Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
A trendy restaurant with traditional Italian fare. The wine list is extensive. My favorite is the Maine lobster spaghetti but I'm not sure we can compete with the East Coast :).
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Locanda
557 Valencia StA trendy restaurant with traditional Italian fare. The wine list is extensive. My favorite is the Maine lobster spaghetti but I'm not sure we can compete with the East Coast :).
Vega - Italian/Pizza - This is a nice local place on Cortland Ave. The food is hearty and the feel is cozy. The food matches the feel with a simpler menu but great taste and presentation. Reservations are on their site but not usually necessary.
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Vega
419 Cortland AveVega - Italian/Pizza - This is a nice local place on Cortland Ave. The food is hearty and the feel is cozy. The food matches the feel with a simpler menu but great taste and presentation. Reservations are on their site but not usually necessary.
An SF classic, they serve a Californian-Mediterranean hybrid fare and show cinema during dining. The restaurant has a great ambiance -- upscale but hip. Indoor seating is great for conversation, while outdoor seating is quite unique as they show films on the wall. Reservations are available through OpenTable.
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Foreign Cinema
2534 Mission StAn SF classic, they serve a Californian-Mediterranean hybrid fare and show cinema during dining. The restaurant has a great ambiance -- upscale but hip. Indoor seating is great for conversation, while outdoor seating is quite unique as they show films on the wall. Reservations are available through OpenTable.
Moki's Sushi & Pacific Grill - Another local place on Cortland serving Japanese-style cuisine. The fish is fresh and good quality, and they have some non Japanese fare as well.
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Moki's Sushi & Pacific Grill
615 Cortland AveMoki's Sushi & Pacific Grill - Another local place on Cortland serving Japanese-style cuisine. The fish is fresh and good quality, and they have some non Japanese fare as well.
Spanish tapas -- A more downscale restaurant near 16th and Mission with a local feel. We like to get a Paella to share and order tapas as we go. They have a fun Spanish musician who will come to serenade you. People rave about the patatas aioli so be sure to try that. Split a Sangria between everyone.
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Picaro
3120 16th StSpanish tapas -- A more downscale restaurant near 16th and Mission with a local feel. We like to get a Paella to share and order tapas as we go. They have a fun Spanish musician who will come to serenade you. People rave about the patatas aioli so be sure to try that. Split a Sangria between everyone.
The best local place for seafood (italian style). They have a great wine list and they always cook the pasta to perfection. This would be my #1 recommendation but the reservation system apparently won't accomodate 5 people.
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La Ciccia
291 30th StThe best local place for seafood (italian style). They have a great wine list and they always cook the pasta to perfection. This would be my #1 recommendation but the reservation system apparently won't accomodate 5 people.
Not exactly close by but I've heard great things about it. The views are excellent since it's on the Embarcadero waterfront.
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EPIC Steak
369 The EmbarcaderoNot exactly close by but I've heard great things about it. The views are excellent since it's on the Embarcadero waterfront.
A very popular old-English style prime-rib restaurant. If you can get a reservation very early and have never been, I would choose this for both the food and upscale feel. If you've never been, you've never lived!
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House of Prime Rib
1906 Van Ness AveA very popular old-English style prime-rib restaurant. If you can get a reservation very early and have never been, I would choose this for both the food and upscale feel. If you've never been, you've never lived!
A local bakery and cafe once bought by Starbucks, then shut-down by Starbucks (but they "borrowed" all the recipes) and then sold back to the original owner. The cafe fare is just plain good. My favorite is the quinoa chicken salad.
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La Boulangerie de San Francisco
1000 Cole StA local bakery and cafe once bought by Starbucks, then shut-down by Starbucks (but they "borrowed" all the recipes) and then sold back to the original owner. The cafe fare is just plain good. My favorite is the quinoa chicken salad.
This is truly my favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. The restaurant is large so there's never a wait. The food is authentic and the price range would be $$. I'm always satisfied which means that the quality of the food is high. You can stop by for lunch and have dim sum served or gather with your family for dinner and have a feast fit for an emperor.
