My San Francisco

General Guides for Visitors and Locals Alike 

When you don't know where to begin...

Only in San Francisco

Official travel guide to hotels, restaurants, activities, maps & more.

BayCityGuide.com

Sights & attractions, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment guide.

SF Station - San Francisco City Guide

Another guide to local events.

San Francisco Bay Guardian

Alternative weekly reporting of news, arts, culture, restaurants, music, food, and entertainment for the Bay Area.

SF Guide to 'Hoods

Most tourists miss the best parts of town - so read about the different 'hoods and get out there into more interesting areas if you are just visiting!

CityPass : Visit 8 San Francisco Attractions for just $49.00

CityPass is a great way to get around town and includes admission to various museums and other attractions, as well as a bay cruise.

San Francisco Weather 

Location is everything.

Current Weather Conditions in SF

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. :)

Live Views of SF

Live cameras with shots of the San Francisco Bay Area.

More SF Live Cams

San Francisco Bay cams.

Getting Around 

Transportation links.

San Francisco Muni Official Site

Public transit by buses, electric trolleys, streetcars and cable cars.

BART

Inter-city rail system.

Ferry Services

For fun or commuting, you can't beat boating.

SF International Airport

Flight, terminal, and transportation information.

Call a Cab

Taxicab companies in or near San Francisco.

Rent a Car

Car Rentals in San Francisco.

Ride a Bike

Where to ride your bike in San Francisco and where to rent one.

Scootcar Rentals

Scootcar, Scooter, Electric Car, and Motorcycle rentals for self-guided tours. For thrill seekers only :)

Aerial Views

Plane and helicopter tours.

Walking Tours

These are the best - and they are FREE.

Limo Tours

Now you're talking.

Streetwise Map of SF

I love these maps.

Stairway Walks in SF

I had the original 1984 edition, but now I have this one - great lady and great book!

Places Worth Visiting 

San Francisco Neighborhood Guide

For a burg of some 750,000 souls, San Francisco is incredibly diverse. Each 'hood has its own personality for sure - the city is like a collection of little villages, and most tourists miss the best parts - so get out there and explore!

The Presidio of San Francisco

Since the army left The Presidio a few years ago, it has been transformed into the most beautiful park setting in San Francisco.

Golden Gate Bridge

Take a walk on the bridge for one of the best views of San Francisco Bay.

San Francisco Chinatown

The largest chinatown outside of Asia. Great food and fun shopping.

Conservatory of Flowers

The western hemisphere's oldest existing public conservatory. Amazing Victorian glass house.

Golden Gate Park

So many things to do in this thousand acre park! Free shuttles run in the summer, so ride those all around the park for a wonderful free tour.

Fisherman's Wharf

Historic waterfront area, full of fun places.

Ferry Building Marketplace

Fresh food abounds in the shops and restaurants here, and you can hop on a ferry out back for a ride to Sausalito, etc.

Coit Tower

Landmark built at the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit - the WPA murals are gorgeous and the view from the top is priceless.

Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant

Located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park - great WPA murals and two restaurants - view of Ocean Beach from upstairs and GG Park from downstairs. Popular with locals and visitors alike.

Muir Woods National Monument

I call Muir Woods 'the tree museum'. All of Marin County was once covered in redwoods, but there are very few old growth trees left.

Angel Island State Park

AI used to be the Ellis Island of the west coast. Now it's a fantastic state park in the middle of SF Bay. You can hike or bike all the way around it.

Fort Mason Center

Greens Restaurant is located here, as well as many non-profit orgs. You can walk over the hill to the wharf area in about 20 minutes and enjoy the views along the way.

Twin Peaks

Another place to go for a fantastic bird's eye view of the city.

Mount Tamalpais

Drive to the top of Mt. Tam on a clear day and feast your eyes.

Fort Point National Historic Site

Civil war era cort that sit under the south end of Golden Gate Bridge.

North Beach

A perennial hit with tourists, and locals love it too.

San Francisco Zoo

First Wednesday is free day each month. Great place to go if you have kids.

Mendocino

A visual and spiritual paradise for the arts. When you want to go up the coast for some R&R, keep driving until you get to Mendocino.

