Urban Hike: Stairways of San Francisco

🎯 Tour

The Verdict

"The Filbert Steps on Telegraph Hill are the most dramatic, with wild parrots and secret gardens. The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps in the Sunset are the most photogenic. Wear real shoes."

What you need to know

The Filbert Steps on Telegraph Hill wind through gardens to Coit Tower. The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps in the Sunset feature a sea-to-sky mosaic. The Lyon Street Steps in Pacific Heights offer a straight shot up with Marina and Palace of Fine Arts views. The Vulcan Stairway in the Castro feels like a village hidden in the city.

More Things to Do Nearby

Feinstein’s at the Nikko

The Tenderloin

An intimate cabaret and jazz venue inside Hotel Nikko near Union Square. The room is elegant and the performers are top-tier. Dinner packages are available but not required. Book weekend shows early because the room is small and sells out.

Balmy Alley

The Mission District

One block long, between 24th and 25th on Balmy Street. Best in daylight for photos. The murals are political and they change, so each visit is different. Free and open 24 hours.

Urban Putt

The Mission District

Book online for weekend evenings or you'll wait an hour. The bar is full-service and the restaurant is solid. Fourteen holes takes about 90 minutes. All ages before 8pm, 21+ after.

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

Chinatown

In Ross Alley off Jackson Street in Chinatown. Free to watch, small fee for photos. Bag of fresh cookies costs a couple dollars. Takes five minutes but the hand-folding process on copper griddles is memorable.

Bindlestiff Studio

SoMa

A tiny SoMa black box theater run by and for Filipino American artists. Shows are raw, personal, and unlike anything else in the city. Tickets are usually under $20. The space seats maybe 60 people, so book ahead.

1015 Folsom

SoMa

Five rooms across three levels. The main floor gets packed for big DJs on weekends. The rooftop is the best room in summer. On Folsom Street in SoMa. Cover runs $15 to $50 depending on the night. Late hours.