Zazie is a French bistro that opened in Cole Valley in 1992 and is a famous brunch institution in San Francisco. They are also famous for giving “real job” employee benefits, including revenue share, paid family leaves, fully funded health & dental insurance, paid time off, and a 401(k).
The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 and is the 1.7-mile-long iconic, most famous, a beautiful bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. The bridge is one of the world's Seven Wonders and the most photographed. The bridge is a symbol of American ingenuity and resolve, having been constructed during the era of the Great Depression. Today, this beloved international icon and true engineering marvel carries about 40 million vehicles a year and serves as a vital transportation link and a major travel destination for millions of visitors from around the world.
Breadbelly is a bakery and cafe in the Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco serving Asian-inspired contemporary Californian bakery and sandwiches. They aim to deliver a comfortable, approachable, refined cafe dining experience.
A former military airfield, Crissy Field transformed into a beloved national park site in 2001. This recreational paradise welcomes visitors and locals with its breathtaking San Francisco Bay views, easy hiking, beaches and picnic areas, and wild open spaces. Locals and visitors run, stroll, and cycle along the Bay Trail to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. And the former airplane hangars and warehouses are home to recreational uses, from a rock climbing gym to a trampoline house. History buffs are served up a fascinating story from the past at the Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center.
The Walt Disney Family Museum showcases the remarkable life story of Walt Disney, the man who raised animation into art, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a distinctly American legacy that transformed the entertainment world. The museum features contemporary, interactive galleries with state-of-the-art exhibits narrated in Walt’s own voice alongside early drawings, cartoons, films, music, a spectacular model of Disneyland, and more. Visitors will leave with inspiration, admiration, and great appreciation of Walt Disney's achievements via animation and written and displayed artifacts.
Ben Thai Cafe serves traditional Thai and inventive Thai fusion with Chinese and Indonesian influences food in the vibrant and lively Polk Gulch corridor in San Francisco. The restaurant features a solid selection of Thai favorites and a few unique dishes like the Chinese-influenced Pork Palo and special Khao Soi from northern Thailand.
Eight AM offers healthy and indulgent brunch classics with modern flair near Fishermans Wharf. The locals and visitors enjoy the beautifully presented delicious dishes before venturing out for work or sightseeing in the neighborhood.
Alcatraz Island, aka “The Rock,” is a small island located 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco in San Francisco Bay. It was a federal penitentiary housing some of America’s most notorious criminals from 1934-1963. The Island also served as a harbor defense fort and a military prison from 1969-1971. Once a maximum security prison, only three criminals (Frank Morris, John Anglin, and his brother Clarence Anglin) managed to escape from it; US Marshals Service is still looking for answers about their whereabouts. Alcatraz is one of San Francisco's most prominent landmarks and tourist attractions today.
Jane on Fillmore has been serving top-quality coffee, pastries, breakfast, and lunch since February 2011. They serve healthy food with an emphasis on flavor and quality of ingredients. Everything is made fresh daily from scratch. Amanda's career in food and hospitality spans decades, and she has spent many years cooking and baking in various restaurants.
Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular tourist attraction and the most visited neighborhood in San Francisco, offering the gorgeous views of the Bay, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate bridge. There is something for everyone in this beloved neighborhood. It is packed with things to fill the entire day, including world-class restaurants, rich maritime history, historic piers, exciting tours, attractions, street performances, museums, the aquarium, and shopping.
Shizen is a fully vegan sushi bar and izakaya which combines classic shojin and sushi techniques with local, seasonal ingredients to create healthy and flavorful dishes with a light carbon footprint.
Pancake Boy is a cozy and beloved breakfast spot in the heart of the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. Known for its warm atmosphere and delicious, fluffy pancakes, this eatery is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys starting their day with a sweet and satisfying meal. The pancakes here are made from scratch with a secret recipe that has been perfected over the years, ensuring every bite is a delightful experience.
Lombard Street is famous for being the most crooked street and offering beautiful scenic panoramic views in San Francisco. It is one block downhill zig-zag stretch between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets. The street was built in the 1920s to reduce the hill's natural 27% grade steepness by creating turns in the road earning it the name “crooked street.”
Tartine Manufactory opened in August 2016 as an off-shoot of the ever-famous Tartine Bakery in Mission at 18th & Guerrero Steet, covering a massive 5000 square ft space, open kitchen, plenty of windows, large baking ovens, and many serving stations.
The aquarium of the bay, a Smithsonian Affiliate accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), exhibits more than 24,000 local marine animals. Visitors can get up close and personal and discover the beauty and diversity of Northern California aquatic life. The Aquarium is home to many marine animals, including sleek sharks and rays, secretive octopuses, hypnotic jellyfish, sparkling anchovies, frolicking river otters, and many more. Nature enthusiasts can learn about the most important environmental challenges of the day, like climate change, ocean plastic pollution, and habitat loss.
