Guidebook for San Francisco
Essentials
This market is excellent for sandwiches and prepared food in their deli section. They have a good selection of locally sourced produce and their wines and cheeses cannot be beat!
651 residents recomanen
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th StThis market is excellent for sandwiches and prepared food in their deli section. They have a good selection of locally sourced produce and their wines and cheeses cannot be beat!
If you are looking for general grocery store items, this is the place to go.
416 residents recomanen
Safeway
2020 Market StIf you are looking for general grocery store items, this is the place to go.
Walgreens
4645 Mission StFor drugstore/toiletry items.
Fitness SF Castro
2301 Market StGary's gym...very convenient to walk to from our place.
Good deli and prepared foods section. Salad Bar is awesome!
905 residents recomanen
Whole Foods Market
3950 24th StGood deli and prepared foods section. Salad Bar is awesome!
Drugstore that is about five blocks from our place...right up 18th St. at Castro St.
61 residents recomanen
Walgreens Pharmacy
4129 18th StDrugstore that is about five blocks from our place...right up 18th St. at Castro St.
Food Scene
Note: It's easy to get confused between Delfina and Pizzeria Delphina which is right next door.
Delphina is a high end restaurant. If you are here on an expense account, make a reservation and go here - otherwise go to their very reasonably priced Pizzeria right next door to this.
598 residents recomanen
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th StNote: It's easy to get confused between Delfina and Pizzeria Delphina which is right next door.
Delphina is a high end restaurant. If you are here on an expense account, make a reservation and go here - otherwise go to their very reasonably priced Pizzeria right next door to this.
Very popular for their bread and pastries. If you want to avoid the line, go there right before they open at 7:30 a.m. If you get there about 4:15 p.m. in the afternoon, they start selling the bread made fresh that day at 4:30 pm.
In any case, the line moves fairly fast (good stuff, but we hate to stand in their line).
768 residents recomanen
Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero StVery popular for their bread and pastries. If you want to avoid the line, go there right before they open at 7:30 a.m. If you get there about 4:15 p.m. in the afternoon, they start selling the bread made fresh that day at 4:30 pm.
In any case, the line moves fairly fast (good stuff, but we hate to stand in their line).
We get sandwiches here all the time. Great for breakfast or lunch...outdoor eating. This place is literally a minute away from us.
260 residents recomanen
Precita Park Cafe & Grill
500 Precita AvenueWe get sandwiches here all the time. Great for breakfast or lunch...outdoor eating. This place is literally a minute away from us.
This place is a trip! Very small and one of kind place...these three Burmese ladies have counter seating only for their special menu...go early so you don't have to wait in line.
75 residents recomanen
Yamo
3406 18th StThis place is a trip! Very small and one of kind place...these three Burmese ladies have counter seating only for their special menu...go early so you don't have to wait in line.
Latino Nuevo. A culinary adventure. They grow much of what they cook on their own farm. Vegetarian.
150 residents recomanen
Gracias Madre
2211 Mission StLatino Nuevo. A culinary adventure. They grow much of what they cook on their own farm. Vegetarian.
Jefferson's favorite breakfast/lunch place...it's a soda fountain started in 1918. They make great shakes and malteds...and they have vegan options.
138 residents recomanen
St. Francis Fountain
2801 24th StJefferson's favorite breakfast/lunch place...it's a soda fountain started in 1918. They make great shakes and malteds...and they have vegan options.
Great Chinese with vegan options...nice ambiance and also good for take-out.
9 residents recomanen
Big Lantern
3170 16th StGreat Chinese with vegan options...nice ambiance and also good for take-out.
A Berkeley, CA-based coffee house chain - it's more local than Starbuck's but less fun than Philz.
238 residents recomanen
Peet's Coffee
2080 Chestnut StA Berkeley, CA-based coffee house chain - it's more local than Starbuck's but less fun than Philz.
If you want to people watch on the Castro and have an easy meal before going to see a movie at the Castro, this is your place.
46 residents recomanen
Pauline's Pizza
260 Valencia StIf you want to people watch on the Castro and have an easy meal before going to see a movie at the Castro, this is your place.
