Guidebook for San Francisco
Drinks & Nightlife
Zeitgeist
199 Valencia Stmore beers than you can shake a stick at!
go for the tofu bahn mi & stay for the metal :)
this is one of my homes away from home
26 abantu bendawo batusa
Thee Parkside
1600 17th Stgo for the tofu bahn mi & stay for the metal :)
this is one of my homes away from home
excellent sound, service, scenery - my fave music venue in SF.
70 abantu bendawo batusa
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th Stexcellent sound, service, scenery - my fave music venue in SF.
i adore this place weekdays during the daytime. grab a pint, walk out the door to the right of the bar; you can sit right on the bay (well, on concrete dipping into the bay). this is subject to change soon, as the area is going under construction to make it officially more park-like.
the louie salad is pricey but tasty.
113 abantu bendawo batusa
The Ramp
855 Terry A Francois Blvdi adore this place weekdays during the daytime. grab a pint, walk out the door to the right of the bar; you can sit right on the bay (well, on concrete dipping into the bay). this is subject to change soon, as the area is going under construction to make it officially more park-like.
the louie salad is pricey but tasty.
get this bar's namesake cocktail, the third rail. so good, so so good!
44 abantu bendawo batusa
Third Rail
628 20th Stget this bar's namesake cocktail, the third rail. so good, so so good!
this is the place to go when it's raining and you're walking around and need to dry everything off by the fire with a pint. :)
39 abantu bendawo batusa
The Homestead
2301 Folsom Stthis is the place to go when it's raining and you're walking around and need to dry everything off by the fire with a pint. :)
Best outdoor seating in the city, possibly (closes at 8! don't be late!). Excellent beer selection.
You can bring in food from elsewhere.
44 abantu bendawo batusa
Valley Tavern
4054 24th StBest outdoor seating in the city, possibly (closes at 8! don't be late!). Excellent beer selection.
You can bring in food from elsewhere.
It's a bar up front, music venue in the back. You might get roped in. Beware. There are some amazingly fun and wild shows here. :)
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Hemlock Tavern
1131 Polk StreetIt's a bar up front, music venue in the back. You might get roped in. Beware. There are some amazingly fun and wild shows here. :)
those picky about their bloody marys should start their day here.
22 abantu bendawo batusa
St Mary's Pub
3845 Mission Stthose picky about their bloody marys should start their day here.
Food Scene
Chez maman east
1401 18th Stonion soup, mussels, fries.
Jay'n Bee Club
2736 20th Stdive bar with legit pizza
good brunchin' - sit outside if it's a warm day; it gets hot in there!
138 abantu bendawo batusa
St. Francis Fountain
2801 24th Stgood brunchin' - sit outside if it's a warm day; it gets hot in there!
sourdough crust pizza - very san franciscan, very good.
go monday night for a very nostalgic all-you-can-eat pizza + salad dinner. walk up a hill afterwards when you feel terrible about the damage you did. :)
108 abantu bendawo batusa
Goat Hill Pizza
300 Connecticut Stsourdough crust pizza - very san franciscan, very good.
go monday night for a very nostalgic all-you-can-eat pizza + salad dinner. walk up a hill afterwards when you feel terrible about the damage you did. :)
Little Star Pizza
846 Divisadero Stchicago-style pizza - i like the old school one. :)
grilled squid. just do it. best in the city.
also seafood udon soup is what you want on a rainy day.
totally unpretentious & delicious place.
43 abantu bendawo batusa
Moshi Moshi
2092 3rd Stgrilled squid. just do it. best in the city.
also seafood udon soup is what you want on a rainy day.
totally unpretentious & delicious place.
retro (or unremodeled) no-frills mexican food. the tortilla soup is where it's at!
69 abantu bendawo batusa
Puerto Alegre
546 Valencia Stretro (or unremodeled) no-frills mexican food. the tortilla soup is where it's at!
when you were out dancing/drinking/biking/whatever late and just need some grease in your gut before bed - this is legitimately excellent pizza by east coast standards.
