My San Francisco Farewell Love Letter
Well, it finally happened. I left San Francisco. Of course, I'll be back to grab my stuff for the next adventure and it'll always be home. The reality though is that the Bay Area, which has been my home for the vast majority of my life, will become a stranger to me these next 12 months. I do not plan on settling back into The City when my travels end, whenever that may be, and with that comes a flood of nostalgia and sentimentality for the amazing, beautiful, crazy ridiculous city I grew up in like no other.
What better way is there to honor her than by leaving my guide to San Francisco? Well, probably a lot of better ways, but since so many of my non-Bay Area friends believe me to be Mr. San Francisco in terms of my love and knowledge of this place, I figured I'd leave a little love letter of my favorite spots and places to remember the San Francisco (never Frisco, never San Fran) I loved. Who knows what it will look like the next time I see it. Of course, this should make a hella good guide for tourists from a local's perspective. It also serves as a reminder of my go-to places in case I've forgotten them when I return (nah, that would never happen). Of course, most of my favorite places keep closing down so... ya never know. Regardless, without further ado, here is Macster's favorite San Francisco joints, spots, hideaways, and nooks before employees from AirBNB, Uber, and Pinterest go public and drive prices up even further and probably destroy them all.
If you're a tourist do these following things. They may even be fun for locals who want to play tourist. Number one on my list should be a must-do for everyone:
Experience Speakeasy SF
Why: It's an interactive theater experience where you dress up in 1920's outfits and pretend for the night you're at a speakeasy avoiding the fuzz during prohibition. There are numerous storylines going on during the night and you may get roped into a few. There's a bar area, a casino, and a cabaret and it's a blast. Hands down one of my favorite experiences in SF. The less you know about it the better, just go with it. Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush. For tickets and info, click this link.
Catch a ballgame at AT&T Park (ahem, Oracle Park)
Why: It's a major league baseball game at one of the best stadiums in all of baseball. Oracle Park has amazing wrap around views of the bay and the city and the Bay Bridge and the food in the park itself is pretty good. Go for the views, stay for the baseball. Buy tickets to games at the Giants website or on Stubhub. If the team is doing poorly, you can get good seats for cheap!
Grab an Irish Coffee at Buena Vista and/or a sundae at Ghiradelli Square
Why: Buena Vista is a restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf made famous for being the birth place of the Irish Coffee and they're damn good. Go mosey up to the bar, order yourself one, and watch the bartenders work their magic as they sometimes line up a dozen at a time. If you're feeling spry, treat yourself to a Ghiradelli chocolate sundae around the corner. Ghiradelli Square is a famous San Francisco landmark and the chocolate is seductive. If you're up for some fun, there's a mini-golf course with Bay Area themed holes in the square itself. You can find info on it here.
Stroll Fort Mason, Marina Green, Crissy Field, Hopper's Hands, and the Golden Gate Bridge
What it is: Down for a nice long walk along the water? Drive or Uber/Lyft to Fort Mason and walk along the bay past Marina Green. Stop at the Philz truck and get a coffee (I recommend either the Philtered Soul, Philz Way or the Iced Mint Mojito sweet and creamy). Continue strolling past the actual Marina and head towards Crissy Beach. Walk along the beach past Crissy Field. If you do the full walk, you'll land underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Try to find Hopper's Hands. If you feel so inclined, you can hike up a path to get to the GGB itself and walk across it or on it until you want to turn around. It's a long walk (about 3 miles one way) so feel free to chill at the Warming Hut to get some water and call an Uber/Lyft out of there. Keep in mind, you can also just reverse this itinerary and start off at the Golden Gate Bridge, hike down to Crissy Field, and stroll all the way to Fort Mason. Check the weather too. It can be windy if it's not a sunny day as you'll be walking along the water.
Rent a car and hit Marin Headlands, Cavallo Point, Sausalito, and Muir Woods
Why: If you got solid biking endurance, you can do all of this at once on a bike. I've never done it that way though so I recommend you rent a zip car for a day to hit these awesome spots across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. The Marin Headlands is the first exit off the Golden Gate Bridge going north from the city (excluding Vista Point which is super touristy and not worth the stop). Take a right off the Bridge after Vista Point and then a left at the stop sign to go under the freeway so it feels like you're heading back onto the Bridge. Before you get on the Bridge, take the hill exit on the right and enter Marin Headlands. If you can find parking for the first stop up the hill (not the big parking lot by the Bridge but the actual first place to stop and get out for views) then feel free to stop and go get photos. It will feel like you're on top of the Bridge. It's really cool but it can be super busy. Most tourists will stop there and turnaround. But you're not any tourist, you're being guided by me. So keep going. In fact, just keep driving and stop along the way where you want to hop out and take photos. There are a lot of great spots to get epic photos. Eventually, you'll drive through a tunnel to exit Marin Headlands. Instead of heading back to the city, go left down the hill and head to Cavallo Point. You've earned a drink and some oysters. You could go all the way to Sausalito if you wanted. There are some great views of the city from across the bay there. And if you keep going on the 101 you can catch a shuttle to go to Muir Woods if you want to see some redwoods. You should probably just GPS it. This little trek could take a half a day or more. If you really want a Macster tip, stop and get a deli sandwich at either Lucca Deli on Chestnut Street before your trek or at Sausalito Gourmet Delicatessen if you stop in Sausalito. You won't be disappointed as they are two of my favorite places for sandos.