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Harbor Villa Restaurant
5238 Diamond Heights BlvdThis is truly my favorite Chinese restaurant in the city. The restaurant is large so there's never a wait. The food is authentic and the price range would be $$. I'm always satisfied which means that the quality of the food is high. You can stop by for lunch and have dim sum served or gather with your family for dinner and have a feast fit for an emperor.
The carne asada here strikes up many memories of my high school years. You can get a juicy, flavorful burrito, or indulge in light mouth-watering tacos. The horchata and fresca (preferably Strawberry) is pretty good too.
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La Taqueria
2889 Mission StThe carne asada here strikes up many memories of my high school years. You can get a juicy, flavorful burrito, or indulge in light mouth-watering tacos. The horchata and fresca (preferably Strawberry) is pretty good too.
KFC
5724-B Thornton AveHaha, gotcha.
Parks & Nature
It's a man-made park in a quiet part of the city. But that doesn't mean it's boring. You can find miles of trails to hike in solitude, or find a lively playground for the kids. Ask me, I know all the secrets. I used to live a block away and spent my childhood running, playing, and riding bikes in this gem. Ask me and I'll tell you about the time I fell into Speckles lake.
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Golden Gate Park
It's a man-made park in a quiet part of the city. But that doesn't mean it's boring. You can find miles of trails to hike in solitude, or find a lively playground for the kids. Ask me, I know all the secrets. I used to live a block away and spent my childhood running, playing, and riding bikes in this gem. Ask me and I'll tell you about the time I fell into Speckles lake.
You'll love the view from the top of Bernal Heights park. It's almost impossible to not find the northward view to be breathtaking in the day, but even more at night. Bernal Heights park is just a short drive from my place.
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Bernal Heights Park
3400-3416 Folsom StYou'll love the view from the top of Bernal Heights park. It's almost impossible to not find the northward view to be breathtaking in the day, but even more at night. Bernal Heights park is just a short drive from my place.
Glen Canyon Park is a rugged, trail-worthy landscape sculpted into the hills slightly south of Diamond heights. You'll find excellent trails to explore on the undeveloped natural canyon. Maybe spend a few hours exploring and enjoy the best of nature's gifts.
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Glen Canyon Park
Chenery StreetGlen Canyon Park is a rugged, trail-worthy landscape sculpted into the hills slightly south of Diamond heights. You'll find excellent trails to explore on the undeveloped natural canyon. Maybe spend a few hours exploring and enjoy the best of nature's gifts.
A fun park for a picnic, Holly Park is just the perfect size for a late afternoon stroll. You can actually take a walk from my place to Holly Park if you bundle up. San Francisco's wind can be unforgiving sometimes. Best times of the year for weather are September/October and April/May. Why those months? I couldn't tell ya.
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Holly Park
625 Holly Park CirA fun park for a picnic, Holly Park is just the perfect size for a late afternoon stroll. You can actually take a walk from my place to Holly Park if you bundle up. San Francisco's wind can be unforgiving sometimes. Best times of the year for weather are September/October and April/May. Why those months? I couldn't tell ya.
This is really secret spot smack dab in the middle of the Sea Cliff area. You know Sea Cliff, right? The neighborhood Robin Williams once lived in? This beach is only accessible by stairs so it's amazing how secluded it is. Or at least it was secluded when I was a teenager...
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Baker Beach
This is really secret spot smack dab in the middle of the Sea Cliff area. You know Sea Cliff, right? The neighborhood Robin Williams once lived in? This beach is only accessible by stairs so it's amazing how secluded it is. Or at least it was secluded when I was a teenager...
It's a beautifully maintained tea garden that's very easy on the eyes. Might be worth the price for admission.
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Japanese Tea Garden
75 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrIt's a beautifully maintained tea garden that's very easy on the eyes. Might be worth the price for admission.
