Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
Fable
558 Castro StModern American Cuisine
Orphan Andy's
3991 17th StA greasy spoon diner that's been around for decades.
Catch
2362 Market StArguably the best seafood restaurant in the Castro.
When a a Chinese chef and a Beer afficionado marry, you get Mama Ji's. Delicious Chinese dim sum and entrees, with a great beer selection.
88 locals recommend
Mama Ji's
4416 18th StWhen a a Chinese chef and a Beer afficionado marry, you get Mama Ji's. Delicious Chinese dim sum and entrees, with a great beer selection.
You haven't been to SF until you've enjoyed a scoop or three from locally made Bi-Rite Creamery. Grab your cone or cup and take a stroll around Dolores Park.
476 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th StYou haven't been to SF until you've enjoyed a scoop or three from locally made Bi-Rite Creamery. Grab your cone or cup and take a stroll around Dolores Park.
Castro Coffee Company
427 Castro StLocal coffee shop, a Castro Street institution.
Gay-friendly sports bar with excellent food. It's not often you can find a grilled ahi tuna burger at a sports bar.
54 locals recommend
Hi Tops
2247 Market StGay-friendly sports bar with excellent food. It's not often you can find a grilled ahi tuna burger at a sports bar.
Some of the most delicious baked goods in SF. Reviewed by The New York Times. Their cookbooks are on best sellers lists. Expect a bit of a wait to get in the door, but well worth it!
768 locals recommend
Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero StSome of the most delicious baked goods in SF. Reviewed by The New York Times. Their cookbooks are on best sellers lists. Expect a bit of a wait to get in the door, but well worth it!
A great spot for burgers, salads, cocktails, and people watching. Grab a drink at Harvey's and toast to Harvey Milk, a champion for gay rights and the unofficial "Mayor of Castro Street.
46 locals recommend
Pauline's Pizza
260 Valencia StA great spot for burgers, salads, cocktails, and people watching. Grab a drink at Harvey's and toast to Harvey Milk, a champion for gay rights and the unofficial "Mayor of Castro Street.
Delicious seafood with a Pan-Asian flair. A great lunch spot when visiting Golden Gate Park.
111 locals recommend
Pacific Catch
1200 9th AveDelicious seafood with a Pan-Asian flair. A great lunch spot when visiting Golden Gate Park.
Scoma's Restaurant
1965 Al Scoma WayOne of the best seafood and Italian restaurants in SF.
Great Italian & seafood restaurant with stunning views. If you go up to Muir Woods, Napa or Sonoma, this is a great spot for lunch or dinner.
27 locals recommend
Scoma's of Sausalito
588 BridgewayGreat Italian & seafood restaurant with stunning views. If you go up to Muir Woods, Napa or Sonoma, this is a great spot for lunch or dinner.
A local spot best known for their incredible breads, but everything here is delicious. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We highly recommend the fried brussel sprouts, hangar steak, and the shrimp & grits.
259 locals recommend
Outerlands
4001 Judah StA local spot best known for their incredible breads, but everything here is delicious. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We highly recommend the fried brussel sprouts, hangar steak, and the shrimp & grits.
Starbelly
3583 16th StCalifornia comfort food, open for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Get your sugar fix here. Since it's the Castro, one of the options is to buy a phallic-inspired cookie.
36 locals recommend
Hot Cookie
1817 Castro StGet your sugar fix here. Since it's the Castro, one of the options is to buy a phallic-inspired cookie.
Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. All of the omelettes are amazing, and you haven't had bacon until you've had their millionaire's bacon.
133 locals recommend
Kitchen Story
3499 16th StOpen for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. All of the omelettes are amazing, and you haven't had bacon until you've had their millionaire's bacon.
Great little spot in Cole Valley to visit after seeing Twin Peaks or before reaching Golden Gate Park. Petite French bistro. Great for brunch, lunch or dinner.
286 locals recommend
Zazie
941 Cole StGreat little spot in Cole Valley to visit after seeing Twin Peaks or before reaching Golden Gate Park. Petite French bistro. Great for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Poki Time
549 Irving StGreat little spot near the Marina for a cost effective poke bowl.
Classic Italian restaurant. The oldest Italian restaurant in San Francisco.