Eat at the House of Prime Rib
Why: This is my favorite dining experience in San Francisco. It's not the best restaurant in San Francisco per se, but there's a reason it's always packed. Get a reservation ahead of your trip and be prepared for the best prime rib meal you've ever had. It's not cheap but it's not expensive. It's very reasonable for what you get (and you get a lot!) and if you can't tell by the name, they really only do one entree and they do it amazingly well in various different cuts. If you don't like meat, it's your loss. They do have other options besides prime rib (chicken, fish, or veggie) but you're there for the prime rib so get it. You can book a reservation from their website.
Have a cocktail at The View Lounge or Charmaine's for great city views
Why: I love The View Lounge. It's located on the top floor of the Marriott Marquis hotel and on each side of the bar there are huge floor to ceiling windows where you can see nearly the entire city. Drinks are pricy but the views are worth at least one drink. If the weather is nice (either during the afternoon or in the evening) you can go to Charmaine's rooftop bar. SF doesn't have very many rooftop bars because it's usually cold so Charmaine's is one of the few. Expect a line but it's definitely cool and a place "to be seen".
Go to an Off The Grid event
Why: Off the Grid is a weekly event that consists of numerous food trucks in one public place. They typically have these events in the Presidio on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons and at Fort Mason on Friday nights from March through October. The food truck variety is vast and the food is really good. I recommend the Sunday afternoon ones in the Presidio. Bring a blanket to lay down on the grass and enjoy some food and beverages. If you're so inclined, you can check out the Walt Disney Museum.
Grab a drink at the Cliff House or some beers at Beach Chalet
Why: Want to drink a martini on a sea cliff? Then go to the Cliff House and do just that! I wouldn't stay for a meal but maybe a seafood app and a drink or three wouldn't hurt. If cocktails don't fit your fancy, go down the Great Highway a bit and grab a beer sampler and some calamari at Beach Chalet instead. You still get awesome views but in a more laid back atmosphere. If you feel like hiking around here, you can do so at either Fort Miley or get some great photo opps at Sutro Heights
Honorable mentions: Coit Tower, Haight Street, Lombard Street, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Beach Blanket Babylon, the MOMA, the de Young museum, the Exploratorium, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Painted Ladies (Full House House), and Golden Gate Park
Why: These are all fine tourist stops. They're not my favorite but I wouldn't say to skip them except Alcatraz which is at least a half day commitment and not that exciting. If you want to go, go! You'll just have to google them instead. Also, you can always do the Yellow Go-Cart tours and see almost all of the major touristy spots in one fell swoop.
Finally, here's a quick hit list of my favorite foodie spots. Go and think of me fondly:
Favorite Ramen: Marufuku or Katana-Ya. I am a ramen addict. These are my two favorites in SF. I have many other ramen spots I frequented but these two are at the top of my list. A tip for Marufuku, there is ALWAYS a line. Go to their Yelp page and put your name on the waiting list before heading to the restaurant. You'll save waiting time in line (which can be up to 2 hours). Ippudo in NY used to be my favorite ramen of all time but the SF version isn't quite as good. Still stellar, but I prefer the above two over Ippudo SF.
Favorite Dim Sum: Great Eastern or Dim Sum Club. Cheap, fast, and delicious. Fun fact: Obama and Yao Ming have visited Great Eastern. Cilantro Shrimp dumplings are a must.
Favorite Pho: Turtle Tower. Get the Pho Ga. This is my favorite Pho in the Bay Area and nothing else is close.
Favorite Sushi: There's a lot of pretty good sushi in SF but my go-to is Tsunami in the Pan Handle. Great sushi and they have a sake bar to boot. I also am a big fan of Ozumo.