Getting Around
The BART station that whisks you downtown, our south to the airport. You'll need to take the 23 bus for about 10 minutes to the west. The stop for the 23 MUNI line is on Andover and Crescent, just two blocks up.
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Glen Park Station
2901 Diamond StThe BART station that whisks you downtown, our south to the airport. You'll need to take the 23 bus for about 10 minutes to the west. The stop for the 23 MUNI line is on Andover and Crescent, just two blocks up.
Essentials
Bernal Bubbles
397 Cortland AveIt's small but it works.
Safeway
3350 Mission StJust your local neighborhood grocery store.
And here's my favorite post office. It's tucked a bit back in the shopping center but just head to the back and you'll find it. The PO Box lady knows who I am (shocker!).
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United States Postal Service
1800 Taraval StAnd here's my favorite post office. It's tucked a bit back in the shopping center but just head to the back and you'll find it. The PO Box lady knows who I am (shocker!).
Sightseeing
You've seen the movies. You've read the books. You've probably already visited it once or twice. But there's no denying, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate Recreation Area are a global tourist destination. And you know what? You might visit the entire Presidio actually. Why stop there! Sausalito, Sea Cliff -- you could make it a tour around the entire coast on the north side of San Francisco. Again, I know all the secrets. You can ask me! By the way, do you remember that scene from Vertigo where James Stewart rescues an exasperated Kim Novak from the San Francisco Bay. Look up Fort Point and drive over to see this iconic spot.
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Golden Gate-bron
Golden Gate BridgeYou've seen the movies. You've read the books. You've probably already visited it once or twice. But there's no denying, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate Recreation Area are a global tourist destination. And you know what? You might visit the entire Presidio actually. Why stop there! Sausalito, Sea Cliff -- you could make it a tour around the entire coast on the north side of San Francisco. Again, I know all the secrets. You can ask me! By the way, do you remember that scene from Vertigo where James Stewart rescues an exasperated Kim Novak from the San Francisco Bay. Look up Fort Point and drive over to see this iconic spot.
You'll love it because it's fun for the family. Street vendors sell seafood snacks like lobster rolls and fried calamari. Street performers delight visitors with their robot noises and modern street art. Or get your caricature taken by an "artist". I know I have and man did my sister look funny.
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Fishermans Wharf
2801 Leavenworth StYou'll love it because it's fun for the family. Street vendors sell seafood snacks like lobster rolls and fried calamari. Street performers delight visitors with their robot noises and modern street art. Or get your caricature taken by an "artist". I know I have and man did my sister look funny.
I've been there once. You ride up a rickety (it's safe, trust me) elevator to the top of an art deco tower built in honor of a wealthy socialite. Cool right? But the view is what you wait in line for. And maybe the intricate murals you might gaze at while you stand in line. But probably for the view. You'll have a 360 vantage of the entire city. Take it in. You deserve it.
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Coit Tower
I've been there once. You ride up a rickety (it's safe, trust me) elevator to the top of an art deco tower built in honor of a wealthy socialite. Cool right? But the view is what you wait in line for. And maybe the intricate murals you might gaze at while you stand in line. But probably for the view. You'll have a 360 vantage of the entire city. Take it in. You deserve it.
Arts & Culture
A towering granite faced building, city hall represents some of the most (expensive) breath-taking architecture of the early 1900s. Structural steel houses the cities administration functions, while marble encloses the spaces within.
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San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett PlA towering granite faced building, city hall represents some of the most (expensive) breath-taking architecture of the early 1900s. Structural steel houses the cities administration functions, while marble encloses the spaces within.
The San Francisco symphony is the city's premier professional musician group.
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San Francisco Symphony
201 Van Ness AveThe San Francisco symphony is the city's premier professional musician group.
Honestly, I always confuse myself with the de Young Museum and one of the nearby museums. The art exhibits often feature traveling themes. Check the website for the most recent.
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de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrHonestly, I always confuse myself with the de Young Museum and one of the nearby museums. The art exhibits often feature traveling themes. Check the website for the most recent.