7 locals recommend
Fior d'Italia
2237 Mason StClassic Italian restaurant. The oldest Italian restaurant in San Francisco.
Z & Y Restaurant
655 Jackson StDelicious Szechuan Chinese Restaurant
Dandelion Chocolate
740 Valencia StOne of the best local chocolate shops in town.
Parks & Nature
Across the street, about one block away. Great place for a little stroll before dinner.
48 locals recommend
Kite Hill Open Space
Across the street, about one block away. Great place for a little stroll before dinner.
beautiful park, hidden in Golden Gate Park. It's easy to miss if you're not looking for it.
152 locals recommend
Stow Lake
beautiful park, hidden in Golden Gate Park. It's easy to miss if you're not looking for it.
The bald hill, visible from our home. This park is a mile from our home and a great spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and take great photos of the SF skyline.
180 locals recommend
Corona Heights Park
Museum WayThe bald hill, visible from our home. This park is a mile from our home and a great spot to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and take great photos of the SF skyline.
Mission Dolores Park
19th Street
Presidio of San Francisco
Beautiful views of Golden Gate Bridge.
Arts & Culture
Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrOne of the most amazing tea gardens on the continent.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StGreat place to get an understanding of our LGBT movement in SF.
23 locals recommend
GLBT Historical Society Museum
4127 18th StGreat place to get an understanding of our LGBT movement in SF.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
3950 24th StMollie Stone's Markets
2435 California StSafeway
2020 Market StTrader Joe's
3 Masonic AveFitness SF Castro
2301 Market StWalgreens
1333 Castro St24-hours pharmacy.
Sightseeing
Did you know there were wild parrots living in SF? Do you want to see them? Then you should go here. Most folks visiting SF never make it here.
23 locals recommend
Filbert Steps
Did you know there were wild parrots living in SF? Do you want to see them? Then you should go here. Most folks visiting SF never make it here.
Beautiful vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay, the SF city skyline, and much more!
545 locals recommend
Coit Tower
Beautiful vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay, the SF city skyline, and much more!
A great spot to take photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and the SF city skyline. Bike across the bridge or go by car.
15 locals recommend
Vista Point
A great spot to take photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and the SF city skyline. Bike across the bridge or go by car.
This is the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge, in my humble opinion.
194 locals recommend
Marin Headlands
This is the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge, in my humble opinion.
It's the largest rainbow flag in the country. You can't not want to take a picture in front of it! :-)
Pink Triangle Memorial
2454 Market StIt's the largest rainbow flag in the country. You can't not want to take a picture in front of it! :-)
The Pemberton Steps are how locals get to the top of Twin Peaks every day. Too steep for a street, they built a stairwell instead.
According to Bonnie Wach at the SF Chronicle, "The Pemberton steps begin at the curve of Clayton Street right before you cross Corbett. Climb 20 feet up the brick stairway and you leave urban angst behind. Car noise fades into the leafy overgrowth, and by the time you reach the first cross street (Villa Terrace) you find yourself wondering if this hilly perch has always been here, or if it magically appears like Brigadoon whenever the planets align just right."
Pemberton Place
Pemberton PlaceThe Pemberton Steps are how locals get to the top of Twin Peaks every day. Too steep for a street, they built a stairwell instead.
According to Bonnie Wach at the SF Chronicle, "The Pemberton steps begin at the curve of Clayton Street right before you cross Corbett. Climb 20 feet up the brick stairway and you leave urban angst behind. Car noise fades into the leafy overgrowth, and by the time you reach the first cross street (Villa Terrace) you find yourself wondering if this hilly perch has always been here, or if it magically appears like Brigadoon whenever the planets align just right."
Twin Peaks
Best view of SF!
Drinks & Nightlife
Neighborhood bar know for craft beer and craft cocktails with things you've never heard of before.
118 locals recommend
Blackbird
2124 Market StNeighborhood bar know for craft beer and craft cocktails with things you've never heard of before.
Just your neighborhood gay bar. A great place for happy hour drinks or later in the evening. Just don't come here expecting an impressive wine list or an award-winning cocktail.
