Inner Sunset Local Gems
Nature and hikes
Curated recommendations if you want to get outside and explore nature in San Francisco — all walking distance from the house!
• 2-6 hour roundtrip depending on what you do, 2 minute walk from home
- There are months' worth of points of interest and hikes to do within the Golden Gate Park! Some favorites are listed below:
- AIDS Memorial Grove - quiet and beautiful grove
- Robin Williams Meadow and "Hippie Hill" - where hippies hang out, light up, and play music
- Sharon Art Studio - cute art shop
- Carousel - probably the most fun you can have in SF for <$5
- Kezar Stadium – if you want to get some sprints in!
- Skatin' Place - great for quirky people-watching and picnics
- Japanese Tea Garden - beautiful themed garden; small entrance fee
- Shakespear Garden - cute hideaway garden near science museum
- Rideout Fountain - lovely open-air concourse between De Young Museum and California Academy of Sciences
- Stow Lake - rent a pedalo or simply walk around and spot the wildlife (hawks, eagles, herons, ducks, geese, and more)
- Strawberry Hill - cute hill in the middle of Stow Lake, a good hike to the top, don't miss the waterfall
- Rose Garden - guess :)
1721 locals recommend
Golden Gate Park
• 2-6 hour roundtrip depending on what you do, 2 minute walk from home
- There are months' worth of points of interest and hikes to do within the Golden Gate Park! Some favorites are listed below:
- AIDS Memorial Grove - quiet and beautiful grove
- Robin Williams Meadow and "Hippie Hill" - where hippies hang out, light up, and play music
- Sharon Art Studio - cute art shop
- Carousel - probably the most fun you can have in SF for <$5
- Kezar Stadium – if you want to get some sprints in!
- Skatin' Place - great for quirky people-watching and picnics
- Japanese Tea Garden - beautiful themed garden; small entrance fee
- Shakespear Garden - cute hideaway garden near science museum
- Rideout Fountain - lovely open-air concourse between De Young Museum and California Academy of Sciences
- Stow Lake - rent a pedalo or simply walk around and spot the wildlife (hawks, eagles, herons, ducks, geese, and more)
- Strawberry Hill - cute hill in the middle of Stow Lake, a good hike to the top, don't miss the waterfall
- Rose Garden - guess :)
• 2-3 hour roundtrip, 10-15 minute walk from home
- Walk to the nearby Conservatory of Flowers and take in the beautiful sights
- Small entrance fee
- Double-check opening hours
232 locals recommend
Conservatory of Flowers
100 John F Kennedy Dr• 2-3 hour roundtrip, 10-15 minute walk from home
- Walk to the nearby Conservatory of Flowers and take in the beautiful sights
- Small entrance fee
- Double-check opening hours
• 3-4 hour roundtrip, 5-10 minute walk from home
- Walk to the nearby SF Botanical Gardens and enjoy the beautiful outdoors!
- There's a small entrance fee for non SF residents
182 locals recommend
San Francisco Botanical Garden
1199 9th Ave• 3-4 hour roundtrip, 5-10 minute walk from home
- Walk to the nearby SF Botanical Gardens and enjoy the beautiful outdoors!
- There's a small entrance fee for non SF residents
• 3-4 hour roundtrip, 15 minute walk from home
- Serene hike in a nearby forest
- Use Google Maps to navigate to "Forest Knolls"
- Enjoy getting lost in this dense forest right in the middle of San Francisco!
- Emerge at the top of the hill for fantastic views of San Francisco
6 locals recommend
Forest Knolls
• 3-4 hour roundtrip, 15 minute walk from home
- Serene hike in a nearby forest
- Use Google Maps to navigate to "Forest Knolls"
- Enjoy getting lost in this dense forest right in the middle of San Francisco!
- Emerge at the top of the hill for fantastic views of San Francisco
• 2-3 hour roundtrip, 20 minute walk from home
- Quirky urban artistic expression with a rewarding view at the top
- Navigate to Grandview Park
- There are several sets of tiled steps - the first second hidden set is accessible at Kirkham Street x 16th Avenue
- The second set is at Moraga Street x 16th Avenue
- The views of San Francisco from the top of Grandview Park are incredible
84 locals recommend
16 Avenue Tiled Steps
16th Avenue• 2-3 hour roundtrip, 20 minute walk from home
- Quirky urban artistic expression with a rewarding view at the top
- Navigate to Grandview Park
- There are several sets of tiled steps - the first second hidden set is accessible at Kirkham Street x 16th Avenue
- The second set is at Moraga Street x 16th Avenue
- The views of San Francisco from the top of Grandview Park are incredible
• 4 hour roundtrip, 20 minute walk from home
- Nearby park with incredible views of SF
- Walk through Haight Ashbury and pick up a drink/snack on the way there or back
- Make sure to get to the very top to catch a 360 view of SF
205 locals recommend
Buena Vista Park
• 4 hour roundtrip, 20 minute walk from home
- Nearby park with incredible views of SF
- Walk through Haight Ashbury and pick up a drink/snack on the way there or back
- Make sure to get to the very top to catch a 360 view of SF
• 4 hour roundtrip, 3 miles from home
- Get the N Judah train, 7 bus, or walk, to Ocean Beach at the end of Golden Gate Park
- Enjoy the Dutch Windmills, and check out the sand dunes
- The beach can get quite cold / windy, particularly at night, so dress warm!
