about it. Enjoy some authentic Pakistani food with naan and a variety of curries. A guilty pleasure!
TO SEE:
- Golden Gate Bridge | Battery Spencer
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Golden Gate Park (Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, Buffalos)
- Fisherman's Warf
- Union Square
- Ghiradelli Square
- Japan Town
- Marin Headlands
- Twin Peaks
- Chinatown
- Lombard Street
- The Ferry Building / Embarcadero
- The Painted Ladies
- Dolores Park
- Sutro Baths
- Brunch/High Tea at the Palace Hotel or the Rotunda
TO-DO:
- Marina District | Eat, Shop, Drink + depends on your vibe but pictures in front of the beautiful homes (pictured below)
- Wine Bar on Polk | Amélie, Press Club, William Cross Wine Merchants
- Fillmore St
- Shopping in Union Square
- Rooftop Bars | Everdene Rooftop, Charmaine's
- Fun & cool bars | Brixton, Del Mar, Cold Drinks Bar, Trick Dog, Elements at ONE65, Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar, Nopa, Rye
- Speakeasies
- Pictures on Lombard St
- IG pics @ Maiden Lane
How to get around:
So SF is amazing, but the one thing that makes me want to move to NYC sometimes is transportation! SF's subway system, BART has very limited areas that can take you around the city but if you're thinking of venturing out to East Bay, it's definitely practical. It can be sketchy, so I do try to stay away from it as much as possible but it's super helpful going downtown since there's either no parking or it will be insanely expensive.
The SF Go Tours is also a fun option to get around the city as you get to drive around on your own guided tour. If you want to have more of that local experience, you could rent a BIRD which is an electric scooter, or CITI bikes to venture around the city. There are endless bike lanes so you're in the clear!
I do HIGHLY suggest having a car to get around since SF is very spread out.
Where to stay:
There are a ton of hotels in SF and they are all gorgeous. However, it also adds up and isn't very cheap if you're traveling on a budget. If you do plan to stay at a hotel, I suggest making sure not booking around the time of large conferences such as Dreamforce where hotels downtown can go up to $500-1000 a night.
For the Boujee people: The Fairmont, The Ritz Carlton, The Palace Hotel, The Intercontinental
For the Millenial: Virgin Hotels, Hotel Zetta, The Marker
For the traveler on a budget: Airbnb is your BFF!
Let me know your thoughts & tag me in your adventures @fionafkntran
XO, Fiona