Favorite Burger: Balboa is my tried and true but Causwell's burger is a strong newcomer. The Marlowe Burger is always great as well (you can find it at Marlowe, Cow Marlowe, or Park Tavern). If you have a big appetite, try to wolf down a charbroiled burger at Original Joe's.
Favorite Steak: The bone-in filet at Bobo's is arguably my favorite and the skillet mussels are a must. I'm also partial to Alexander's though it is very pricy.
Favorite Sandwich: As mentioned above, Lucca Deli is my favorite place for deli sandwiches but a hidden gem is Golden Gate Deli and Liquor. It is amazing for toasted sandwiches. I recommend the San FranPsycho or the Godfather. In high school, I went to SubCenter nearly every Friday. It's still there, still serving sub sandwiches (cold or hot) and it's still delicious. If you want to be a real OG, you can go to Gene's in the sunset.
Favorite Seafood: A SF native go-to is Tadich Grill and it's well deserving. Go here for the seafood and great cocktails. Leo's Oyster Bar is also good and say hi to my nephew if you swing by Swan's Oyster Depot.
Favorite Pizza: Arguably the best pizza in SF is Tony's. It's my favorite but also very much a trendy place so expect lines. Tommaso's used to be the king and still is worth a visit if you don't get distracted by the strip clubs surrounding it.
Favorite Hot Wings: San Francisco just doesn't have good buffalo wings. Your best bet for wings is Kezar Pub. The next best bet is Hot Sauce and Panko.
Favorite Breakfast/Brunch Spot: Hands down it is Sweet Maple and just like every brunch spot, there's a line to get in. The Millionaire's bacon is orgasmic and the BEC Melt does seem to literally melt in your mouth. They also have great griddle options and, well, just go. My other casual favorite is The Grove. It is always consistent and the iced chai is heavenly. I usually rotated between 5 or so brunch spots but Sweet Maple and the Grove were always my faves.
Favorite Coffee: I want to say Philz (and I do love me some Philz) but my favorite coffee in SF is Blue Bottle. It just is. I didn't understand coffee culture and coffee snobbishness until I had Blue Bottle. And then I understood. The New Orleans iced coffee is a big hit but I also love all their pour over coffees. Go here and just delight in a cup of Joe!
OK, I could go on forever about San Francisco. I could give more and more recommendations. I could discuss nightlife. I could discuss hiking spots. I could discuss neighborhoods. I just could go on forever. So I am going to conclude this first foray into the updated, upscaled, (non-travel) blog entry in the new Macster Uncensored. And with that comes a new slogan: #ThisIsLife
Stay tuned for my take on Peru in the next week or so!
What better way is there to honor her than by leaving my guide to San Francisco? Well, probably a lot of better ways, but since so many of my non-Bay Area friends believe me to be Mr. San Francisco in terms of my love and knowledge of this place, I figured I'd leave a little love letter of my favorite spots and places to remember the San Francisco (never Frisco, never San Fran) I loved. Who knows what it will look like the next time I see it. Of course, this should make a hella good guide for tourists from a local's perspective. It also serves as a reminder of my go-to places in case I've forgotten them when I return (nah, that would never happen). Of course, most of my favorite places keep closing down so... ya never know. Regardless, without further ado, here is Macster's favorite San Francisco joints, spots, hideaways, and nooks before employees from AirBNB, Uber, and Pinterest go public and drive prices up even further and probably destroy them all.
If you're a tourist do these following things. They may even be fun for locals who want to play tourist. Number one on my list should be a must-do for everyone:
Experience Speakeasy SF
Why: It's an interactive theater experience where you dress up in 1920's outfits and pretend for the night you're at a speakeasy avoiding the fuzz during prohibition. There are numerous storylines going on during the night and you may get roped into a few. There's a bar area, a casino, and a cabaret and it's a blast. Hands down one of my favorite experiences in SF. The less you know about it the better, just go with it. Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush. For tickets and info, click this link.
Catch a ballgame at AT&T Park (ahem, Oracle Park)
Why: It's a major league baseball game at one of the best stadiums in all of baseball. Oracle Park has amazing wrap around views of the bay and the city and the Bay Bridge and the food in the park itself is pretty good. Go for the views, stay for the baseball. Buy tickets to games at the Giants website or on Stubhub. If the team is doing poorly, you can get good seats for cheap!
Grab an Irish Coffee at Buena Vista and/or a sundae at Ghiradelli Square
Why: Buena Vista is a restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf made famous for being the birth place of the Irish Coffee and they're damn good. Go mosey up to the bar, order yourself one, and watch the bartenders work their magic as they sometimes line up a dozen at a time. If you're feeling spry, treat yourself to a Ghiradelli chocolate sundae around the corner. Ghiradelli Square is a famous San Francisco landmark and the chocolate is seductive. If you're up for some fun, there's a mini-golf course with Bay Area themed holes in the square itself. You can find info on it here.