This is an institution in the Castro...I can't tell you how many people have told me about their fond memories of this old Italian food joint.
18 residents recomanen
The Sausage Factory
517 Castro StThis is an institution in the Castro...I can't tell you how many people have told me about their fond memories of this old Italian food joint.
It's the Ice cream place around the corner from us that always has lines when the weather is good (and even when it's bad).
To avoid the line for made to order cones, go to the soft serve window (they also sell cake, pie and cookies there), or you can bypass the line if you want to buy pints or ice cream sandwiches from their freezer...just walk in to the right of the line.
476 residents recomanen
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th StIt's the Ice cream place around the corner from us that always has lines when the weather is good (and even when it's bad).
To avoid the line for made to order cones, go to the soft serve window (they also sell cake, pie and cookies there), or you can bypass the line if you want to buy pints or ice cream sandwiches from their freezer...just walk in to the right of the line.
Their pizza is delicious and reasonably priced. We order pizza to go from here all the time...it take two minutes to walk there!
598 residents recomanen
Pizzeria Delfina
3621 18th StTheir pizza is delicious and reasonably priced. We order pizza to go from here all the time...it take two minutes to walk there!
This higher end Vegetarian/Vegan restaurant is in the Marina and overlooks Golden Gate Bridge. The food is delicious. For Vegan date-night!
89 residents recomanen
Greens
2 Marina BlvdThis higher end Vegetarian/Vegan restaurant is in the Marina and overlooks Golden Gate Bridge. The food is delicious. For Vegan date-night!
New Burger Joint with little bitty Tiki-bar to the side. The owner Wes is real nice, the food is good - what's not to love?
8 residents recomanen
WesBurger n' More
2240 Mission StNew Burger Joint with little bitty Tiki-bar to the side. The owner Wes is real nice, the food is good - what's not to love?
Fun outdoor Mexican restaurant at the top of this building with views of the Mission district. Affiliated restaurant Lolinda is on the ground floor. Food is good, best for lunch or late afternoons - a hassle for dinner.
224 residents recomanen
El Techo
2516 Mission StFun outdoor Mexican restaurant at the top of this building with views of the Mission district. Affiliated restaurant Lolinda is on the ground floor. Food is good, best for lunch or late afternoons - a hassle for dinner.
This is around the corner and serves good coffee...everyone in the neighborhood goes here + you can rent DVD's!
28 residents recomanen
Fayes
3614 18th StThis is around the corner and serves good coffee...everyone in the neighborhood goes here + you can rent DVD's!
Bar none, Gary's favorite restaurant in SF. Owner Francesco is Gary's friend, service is impeccable and back patio is open air and charming. Southern Italian comfort food.
38 residents recomanen
Poesia
4072 18th StBar none, Gary's favorite restaurant in SF. Owner Francesco is Gary's friend, service is impeccable and back patio is open air and charming. Southern Italian comfort food.
Orphan Andy's
3991 17th StComfort food and it's open late!
Parks & Nature
This is right across the street from us. Always a wonderful place to sit outside and enjoy the sun. The park was recently renovated and it's better than ever...go to the very top of the park to see the view of the city.
1244 residents recomanen
Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetThis is right across the street from us. Always a wonderful place to sit outside and enjoy the sun. The park was recently renovated and it's better than ever...go to the very top of the park to see the view of the city.
Wonderful place to spend the day. The de Young Museum, The Academy of Science, The Conservatory of Flowers and the San Francisco Arboretum are all located within the Park.
1721 residents recomanen
Golden Gate Park
Wonderful place to spend the day. The de Young Museum, The Academy of Science, The Conservatory of Flowers and the San Francisco Arboretum are all located within the Park.
A place to see tropical plants up close - within Golden Gate Park.
232 residents recomanen
Conservatori de Flors
100 John F Kennedy DrA place to see tropical plants up close - within Golden Gate Park.
A nice walk from our place...this park is the gateway to a sweet restaurant/shopping district on Hayes St. (Hayes Valley).
59 residents recomanen
Patricia’s Green In Hayes Valley
50 Oak StA nice walk from our place...this park is the gateway to a sweet restaurant/shopping district on Hayes St. (Hayes Valley).