553 locals recommend
Ocean Beach
La Playa St• 4 hour roundtrip, 3 miles from home
- Get the N Judah train, 7 bus, or walk, to Ocean Beach at the end of Golden Gate Park
- Enjoy the Dutch Windmills, and check out the sand dunes
- The beach can get quite cold / windy, particularly at night, so dress warm!
• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 4 miles from home
- Views of the beach, ocean and city
- Plenty of hiking trails here
- Look for Land's End Labyrinth
- Explore the exposed rockpools at low tide and look for anemones, crabs, and other sealife!
694 locals recommend
Lands End Trail
Lands End Trail• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 4 miles from home
- Views of the beach, ocean and city
- Plenty of hiking trails here
- Look for Land's End Labyrinth
- Explore the exposed rockpools at low tide and look for anemones, crabs, and other sealife!
• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 4-5 miles from home
- Enormous wooded park area and beach connected to Golden Gate Bridge
- Take a romantic walk down Lover's Lane
383 locals recommend
Presidio of San Francisco
• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 4-5 miles from home
- Enormous wooded park area and beach connected to Golden Gate Bridge
- Take a romantic walk down Lover's Lane
Baker Beach
• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 4-5 miles from home
- Good picnic spot
• 3 hour round-trip
- Underrated park in the middle of SF
- We like to come here for a quiet and peaceful view
180 locals recommend
Corona Heights Park
Museum Way • 3 hour round-trip
- Underrated park in the middle of SF
- We like to come here for a quiet and peaceful view
- Popular hike to nearby peak
- Great views of SF
- Walk down to Castro or Glen Park nearby for lunch
727 locals recommend
Twin Peaks
- Popular hike to nearby peak
- Great views of SF
- Walk down to Castro or Glen Park nearby for lunch
Culture
A curated list of fun cultural activities all nearby the house
• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 10 minute walk from home
- World class art gallery and museum
- There is usually an interesting exhibition on here
- Entrance fee applies
999 locals recommend
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 10 minute walk from home
- World class art gallery and museum
- There is usually an interesting exhibition on here
- Entrance fee applies
• [free!] 1 hour roundtrip, 10-15 minute walk from home
- If you are pushed on time and just want a view, there is a free elevator up to an observatory deck
- Unparalleled 360 view of SF
999 locals recommend
de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr• [free!] 1 hour roundtrip, 10-15 minute walk from home
- If you are pushed on time and just want a view, there is a free elevator up to an observatory deck
- Unparalleled 360 view of SF
• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 10-15 minute walk from home
- Great science museum and aquarium
- Make sure to buy a ticket for a viewing at the Planetarium - worth it!
- Osher Rainforest and Aquarium are particularly good
- Entrance fee applies
816 locals recommend
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Dr• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 10-15 minute walk from home
- Great science museum and aquarium
- Make sure to buy a ticket for a viewing at the Planetarium - worth it!
- Osher Rainforest and Aquarium are particularly good
- Entrance fee applies
• 2-3 hour roundtrip, 20 minute walk from home
- The famous neighborhood of Haight Ashbury is just around the corner
- There are plenty of quirky shops and restaurants to explore in this hood
379 locals recommend
Haight-Ashbury
• 2-3 hour roundtrip, 20 minute walk from home
- The famous neighborhood of Haight Ashbury is just around the corner
- There are plenty of quirky shops and restaurants to explore in this hood
• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 30 minute drive from home
- Museum of Modern Art
- You can easily spend several days in here depending on which floors you pick!
813 locals recommend
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd St• 4-6 hour roundtrip, 30 minute drive from home
- Museum of Modern Art
- You can easily spend several days in here depending on which floors you pick!
- Cute little single-screen cinema nearby in the Mission
- We love going here for an outing!
87 locals recommend
Roxie Cinema
3117 16th St- Cute little single-screen cinema nearby in the Mission
- We love going here for an outing!