Stroll Fort Mason, Marina Green, Crissy Field, Hopper's Hands, and the Golden Gate Bridge
What it is: Down for a nice long walk along the water? Drive or Uber/Lyft to Fort Mason and walk along the bay past Marina Green. Stop at the Philz truck and get a coffee (I recommend either the Philtered Soul, Philz Way or the Iced Mint Mojito sweet and creamy). Continue strolling past the actual Marina and head towards Crissy Beach. Walk along the beach past Crissy Field. If you do the full walk, you'll land underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Try to find Hopper's Hands. If you feel so inclined, you can hike up a path to get to the GGB itself and walk across it or on it until you want to turn around. It's a long walk (about 3 miles one way) so feel free to chill at the Warming Hut to get some water and call an Uber/Lyft out of there. Keep in mind, you can also just reverse this itinerary and start off at the Golden Gate Bridge, hike down to Crissy Field, and stroll all the way to Fort Mason. Check the weather too. It can be windy if it's not a sunny day as you'll be walking along the water.
Rent a car and hit Marin Headlands, Cavallo Point, Sausalito, and Muir Woods
Why: If you got solid biking endurance, you can do all of this at once on a bike. I've never done it that way though so I recommend you rent a zip car for a day to hit these awesome spots across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. The Marin Headlands is the first exit off the Golden Gate Bridge going north from the city (excluding Vista Point which is super touristy and not worth the stop). Take a right off the Bridge after Vista Point and then a left at the stop sign to go under the freeway so it feels like you're heading back onto the Bridge. Before you get on the Bridge, take the hill exit on the right and enter Marin Headlands. If you can find parking for the first stop up the hill (not the big parking lot by the Bridge but the actual first place to stop and get out for views) then feel free to stop and go get photos. It will feel like you're on top of the Bridge. It's really cool but it can be super busy. Most tourists will stop there and turnaround. But you're not any tourist, you're being guided by me. So keep going. In fact, just keep driving and stop along the way where you want to hop out and take photos. There are a lot of great spots to get epic photos. Eventually, you'll drive through a tunnel to exit Marin Headlands. Instead of heading back to the city, go left down the hill and head to Cavallo Point. You've earned a drink and some oysters. You could go all the way to Sausalito if you wanted. There are some great views of the city from across the bay there. And if you keep going on the 101 you can catch a shuttle to go to Muir Woods if you want to see some redwoods. You should probably just GPS it. This little trek could take a half a day or more. If you really want a Macster tip, stop and get a deli sandwich at either Lucca Deli on Chestnut Street before your trek or at Sausalito Gourmet Delicatessen if you stop in Sausalito. You won't be disappointed as they are two of my favorite places for sandos.
Eat at the House of Prime Rib
Why: This is my favorite dining experience in San Francisco. It's not the best restaurant in San Francisco per se, but there's a reason it's always packed. Get a reservation ahead of your trip and be prepared for the best prime rib meal you've ever had. It's not cheap but it's not expensive. It's very reasonable for what you get (and you get a lot!) and if you can't tell by the name, they really only do one entree and they do it amazingly well in various different cuts. If you don't like meat, it's your loss. They do have other options besides prime rib (chicken, fish, or veggie) but you're there for the prime rib so get it. You can book a reservation from their website.
Have a cocktail at The View Lounge or Charmaine's for great city views
Why: I love The View Lounge. It's located on the top floor of the Marriott Marquis hotel and on each side of the bar there are huge floor to ceiling windows where you can see nearly the entire city. Drinks are pricy but the views are worth at least one drink. If the weather is nice (either during the afternoon or in the evening) you can go to Charmaine's rooftop bar. SF doesn't have very many rooftop bars because it's usually cold so Charmaine's is one of the few. Expect a line but it's definitely cool and a place "to be seen".
Go to an Off The Grid event
Why: Off the Grid is a weekly event that consists of numerous food trucks in one public place. They typically have these events in the Presidio on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons and at Fort Mason on Friday nights from March through October. The food truck variety is vast and the food is really good. I recommend the Sunday afternoon ones in the Presidio. Bring a blanket to lay down on the grass and enjoy some food and beverages. If you're so inclined, you can check out the Walt Disney Museum.