Sausalito

Great views of SF from just north of the Golden Gate.

Wine Country

Travel, wine, food, events, lodging, wineries, vacation planning, and more - and it's not just Napa County!

Only In San Francisco

General guide to events, places to stay, eat, shop, etc.

Festivals and Events 

There's always something to celebrate!

San Francisco Festivals and Events

General list of events - Bay to Breakers, Chinese New Year, San Francisco Jazz Festival, San Francisco Pride, North Beach Jazz Festival, Fourth of July and more San Francisco festivals and events.

San Francisco Film Fest

The main film fest is always fun.

SF Pride Parade & Celebration

I remember the very first one, back in the eatly 70's when I lived in the Castro.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival

This is a GREAT event every year, and it's FREE too.

SF Indie Fest - Home

Independent film festival.

San Francisco Blues Festival

The oldest blues fest in the world, and the best of course. :)

SF JAZZ FEST

One of the best.

International Latino Film Festival

Films from Latin America, Spain, and Latinos in the USA.

SF Silent Film Festival

True art transcends time.

The Shakespeare Festival

Free Shakespeare in the Park.

SF Fringe Fest

Independent theater in downtown San Francisco.

Love Parade SF

All you need is love.

Midsummer Mozart Festival

Rock me Amadeus.

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

100 artistic, cultural and community events most of which
take place between May and October in Yerba Buena Gardens.
All events are FREE to the public.

Laughing Squid

Art, culture and technology from San Francisco and beyond - always lists interesting events and things to do.

Museums and Galleries 

Art Art ART

SF Museum of Modern Art

The only museum in the western United States devoted to collecting and exhibiting the full scope of modern and contemporary art. Free day is the first Tuesday of each month.

de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park

The new deYoung is fabulous. Free day is the first Tuesday of each month.

Legion of Honor

One of my favorites. Free day is the first Tuesday of each month.

Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

One of the largest museums in the western world devoted exclusively to Asian art and culture. Free day is the first Tuesday of each month.

Academy of Sciences

Aquarium, natural history museum, and planetarium. Free day is the first Wednesday of each month.

The Exploratorium

Hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception. Free day is the first Wednesday of each month.

The Mexican Museum of SF

Soon it will be in its new building!

National Maritime Park Association

Maritime Museum at Fisherman's Wharf.

Cable Car Museum

Cable car history, technology, information, and gift shop.

Museum of Craft and Folk Art

Free Day is the first Tuesday of each month.

San Francisco Arts Events Calendar and Guide

A monthly magazine featuring the most comprehensive listing of arts and cultural events in San Francisco.

San Francisco Art Galleries - HANG

Contemporary fine art made affordable.

The Canvas Gallery

Art gallery, music club, bar, restaurant, open mic, poetry and film club.

San Francisco Art Gallery Guide

This guide features art galleries in San Francisco that have web sites offering a variety of fine art and visual art.

SF Art Institute

Check out the Diego Rivera mural and then the galleries.

City Art Gallery

Run and maintained by 200 local artists, City Art Cooperative Gallery provides an accessible and affordable space for people to show their work.

Places to Stay 

For big bucks or not so big.

San Francisco Hotel Reviews and Discount Reservations

Hotel reviews and reservation discounts with photos of SF hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, and hostels from budget to luxury.

W Hotels San Francisco

Feeling trendy? Have cash to spare?

The Red Victorian

Bed, breakfast and art on Haight Street.

Archbishop's Mansion

Elegant Alamo Square inn accommodations, for when you have money to burn.

The Seal Rock Inn

On the far west edge of town, near the Cliff House, for when you want a quiet, somewhat funky place to stay.

Geary Parkway Motel

For when you are low on funds but need a decent motel room in a low-crime neighborhood.

The Stanford Court Hotel

A great place if you have money to burn.

Things to Do With Kids 

GoCityKids San Francisco

The City Guide for Parents. This is a great town for kids, whether you are just visiting or raising a family here.

Find A Park in SF

Search by age, activity, etc.

Cost of Living in SF 

Just remember, you get what you pay for.

San Francisco Cost of Living Calculator

Can you afford to live in SF in the manner you desire?

