Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Offering the best Shanghai-style soup dumplings in a city that prides itself on its dim sum, Shanghai Dumpling King is a favorite among locals. Long wait times and comically disinterested service are the trade-off for high-quality, low-cost deliciousness.
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Shanghai Dumpling King
3319 Balboa StreetOffering the best Shanghai-style soup dumplings in a city that prides itself on its dim sum, Shanghai Dumpling King is a favorite among locals. Long wait times and comically disinterested service are the trade-off for high-quality, low-cost deliciousness.
A real neighborhood coffee shop, Simple Pleasures offers a glimpse into San Francisco's past, with eclectic decor and fanciful murals on the walls. They have yummy breakfast sandwiches, indoor and outdoor seating, and darn good coffee!
43 personas locales recomiendan
Simple Pleasures Cafe
3434 Balboa StA real neighborhood coffee shop, Simple Pleasures offers a glimpse into San Francisco's past, with eclectic decor and fanciful murals on the walls. They have yummy breakfast sandwiches, indoor and outdoor seating, and darn good coffee!
A Parisian-themed cafe offering delicious sandwiches at reasonable prices, La Promenade has ample indoor seating, free wifi, and walls of full bookshelves to peruse. A great spot to work, or just relax.
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La Promenade Café
3643 Balboa StA Parisian-themed cafe offering delicious sandwiches at reasonable prices, La Promenade has ample indoor seating, free wifi, and walls of full bookshelves to peruse. A great spot to work, or just relax.
A small local chain, Purple Kow offers large, sweet, Taiwanese Bubble Tea (a.k.a. boba), replete with balls of tapioca. The spicy popcorn-style fried chicken nuggets are delicious, too. There's often a line, but the staff is efficient, and the wait gives you time to make decisions so you're ready to order when it's your turn.
18 personas locales recomiendan
Purple Kow
3620 Balboa StA small local chain, Purple Kow offers large, sweet, Taiwanese Bubble Tea (a.k.a. boba), replete with balls of tapioca. The spicy popcorn-style fried chicken nuggets are delicious, too. There's often a line, but the staff is efficient, and the wait gives you time to make decisions so you're ready to order when it's your turn.
Very popular neighborhood restaurant with co-op style hiring and management, and award-winning "comfort to modern" Northern California cuisine. Good place for date night.
48 personas locales recomiendan
Cassava
401 Balboa StVery popular neighborhood restaurant with co-op style hiring and management, and award-winning "comfort to modern" Northern California cuisine. Good place for date night.
A tiny, family-owned "greasy spoon" eatery overlooking the ruins of the Sutro Baths, Louis' offers classic American diner fare and large windows to take in the expansive ocean views. It's a cute and reliable place to grab breakfast or lunch, but be aware that their prices reflect the prime location.
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Louis'
902 Point Lobos AveA tiny, family-owned "greasy spoon" eatery overlooking the ruins of the Sutro Baths, Louis' offers classic American diner fare and large windows to take in the expansive ocean views. It's a cute and reliable place to grab breakfast or lunch, but be aware that their prices reflect the prime location.
Entertainment & Activities
Our local yoga studio Purusha offers a variety of classes throughout the day, ranging from challenging workouts to candle-lit restorative sessions. Highly recommended!
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Purusha Yoga
3729 48th AveOur local yoga studio Purusha offers a variety of classes throughout the day, ranging from challenging workouts to candle-lit restorative sessions. Highly recommended!
The Balboa Theatre is one of the last independent neighborhood cinemas in the city, showing a mix of Hollywood blockbusters, indie fare, & special screenings.
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Balboa Theatre
3630 Balboa StThe Balboa Theatre is one of the last independent neighborhood cinemas in the city, showing a mix of Hollywood blockbusters, indie fare, & special screenings.
Local archery shop offering rentals, to be used at the archery butts in nearby Golden Gate Park. Super fun!
San Francisco Archery Shop
3795 Balboa StLocal archery shop offering rentals, to be used at the archery butts in nearby Golden Gate Park. Super fun!
