Places to visit in San Francisco

Restaurants

House of Prime Rib

A 1949 throwback steakhouse where prime rib is carved tableside from gleaming silver carts, complete with spinning salad bowls and Yorkshire pudding. Go for the theatrical, retro supper-club atmosphere and a genuinely generous slab of beef. Practical note: dinner only and extremely popular, so book well ahead; it's a hearty, meat-focused meal best for big appetites.

Restaurants

La Taqueria

A James Beard America's Classics-awarded taqueria that many consider the standard-bearer for the Mission-style burrito. Go for the carne asada burrito (notably made without rice) and crisp-edged tacos in a no-frills, order-at-the-counter setting. Practical note: cash-friendly and often busy at lunch; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Restaurants

Mister Jiu's

A Michelin-starred restaurant in a historic Chinatown banquet hall where chef Brandon Jew reinvents Cantonese cooking with California ingredients. Go for refined, modern Chinese cooking and a beautiful dining room that honors the neighborhood's history. Practical note: reservations are essential, dinner only, and it's closed Sundays and Mondays.

Restaurants

Nopa

A buzzy, communal corner restaurant that anchors the neighborhood it's named for, serving organic, wood-fired California cooking like its famous grilled pork chop and rotisserie chicken. Go for the lively late-night energy and consistently excellent seasonal cooking. Practical note: dinner only and very popular, so reserve ahead or try a seat at the bar; the kitchen serves late.

Restaurants

Swan Oyster Depot

A 1912-vintage seafood counter with just 18 stools, beloved by chefs and locals for impeccably fresh oysters, crab, and clam chowder served over a marble bar. Go for the no-frills, old-San-Francisco experience as much as the seafood. Practical note: cash only, no reservations, and it only opens for lunch (roughly 8 am to 2:30 pm, weekdays) so arrive early or expect a line.

Restaurants

Tadich Grill

Founded in 1849, this is California's oldest continuously operating restaurant, a Financial District landmark with white-jacketed waiters and old-school wooden booths. Go for the cioppino (San Francisco's signature seafood stew), grilled fish, and a classic martini at the bar. Practical note: no reservations for small parties, so arrive early; closed Sundays.

Bars

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Bars

Bourbon & Branch

A reservation-based speakeasy in a building that housed an actual Prohibition-era illegal bar from 1921 to 1933, entered via an unmarked door with a password. Go for the secretive, intimate vibe and a serious cocktail and whiskey program. Practical note: book ahead for the main bar or hidden Wilson & Wilson room; walk-ins can sip in the Library room (open 6pm-2am) without a reservation.

Bars

Comstock Saloon

A lovingly restored turn-of-the-century saloon with a mahogany bar, tin ceilings, and bartenders who nail classic cocktails. Go for an authentic Barbary Coast atmosphere with nightly live jazz and well-made historic drinks. Practical note: the Friday free lunch with a drink purchase is a fun local tradition.

Bars

Last Rites

A dramatic, dark-side tiki bar themed as a plane crash in a tropical jungle, with towering skulls, wreckage decor, and a temple-ruins atmosphere. Go for theatrical rum cocktails and one of the most immersive bar interiors in the city. Practical note: it is in Duboce Triangle near the Castro, closed Mondays, and the moody space is intimate so weekend nights get full.

Bars

Pacific Cocktail Haven (P.C.H.)

A buzzy, award-winning cocktail bar from acclaimed bartender Kevin Diedrich, known for bright, tropical-leaning, beautifully balanced drinks. Go for some of the most consistently creative cocktails in the city in a lively, welcoming room near Union Square. Practical note: it rebuilt after a 2021 fire at this Sutter Street location and gets crowded, so reservations help.

Bars

Smuggler's Cove

A three-story tiki bar styled like the belly of a pirate ship, with over 500 rums and a World's 50 Best pedigree. Go for genuinely excellent, deeply researched tropical and historic rum drinks in an immersive, dimly lit setting. Practical note: it is tiny and gets packed, so arrive early (it opens at 5pm) and expect a wait on weekends.

Bars

The Alembic

A cozy, rustic craft-cocktail bar and restaurant in the heart of the Haight, with dim lighting, an extensive whiskey list, and thoughtful seasonal drinks. Go for a relaxed, neighborhood-feeling spot to pair inventive cocktails with elevated bar food. Practical note: closed Monday and Tuesday, and the room is small so it fills up on weekends.

Parks

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Parks

Alamo Square Park

A hilltop neighborhood park best known for the postcard view of the 'Painted Ladies' Victorian row houses framed against the downtown skyline. Go for the iconic photo, a picnic on the lawn, or to admire the surrounding mansion-lined streets. Practical note: open daily 5am to midnight; the famous viewpoint and accessible entrance are at the southeast corner near Hayes and Steiner/Scott Streets.

Parks

Corona Heights Park

A craggy, mostly treeless hilltop park above the Castro delivering unobstructed panoramic views from downtown to Twin Peaks, with far fewer crowds than other lookouts. Go for the short rocky scramble to the summit, the dog play areas, and the adjacent Randall Museum (great for families). Practical note: access is via Roosevelt Way and Museum Way; the summit is windy, so dress accordingly.

Parks

Crissy Field

A restored bayfront stretch of the Presidio with a sandy beach, tidal marsh, and flat shoreline promenade offering some of the city's most photogenic Golden Gate Bridge views. Go for an easy waterfront walk or bike ride, kite-flying, picnicking, or windsurfer-watching. Practical note: free and open daily; there are cafes and restrooms near the Warming Hut at the western end, and it connects directly to the Presidio Tunnel Tops.

