Local Guidebook

Carleen
Local Guidebook

Food Scene

Wood fire pizza, cocktails, and wine
16 locals recommend
DamnFine
3410 Judah Street
16 locals recommend
Wood fire pizza, cocktails, and wine
Hip new fish restaurant and marketplace. Excellent fish burritos, ceviche, and home made hot sauce.
62 locals recommend
Hook Fish Co
4542 Irving St
62 locals recommend
Hip new fish restaurant and marketplace. Excellent fish burritos, ceviche, and home made hot sauce.
Wine bar with very well-known hoagies
12 locals recommend
Palm City Wines
4055 Irving St
12 locals recommend
Wine bar with very well-known hoagies
Classic Mexican street food faves.
18 locals recommend
Sunset Cantina
3414 Judah St
18 locals recommend
Classic Mexican street food faves.
Extremely popular brunch spot. Expect wait times of up to of 1.5 hours on weekends. Interior is covered in reclaimed wood. Also a good option for dinner and cocktails (you can set a reservation).
259 locals recommend
Outerlands
4001 Judah St
259 locals recommend
Extremely popular brunch spot. Expect wait times of up to of 1.5 hours on weekends. Interior is covered in reclaimed wood. Also a good option for dinner and cocktails (you can set a reservation).
If craving gourmet burgers, this place is within walking distance. They also have a good vegetarian mushroom burger.
13 locals recommend
Papa Mak's Burgers
3755 Noriega St
13 locals recommend
If craving gourmet burgers, this place is within walking distance. They also have a good vegetarian mushroom burger.
Local brewery with bar bites and full dinner. 'Sports bar feel'.
54 locals recommend
Sunset Reservoir Brewing Company
1735 Noriega St
54 locals recommend
Local brewery with bar bites and full dinner. 'Sports bar feel'.
Local pizza joint with good beer on tap. Perfect for families and groups.
75 locals recommend
The Pizza Place on Noriega
3901 Noriega St
75 locals recommend
Local pizza joint with good beer on tap. Perfect for families and groups.
Tasty sandwiches, bagels, and drip coffee.
7 locals recommend
Yonkers Cafe
3815 Noriega St
7 locals recommend
Tasty sandwiches, bagels, and drip coffee.
A nice craft brewery and restaurant (lobster rolls, burgers, etc.) with outdoor picnic seating. It sits across from the beach and faces Golden Gate Park. Great for sunny days. Dogs and kids welcome.
71 locals recommend
Park Chalet Coastal Beer Garden
1000 Great Hwy
71 locals recommend
A nice craft brewery and restaurant (lobster rolls, burgers, etc.) with outdoor picnic seating. It sits across from the beach and faces Golden Gate Park. Great for sunny days. Dogs and kids welcome.
The BEST pho in the city! My favorite place.
27 locals recommend
Pho Huynh Hiep 2 - Kevin’s Noodle House
1833 Irving St
27 locals recommend
The BEST pho in the city! My favorite place.
Perfect place to grab a sandwich and take a walk along the beach.
131 locals recommend
Java Beach Café
1396 La Playa St
131 locals recommend
Perfect place to grab a sandwich and take a walk along the beach.
Some of the best unique Chinese food. A bit off the beaten path.
23 locals recommend
Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant
3132 Vicente St
23 locals recommend
Some of the best unique Chinese food. A bit off the beaten path.
Delicious sushi at an affordable price and within walking distance.
19 locals recommend
Tazaki Sushi
3420 Judah Street
19 locals recommend
Delicious sushi at an affordable price and within walking distance.
Incredible Sichuan flavors! Authentic Chinese food. I personally ask for 'no sugar' to get the full numbing spice flavors. I love their deep fried chicken and dan dan noodles.
Szechuan cuisine
1920 Irving St
Incredible Sichuan flavors! Authentic Chinese food. I personally ask for 'no sugar' to get the full numbing spice flavors. I love their deep fried chicken and dan dan noodles.
One of the most popular Chinese restaurants in the city. Great duck over rice (but it is oily)!
13 locals recommend
Cheung Hing Restaurant
2339 Noriega St
13 locals recommend
One of the most popular Chinese restaurants in the city. Great duck over rice (but it is oily)!
Delicious Chinese food with real mainland flavors. Order the shanxi mianpi (cold noodles), pork noodle soup, cucumber cold dish, and lamb pita soup. The list goes on and on.
24 locals recommend
Terra Cotta Warrior
2555 Judah St
24 locals recommend
Delicious Chinese food with real mainland flavors. Order the shanxi mianpi (cold noodles), pork noodle soup, cucumber cold dish, and lamb pita soup. The list goes on and on.

Drinks & Nightlife

Nice little neighborhood bar. Newly opened, cute decor, great empanadas and beer.
20 locals recommend
Woods Outbound
4045 Judah St
20 locals recommend
Nice little neighborhood bar. Newly opened, cute decor, great empanadas and beer.
Little honky-tonk bar by the beach with the look and feel of a small town lodge. Near White Cap cocktail bar. Uber/Lyft recommended.
73 locals recommend
The Riptide
3639 Taraval St
73 locals recommend
Little honky-tonk bar by the beach with the look and feel of a small town lodge. Near White Cap cocktail bar. Uber/Lyft recommended.
Nice cocktail bar near the beach. A bit of a walk from my home, but easy to Uber to and from!
35 locals recommend
White Cap
3608 Taraval St
35 locals recommend
Nice cocktail bar near the beach. A bit of a walk from my home, but easy to Uber to and from!
21 locals recommend
Pittsburgh's Pub
4207 Judah St
21 locals recommend

