Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Local chocolate maker. Always packed. Try the brownies in 3 flavors and the hot chocolate. Brownies sell out so go early!
152 locals recommend
Dandelion Chocolate
740 Valencia StLocal chocolate maker. Always packed. Try the brownies in 3 flavors and the hot chocolate. Brownies sell out so go early!
Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero StAlways packed but so good. Try any of their croissants.
Visit the huge foodie farmers market, stroll through the shops, sample artisan cheese and chocolate, eat oysters at sunset and watch the Bay Lights on the Bay Bridge. Ferry boats leave from the back.
679 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
Visit the huge foodie farmers market, stroll through the shops, sample artisan cheese and chocolate, eat oysters at sunset and watch the Bay Lights on the Bay Bridge. Ferry boats leave from the back.
No frills shop that serves great Vietnamese food as well as omelettes and brunch all day. Great value and very friendly proprietors.
14 locals recommend
Castro Tarts
564 Castro StNo frills shop that serves great Vietnamese food as well as omelettes and brunch all day. Great value and very friendly proprietors.
Very popular spot in the bustling Alamo Square NOPA part of town. Known for terrific urban rustic food. Look for dishes from the wood fired oven. Don't miss the pork chop, flatbread, or tagine. Reservations recommended. They stay open late as well.
77 locals recommend
North of the Panhandle
Very popular spot in the bustling Alamo Square NOPA part of town. Known for terrific urban rustic food. Look for dishes from the wood fired oven. Don't miss the pork chop, flatbread, or tagine. Reservations recommended. They stay open late as well.
Perfect spot to grab a coffee in the morning in the Castro. Philz Coffee is a specialty coffee retailer based in San Francisco that has 17 locations within California and specializes in hand-crafted coffee brewed one cup at a time.
913 locals recommend
Philz Coffee
3101 24th StPerfect spot to grab a coffee in the morning in the Castro. Philz Coffee is a specialty coffee retailer based in San Francisco that has 17 locations within California and specializes in hand-crafted coffee brewed one cup at a time.
Mission Beach Cafe
Buzzy spot to grab brunch. Be prepared to wait though
Late-night food and the best beer menu in all of SF. Try their burger- so delicious.
177 locals recommend
The Monk's Kettle
3141 16th StreetLate-night food and the best beer menu in all of SF. Try their burger- so delicious.
Smitten makes ice cream to order with liquid nitrogen. It'll be the most velvety ice cream you've ever tasted! My favorite is split between the Salted Caramel and Early Grey Milk Chocolate Chips.
216 locals recommend
Smitten Ice Cream
432 Octavia StSmitten makes ice cream to order with liquid nitrogen. It'll be the most velvety ice cream you've ever tasted! My favorite is split between the Salted Caramel and Early Grey Milk Chocolate Chips.
Salt and Straw has unbelievable ice cream flavors and sometimes an unbelievable line...but well worth it!
54 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
2201 Fillmore StSalt and Straw has unbelievable ice cream flavors and sometimes an unbelievable line...but well worth it!
Anchor Oyster Bar is a small locally owned seafood restaurant and fish market in the Castro. Owned and operated by the same owner since 1977, San Francisco's one-and-only Anchor Oyster Bar has been serving fresh sustainably caught fish, shellfish, crab, and delicious simply prepared seafood dishes for over 30 years. Anchor serves the Bay Area's favorite clam chowder and the best oysters on the West coast. Be prepared to wait!
148 locals recommend
Anchor Oyster Bar
579 Castro StAnchor Oyster Bar is a small locally owned seafood restaurant and fish market in the Castro. Owned and operated by the same owner since 1977, San Francisco's one-and-only Anchor Oyster Bar has been serving fresh sustainably caught fish, shellfish, crab, and delicious simply prepared seafood dishes for over 30 years. Anchor serves the Bay Area's favorite clam chowder and the best oysters on the West coast. Be prepared to wait!
Really cool, small restaurant in the Castro. Reserve in advance or be there when they open to get a spot at the small food bar. Terrific California cuisine. You can order wine by the ounce there!
149 locals recommend
Frances
3870 17th StReally cool, small restaurant in the Castro. Reserve in advance or be there when they open to get a spot at the small food bar. Terrific California cuisine. You can order wine by the ounce there!