Coit Tower is a slender 210 feet high white concrete column rising from the top of Telegraph Hill. The tower has been an emblem of San Francisco’s skyline since its completion in 1933, a welcoming beacon to visitors and residents alike. Its observation deck, reached by elevator (tickets are available in the gift shop), provides 360-degree views of the city and bay, including the Golden Gate and Bay bridges. It is named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy eccentric and patron of the city’s firefighters who died in 1929, leaving a substantial bequest “for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved.”
Located on the Embarcadero waterfront at Pier 15, The Exploratorium is a public learning laboratory and museum exploring the world through science, art, and human perception. There are hundreds of explore-for-yourself exhibits, film screenings, evening art and science events for adults, plus much more. The museum uses playful fun experimentation to introduce visitors to scientific principles. They also create professional development programs for educators and are at the forefront of changing how science is taught.
Piccolo Forno (“Little Oven” in English) is famous for homemade pizzas, pasta, and other Italian dishes. Owned by Italian, the food is cooked in a style similar to Capri, Italy.
Established in 2007, Brenda’s French Soul Food is a New Orleans-style restaurant serving authentic Creole-inspired dishes and southern food in San Francisco. Numerous media outlets have featured this place as one of the best places to have brunch, lunch, or dinner.
The Ferry Building Marketplace is a world-class public food market located along the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. It is the center of a transit hub that connects San Francisco’s neighborhoods and the surrounding bay area communities. It is a famous landmark with its dramatic clock tower that has been the icon of the San Francisco waterfront for more than 100 years. The food market is organized along a dramatic indoor street, the Nave. Today ferry terminals operate at Larkspur, Sausalito, Vallejo, and Alameda, with plans for continuing network improvements and expansion.
Surisan, named after a mountain in Korea, is a savory Asian-inspired American comfort breakfast and brunch place with a modern interior and spacious outdoor dining deck and bar. The visitors enjoy watching the cable cars go by and the sights and sounds of the Wharf as they eat from the spacious outdoor dining deck. Young creative chefs, top-quality, locally-sourced organic ingredients, and relaxed indoor and outdoor dining spaces create a memorable experience for the diners.
Chinatown in San Francisco is one of the oldest Chinatowns in North America and the largest outside of Asia. Established in 1848, Chinatown was rebuilt entirely in the Chinese style after the 1906 earthquake, and it became even more attractive than before the disaster. Chinatown is a bustling “city within a city.” and the most densely populated area of San Francisco, with a lot to see and do.
Union Square is a 2.4-acre popular public square for locals and tourists in downtown San Francisco. Union square is surrounded by high-end shops, art galleries, department stores, gift shops, upscale boutiques, theatres, restaurants, and hotels. The famous Macy’s store is right at Union Square and so is the flagship Tiffany & Co store. The area got its name because it was once used for Thomas Starr King rallies.
Zuni Café opened in 1979 and is a famous James Beard Foundation Award winner Californian cuisine with heavy Italian and French influences serving classical, thoughtful dishes. It is named after the Zuni, one of the indigenous Pueblo peoples of Arizona and New Mexico. The bi-level eatery with many windows is an airy, beautiful, and romantic place.
Sweet Maple is a laid-back and unpretentious neighborhood restaurant, coffeehouse, and meeting place located in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. Serving a classic American breakfast and brunch menu with a touch of Asian influence, our team of chefs adds innovative twists to familiar favorites creating something for everyone. Founded in 2010, Sweet Maple is now the go-to brunch destination for San Francisco locals and knowledgeable food tourists.
Twin Peaks, at 922 feet in elevation, is a world-famous tourist attraction that offers spectacular views of the Bay Area. The north peak (aka Eureka Peak) and south peak (aka Noe Peak) provide postcard views and a treasure trove of animal and plant diversity. Most visitors to Twin Peaks drive, walk or bike to the north peak parking lot to enjoy 180-degree views of the Bay Area.
Seward Street slides are the two lanes of slippery downhill slides in a small park in the Noe Valley neighborhood in San Francisco. The slides represent the triumphant of neighborhood activism with a fascinating history. In 1963, this place was an empty lot with the development plans to build an apartment complex. Local residents protested, including staging a bulldozer-defying sit-in resulting in a change in the zoning laws and the land reserved for a small community park, including these slides.
Located in the heart of the Castro district, Kitchen Story is a California Cuisine with Asian influences serving breakfast and brunch. The KItchen story has an amazing selection of breakfast dishes like Benedict, Omelets, Scrambles, Burgers, and sandwiches.
