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 →Papalote Mexican Grill
Get the Triple Threat burrito smothered in roasted tomato salsa. Buy a jar of that salsa to take home. The 24th Street location is the original and the better one.
House of Nanking
Tell the owner what you don't eat and let him order for you. That's how it works here. Expect a wait on weekends. The portions are huge, so come hungry.
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.
Things to Do
All activities →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.
Joe Goode Annex
A small rehearsal and performance space in SoMa used by Joe Goode Performance Group and visiting dance companies. Shows are intimate and experimental. Tickets are affordable. The space is bare-bones, which keeps the focus entirely on the performers.
Eclectic Box SF
A small Tenderloin venue that hosts an eclectic mix of live music and events. The programming is unpredictable in a good way. Tickets are usually cheap. Check their social media for last-minute show announcements.
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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