21 locals recommend
Toad Hall
4146 18th StJust your neighborhood gay bar. A great place for happy hour drinks or later in the evening. Just don't come here expecting an impressive wine list or an award-winning cocktail.
The Cafe
2369 Market StThe best nightclub in the Castro if you like to dance.
If a Cal-Asian restaurant and a drag bar were to have a baby. Enjoy delicious food (like filet mignon and ahi tuna burgers) and a dinner show presented by the incredible ladies of AsiaSF. This is a unique San Francisco experience.
33 locals recommend
AsiaSF
201 9th StIf a Cal-Asian restaurant and a drag bar were to have a baby. Enjoy delicious food (like filet mignon and ahi tuna burgers) and a dinner show presented by the incredible ladies of AsiaSF. This is a unique San Francisco experience.
A great place for a glass of wine (or three!) and a charcuterie plate. Occasionally local musicians will perform live during happy hour.
27 locals recommend
Blush! Wine Bar
476 Castro StA great place for a glass of wine (or three!) and a charcuterie plate. Occasionally local musicians will perform live during happy hour.
One of the iconic gay nightclubs in the Castro. Grab a cocktail and head to the outdoor deck to people watch and take in beautiful views of the city.
49 locals recommend
Lookout
3600 16th StOne of the iconic gay nightclubs in the Castro. Grab a cocktail and head to the outdoor deck to people watch and take in beautiful views of the city.
Beaux
2344 Market St2nd best nightclub for dancing.
A little piece of history.
"Twin Peaks Tavern, which first opened in 1935 but was purchased by Cunha and Forster in 1971, is believed to be the first gay bar in the nation to feature full-length, open plate glass windows that let its patrons look out, and more importantly, the public look in. The lesbian friends, known to most regulars as "the girls," opened the bar to the world at a time when many gays still feared losing their jobs or being socially ostracized if their sexual orientation was revealed. It has now survived for 40 years as one of the Castro district's most memorable and welcoming establishments." - SF Chronicle
32 locals recommend
Twin Peaks Tavern
401 Castro StA little piece of history.
"Twin Peaks Tavern, which first opened in 1935 but was purchased by Cunha and Forster in 1971, is believed to be the first gay bar in the nation to feature full-length, open plate glass windows that let its patrons look out, and more importantly, the public look in. The lesbian friends, known to most regulars as "the girls," opened the bar to the world at a time when many gays still feared losing their jobs or being socially ostracized if their sexual orientation was revealed. It has now survived for 40 years as one of the Castro district's most memorable and welcoming establishments." - SF Chronicle
Del Dotto Estate Winery & Caves
1445 St Helena HwyGreat Napa winery.
Trefethen Vineyards
1160 Oak Knoll AveGreat Napa winery
Clos Pegase Winery
1060 Dunaweal LnGreat Napa winery.
Domaine Chandon
1 California DrGreat Napa winery.
Castello di Amorosa
4045 St Helena HwyGreat Napa winery.
Amazing winery with great views of rolling vineyards. Best known for their complex pinot noirs and buttery chardonnays.
25 locals recommend
La Crema Estate at Saralee's Vineyard
3575 Slusser RdAmazing winery with great views of rolling vineyards. Best known for their complex pinot noirs and buttery chardonnays.
Fantastic Sonoma County winery with delicious pinot noirs and chardonnays. Do your tasting indoors or outside.
11 locals recommend
Sonoma - Cutrer Vineyards Inc
4401 Slusser RdFantastic Sonoma County winery with delicious pinot noirs and chardonnays. Do your tasting indoors or outside.
This is a terrific small production, family-owned winery where your tasting will feel much different than some of these larger corporate-run facilities. Great spot of pinot noirs and chardonnays.
28 locals recommend
Moshin Vineyards
10295 Westside RdThis is a terrific small production, family-owned winery where your tasting will feel much different than some of these larger corporate-run facilities. Great spot of pinot noirs and chardonnays.
Williams Selyem Winery
7227 Westside RdGreat Sonoma County winery. Reservations recommended.
Oasis
298 11th StDrag Bar with great entertainment.