Restaurants
There are literally dozens of restaurants in the area; this guide should simplify the choices for you :)
- One of our neighboorhood favorites; pan-continental international food
- Super quaint, great for dates and small groups
10 locals recommend
Pomelo
92 Judah Street- One of our neighboorhood favorites; pan-continental international food
- Super quaint, great for dates and small groups
- Delicious hot pot; pick a broth and get meats and vegetables of your choice
- Good for dinner
- Takes reservations
14 locals recommend
Nabe
1325 9th Ave- Delicious hot pot; pick a broth and get meats and vegetables of your choice
- Good for dinner
- Takes reservations
- Super popular local Korean restaurant
- Kimchi fried rice is excellent
- Busy, so get there early
33 locals recommend
Manna
845 Irving St- Super popular local Korean restaurant
- Kimchi fried rice is excellent
- Busy, so get there early
Hahn's Hibachi
535 Irving St- Closer Korean joint
- Great bibimbap
- Less busy than Manna
- Chicago style deep dish pizza
- Chicken Tikka Masala pizza is surprisingly good
- Tastes even better the next day
111 locals recommend
Patxi's Pizza
511 Hayes St- Chicago style deep dish pizza
- Chicken Tikka Masala pizza is surprisingly good
- Tastes even better the next day
- North and South Indian food
- The chicken tikka masala and lachha paratha are fantastic
12 locals recommend
Masala Dosa
1375 9th Ave- North and South Indian food
- The chicken tikka masala and lachha paratha are fantastic
- American brunch / lunch / dinner chain eatery
- Massive portions!
- Fun atmosphere, great value, lots of options
56 locals recommend
Crepevine
624 Irving St- American brunch / lunch / dinner chain eatery
- Massive portions!
- Fun atmosphere, great value, lots of options
- Family style Chinese restaurant
- Famous chicken wings
- Busy, so get there early
154 locals recommend
San Tung
1031 Irving St- Family style Chinese restaurant
- Famous chicken wings
- Busy, so get there early
- Delicious ramen and izakaya
- A little further away from house, consider riding the N Judah there/back
41 locals recommend
Izakaya Sozai
1500 Irving St- Delicious ramen and izakaya
- A little further away from house, consider riding the N Judah there/back
- Further out in Cole Valley
- Extremely high quality French style restaurant
286 locals recommend
Zazie
941 Cole St- Further out in Cole Valley
- Extremely high quality French style restaurant
Foghorn Taproom
534 Irving Street- Great value chicken wings and a wide selection of beers/ales!
- Outdoor dining
- Nepalese and North Indian food
- Try the chicken tikka masala, malai kofta, bangan barta
Rose Indian cuisine
1386 9th Ave- Nepalese and North Indian food
- Try the chicken tikka masala, malai kofta, bangan barta
Coffee
- Closest coffee shop to house, on 7th and Irving
- Reliable brew!
- There is another one on 9th and Irving
13 locals recommend
The Beanery
602 Irving St- Closest coffee shop to house, on 7th and Irving
- Reliable brew!
- There is another one on 9th and Irving
- At the beach, 3 miles away
- Owned by local Irish family
- Delicious lattes
- Does great Irish soda bread, tasty bagels
- Get a coffee and roam the beach
131 locals recommend
Java Beach Café
1396 La Playa St- At the beach, 3 miles away
- Owned by local Irish family
- Delicious lattes
- Does great Irish soda bread, tasty bagels
- Get a coffee and roam the beach
The baked goods here are excellent — try the cheese and ham sourdough croissant warmed up. Good coffee too.
20 locals recommend
Tartine Inner Sunset
1226 9th AveThe baked goods here are excellent — try the cheese and ham sourdough croissant warmed up. Good coffee too.
Fantastic range of boba tea and coffee. My favorite is the Sightglass Coffee + Cream Cheese Frosting topping.
6 locals recommend
LITTLE SWEET
3836 Geary BlvdFantastic range of boba tea and coffee. My favorite is the Sightglass Coffee + Cream Cheese Frosting topping.
Snacks
When you're hungry but don't want a meal
- Delicious creamy ice cream
- The "smidge" is actually quite large!
12 locals recommend
San Francisco's Hometown Creamery
1290 9th Ave- Delicious creamy ice cream
- The "smidge" is actually quite large!
- Worker owned local bakery, neighborhood establishment
- Get their pizza slice of the day
- Or try a foccaccia, sourdough croissant, or butter loaf!
- Usually has a line, but it moves fast
320 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
1331 9th Ave- Worker owned local bakery, neighborhood establishment
- Get their pizza slice of the day
- Or try a foccaccia, sourdough croissant, or butter loaf!
- Usually has a line, but it moves fast
- Open Sunday AM on 9th between Irving and Judah
- Plenty of food and produce to choose between!
15 locals recommend
Inner Sunset Farmers' Market
1315 8th Ave- Open Sunday AM on 9th between Irving and Judah
- Plenty of food and produce to choose between!
Bars & pubs
Fireside Bar
603 Irving StLittle Shamrock
807 Lincoln Way- Irish pub
- Expect chat from the barkeeps!
Groceries & Essentials
- 5 minute walk from home
- Has most essential items and fresh produce
Eight-Twenty-Eight Irving Market
828 Irving St- 5 minute walk from home
- Has most essential items and fresh produce
K J Produce Market
400 Irving St- 5 minute walk
- Fresh produce and essentials
- 10 minute walk
- You can find nearly any item, grocery or otherwise, at Andronico's on Irving and Funston (13th)
76 locals recommend
Andronico's
1200 Irving St - 10 minute walk
- You can find nearly any item, grocery or otherwise, at Andronico's on Irving and Funston (13th)