Grab a drink at the Cliff House or some beers at Beach Chalet
Why: Want to drink a martini on a sea cliff? Then go to the Cliff House and do just that! I wouldn't stay for a meal but maybe a seafood app and a drink or three wouldn't hurt. If cocktails don't fit your fancy, go down the Great Highway a bit and grab a beer sampler and some calamari at Beach Chalet instead. You still get awesome views but in a more laid back atmosphere. If you feel like hiking around here, you can do so at either Fort Miley or get some great photo opps at Sutro Heights
Honorable mentions: Coit Tower, Haight Street, Lombard Street, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, Beach Blanket Babylon, the MOMA, the de Young museum, the Exploratorium, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Painted Ladies (Full House House), and Golden Gate Park
Why: These are all fine tourist stops. They're not my favorite but I wouldn't say to skip them except Alcatraz which is at least a half day commitment and not that exciting. If you want to go, go! You'll just have to google them instead. Also, you can always do the Yellow Go-Cart tours and see almost all of the major touristy spots in one fell swoop.
Finally, here's a quick hit list of my favorite foodie spots. Go and think of me fondly:
Favorite Ramen: Marufuku or Katana-Ya. I am a ramen addict. These are my two favorites in SF. I have many other ramen spots I frequented but these two are at the top of my list. A tip for Marufuku, there is ALWAYS a line. Go to their Yelp page and put your name on the waiting list before heading to the restaurant. You'll save waiting time in line (which can be up to 2 hours). Ippudo in NY used to be my favorite ramen of all time but the SF version isn't quite as good. Still stellar, but I prefer the above two over Ippudo SF.
Favorite Dim Sum: Great Eastern or Dim Sum Club. Cheap, fast, and delicious. Fun fact: Obama and Yao Ming have visited Great Eastern. Cilantro Shrimp dumplings are a must.
Favorite Pho: Turtle Tower. Get the Pho Ga. This is my favorite Pho in the Bay Area and nothing else is close.
Favorite Sushi: There's a lot of pretty good sushi in SF but my go-to is Tsunami in the Pan Handle. Great sushi and they have a sake bar to boot. I also am a big fan of Ozumo.
Favorite Burger: Balboa is my tried and true but Causwell's burger is a strong newcomer. The Marlowe Burger is always great as well (you can find it at Marlowe, Cow Marlowe, or Park Tavern). If you have a big appetite, try to wolf down a charbroiled burger at Original Joe's.
Favorite Steak: The bone-in filet at Bobo's is arguably my favorite and the skillet mussels are a must. I'm also partial to Alexander's though it is very pricy.
Favorite Sandwich: As mentioned above, Lucca Deli is my favorite place for deli sandwiches but a hidden gem is Golden Gate Deli and Liquor. It is amazing for toasted sandwiches. I recommend the San FranPsycho or the Godfather. In high school, I went to SubCenter nearly every Friday. It's still there, still serving sub sandwiches (cold or hot) and it's still delicious. If you want to be a real OG, you can go to Gene's in the sunset.
Favorite Seafood: A SF native go-to is Tadich Grill and it's well deserving. Go here for the seafood and great cocktails. Leo's Oyster Bar is also good and say hi to my nephew if you swing by Swan's Oyster Depot.
Favorite Pizza: Arguably the best pizza in SF is Tony's. It's my favorite but also very much a trendy place so expect lines. Tommaso's used to be the king and still is worth a visit if you don't get distracted by the strip clubs surrounding it.
Favorite Hot Wings: San Francisco just doesn't have good buffalo wings. Your best bet for wings is Kezar Pub. The next best bet is Hot Sauce and Panko.
Favorite Breakfast/Brunch Spot: Hands down it is Sweet Maple and just like every brunch spot, there's a line to get in. The Millionaire's bacon is orgasmic and the BEC Melt does seem to literally melt in your mouth. They also have great griddle options and, well, just go. My other casual favorite is The Grove. It is always consistent and the iced chai is heavenly. I usually rotated between 5 or so brunch spots but Sweet Maple and the Grove were always my faves.
Favorite Coffee: I want to say Philz (and I do love me some Philz) but my favorite coffee in SF is Blue Bottle. It just is. I didn't understand coffee culture and coffee snobbishness until I had Blue Bottle. And then I understood. The New Orleans iced coffee is a big hit but I also love all their pour over coffees. Go here and just delight in a cup of Joe!
OK, I could go on forever about San Francisco. I could give more and more recommendations. I could discuss nightlife. I could discuss hiking spots. I could discuss neighborhoods. I just could go on forever. So I am going to conclude this first foray into the updated, upscaled, (non-travel) blog entry in the new Macster Uncensored. And with that comes a new slogan: #ThisIsLife
Stay tuned for my take on Peru in the next week or so!
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