Charlotte & Jon’s Guidebook
Food scene
I recommend going there as early as possible as this is a very popular breakfast spot and the lines easily turn into hour long waits. They are known for their Millionaire’s bacon. It’s about $16-20 a person but the portion sizes are awesome and just everything there is amazing. What I religiously order there is the Marguerite omelette with added avocado, gouda and goat cheese.
84 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Sweet Maple
2101 Sutter StI recommend going there as early as possible as this is a very popular breakfast spot and the lines easily turn into hour long waits. They are known for their Millionaire’s bacon. It’s about $16-20 a person but the portion sizes are awesome and just everything there is amazing. What I religiously order there is the Marguerite omelette with added avocado, gouda and goat cheese.
The Bean Bag Café is situated on Divisadero Street which is a fun and happening street in this neighborhood. It’s a great atmosphere if you just want to sit somewhere and hang out for a bit and people watch while eating some awesome breakfast crepes or drink some great smoothies or whatever else you fancy from their very extensive menu. It’s a little bit of a landmark that everyone knows. I at least recommend just to stop by and check it out!
67 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Bean Bag Cafe
601 Divisadero StThe Bean Bag Café is situated on Divisadero Street which is a fun and happening street in this neighborhood. It’s a great atmosphere if you just want to sit somewhere and hang out for a bit and people watch while eating some awesome breakfast crepes or drink some great smoothies or whatever else you fancy from their very extensive menu. It’s a little bit of a landmark that everyone knows. I at least recommend just to stop by and check it out!
This was originally Sugoi Sushi but now they have relocated to right in this neighborhood! I’ve been going there since 2014 – they’re the best. Their service is amazing and their food is delicious. Jimmy is the greatest server, Ron is the head chef, and Ronald and Calvin are two very sweet sushi makers. If you have a chance to go to this small sushi spot, I’d highly recommend it! You’ll always get free dishes or gifts from the sushi chefs and I highly, highly recommend their Tataki and Salmon Nigiri. Also, if you just love nigiri and have no particular preference, just ask for Ron to put together a selection for you – it is always amazing!
Kibatsu
400 Haight StThis was originally Sugoi Sushi but now they have relocated to right in this neighborhood! I’ve been going there since 2014 – they’re the best. Their service is amazing and their food is delicious. Jimmy is the greatest server, Ron is the head chef, and Ronald and Calvin are two very sweet sushi makers. If you have a chance to go to this small sushi spot, I’d highly recommend it! You’ll always get free dishes or gifts from the sushi chefs and I highly, highly recommend their Tataki and Salmon Nigiri. Also, if you just love nigiri and have no particular preference, just ask for Ron to put together a selection for you – it is always amazing!
This spot is very famous and very popular and very hard to get in to. In order to get reservations, you have to book it well in advance. However, they do have this thing called the communal table and so what we recommend is walk over early (maybe even as soon as they open depending on how soon you want to eat), put your name down, and walk around or come back here to the apartment until your reservation time. Everything is amazing here. I recommend their salmon if it is on the menu (they change it).
504 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Nopa
560 Divisadero StThis spot is very famous and very popular and very hard to get in to. In order to get reservations, you have to book it well in advance. However, they do have this thing called the communal table and so what we recommend is walk over early (maybe even as soon as they open depending on how soon you want to eat), put your name down, and walk around or come back here to the apartment until your reservation time. Everything is amazing here. I recommend their salmon if it is on the menu (they change it).
Everyone yells greetings when you walk into this place. I recommend timing your arrival at Iza Ramen since sometimes the line can get a bit long. It’s always happening and lively in this small restaurant and is a sweet warm, cozy atmosphere. I love and would highly recommend their dipping noodles.
30 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Iza Ramen
237 Fillmore StEveryone yells greetings when you walk into this place. I recommend timing your arrival at Iza Ramen since sometimes the line can get a bit long. It’s always happening and lively in this small restaurant and is a sweet warm, cozy atmosphere. I love and would highly recommend their dipping noodles.
This spot is a total hidden gem that you won’t even see from the street. They have a super charming outdoor patio space and then a cozy interior with fairly close seating and dim lighting. They are also a highly rated restaurant and probably the most expensive on this list. It’s a menu that is designed for shared plates and trying a variety of dishes. I recommend trying the house made pot stickers and chrysanthemum leaf salad.
