Check out Yelp.com for reviews for everything by neighborhood. As for personal favorites: Swan Oyster Depot (line starts about 11:15 AM) Giordano Bros (Pittsburgh style sandwiches) Manora's (great Thai food)
Go walk Fisherman's Wharf. Eat fresh crab cocktails. Forget what they cost, just eat them and look at sea lions on the piers and be happy.
House of Nanking in Chinatown. Went some years ago as that was the spot my cousin took everyone who visited him out there to. It was probably the best chinese food I've ever had.
You should check out the zoo. Especially the tiger exhibit. (can't believe no one had posted that yet) Seriously though, drive down Lombard Street (the curviest street in the nation), check out Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge, and yes, Fisherman's Wharf is cool, although hella expensive.
Anchor Brewing Co. If you can't get on the tour, go to San Francisco Brewing Co. It's right down near all the other touristy stuff.
San Francisco kicks ***. Be sure to get up into the wine country if you have a day to spare. Tour a bunch of wineries and get lots of free samples. There is also an allsome little park south of Carmel at which there is a beach called "Devil's Cauldron." No, it is not for swimming. It's worth a trip down there, too, if you have the time.
Gary Danko is probably the best dining experience I've ever had. If you can't get a reservation, ask to be put on the waiting list. I've had good luck with that in the past.
Go hit some Italian places in North Beach. Also a 2nd for House of Nanking. I was there a couple of months ago and it was tasty.
Per recommendation on this very board, go to Tommaso's for Italian. It's a favorite now. I second Gary Danko--an outstanding dining experience.
Swans and House of Nanking prove a place can be both touristy and awesome. At Nanking, don't even look at the menu, just ask for Peter to bring what he reccomends. And Gary Danko is fantastic
Betelnut (on Union in Cow Hollow) Steps of Rome (after hours, in North Beach off Columbus) Boudin's (Fisherman's Wharf)
Don't go to Boudin or Steps. Go to Burma Superstar, Betelnut, E&O Trading Company, & Chaya. All excellent.
thanks for the recos guys. we just got back yesterday. tried to go to boudin's but we went on NYE and they were only serving a prix fix so we went nuts at the crab stands instead. man those were awesome crabs. we went to a ramen restaurant in san mateo no one's named yet, it's called Santa Ramen. they only serve dinner and they only serve until they run out of broth so make sure you go early if you ever want to go. sf is amazing. all the boutiques remind me of how austin is, except on a much grander scale. i will definitely be going back.
Question about where to stay. The wife, myself and daughters (11 and 20) are going in late May. We have about 2-3 days in SF before going to the wedding in Brentwood area, then going on to Yosemite for a few days. Where is a good place to stay? Suggestions please. I'm more interested in location close to fun things to do. On our list: Alcatraz, Muir Woods, Lombard Street, CoitTower. Still planning the rest so ideas appreciated.
Find a hotel with the location you want and the price you can afford from Kimpton:The Link These are smaller, boutique hotels, but have been recently redone and have great charm. A Bay Bridge room at the Harbor Court is simply fantastic.
We have stayed in the same place for years, not the fanciest place but it is right between North Beach and Chinatown and you can walk to the Wharf or the Ferry Building. Oh, they also have free parking. Link
So, this is probably the wrong forum to do this on, but I'm starting a little business underneath the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco called Press Club. Press Club We call ourselves an urban tasting room. We will be a nice place to visit for San Francisco visitors who don't have time to make it up to the wine country. We've partnered with some great wineries (think Chateau Montelena, Miner Family Vineyards) to be their home away from home. Each winery is staffing their own tasting able, so you can go through their flights, purchase and ship wine, and join wine clubs, just like you can in Napa. We'll also have a wine lounge, etc. May not be appropriate for the 21 and under set, but since we are basically in Union Square, you can drop them off at the Puma store or the redone SF Emporium down the street while you taste away for an hour. We will be open in late April. I'll post something more as we get closer - I don't want to violate any guidelines about business advertising or what not.
Nice - interesting mix of vinyards you have there (and not the usual suspects). We'll have to stop by when you're open...
I make the same recommendations on SFO every month or so when this question appears: The Hunan Restaurant at 924 Sansome. Henry Chung opened the first Hunan restaurant in this country on Kearney in the early '70's. It never reopened after the 1989 earthquake. The Sansome location has been there since the late '70's at least. Best Chinese food I have ever had. It can be pretty hot. The Tadich Grill. Oldest restaurant in the city. Fresh seafood, simply prepared; ancient waiters. Grilled rex sole is huge in my memory bank. Across the street from the Bank of America World Hqs., 240 California. Harris' After several years hitting great steakhouses, we agreed this was better than Peter Luger, Gene and Georgetti, Pacific Dining Car, and numerous others including the upscale chains: Morton's, et al. Caesar salad, dry aged ribeye with Bearnaise, cheesy taters, creamed spinach, a good Pinot Noir. Dessert if you like; they have a reputation for great Baked Alaska. Corner of Van Ness and Pacific Ave. We would have to be there a full week before we tried a new place.