Stow Lake is a picturesque man-made waterway in the heart of Golden Gate Park, which offers hourly rentals of rowboats, paddle boats, and small motor boats. Row, paddle, or sputter your way around the tall, forested central island, and wave at the turtles and ducks near the shore. A very relaxing way to spend a few hours in the afternoon.
152 personas locales recomiendan
Stow Lake
Stow Lake is a picturesque man-made waterway in the heart of Golden Gate Park, which offers hourly rentals of rowboats, paddle boats, and small motor boats. Row, paddle, or sputter your way around the tall, forested central island, and wave at the turtles and ducks near the shore. A very relaxing way to spend a few hours in the afternoon.
Essentials
Our local pharmacy, convenience store, and photo center, the Walgreens on Point Lobos Avenue is just 2 blocks away from Fog Haven. Great for toiletries, beverages, snacks, and simple groceries.
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Walgreens
1363 Divisadero StOur local pharmacy, convenience store, and photo center, the Walgreens on Point Lobos Avenue is just 2 blocks away from Fog Haven. Great for toiletries, beverages, snacks, and simple groceries.
Classic corner store: limited selection of staples, at slightly higher than average prices.
Oceanview Market & Deli
7501 Geary BlvdClassic corner store: limited selection of staples, at slightly higher than average prices.
Arts & Culture
The Legion of Honor is an art museum with a collection that spans four millennia of history, housed in a beautiful French neoclassical building. It stands sentinel on a clifftop, where visitors can look out over the city, the Golden Gate, and the Pacific Ocean beyond.
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Legion of Honor station
The Legion of Honor is an art museum with a collection that spans four millennia of history, housed in a beautiful French neoclassical building. It stands sentinel on a clifftop, where visitors can look out over the city, the Golden Gate, and the Pacific Ocean beyond.
Possibly the coolest museum in San Francisco, the California Academy of Sciences was recently rebuilt, and now boasts: a living roof planted with local grasses; a four-story-tall indoor rainforest complete with flora and fauna (butterflies and birds), which visitors can walk up, down, and through; a huge aquarium with multiple exhibits, including one tank that opens up into the bottom of the rainforest exhibit; traditional taxidermy dioramas; and a state-of-the-art planetarium. It's not a cheap ticket, but well worth the price of admission.
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Academia de Ciencias de California
55 Music Concourse DrPossibly the coolest museum in San Francisco, the California Academy of Sciences was recently rebuilt, and now boasts: a living roof planted with local grasses; a four-story-tall indoor rainforest complete with flora and fauna (butterflies and birds), which visitors can walk up, down, and through; a huge aquarium with multiple exhibits, including one tank that opens up into the bottom of the rainforest exhibit; traditional taxidermy dioramas; and a state-of-the-art planetarium. It's not a cheap ticket, but well worth the price of admission.
Named after an early SF newspaperman, the de Young Museum is the sister institution of the Legion of Honor (located just a couple blocks from Fog Haven). Collections include international contemporary art, textiles, and costumes, American art from the 17th through 21st centuries, and art from the Americas, the Pacific, and Africa. The newly-rebuilt building sports a modern, perforated-copper facade, and a distinctive, twisting observation tower. The views from the top are gorgeous, and admission is free for those who only want to go up the tower.
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Museo de Young
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrNamed after an early SF newspaperman, the de Young Museum is the sister institution of the Legion of Honor (located just a couple blocks from Fog Haven). Collections include international contemporary art, textiles, and costumes, American art from the 17th through 21st centuries, and art from the Americas, the Pacific, and Africa. The newly-rebuilt building sports a modern, perforated-copper facade, and a distinctive, twisting observation tower. The views from the top are gorgeous, and admission is free for those who only want to go up the tower.
Parks & Nature
A short hike through wind-swept forest opens up to a stunning clifftop overlook of the Pacific Ocean, called Eagle's Point, where local artist Eduardo Aguilera designed and assembled a hidden walking labyrinth. Walk the maze-like path outlined in stones, and meditate on the beauty all around you.