Parks & Nature

Beautiful (and easy) hiking trail overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Pick a sunny day for the views!
694 locals recommend
Lands End Trail
Lands End Trail
694 locals recommend
Beautiful (and easy) hiking trail overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Pick a sunny day for the views!
Walk down to Ocean Beach. There are also bonfires at night.
553 locals recommend
Ocean Beach
La Playa St
553 locals recommend
Walk down to Ocean Beach. There are also bonfires at night.
Walk among the old coast redwoods and through the fog. It will take about 45 min to drive over (depending on traffic).
134 locals recommend
Muir Woods Visitor Center
1 Muir Woods Rd
134 locals recommend
Walk among the old coast redwoods and through the fog. It will take about 45 min to drive over (depending on traffic).
The best park in San Francisco. You can grab some beers, lay out and have a picnic.
1244 locals recommend
Mission Dolores Park
19th Street
1244 locals recommend
The best park in San Francisco. You can grab some beers, lay out and have a picnic.

Sightseeing

Built in 1896, this used to be a public saltwater swimming pool complex. The facility burned down in 1966 and the ruins are still there. It's worth exploring.
246 locals recommend
Sutro Baths
1004 Point Lobos Ave
246 locals recommend
Built in 1896, this used to be a public saltwater swimming pool complex. The facility burned down in 1966 and the ruins are still there. It's worth exploring.
Located inside Golden Gate Park, this area is easy to get to and full of bison! If you ever wanted to see one up close, this is the place to go.
67 locals recommend
Bison Paddock
1237 John F Kennedy Dr
67 locals recommend
Located inside Golden Gate Park, this area is easy to get to and full of bison! If you ever wanted to see one up close, this is the place to go.
You can rent a paddle boat and go around the lake.
152 locals recommend
Stow Lake
152 locals recommend
You can rent a paddle boat and go around the lake.
The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Located inside Golden Gate Park.
348 locals recommend
Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr
348 locals recommend
The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Located inside Golden Gate Park.

Essentials

Our local grocery store. Great selection of wine, beer, and organic foods. There's also a poke station and hot food section.
87 locals recommend
Noriega Produce
3701 Noriega St
87 locals recommend
Our local grocery store. Great selection of wine, beer, and organic foods. There's also a poke station and hot food section.
Co-op grocery store (not as affordable as Noriega Produce). Good grab and go food options located on Judah St. and close to Trouble Coffee, Judahlicious, Outerlands, the General Store.
74 locals recommend
Other Avenues Grocery Cooperative
3930 Judah St
74 locals recommend
Co-op grocery store (not as affordable as Noriega Produce). Good grab and go food options located on Judah St. and close to Trouble Coffee, Judahlicious, Outerlands, the General Store.
Closest major grocery store.
48 locals recommend
Safeway
2350 Noriega St
48 locals recommend
Closest major grocery store.
Closest pharmacy to get any first aid items, creams, lotions, shampoo/conditioner, etc.
263 locals recommend
Walgreens
1363 Divisadero St
263 locals recommend
Closest pharmacy to get any first aid items, creams, lotions, shampoo/conditioner, etc.

Shopping

Closest shopping mall (if you forgot to pack socks, underwear, or just want to shop)! Includes Nordstrom, H&M, Zara, Sephora, and more.
173 locals recommend
Stonestown Galleria
3251 20th Ave
173 locals recommend
Closest shopping mall (if you forgot to pack socks, underwear, or just want to shop)! Includes Nordstrom, H&M, Zara, Sephora, and more.
Neighborhood book store. Look in the backyard too - beautiful little greenhouse!
14 locals recommend
Black Bird Bookstore
4541 Judah St
14 locals recommend
Neighborhood book store. Look in the backyard too - beautiful little greenhouse!
It's all about aesthetics here. There is one location on Judah St, one on Irving St, and the other is in Venice, CA. Featured often in local newspapers and magazines. Good selection of homeware and clothing (good for gifts, too)!
55 locals recommend
GENERAL STORE
4035 Judah St
55 locals recommend
It's all about aesthetics here. There is one location on Judah St, one on Irving St, and the other is in Venice, CA. Featured often in local newspapers and magazines. Good selection of homeware and clothing (good for gifts, too)!

Entertainment & Activities

It's a Natural History Museum, Planetarium, Aquarium, and Biodome all in one! Check out rainforests of the world in a 90ft glass dome and the albino alligator. They also have an adults only nightlife event on Thursdays from 6PM to 10PM (check the website beforehand for tickets).
816 locals recommend
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Dr
816 locals recommend
It's a Natural History Museum, Planetarium, Aquarium, and Biodome all in one! Check out rainforests of the world in a 90ft glass dome and the albino alligator. They also have an adults only nightlife event on Thursdays from 6PM to 10PM (check the website beforehand for tickets).
A 100-acre zoo located in the southwestern corner of San Francisco.
299 locals recommend
San Francisco Zoo
Upper Great Highway
299 locals recommend
A 100-acre zoo located in the southwestern corner of San Francisco.
Fun museum (especially for kids). Also it's on Embarcadero so the views are incredible!
432 locals recommend
Exploratorium
Green Street
432 locals recommend
Fun museum (especially for kids). Also it's on Embarcadero so the views are incredible!
It's a must-see! I love the audio tour. Look online to sign-up!
503 locals recommend
Alcatraz Island
503 locals recommend
It's a must-see! I love the audio tour. Look online to sign-up!
A super windy road!
345 locals recommend
Lombard Street
Lombard Street
345 locals recommend
A super windy road!