Things To Do
Nob Hill
This is where all the hotels are! Set aside 15 minutes to go to the free-admission Cable Car museum (a Rick Deitch favorite!). For food.... Parents - we would recommend Nob Hill Cafe for Italian food. And don't miss the world famous Tonga Room in the Fairmont basement! Kids - walk down the hill for Del Popolo (order Hunter's fav focaccia) and afterwards get a drink at Key Club or Peacekeeper!
Chinatown
Chinatown is a must see for SF newbies and only a 10 minute walk from the Fairmont! You can start at the famous Dragon Gates then walk up Grant. We love Vital Leaf Tea for an authentic (and free!) tea tasting that only takes about 30 mins. Then, go see the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. Kim+Ono is a fun store in the area too, and we love Hong Kong Clay Pot for Dim Sum. If you're up for it- Li Po Cocktail Lounge is a longstanding dive bar there that offers their patented Chinese Mai Tais (they actually have a U.S. patent on them).
Russian Hill
A short walk from Nob Hill is Russian Hill (that walk does entail going down a hill and walking up another one, so you've been warned!). Here, you can get an ice cream cone from Swensen's, nice cocktail and tapas at Macondray, and great Italian food at Fiorella. For something lighter, we love Blue Barn!
North Beach
North Beach is SF's Italian neighborhood and only about a 15 minute walk from the Fairmont. You can climb up to the top of Coit Tower for great views and see Diego Rivera's murals inside. We often go to Barbara’s for Italian food and you have to check out the historic City Lights bookstore.
Pacific Heights
This is our hood and we think one of the best neighborhoods in the city! Grab some ice cream from Salt and Straw or a warm drink and pastry from Jane on Fillmore and then wander west down Jackson St. to see some beautiful quintessential SF homes! If you're looking for a good meal in this area, we love Noosh for delicious Mediterranean food or Roam for a Free Range Bison burger (yes, we're those people).
Alamo Square / Hayes Valley
This was the neighborhood we first lived in when we moved to the city and it has a soft spot in our hearts! We loved getting warm toast from The Mill or some crazy fruits and kombuchas from Bi-Rite (SF's grocery store). This is also where the iconic Alamo Square Park is and the Painted Ladies! Hayes Valley is a cute neighborhood just a short walk down the hill where you'll find great Italian food at Amano and fun drinks at Anina.
The Marina
This is the popping neighborhood in SF! You'll find everything from a 100 year old dive bar (Bus Stop), to a Vegan restaurant that even the biggest meat lovers will love (Wildseed). Stroll down Union street for lots of fun shopping and stop into Balboa Cafe if your in the mood for an espresso martini. Walk down Chestnut street for more cute stores and Greek wraps at Souvla. This is also where the Palace of the Fine Arts and the Marina Greens are, both of which are beautiful to walk around and offer great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Our special occasion restaurant, Greens, is also a must.
Golden Gate Park
GGP is the BEST! It has Hunter's favorite running path (JFK Promenade) and Janese's favorite art museum (the de Young Museum). You can see a herd of Bison in the Bison Paddock, have a cup of green tea in the oldest Japanese Tea Garden in the United States, and see an albino alligator at the California Academy of Sciences.
Union Square
Eh, don't bother.
Ghirardelli Square
tourist trap.
Tenderloin
This is where the SF horror stories originate from! Just don't go here.
Across the Golden Gate Bridge
Across the bridge is Marin County, filled with tons of cute towns like Sausalito and Mill Valley. This is also where Muir woods is as well as the county before you hit Napa!