Shopping
Wonderful Bookstore in a great walking area of the Mission along 24th St.
30 residents recomanen
Adobe Books & Arts Cooperative
3130 24th StWonderful Bookstore in a great walking area of the Mission along 24th St.
Paxton Gate
824 Valencia StOddities and Curiousities to capture your imagination
Fun Store to get your Pirate supplies at...check out the private seats to see the Aquarium
33 residents recomanen
826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store
826 Valencia StFun Store to get your Pirate supplies at...check out the private seats to see the Aquarium
Entertainment & Activities
We LOVE this Movie Palace! They have a Pipe Organist that plays music before the evening shows - you always know that the movie is about to start when he plays "San Francisco."
332 residents recomanen
Castro Theatre
429 Castro StWe LOVE this Movie Palace! They have a Pipe Organist that plays music before the evening shows - you always know that the movie is about to start when he plays "San Francisco."
Perfect date night option! This gorgeously remodeled old movie palace is fun and we go here at least once a month. Get the iphone app., choose your movie (5 screens), choose your seats and pay online. You want to get there about 30 minutes before the show, or earlier if you'd like stop into their beautiful bar for a cocktail first. You go early to watch the pre-show videos and vintage clips and to order your dinner and drinks before the show starts...you are served at your seats! $15 pizza's are awesome, beers at $4 are the best deal and they have kimchi flavored popcorn. Highly recommended!
229 residents recomanen
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
2550 Mission StPerfect date night option! This gorgeously remodeled old movie palace is fun and we go here at least once a month. Get the iphone app., choose your movie (5 screens), choose your seats and pay online. You want to get there about 30 minutes before the show, or earlier if you'd like stop into their beautiful bar for a cocktail first. You go early to watch the pre-show videos and vintage clips and to order your dinner and drinks before the show starts...you are served at your seats! $15 pizza's are awesome, beers at $4 are the best deal and they have kimchi flavored popcorn. Highly recommended!
This is a wonderful venue to see creative drag shows and gay oriented theatrical shows. The best place for drag in SF!
20 residents recomanen
Oasis
298 11th StThis is a wonderful venue to see creative drag shows and gay oriented theatrical shows. The best place for drag in SF!
Arts & Culture
This is our main local Museum in the middle of Golden Gate Park.
999 residents recomanen
Museu de Young
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrThis is our main local Museum in the middle of Golden Gate Park.
Mission Dolores was founded in 1776 by Father Junipero Serra and is the oldest building in San Francisco. The mission graveyard is where Kim Novak was in a trance during Hitchcock's "Vertigo."
65 residents recomanen
Misió de Sant Francisco d'Assís
3321 16th StMission Dolores was founded in 1776 by Father Junipero Serra and is the oldest building in San Francisco. The mission graveyard is where Kim Novak was in a trance during Hitchcock's "Vertigo."
Newly opened, amazing, large spaces, restaurant with sculpture garden is great! Don't forget to find the Richard Serra sculptures on the first floor.
813 residents recomanen
Museu d'Art Modern de San Francisco
151 3rd StNewly opened, amazing, large spaces, restaurant with sculpture garden is great! Don't forget to find the Richard Serra sculptures on the first floor.
Science based Museum and it includes the amazing Steinhart Aquarium. Next to the de Young Museum.
816 residents recomanen
Acadèmia de Ciències de Califòrnia
55 Music Concourse DrScience based Museum and it includes the amazing Steinhart Aquarium. Next to the de Young Museum.
Late conceptual/installation artist David Ireland's home of 30 years was just opened after a two year preservation and restoration effort. Check it out online - our friends just went and it's still under the radar and great!
The David Ireland House
500 Capp StLate conceptual/installation artist David Ireland's home of 30 years was just opened after a two year preservation and restoration effort. Check it out online - our friends just went and it's still under the radar and great!
Sightseeing
https://sfcityguides.org/about-us/faqs/
These are free walking tours of the City sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library
11 residents recomanen
San Francisco City Guides
100 Larkin Sthttps://sfcityguides.org/about-us/faqs/
These are free walking tours of the City sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library