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Laberinto de Lands End
Lands End TrailA short hike through wind-swept forest opens up to a stunning clifftop overlook of the Pacific Ocean, called Eagle's Point, where local artist Eduardo Aguilera designed and assembled a hidden walking labyrinth. Walk the maze-like path outlined in stones, and meditate on the beauty all around you.
Formerly the grounds of a private residence, Sutro Heights Park is now a thoroughly-underappreciated public park with a commanding clifftop view of the Pacific Ocean, Ocean Beach, and Golden Gate Park. Dog-friendly, it's the perfect place to have a picnic, or take in the sunset at the edge of the continent.
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Parque Sutro Heights
846 Point Lobos AveFormerly the grounds of a private residence, Sutro Heights Park is now a thoroughly-underappreciated public park with a commanding clifftop view of the Pacific Ocean, Ocean Beach, and Golden Gate Park. Dog-friendly, it's the perfect place to have a picnic, or take in the sunset at the edge of the continent.
Crumbling concrete pillars and pools of brackish water are all that remain of a huge Victorian public bathhouse that was called the Sutro Baths. The ruins are evocative and haunting, particularly on foggy days. Don't miss the natural cave that wind and wave carved through the rocky outcrop; you can walk all the way through to the other side!
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Baños de Sutro
1004 Point Lobos AveCrumbling concrete pillars and pools of brackish water are all that remain of a huge Victorian public bathhouse that was called the Sutro Baths. The ruins are evocative and haunting, particularly on foggy days. Don't miss the natural cave that wind and wave carved through the rocky outcrop; you can walk all the way through to the other side!
Ocean Beach stretches down the entire western edge of San Francisco, and it's a favorite spot of surfers and kite-flyers. The sunsets are magical as daylight recedes from the North American continent, and native-born San Franciscans brave the cold nights with massive bonfires on the beach (legal with a permit from the Parks Department).
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Fogatas en Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach stretches down the entire western edge of San Francisco, and it's a favorite spot of surfers and kite-flyers. The sunsets are magical as daylight recedes from the North American continent, and native-born San Franciscans brave the cold nights with massive bonfires on the beach (legal with a permit from the Parks Department).
There are two huge, Dutch-style windmills that rise majestically from the trees of Golden Gate Park. They used to pump irrigation water for the entire area.
The northern windmill is situated in a decorative tulip garden that is gorgeous when in bloom (which, thanks to SF's temperate climate, is often). You'll step into a clearing, and think you're in the Netherlands for however long you linger.
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Queen Wilhelmina Garden
1690 John F Kennedy DrThere are two huge, Dutch-style windmills that rise majestically from the trees of Golden Gate Park. They used to pump irrigation water for the entire area.
The northern windmill is situated in a decorative tulip garden that is gorgeous when in bloom (which, thanks to SF's temperate climate, is often). You'll step into a clearing, and think you're in the Netherlands for however long you linger.
There are two huge, Dutch-style windmills that rise majestically from the trees of Golden Gate Park. They used to pump irrigation water for the entire area.
The southern windmill, named after a local banker who funded its construction, was the largest windmill of its kind in the world when it was completed in 1908, with enormous 114 foot sails. It was recently rebuilt and refurbished, as was the adjacent (and charming!) Millwright’s Cottage.
It is a perfect place to have a picnic, or to take a memorably unusual keepsake photo.
Murphy Windmill
There are two huge, Dutch-style windmills that rise majestically from the trees of Golden Gate Park. They used to pump irrigation water for the entire area.
The southern windmill, named after a local banker who funded its construction, was the largest windmill of its kind in the world when it was completed in 1908, with enormous 114 foot sails. It was recently rebuilt and refurbished, as was the adjacent (and charming!) Millwright’s Cottage.
It is a perfect place to have a picnic, or to take a memorably unusual keepsake photo.
The slight curve of South Bay shelters Baker Beach just enough to shield the expanse of sand from the worst of the winds blowing in off the Pacific. That means that on clear, hot days, Baker is the warmest of all SF beaches. From the sand, there are also picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. All that makes Baker Beach quite popular on weekends, but on weekdays you can sunbathe in relative privacy.
