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 →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.
Sam Wo
Order the sampan congee and barbecue pork noodles. Late-night visits after 10 PM are the real Sam Wo experience. Cash is easiest.
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.
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.
Things to Do
All activities →Brick and Mortar Music Hall
A scrappy Mission bar venue that books indie rock, punk, and experimental acts. The room is small and loud, which is the point. No reserved seating. Cash helps at the bar. Shows start on time, so don't be late.
Lotta’s Fountain
At the intersection of Market, Kearny, and Geary downtown. The annual April 18th ceremony at 5:12 AM marks the 1906 earthquake. Otherwise a quick look on a downtown walk. Free.
Palace of Fine Arts
Free to walk around any time. The rotunda and lagoon are most photogenic in late afternoon light. In the Marina near Crissy Field. Combine with a walk along the waterfront to Fort Point. No need for more than 30 minutes.
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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