Kate’s guidebook
Some of my favorite restaurants (in the neighborhood and elsewhere)
San Francisco is full of fantastic restaurants. This is a list of just a few of my favorite restaurants, most within waking distance. And I've added a couple of my favorites in other neighborhoods. I believe that all of these restaurants are open despite any remaining pandemic restrictions. Have fun!
I like cozy bistros and Zazie is my favorite of many in San Francisco. It's four blocks away on Cole Street, a 10 minute walk at most. Zazie is extremely well known for its weekend brunches. If you decide to go for brunch be prepared for a very long wait (check their site for reservation policies). But if you get there when they open on a weekday, you'll probably get in quickly. It's pretty easy to get a table for dinner, especially if you go early. https://www.zaziesf.com
286 Einheimische empfehlen
Zazie
941 Cole StI like cozy bistros and Zazie is my favorite of many in San Francisco. It's four blocks away on Cole Street, a 10 minute walk at most. Zazie is extremely well known for its weekend brunches. If you decide to go for brunch be prepared for a very long wait (check their site for reservation policies). But if you get there when they open on a weekday, you'll probably get in quickly. It's pretty easy to get a table for dinner, especially if you go early. https://www.zaziesf.com
Padrecito is a slightly upscale Mexican restaurant on Cole Street (a quick walk down the hill). It's got great food and great tequila cocktails. Great for families. Be sure to check their reservation policies. https://www.padrecitosf.com
115 Einheimische empfehlen
Padrecito
901 Cole StPadrecito is a slightly upscale Mexican restaurant on Cole Street (a quick walk down the hill). It's got great food and great tequila cocktails. Great for families. Be sure to check their reservation policies. https://www.padrecitosf.com
Cozy Italian restaurant on Cole Street. It's a great alternative for brunch if you don't want to wait in the long lines for Zazie. http://bambinosristorante.com
33 Einheimische empfehlen
Bambino's Ristorante
945 Cole StCozy Italian restaurant on Cole Street. It's a great alternative for brunch if you don't want to wait in the long lines for Zazie. http://bambinosristorante.com
Crepes on Cole is a cozy, low budget spot on Cole. Super for families and a quick, inexpensive bite to eat (salads, crepes, sandwiches, omelettes, etc.)
35 Einheimische empfehlen
Crepes On Cole
100 Carl StCrepes on Cole is a cozy, low budget spot on Cole. Super for families and a quick, inexpensive bite to eat (salads, crepes, sandwiches, omelettes, etc.)
If you want to check out special dining spots in the Mission, this is one of my favorites. They have terrific food, indoor and outdoor seating (outdoor area features films projected on the wall), a special bar. Altogether a very special place. http://foreigncinema.com
343 Einheimische empfehlen
Foreign Cinema
2534 Mission StIf you want to check out special dining spots in the Mission, this is one of my favorites. They have terrific food, indoor and outdoor seating (outdoor area features films projected on the wall), a special bar. Altogether a very special place. http://foreigncinema.com
Zuni is an iconic San Francisco restaurant. It's both casual and great for special occasions. Wonderful drinks and desserts. They're very famous for their roast chicken. Be sure to make reservations well in advance. Here's a recent article from the NY Times about Zuni: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/01/dining/zuni-cafe-burger.html?emc=edit_ca_20190305&nl=california-today&nlid=5211504720190305&te=1
https://zunicafe.com
165 Einheimische empfehlen
Zuni Café
1658 Market StZuni is an iconic San Francisco restaurant. It's both casual and great for special occasions. Wonderful drinks and desserts. They're very famous for their roast chicken. Be sure to make reservations well in advance. Here's a recent article from the NY Times about Zuni: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/01/dining/zuni-cafe-burger.html?emc=edit_ca_20190305&nl=california-today&nlid=5211504720190305&te=1
https://zunicafe.com
La Boulangerie de Cole (on Cole Street, of course!) is part of a small chain of cafes in SF. Good for salads, lunch and brunch, pastries and coffee. http://www.laboulangeriesf.com
206 Einheimische empfehlen
La Boulangerie de San Francisco
1000 Cole StLa Boulangerie de Cole (on Cole Street, of course!) is part of a small chain of cafes in SF. Good for salads, lunch and brunch, pastries and coffee. http://www.laboulangeriesf.com
Arizmendi is a co-op bakery on 9th Avenue. It's a 15 minute walk away. Fabulous pastries, breads, cookies, granola and a wonderful daily pizza which can be purchased whole (1/2 baked to warm up in the oven) or by the slice. You can consult their website for their daily pizza. Limited seating, good for take-out.