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Playa Baker
The slight curve of South Bay shelters Baker Beach just enough to shield the expanse of sand from the worst of the winds blowing in off the Pacific. That means that on clear, hot days, Baker is the warmest of all SF beaches. From the sand, there are also picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. All that makes Baker Beach quite popular on weekends, but on weekdays you can sunbathe in relative privacy.
A powerful monument to all those lost to HIV/AIDS in the United States (and to their friends and loved ones), the National AIDS Memorial Grove is a beautiful place designed for contemplation and the celebration of life. The manicured grounds are sunk beneath the level of the surrounding park, sheltering the space from noise, and they include a meadow surrounded by trees, a stand of redwoods, multiple walking paths lined by flowering bushes and shrubs, and a pebble-bottomed brook.
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National AIDS Memorial Grove
Bowling Green DriveA powerful monument to all those lost to HIV/AIDS in the United States (and to their friends and loved ones), the National AIDS Memorial Grove is a beautiful place designed for contemplation and the celebration of life. The manicured grounds are sunk beneath the level of the surrounding park, sheltering the space from noise, and they include a meadow surrounded by trees, a stand of redwoods, multiple walking paths lined by flowering bushes and shrubs, and a pebble-bottomed brook.
The mild Mediterranean climate of the Bay Area is ideal for plants from surprisingly many parts of the world; at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, visitors can see, smell, and touch over 50,000 specimens representing more than 800 taxa from all over the planet. Admission is inexpensive, and the experience is well worth the price.
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Jardín Botánico de San Francisco
1199 9th AveThe mild Mediterranean climate of the Bay Area is ideal for plants from surprisingly many parts of the world; at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, visitors can see, smell, and touch over 50,000 specimens representing more than 800 taxa from all over the planet. Admission is inexpensive, and the experience is well worth the price.
Sightseeing
The Golden Gate Bridge is perhaps the most iconic symbol of San Francisco, and with good reason. The brightly-colored, graceful art deco bridge was the longest suspension span in the world when it opened in 1935, and held the record until 1964. You can walk, bike, or drive across, and no matter which option you choose or what time of day you cross, it's worth the trip. On clear days, you can see the entire Bay Area. And even when roiling fog swamps the bridge as it blows in from the Pacific, the patient visitor will be treated to peek-a-boo views that will take your breath away.
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Puente Golden Gate
Golden Gate BridgeThe Golden Gate Bridge is perhaps the most iconic symbol of San Francisco, and with good reason. The brightly-colored, graceful art deco bridge was the longest suspension span in the world when it opened in 1935, and held the record until 1964. You can walk, bike, or drive across, and no matter which option you choose or what time of day you cross, it's worth the trip. On clear days, you can see the entire Bay Area. And even when roiling fog swamps the bridge as it blows in from the Pacific, the patient visitor will be treated to peek-a-boo views that will take your breath away.
One of the largest and most-visited urban parks in the United States, Golden Gate Park bisects the western half of SF, stretching across more than a thousand acres. It's beautifully-designed and lovingly-tended grounds were meant to become "one of the beauty spots of the world" by city leaders, and San Franciscans overwhelmingly think that mission was accomplished. Wide grassy meadows nestle between groves of trees, and flower gardens dot the landscape. Several of the city's most famous and popular museums are inside the park's borders, as are the Botanical Gardens, Conservatory of Flowers, and AIDS Memorial Grove.
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Parque Golden Gate
One of the largest and most-visited urban parks in the United States, Golden Gate Park bisects the western half of SF, stretching across more than a thousand acres. It's beautifully-designed and lovingly-tended grounds were meant to become "one of the beauty spots of the world" by city leaders, and San Franciscans overwhelmingly think that mission was accomplished. Wide grassy meadows nestle between groves of trees, and flower gardens dot the landscape. Several of the city's most famous and popular museums are inside the park's borders, as are the Botanical Gardens, Conservatory of Flowers, and AIDS Memorial Grove.