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 →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.
Zuni Café
Order the roast chicken for two the moment you sit down. It takes an hour to cook. Sit at the copper bar if you're walking in without a reservation. Tuesday and Wednesday nights are the easiest tables to get.
Taqueria Cancún
The carnitas super burrito is why people come here. Hit the green tomatillo salsa at the salsa bar. Less hectic than El Farolito if you want to actually sit and eat.
R&G Lounge
The salt and pepper crab is the move. Bring four people so you can order it plus three or four other dishes family-style. Reserve for the downstairs room if you want tablecloths, upstairs for energy.
Things to Do
All activities →Monarch
A SoMa club with two floors: a lounge bar upstairs and a dance floor in the basement. The downstairs room books solid DJs on weekends. Upstairs is good for conversation and cocktails. Friday and Saturday nights get crowded after 11pm.
Heineman Building
At 130 Bush Street in the Financial District. Only 20 feet wide but covered in ornate glazed terra cotta and hammered copper. Look up as you walk past. A 30-second architecture stop worth noticing.
The Fillmore
The legendary Fillmore has hosted everyone from Hendrix to modern indie bands. The free poster at the end of each show is a tradition worth staying for. The balcony has the best views. Arrive early to check out the upstairs gallery of vintage concert posters.
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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