24 abantu bendawo batusa
Marcello's Pizza
420 Castro Stwhen you were out dancing/drinking/biking/whatever late and just need some grease in your gut before bed - this is legitimately excellent pizza by east coast standards.
Italian food is hard to find in San Francisco. This is one of my three favorites. That rigatoni is a guilty pleasure and if you hike or bike up that hill you are entitled to eat ALL of it. Oh and the cannelloni bean/squid appetizer - get that too!
137 abantu bendawo batusa
Vega
419 Cortland AveItalian food is hard to find in San Francisco. This is one of my three favorites. That rigatoni is a guilty pleasure and if you hike or bike up that hill you are entitled to eat ALL of it. Oh and the cannelloni bean/squid appetizer - get that too!
This place does not get enough love, possibly because it's not new & hip. But it's good, solid, down-to-earth Italian food. One of my three favorites.
15 abantu bendawo batusa
Il Borgo
500 Fell StThis place does not get enough love, possibly because it's not new & hip. But it's good, solid, down-to-earth Italian food. One of my three favorites.
for the adventurous & open-minded. don't say i didn't warn you. :)
and parties of 2 only. don't break the rules, you'll get spanked.
but if you make it through the line and in the door, you'll just want to pinch the sweet owner's cheeks (any of 'em).
15 abantu bendawo batusa
Red Door Cafe
1608 Bush Stfor the adventurous & open-minded. don't say i didn't warn you. :)
and parties of 2 only. don't break the rules, you'll get spanked.
but if you make it through the line and in the door, you'll just want to pinch the sweet owner's cheeks (any of 'em).
This is the fanciest of my 3 Italian food recs. The eggplant cannot be missed. Nor can the ravioli. Nor can almost anything on the menu. I prefer to sit at the bar here, hunched over my food, pondering how they can make eggplant this excellent.
60 abantu bendawo batusa
Uva Enoteca
568 Haight StThis is the fanciest of my 3 Italian food recs. The eggplant cannot be missed. Nor can the ravioli. Nor can almost anything on the menu. I prefer to sit at the bar here, hunched over my food, pondering how they can make eggplant this excellent.
Solid Lebanese food - the vegetarian platter is more than enough food for the two of us.
There are tons of amazing Middle Eastern restaurants in this city - I'm giving a shout out to the less-crowded ones here. I dislike crowds myself, and I want these guys to stay in biz!
Arabian Nights
2345 Mission StSolid Lebanese food - the vegetarian platter is more than enough food for the two of us.
There are tons of amazing Middle Eastern restaurants in this city - I'm giving a shout out to the less-crowded ones here. I dislike crowds myself, and I want these guys to stay in biz!
Unpretentious, tasty Turkish food. They've always got room for a large group last-min; their food is outstanding and inexpensive. Service is warm and kind. Ask them for recs because I always forget the name of my favorite thing here. Oh, and $3 house wine.
7 abantu bendawo batusa
A La Turca
869 Geary StUnpretentious, tasty Turkish food. They've always got room for a large group last-min; their food is outstanding and inexpensive. Service is warm and kind. Ask them for recs because I always forget the name of my favorite thing here. Oh, and $3 house wine.
Part taqueria, part fancy-ish sports bar - the ultimate identity crisis venue. Get those fried fish tacos!! If you opt for chips and salsa, ask them to put the salsa on the side so you don't end up with messy slop in five mins!
86 abantu bendawo batusa
Nick's Crispy Tacos
3200 BroadwayPart taqueria, part fancy-ish sports bar - the ultimate identity crisis venue. Get those fried fish tacos!! If you opt for chips and salsa, ask them to put the salsa on the side so you don't end up with messy slop in five mins!
My favorite french food in the city! It's pricey so we save it for special occasions. I recommend.... everything.
101 abantu bendawo batusa
Le P'tit Laurent
689 Chenery StMy favorite french food in the city! It's pricey so we save it for special occasions. I recommend.... everything.