28 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Rintaro
82 14th StThis spot is a total hidden gem that you won’t even see from the street. They have a super charming outdoor patio space and then a cozy interior with fairly close seating and dim lighting. They are also a highly rated restaurant and probably the most expensive on this list. It’s a menu that is designed for shared plates and trying a variety of dishes. I recommend trying the house made pot stickers and chrysanthemum leaf salad.
So Beit Rima is an up and coming restaurant (the 2nd spot actually just opened up) that has been getting a lot of attention for it’s great food and heartwarming back story. An immigrant family arrives in San Francisco with the father opening up “Burgermeister” to attempt to appeal to the demographics of San Francisco and they do fair enough. Years later, the son finally talks the father into letting him replace the Burgermeisters with Beit Rima so that they can share their own ethnic food. Needless to say, the endeavor has been most successful. I recommend if you want to sit down, join the waiting list on Yelp and then just walk over when you have 5 minutes left on the wait. It’s a very cute, cozy, vibrant restaurant where you order at a counter and the only host walks around with an iPad to make sure you have everything. Their Mezze Sampler and Chicken Shish Tawook Plate are amazing!
21 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Beit Rima
138 Church StSo Beit Rima is an up and coming restaurant (the 2nd spot actually just opened up) that has been getting a lot of attention for it’s great food and heartwarming back story. An immigrant family arrives in San Francisco with the father opening up “Burgermeister” to attempt to appeal to the demographics of San Francisco and they do fair enough. Years later, the son finally talks the father into letting him replace the Burgermeisters with Beit Rima so that they can share their own ethnic food. Needless to say, the endeavor has been most successful. I recommend if you want to sit down, join the waiting list on Yelp and then just walk over when you have 5 minutes left on the wait. It’s a very cute, cozy, vibrant restaurant where you order at a counter and the only host walks around with an iPad to make sure you have everything. Their Mezze Sampler and Chicken Shish Tawook Plate are amazing!
Nara’s street front is all glass and has a much more lively and happening vibe than Kibatsu. Here you can get happy hour, you can watch whatever sports game is happening, get oysters for a good deal, and eat very eccentric and colorful sushi. Their pork belly is sous vide, deliciously fatty, and melts in your mouth; my favorite sushi roll there is their Sake Bomb and Jon’s favorite is the Shrek.
13 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Nara
518 Haight StNara’s street front is all glass and has a much more lively and happening vibe than Kibatsu. Here you can get happy hour, you can watch whatever sports game is happening, get oysters for a good deal, and eat very eccentric and colorful sushi. Their pork belly is sous vide, deliciously fatty, and melts in your mouth; my favorite sushi roll there is their Sake Bomb and Jon’s favorite is the Shrek.
Want absolutely amazing Korean food that everyone in the city stands out in the cold in an hour long line for? Manna is the place to go! Everything we've ever gotten from them is delicious; the japchae is a family favorite. It's a bit of a hole in the wall although they've gone through a renovation recently. If you have the time and the craving, I would definitely recommend this place as a must!
33 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Manna
845 Irving StWant absolutely amazing Korean food that everyone in the city stands out in the cold in an hour long line for? Manna is the place to go! Everything we've ever gotten from them is delicious; the japchae is a family favorite. It's a bit of a hole in the wall although they've gone through a renovation recently. If you have the time and the craving, I would definitely recommend this place as a must!
This has the absolute BEST beef chow fun we have ever had. And we typically judge Chinese restaurants by their chow fun (probably not a legitimate thing to do but it's what we do). Anyways, we highly recommend this place and you can enjoy the experience of Chestnut Street and maybe pop over the few blocks to walk along the water and take a peek at the Golden Gate Bridge!
18 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Dragon Well
2142 Chestnut StThis has the absolute BEST beef chow fun we have ever had. And we typically judge Chinese restaurants by their chow fun (probably not a legitimate thing to do but it's what we do). Anyways, we highly recommend this place and you can enjoy the experience of Chestnut Street and maybe pop over the few blocks to walk along the water and take a peek at the Golden Gate Bridge!
Sightseeing
Go to Sutro Baths first and then just take the path to the right into the trees and that will take you to Land’s End. I suggest this first because it is just such a beautiful way to take in the west coast of San Francisco. Standing above Sutro Baths, ruins of ancient baths, to the left is the expanse of Ocean Beach and to the right is a grove of trees that hide a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. To walk all the way to the stone labyrinth, I think it’s something like 1.5ish miles round trip and it’s also a great path for jogging.