Chamber of Commerce on the COL

Information of cost of living in San Francisco, average household income, rental and buying real estate, employment projections, housing space for professionals intending to relocate.

COL Comparison Calculator

How far will your money go in one city vs. another?

Favorite Restaurants 

Good eats.

Greens Restaurant

One of the best vegetarian restaurants in the world, and the view can't be beat either.

Frjtz

The best Belgian fries and beer you will have outside Belgium! Great crepes and salads too.

Ella's

A great place for weekend brunch, but get there early! Breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week is fantastic too.

Bill's Place - Gourmet Hamburgers

When you gotta have a burger.

Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant

Two good restaurants, yummy house brewed beers, and WPA murals to boot. Across from Ocean Beach.

Ernesto's Pizza Restaurant

Another very good little neighborhood place.

La Mediterranee

We've been eating here for more than 30 years. Yum.

ATLAS CAFE

My husband loves this place, across from where he works.

El Tepa Taqueria

My husband also raves about this little Mexican diner.

Greco-Romana Pizza Caffe

Very good pizza, and fast delivery if you live in the northwest part of town.

Tommy's Mexican Restaurant

Another neighborhood fave.

Steps of Rome

Best tiramisu in town.

Pizzetta 211

More great pizza in the 'hood. Tiny place, used to be Mary's for about 30 years, until she retired to Mendocino. Now the new place gets written up all the time for the great pizzetta.

Delancey Street

Good food, good service, good location, and your money goes to a GREAT organization that's been helping people reclaim their lives here for decades now.

King of Thai

Dirt cheap Thai food, but good!

Toy Boat Dessert Cafe

Great place for kids of all ages - vintage toy displays are out of this world, and the food is good too.

Angelina's Cafe

This is my neighborhood place to sit out in the sun (or fog) and drink coffee and read and watch people and talk to my neighbors. And the food is really quite good too. :)

Bok Choy Garden

Simple homestyle Chinese cooking - but all vegan. We eat here often. Very small diner type place.

Best Bookstores in SF 

SF has more bookstores per capita than anywhere in the US (and more bars).

Green Apple Books

A destination for bibliophiles for over 38 years.

The Booksmith

An institution on Haight Street.

City Lights Books

Landmark independent bookstore and publisher that specializes in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics.

Book Passage

The branch in Ferry Plaza is very nice.

Best Music Stores in SF 

Amoeba Music

This used to be a bowling alley called Rock'n'Bowl - so it's a HUGE store, right at the end of Haight Street by Golden Gate Park

Village Music Record Store

This one is in Mill Valley, but it's too wonderful not to mention here!

VIRGIN MEGASTORE SAN FRANCISCO

It's mega mega big... I heard it's the biggest Virgin store in the world.

Best Music Venues 

SF Music and Nightlife Guide

A general guide by neighborhood to bars and clubs in SF.

The Fillmore

Legendary live music club... the one and only Fillmore. We still go there on occasion and it's better than ever.

Slim's

Nightclub owned by Boz Scaggs.

SweetWater Saloon

Very small club in Mill Valley - great place!

Great American Music Hall

Like a smaller Fillmore.

Cafe Du Nord

We used to go here before it was hip and cool.

Biscuits & Blues

Voted America's #1 blues nightclub. Check it out.

Boom Boom Room

Live roots music.

Elbo Room

Great music, pool tables, cheap drinks, and an instant-photo booth.

Jazz at Pearl's

Live jazz nightly.

Bottom of the Hill

Music ranges from hard rock and funk to rock-a-billy, alternative, folk and punk.

The Caspar Inn

Mendocino Coast's Historic Nightclub - if you're up that way, check it out.

My Own SF Images for Sale 

San Francisco Images for Sale on CafePress

A few of my own photos that are for sale in my CafePress shop.

My SF Images on Istock

My SF lightbox on Istock - Royalty Free Stock photography and photos for printing brochures, advertising, annual reports, and electronic use on websites and presentations.

Best Columnists in SF 

Jon Carroll

Good stuff.

Mark Morford

Mark is not your usual columnist.

Mark Fiore

Cartoonist extraordinaire.

Paul Madonna

All Over Coffee comic strip... so San Francisco, and the drawings are gorgeous.