320 Einheimische empfehlen
Arizmendi Bakery
1331 9th AveArizmendi is a co-op bakery on 9th Avenue. It's a 15 minute walk away. Fabulous pastries, breads, cookies, granola and a wonderful daily pizza which can be purchased whole (1/2 baked to warm up in the oven) or by the slice. You can consult their website for their daily pizza. Limited seating, good for take-out.
Very near to UCSF hospital. A tiny spot for delicious, international and unique meals. Reasonably priced. Good for eat-in or take out. A 10 minute walk west of my apartment.
10 Einheimische empfehlen
Pomelo
92 Judah StreetVery near to UCSF hospital. A tiny spot for delicious, international and unique meals. Reasonably priced. Good for eat-in or take out. A 10 minute walk west of my apartment.
Sightseeing
What to say? One of the great parks of the United States. Just head down the hill to Kezar Stadium (at the very bottom of Willard Street) and you'll see the GGP right beyond it (walk around Kezar to the west to enter the park). You can also enter on Stanyan and Haight (and at many other points). Enjoy the Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, Stow Lake, the Conservatory of Flowers (great night time light shows in the summer and winter) and many, many other features of the park.
1721 Einheimische empfehlen
Golden Gate Park
What to say? One of the great parks of the United States. Just head down the hill to Kezar Stadium (at the very bottom of Willard Street) and you'll see the GGP right beyond it (walk around Kezar to the west to enter the park). You can also enter on Stanyan and Haight (and at many other points). Enjoy the Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, Stow Lake, the Conservatory of Flowers (great night time light shows in the summer and winter) and many, many other features of the park.
Walking -- Two suggestions in the neighborhood.
These are just two suggestions. San Francisco is a wonderful walking city. Head out the door of the apartment, go in any direction, and you'll find interesting sights. Farther afield -- Ocean Beach, Sutro Baths, The Embarcadero, The Presidio, North Beach, a walk up to Coit Tower, Pacific Heights, The Mission -- I could go on and on.
If you look up the hill from my house, you'll see Mt. Sutro Open Space Reserve (a forest). To hike Mt. Sutro, walk up Willard Street, turn right on Belmont to Edgewood (one short block), turn left and walk to the end of Edgewood. You'll see the trail head. It's an incredible feature of my neighborhood and is good for a 20 minute or a two hour walk. Trail Map: https://www.sutrostewards.org/trail-map
17 Einheimische empfehlen
Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve
If you look up the hill from my house, you'll see Mt. Sutro Open Space Reserve (a forest). To hike Mt. Sutro, walk up Willard Street, turn right on Belmont to Edgewood (one short block), turn left and walk to the end of Edgewood. You'll see the trail head. It's an incredible feature of my neighborhood and is good for a 20 minute or a two hour walk. Trail Map: https://www.sutrostewards.org/trail-map
You can see Tank Hill from the back of my house. There are fabulous views from Tank Hill and you can easily walk there in about 20 minutes. Walk down Willard to Parnassus, turn right and take Parnassus to Shrader, turn right. Walk up Shrader until it ends, turn left and follow the streets up, keep heading left, you'll hit the trail up Tank Hill. If you leave Tank Hill on the other side and turn right, you'll head toward Mt. Sutro and can make your way home through the forest (consult Mt. Sutro Trail Maps).
69 Einheimische empfehlen
Tank Hill
Twin Peaks BoulevardYou can see Tank Hill from the back of my house. There are fabulous views from Tank Hill and you can easily walk there in about 20 minutes. Walk down Willard to Parnassus, turn right and take Parnassus to Shrader, turn right. Walk up Shrader until it ends, turn left and follow the streets up, keep heading left, you'll hit the trail up Tank Hill. If you leave Tank Hill on the other side and turn right, you'll head toward Mt. Sutro and can make your way home through the forest (consult Mt. Sutro Trail Maps).