Parks & Nature
Starr King Open Space
1215 Carolina StSUNSET
stroll our awesome community garden!
i'm the succulent whisperer maintaining the retaining wall bed just to the south of the garden. :)
10 abantu bendawo batusa
Potrero Hill Community Garden
780 San Bruno Avestroll our awesome community garden!
i'm the succulent whisperer maintaining the retaining wall bed just to the south of the garden. :)
Where I go for a stroll. Don't miss the succulents!
182 abantu bendawo batusa
Isitshalo SaseSan Francisco Botanical Garden
1199 9th AveWhere I go for a stroll. Don't miss the succulents!
This is a plant nursery with an coffee shop within, but it's a little gem of a place if you like succulents. Stroll around the grounds. Don't let yourself spend $500, don't do it!!!
55 abantu bendawo batusa
Flora Grubb Gardens
1634 Jerrold AveThis is a plant nursery with an coffee shop within, but it's a little gem of a place if you like succulents. Stroll around the grounds. Don't let yourself spend $500, don't do it!!!
leave your inhibitions and swimsuit at home.
If you're not familiar with the Pacific Ocean in SF - only the daring swim it unless it's 100 degrees F outside. The water is bitterly cold!
This is predominantly a gay beach, but welcoming of everyone. It's a hike to get down there. At the foot of the stairs there's a small uncrowded beach. Keep going around the big rocks and you'll likely see some things you've never seen before. Keep going til the very end (tide dependent) until the security guard yells at you for going too far and you'll be standing RIGHT under the Golden Gate Bridge - one of the coolest, least-photographed views of the bridge is from right here.
16 abantu bendawo batusa
Marshall’s Beach
leave your inhibitions and swimsuit at home.
If you're not familiar with the Pacific Ocean in SF - only the daring swim it unless it's 100 degrees F outside. The water is bitterly cold!
This is predominantly a gay beach, but welcoming of everyone. It's a hike to get down there. At the foot of the stairs there's a small uncrowded beach. Keep going around the big rocks and you'll likely see some things you've never seen before. Keep going til the very end (tide dependent) until the security guard yells at you for going too far and you'll be standing RIGHT under the Golden Gate Bridge - one of the coolest, least-photographed views of the bridge is from right here.
If you're hiking/biking the Presidio (and you should), this is the perfect place for a lunch break that seemingly no one (even residents) know about. I almost hesitate to share it here for that reason.
El Polin Spring
8600 MacArthur AveIf you're hiking/biking the Presidio (and you should), this is the perfect place for a lunch break that seemingly no one (even residents) know about. I almost hesitate to share it here for that reason.
Sightseeing
I'm sure everyone's got a guidebook or sightseeing list in San Francisco, and being a large city it's hard to catch them all. I'm only adding those which I recommend you not miss. The architecture of this place is breathtaking. Walk the loop day or night (I prefer night) and be amazed.
463 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon StI'm sure everyone's got a guidebook or sightseeing list in San Francisco, and being a large city it's hard to catch them all. I'm only adding those which I recommend you not miss. The architecture of this place is breathtaking. Walk the loop day or night (I prefer night) and be amazed.
Entertainment & Activities
After an exhausting day on your feet, this is THE place to unwind. Don't miss the excellent restaurant (GET THE GARLIC BREAD) or the views from the roof deck.
Important: Bring a nalgene bottle and fill it continuously with water. Drink more water than you ever thought possible. I usually drink 6 liters within a ~4 hour visit. You do not wanna be that person they have to cart away for dehydration, which happens quick in a 240 degree sauna.
Check website for clothing optional times.
28 abantu bendawo batusa
Archimedes Banya
748 Innes AveAfter an exhausting day on your feet, this is THE place to unwind. Don't miss the excellent restaurant (GET THE GARLIC BREAD) or the views from the roof deck.
Important: Bring a nalgene bottle and fill it continuously with water. Drink more water than you ever thought possible. I usually drink 6 liters within a ~4 hour visit. You do not wanna be that person they have to cart away for dehydration, which happens quick in a 240 degree sauna.
Check website for clothing optional times.