1. Hotels

Budget

Hotel Garrett (SoMa)

Holiday Inn Express (Union Square)

Larger Chains

The Westin St. Francis, Union Square

Grand Hyatt, Union Square

Marriott, Union Square

Classy

The Orchard Hotel

Omni San Francisco

Luxury

The Palace Hotel

The Ritz Carlton

2. Food/Drink

Burgers

In-And-Out Burger (Fisherman’s Wharf)

Sam’s (North Beach)

Pearl’s Deluxe Burger (Lower Nob Hill)

Gott’s (Ferry Building)

Pizza (in North Beach)

Piccolo Forno

Golden Boy

Tony’s

Burritos (in Mission District)

La Taqueria

Taqueria Cancun

Taquería El Farolito

Meat

Epic Steak

House of Prime Rib

Lolinda

Breakfast/Brunch

Buena Vista Cafe (famous for their Irish coffee)

Arsicault Bakery

Pinecrest Diner (open 24/7 near Union Square)

Bob’s Donuts (open 24/7 on Polk St)

Coffee

Philz

Blue Bottle

Peet’s

Nicer Restaurants

Original Joe’s (Italian-American in North Beach)

Foreign Cinema (Californian in the Mission District)

Absinthe (French in Hayes Valley)

Tadich Grill (Seafood in Financial District)

Cocktail Bars

Smuggler's Cove (rum & tiki bar)

Whitechapel (gin & cocktails)

The Buena Visa (Irish coffee & bloody mary’s)

Cubita (rooftop cuban bar)

Sports Bars

Hi Tops (gay sports bar in Castro)

Mad Dog in the Fog (LUFC Bay Area bar in Haight-Ashbury)

Irish Times (Irish bar in downtown SF)

Final Final (in Marina)

Dive bars (Gritty, No food)

Hi Dive (on Embarcadero)

Little Shamrock (near Golden Gate Park)

Teeth bar (in the Mission)

Night Entertainment

The Hall (pool tables & cocktails)

Spin (table tennis & bar)

Holey Moley (Mini golf & bar)

Golden Gate Tap Room (arcade games & beers)

3. Other Things To Do

Activities

Giants or Warriors Game

Oracle Park Tour

Alcatraz

See the sea lions at Pier 39

Ride a cable car

Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Park

Fisherman’s Wharf

Haight-Ashbury

Big Bus Tour

Ferry building

Museum of Modern Art

De Young Museum

Walt Disney Museum

Muir Woods

Napa Wineries

Golf

Presidio $105, 20 mins drive from SF

Harding Park $190, 20 mins drive from SF

Pasatiempo $425, 90 mins from SF

Pebble Beach $675, 2h30mins from SF

Walks/Hikes

Golden Gate Park

Lands End

Muir Woods

Marin Headlands

4. Getting Around

To/from SFO

Airtrain then BART train to Powell Station (Union Square): $11, 40 minutes. Tap to pay (credit card, debit card, Apple Pay).

Uber: $40+, 30 minutes

Generally

Uber or Waymo (self-driving taxi!) is the best way to get around San Francisco. Public transit options can be slow and uncomfortable. Walking is a great way to see the city… but be careful in rough areas.  There are some sketchy neighbours near Union Square, particularly the Tenderloin area