Delicious neighborhood bakery that is a co-op. Good bread and breakfast baked goods (some gluten free and vegan) and from 11am they serve delicious pizza. Closes on Tuesdays. Cheap!
320 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
1331 9th AveDelicious neighborhood bakery that is a co-op. Good bread and breakfast baked goods (some gluten free and vegan) and from 11am they serve delicious pizza. Closes on Tuesdays. Cheap!
The owner is the most knowledgeable chocolate expert around, and he's also extremely friendly. You must go here if you love chocolate!
14 locals recommend
Chocolate Covered
4069 24th StThe owner is the most knowledgeable chocolate expert around, and he's also extremely friendly. You must go here if you love chocolate!
Rated one of the best Spanish tapas restaurant in SF! The service is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. They have a great back patio, too.
71 locals recommend
Contigo
Rated one of the best Spanish tapas restaurant in SF! The service is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. They have a great back patio, too.
Awesome brunch place in Noe Valley. Wait is usually around 15-20 mins, but the lemon ricotta souffle pancakes are totally worth it.
62 locals recommend
Aha Fresh
4007 24th StAwesome brunch place in Noe Valley. Wait is usually around 15-20 mins, but the lemon ricotta souffle pancakes are totally worth it.
The best Italian place in the neighborhood - great pasta, romantic atmosphere, a fireplace for those cold evenings, very friendly owner and servers.
45 locals recommend
Lupa Trattoria
4109 24th StThe best Italian place in the neighborhood - great pasta, romantic atmosphere, a fireplace for those cold evenings, very friendly owner and servers.
Great mini chain to grab a burger and skip your diet :-)
46 locals recommend
Barneys Gourmet Hamburgers
4138 24th StGreat mini chain to grab a burger and skip your diet :-)
This nearby bakery has a lovely selection of baked goods and sweets. It's worth a look for the display window alone, which often has miniature, electric trains and little villages all a-bustle! Kids love it.
79 locals recommend
Noe Valley Bakery
4073 24th StThis nearby bakery has a lovely selection of baked goods and sweets. It's worth a look for the display window alone, which often has miniature, electric trains and little villages all a-bustle! Kids love it.
Parks & Nature
Dolores Park is every reason to come to The Mission. Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, weekend or weekday, you’ll always find people relaxing in this park. With a $20.6 million renovation recently completed, San Francisco’s favorite park is completely reopened with new restrooms, renovated tennis and basketball courts, improved disability access, and a new overlook in the southwest corner. Locals of all ages gather at this outdoor hot spot for picnics, tanning, and people-watching. Bi Rite Grocery is nearby - grab a picnic!
1244 locals recommend
Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetDolores Park is every reason to come to The Mission. Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, weekend or weekday, you’ll always find people relaxing in this park. With a $20.6 million renovation recently completed, San Francisco’s favorite park is completely reopened with new restrooms, renovated tennis and basketball courts, improved disability access, and a new overlook in the southwest corner. Locals of all ages gather at this outdoor hot spot for picnics, tanning, and people-watching. Bi Rite Grocery is nearby - grab a picnic!
Entertainment & Activities
Come here for an indie flick and food. Try their milkshake!
229 locals recommend
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
2550 Mission StCome here for an indie flick and food. Try their milkshake!
Arts & Culture
A movie theater slash theater theater, this is one of the Castro's most iconic institutions. They play movies as well as host sing-a-longs to Disney movies, host celebrities, etc etc. Get their on time to see the organ player rise out of the ground!
332 locals recommend
Castro Theatre
429 Castro StA movie theater slash theater theater, this is one of the Castro's most iconic institutions. They play movies as well as host sing-a-longs to Disney movies, host celebrities, etc etc. Get their on time to see the organ player rise out of the ground!
Sightseeing
The epicenter of the LGBTQ liberation movement. Walk down the street and you'll see so many interesting shops, bars, cafes and happy people. Check out Cliff's Variety Store and the Castro Theater.
37 locals recommend
Castro Street
Castro StreetThe epicenter of the LGBTQ liberation movement. Walk down the street and you'll see so many interesting shops, bars, cafes and happy people. Check out Cliff's Variety Store and the Castro Theater.