Lauren’s Local List
Food scene
Great coffee shop w/ delicious breakfast & lunch items. Highly recommend for an easy neighborhood spot in the mornings.
Cafe Réveille
610 Long Bridge StreetGreat coffee shop w/ delicious breakfast & lunch items. Highly recommend for an easy neighborhood spot in the mornings.
Local food truck park w/ rotating food options. Great outdoor space on a nice day. Offers a bar w/ wine & beer for the adults. Mini Golf is next door!
39 locals recommend
Spark Social SF
601 Mission Bay Boulevard NorthLocal food truck park w/ rotating food options. Great outdoor space on a nice day. Offers a bar w/ wine & beer for the adults. Mini Golf is next door!
Great local restaurant on the water w/ delicious seafood. Recommend you go for brunch & sit outside.
62 locals recommend
Mission Rock Resort
817 Terry A Francois BlvdGreat local restaurant on the water w/ delicious seafood. Recommend you go for brunch & sit outside.
If you need a quick bite, this local pizza spot is across the street and always a crowd pleaser
Casey's Pizza
1170 4th StIf you need a quick bite, this local pizza spot is across the street and always a crowd pleaser
Great wine & liquor selection at this neighborhood spot. Their cheese selection is excellent also! They also have lunch & dinner options - you can eat inside!
Mission Bay Wine & Cheese
114 Channel StreetGreat wine & liquor selection at this neighborhood spot. Their cheese selection is excellent also! They also have lunch & dinner options - you can eat inside!
The Ramp
855 Terry A Francois BlvdGreat outdoor spot on the water
If you are a coffee person, Blue Bottle is a SF hot spot. This location is just a 5 min walk.
373 locals recommend
Blue Bottle Coffee
315 Linden StIf you are a coffee person, Blue Bottle is a SF hot spot. This location is just a 5 min walk.
Great food & shops! Go on a saturday morning for a farmers market.
189 locals recommend
Ferry Building
Great food & shops! Go on a saturday morning for a farmers market.
Great seafood & views of the bay bridge. I recommend making a reservation for dinner (book early!) to see the bay bridge lit up at night. It's pricey so plan ahead.
82 locals recommend
Waterbar Restaurant
399 The EmbarcaderoGreat seafood & views of the bay bridge. I recommend making a reservation for dinner (book early!) to see the bay bridge lit up at night. It's pricey so plan ahead.
Local, family-owned grocery store. Best part is that it's inside the building! Great pre-made food options, sandwiches, & salad bar.
96 locals recommend
Gus's Community Market
1101 4th StLocal, family-owned grocery store. Best part is that it's inside the building! Great pre-made food options, sandwiches, & salad bar.
Sightseeing
Oracle Park
24 Willie Mays PlazaGiants home stadium
Chase Center
1 Warriors WayWarrios home arena
Lands End Trail
Lands End TrailGreat spot for an easy hike w/ great views & sightseeing
City advice
Getting around
Cable Cars
Don't go to Union Square to grab a cable car, its super touristy and not very pleasant. There are a lot of vendors and its really noisy and not what you imagine when you come to SF.
I would recommend grabbing a cable car on California street. Pick it up at California & Van Ness, then ride it down to the end which will take you to the ferry building.
Alternatively, If you want to take the cable car route over to Ghiradelli square, hop on at California & Powell. You can always buy a ticket on the cable car, so just hop on. Remember to read up on the etiquette on how to hop on & off!
What to pack
Always bring a jacket
There is a common joke in SF that you can always tell someone is a tourist because they are freezing outside w/out a jacket! Even if it looks sunny outside and your weather app says it will be 70 degrees, you bring a jacket. There are microclimates everywhere throughout the city & the fog & wind drastically change the temperature. It could be sunny in one area and overcast & windy in another. Always bring a jacket. I promise you, you will use it.