246 現地メンバーのおすすめ
旧スートロ・バス
1004 Point Lobos AveGo to Sutro Baths first and then just take the path to the right into the trees and that will take you to Land’s End. I suggest this first because it is just such a beautiful way to take in the west coast of San Francisco. Standing above Sutro Baths, ruins of ancient baths, to the left is the expanse of Ocean Beach and to the right is a grove of trees that hide a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. To walk all the way to the stone labyrinth, I think it’s something like 1.5ish miles round trip and it’s also a great path for jogging.
Go to Sutro Baths first and then just take the path to the right into the trees and that will take you to Land’s End. I suggest this first because it is just such a beautiful way to take in the west coast of San Francisco. Standing above Sutro Baths, ruins of ancient baths, to the left is the expanse of Ocean Beach and to the right is a grove of trees that hide a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. To walk all the way to the stone labyrinth, I think it’s something like 1.5ish miles round trip and it’s also a great path for jogging.
694 現地メンバーのおすすめ
ランズ・エンド・トレイル
Lands End TrailGo to Sutro Baths first and then just take the path to the right into the trees and that will take you to Land’s End. I suggest this first because it is just such a beautiful way to take in the west coast of San Francisco. Standing above Sutro Baths, ruins of ancient baths, to the left is the expanse of Ocean Beach and to the right is a grove of trees that hide a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. To walk all the way to the stone labyrinth, I think it’s something like 1.5ish miles round trip and it’s also a great path for jogging.
Although this spot has great views period, I think it offers the best panorama of the city at night. There is something incredibly charming about seeing the city from this site as the sun is setting and then watching all the lights from a distance at night. NOTE: I do not suggest actually hiking this – it’s much better (and safer) to just get a car to drive you up there.
727 現地メンバーのおすすめ
ツイン・ピークス
Although this spot has great views period, I think it offers the best panorama of the city at night. There is something incredibly charming about seeing the city from this site as the sun is setting and then watching all the lights from a distance at night. NOTE: I do not suggest actually hiking this – it’s much better (and safer) to just get a car to drive you up there.
Has a similar view (maybe almost better?) than Twin Peaks but this one is great during the day or as the sun is setting. It’s a great one for a run or a hike, is very close to the house, and boasts a bunch of stairs and a little bit of maneuvering large rocks to get to the highest point.
180 現地メンバーのおすすめ
コロナハイツ公園
Museum WayHas a similar view (maybe almost better?) than Twin Peaks but this one is great during the day or as the sun is setting. It’s a great one for a run or a hike, is very close to the house, and boasts a bunch of stairs and a little bit of maneuvering large rocks to get to the highest point.
This is out in the Inner Sunset and is fun to climb up after getting some boba tea. It has a LOT of stairs (all which have these colorful tiles which create a beautiful mosaic) and the view is 360 degrees of the city.
60 現地メンバーのおすすめ
グランドビューパーク
1705 14th AveThis is out in the Inner Sunset and is fun to climb up after getting some boba tea. It has a LOT of stairs (all which have these colorful tiles which create a beautiful mosaic) and the view is 360 degrees of the city.
Alamere Falls is a 1 hour and 15 minutes’ drive up North across the Golden Gate Bridge
This is a rare tide fall up in the Northern Headlands that will take a good part of the day and is kind of out of the way. However, if you have the time, I highly highly recommend. It’s one of the few waterfalls in the country that runs straight into the ocean and the hike getting there is just as beautiful as the destination itself. Take a lunch and just sit out by the water on the long, pretty untouched expanse of sand. The drive is about 1.5 hours and the hike itself, if you’re walking at a normal speed, will take about 3 hours. It’s an epic trail to run if you’re a runner.
18 現地メンバーのおすすめ
Alamere Falls
Alamere Falls is a 1 hour and 15 minutes’ drive up North across the Golden Gate Bridge
This is a rare tide fall up in the Northern Headlands that will take a good part of the day and is kind of out of the way. However, if you have the time, I highly highly recommend. It’s one of the few waterfalls in the country that runs straight into the ocean and the hike getting there is just as beautiful as the destination itself. Take a lunch and just sit out by the water on the long, pretty untouched expanse of sand. The drive is about 1.5 hours and the hike itself, if you’re walking at a normal speed, will take about 3 hours. It’s an epic trail to run if you’re a runner.