Parks

Golden Gate Park

A sprawling 1,000+ acre urban park (larger than NYC's Central Park) packed with meadows, lakes, gardens, and museums including the de Young, California Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, and Conservatory of Flowers. Go for a full day of walking, paddleboating on Stow Lake, or strolling the car-free JFK Promenade. Practical note: JFK Drive is now permanently closed to cars, so plan to walk, bike, or park along the perimeter; the park office is at McLaren Lodge.

Parks

Lands End

A rugged coastal park on the city's northwestern tip with the popular Coastal Trail winding through cypress groves above the Pacific, plus the Sutro Baths ruins and dramatic Golden Gate views. Go for the roughly 3.4-mile loop hike, shipwreck-watching at low tide, and the Labyrinth at Eagle's Point. Practical note: the main trailhead and Lands End Lookout visitor center are at 680 Point Lobos Ave; restrooms follow visitor-center hours (about 9am to 5pm).

Parks

Mission Dolores Park

A lively ~16-acre park in the heart of the Mission, famous for sunbathing, picnics, and people-watching on its sloping lawns with skyline views. Go on a sunny weekend afternoon for the quintessential laid-back SF social scene. Practical note: it gets very crowded on warm days; the park is open 6am to 10pm and there are restrooms plus nearby cafes on Dolores Street.

Museums

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Museums

Asian Art Museum

One of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art, spanning 6,000 years across China, Japan, Korea, India, and beyond. Set in a renovated former main library in Civic Center, it pairs ancient treasures with bold contemporary shows. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday; open late Thursdays until 8 pm.

Museums

California Academy of Sciences

A combined aquarium, planetarium, rainforest dome, and natural history museum all under one living roof in Golden Gate Park. Great for families and science lovers, with a four-story rainforest and an albino alligator as crowd favorites. Adults-only NightLife events run Thursday evenings with cocktails.

Museums

Exploratorium

A pioneering hands-on science and perception museum with hundreds of interactive exhibits sprawled across a pier on the waterfront. It rewards curiosity for all ages and offers sweeping bay views from the Embarcadero. The 18-and-over After Dark evenings run on Thursdays; the museum is closed Mondays.

Museums

GLBT Historical Society Museum

The first stand-alone museum of LGBTQ history in the United States, telling decades of San Francisco's queer community through artifacts, photos, and rotating exhibits. A meaningful, intimate stop right in the heart of the Castro. Small in scale; first Wednesdays are typically free.

Museums

Legion of Honor

A Beaux-Arts palace on a bluff in Lincoln Park housing European paintings, sculpture (including Rodin's The Thinker), and decorative arts. Go as much for the art as for the dramatic setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Open Tuesday-Sunday; pair it with a coastal walk nearby.

Museums

Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)

A contemporary art museum dedicated to the global African diaspora through rotating exhibitions, film, and public programs. Compact but powerful, it makes an easy pairing with nearby SFMOMA in the Yerba Buena arts district. Closed Mondays; open late on Thursdays until 8 pm.

Landmarks

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Landmarks

Alcatraz Island

The infamous former federal penitentiary on a rock in the bay, now a national park reached by ferry from Pier 33. The award-winning cellhouse audio tour, narrated partly by former inmates and guards, is the highlight, along with island history and bay views. Practical note: tickets are sold only through the official operator and routinely sell out weeks ahead, so book in advance online.

Landmarks

Coit Tower

A 210-foot Art Deco tower atop Telegraph Hill, ringed at its base by remarkable 1934 WPA murals depicting California life. Ride the elevator to the open-air observation deck for a 360-degree panorama of the city, bay, and bridges. Practical note: open daily (10am-6pm Apr-Oct, to 5pm Nov-Mar); the ground-floor murals are free but the viewing platform costs about $10.

Landmarks

Dragon Gate (Chinatown)

The ornate green-tiled pailou gate that marks the southern entrance to San Francisco's Chinatown, the oldest in North America. Pass through it to explore Grant Avenue's shops, temples, tea houses, and Stockton Street's bustling markets. Practical note: walk a block off Grant onto Waverly Place and into the alleys for the more authentic, locally-loved side of the neighbourhood.

Landmarks

Ferry Building Marketplace

A restored 1898 beaux-arts transit terminal on the waterfront, now a food hall packed with local artisan vendors, cafes, and restaurants under its grand nave. Great for grabbing oysters, coffee, cheese, or a meal with bay views. Practical note: time your visit for the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) for the liveliest scene and best local produce.

Landmarks

Golden Gate Bridge & Welcome Center

San Francisco's most iconic landmark, the 1937 International Orange suspension bridge spanning the strait between the city and Marin. Walk or bike across the pedestrian path for sweeping bay views, or stop at the Welcome Center for exhibits and a photo of the south tower. Practical note: the Welcome Center is open daily 9am-6pm; the bridge is often foggy in summer afternoons, so come in the morning for clearer views.

Landmarks

Lombard Street (Crooked Street)

The famously winding one-way block on Russian Hill with eight tight switchback turns descending a steep hillside, lined with hydrangeas and red-brick paving. Walk the stairs alongside for the best photos looking down toward Coit Tower and the bay. Practical note: it's a real residential street; if driving down expect long queues on weekends, so walking is usually easier.