Your SF Guide
Curated by a local tour guide. No ads, no fluff—just honest recommendations from someone who shows people around this city every day.
Neighborhoods
All 35 neighborhoods →Where to Eat
All restaurants →City View Restaurant
Get there by 11 AM on weekends for the freshest carts. The har gow and salt and pepper squid are the standouts. Bring a group of four or more to try more dishes.
Tartine Bakery
Morning buns sell out early, so arrive by 8 AM on weekends. The country bread drops at 5 PM. Weekday mornings around 9:30 have the shortest lines. Grab a coffee next door while you wait.
Sotto Mare
Order the cioppino and crab. Put your name in early and walk around North Beach while you wait. Weekday lunch is your best bet for a shorter line. The counter seats go first.
Hang Ah Tea Room
Go at lunch on a weekday when you can get a table without waiting. Order the har gow and pot stickers. Finding the alley entrance off Sacramento Street is part of the fun.
Things to Do
All activities →Cafe du Nord
A basement music venue below a Swedish American Hall with a storied history. The intimate room and low ceilings make every show feel personal. Sightlines are good from almost anywhere. Check their calendar for jazz, indie, and folk bookings.
Phonobar
A vinyl bar in SoMa where the DJ plays from behind a wall of records. The sound system is excellent and the vibe is listening-focused. No loud conversations over the music here. A great spot for audiophiles who want to hear deep cuts in a relaxed setting.
The Masonic
A Nob Hill concert venue that holds about 3,000 for seated shows. The Moorish-inspired architecture is stunning inside. Sightlines from the floor are flat, so balcony seats give a better view for most concerts. Parking garages on California Street are your best bet.
Written by someone who actually does this every day
I've been a San Francisco tour guide for years. These aren't hot takes from a travel writer who flew in for a weekend—they're the answers I give people every single day.
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