Vibrant Mission Dolores park is a nearly 16-acre city park in the heart of its equally vibrant, culturally diverse mission district neighborhood. Lush green lawns shaded by tall palm trees, a soccer field, six tennis courts, one basketball field court, a multi-use court, a play ground, and two off-lease dog play areas adorn this beautiful park. Many festivals, performances, and other cultural events occur in the park. People flock to the park to play, picnic, lounge, walk their dogs, and enjoy spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline on sunny days.
The famous mission murals are street art spread all over the mission district neighborhood showcasing immigrant experience, gentrification, and political landscape. Mission District murals tell a story that is very specific to San Francisco. Murals are in great shape; a few from the 1970s are fading or peeling away due to age.
Painted Ladies, aka “Postcard row,” are the most iconic and photographed pastel-colored houses on Steiner Street right next to each other. These houses symbolize the California Gold Rush. A lot of money came into the city, and people wanted to show their wealth with these beautiful extravagant homes.
Outerlands serves locally sourced, organic fare in a cozy, reclaimed wood handcrafted space. It welcomes the guests with its open kitchen, house-baked levain bread, outdoor heated patio, and warm hospitality.
B Patisserie from talented pastry chef Belinda Leong brings a refined yet modern salon de thé with an open pastry kitchen. The menu comprises modern French-style pastries, American flavors, and local influences, including cakes and entremets, tarts, verrines, macarons, and viennoiseries. The tartines are prepared on specially created levain bread.
There is a lot to see in this famous institution. Visitors who can spend only 1-2 hours are recommended to visit Steinhart Aquarium (the newest exhibit featuring over a dozen animals that bite, sting and stun), Osher Rainforest (the four-story living rainforest), Living Roof, African Penguins, and the Swamp (see albino Aligator!). Visitors who can spend more time should also visit Giants of Land and Sea, Gems and Minerals, Reef Lagoon, and Color of Life. For kids: There is a “kid-sized” door at the Children’s Eel Garden, located next to the Philippine Coral Reef exhibit. East Garden has plenty of room to run around and structures to play on. Science Today station offers engaging short videos on Academy science. Avoid the neighborhood-free-weekends days ( https://www.calacademy.org/neighborhood-free-weekends ) as there would be a lot of crowds. Check out the daily events calendar: https://www.calacademy.org/daily-calendar On Thursday nights, adults 21+ can enjoy live music, cocktails, special activities, and entertainment while exploring the entire Academy after dark. Visitors can purchase “Panguins + Pajamas Sleepovers” ( https://www.calacademy.org/penguinspajamas-sleepovers ), VIP Tours, and Birthday Parties (https://www.calacademy.org/tours-specialty-programs ) tickets for more fun.
Outta Sight Pizza started in 2020 as a pizza pop-up at Fig & Thistle wine bar during the pandemic serving whole pizzas at affordable prices. The restaurant is serving New York-style pizza slices, whole pies, and vegan salad at its current location.
The Japanese Tea Garden offers visitors the natural beauty, tranquility, and harmony of a Japanese-style garden in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. It was created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. Later, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara expanded the garden from 1 acre to its current size of approximately 5 acres.
San Francisco Botanical Garden is a unique urban oasis of extraordinary beauty showcasing 8,000 different kinds of plants from around the world. It is 55 acres of green space with beautiful trails with plenty of signs and information.
The Hog Island Oyster Company is located inside the famous Ferry building in San Francisco. They offer incredible seafood, an ever-changing seasonal menu, and hand-crafted cocktails in a stunning setting on San Francisco’s waterfront.
Started as an ice cream business in 1951, Mama’s on Washington Square offers an innovative menu of sandwiches, french toast, pancakes, salads, omelets, and baked goods. Any day of the week, one can see customers waiting to enter the cozy restaurant.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. They have a remarkable collection of paintings, sculptures, photography, architecture, design, and media arts on seven gallery floors. SFMOMA also offers 45,000 square feet of free, art-filled public space open to all.
Sotto Mare is an Italian-inspired seafood restaurant in the heart of North Beach serving the freshest fish and shellfish in town; Oysters and clams on the half shell, Boston style Clam Chowder, Baccala, Crab Cioppino, Louis salads, Seafood Pastas, and Seafood Risotto and more. A great selection of fresh fish is available daily for home cooking. Sotto Mare has been featured on television and in many magazines.
Yerba Buena Gardens is the perfect place to relax, explore, play, dine or shop in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown. The park will enlighten every mood, celebrate diversity, and find green relief while discovering unique features, renowned museums, cafes, memorials, and theaters—all cradled by landscaped lawns, public art, and award-winning architecture.
A visit to San Francisco is only complete with riding the postcard-perfect moving national landmark, the Cable Cars. Unique to San Francisco, cable cars are pulled along by cables running beneath the street. Andrew Smith Hallidie got the inspiration for Cable Cars after seeing an accident when a horse-drawn streetcar slid backward under its heavy load in 1869. Cable cars launched after four years in 1873.