For the most part, the city of San Francisco is small and relatively new, and yet block by block, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another place that has as much history, culture, and vibrancy. The point is, you really can’t throw a stone without hitting something cool and worth checking out. This creates a bit of a dilemma for folks from out of town who don’t have much time to explore. That’s why I created this list, so that you get to see what I think are some of the more interesting spots in town that you might otherwise miss.
Coffee at Caffé Trieste:
601 Vallejo St., San Francisco, CA 94133
Long before Starbucks or even Petes, it was Giovanni Giotta who opened the first Espresso-based coffee shop on the West Coast in 1951, right across the street from the Saint Francis Cathedral. Since then, it’s been a haven for poets, writers and other misfits, including Francis Ford Coppola who wrote the screenplay for “The Godfather” while sitting here.
Bonus stop: City Lights bookstore is around the corner and is one of the great indie bookshops anywhere.
Dolores Park:
Located between 18th and 20th street, roughly 3 blocks west of Mission
This is one of my favorite places in the world since you’ll see a cross section of every race, religion, sex, etc on earth chilling and enjoying panoramic views of the city while soaking up the sunshine. If the weather is nice, this place will be filled with people and shouldn’t be missed.
Bonus stop: Check out the Mission San Francisco de Asis, which is more or less the birthplace of the city.
The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park:
Located right off Martin Luther King Jr Drive in the same area as the Academy of Science.
I plan on having some of my ashes scattered here. Not only is it the oldest public Tea Garden in the US, but it’s by far the nicest I’ve been to. The Koi fish are massive, and you can easily spend a few hours here. Originally built it 1894, it was meant to be a temporary exhibit but quickly took a life of its own. It should also be noted that this is where Fortune Cookies were invented and you can see the original press in the gift shop on display.
Bonus: The Bison pen. On the Western side of the park, we have a pen with about a dozen Bison located off of JFK drive. If you’ve never seen one, it’s worth checking out.
Mission Cannabis Club:
2441 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
I don’t drink anymore so this is one of my favorite spots to hang out and be “social”. The place has great prices and service, but what sets it apart is the upstairs smoking area, where you can consume in big comfy booths while cartoons play on the big screen. Check out the calendar online since they also host event’s such as BINGO from time to time.
Bonus spot: La Vaca Birria. 2962 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110. There are a lot of good Mexican joints in town but the Birria tacos here are the best I’ve ever had anywhere.
The Yoda Fountain:
1 Letterman Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129
I’m not a big Star Wars fan and I honestly don’t think I’ve seen all the movies. That being said, when “Yoda Statue” popped up on my map, I had to go check it out. Yes, it’s a life size Yoda statue and if you go in the lobby of the building, you can check out all sorts of other really cool movie props.
Bonus stop: Go walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s not far and the views are epic.
The Musée Mécanique:
Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133
Yes, it’s located in a tourist trap but it’s one of my favorite spots in the City. This museum is free and open to the public but be warned, you will spend money. It holds over 300 games and amusements, some dating all the way back to the late 1800’s and the best part is, they all work. If you see a guy with a tool belt riding on roller skates, say “Hi” since that’s the second-generation owner who also maintains the collection and keeps the machines in working order.
Bonus stop: Walk around the corner and check out the antique Italian Fishing Boats, some of them are older than the Golden Gate Bridge and a few of em offer tours of the bay.
The Ferry Building:
Fuck Pier 39, that’s the biggest tourist trap in town; instead, go to the Ferry Building. It’s old and historic but they just did a bunch of work on it and it’s full of shops and restaurants. This is where the locals go.
Bonus stop: Bernal Cutlery for a great selection of Chefs Knives and other Kitchen items. They carry some really cool stuff you won’t find elsewhere.
The Castro:
This is the center of the universe for the LGBTQIA community and yeah, as a result, it’s an extremely colorful neighborhood that’s worth walking around in. It really doesn’t matter when you go, there’s almost always a party vibe here along with a great collection of locally owned shops.
Bonus stop: Pizzalicious is located right next to the Castro theater and doesn’t look like much from the outside but they have really good slices for cheap.
Twin Peaks:
Search for the parking lot at Christmas Tree Point
This is the giant hill in the center of town, with that massive antenna on top. If you’re traveling by foot, it’s a hike. If you’re going by car, it’s a bit confusing but don’t let this deter you, the views are some of the best in the City and it’s well worth the effort. And yes, there are restrooms there.
Portsmouth Square Park:
745 Kearny St.
This park can best be described as the living room of Chinatown. The reason for this is that this neighborhood has historically been one of the most densely packed in the city and so this is where people go to hang out. On any given evening, you’ll see old women playing cards and dudes still smoking out of bamboo pipes. If you go, be respectful, this is their home.
Bonus stop: You’re already in one of the most historic Chinatowns in the US, go walk around and enjoy it.
Bonus:
Get lost. I’m serious, one of my favorite things to do is get on a random bus and ride til I see something cool. Then I get off, walk around and take some photos. No matter where I land, I know I’ll find something weird and worth my time.
The point is, if you’re coming for a visit, enjoy it and don’t be in a rush to see and do everything, ya dig?