SAN FRANCISCO overview
Presidio Marina/Cow Hollow
Presidio Heights Pacific Heights
1
North
Sea Cliff
Outer Richmond
Inner Richmond
7 North West
Golden Gate Park Outer Sunset
Inner Sunset
Haight-Ashbury
Cole Valley Twin Peaks
6 West + Central
Fisherman‘s Wharf
North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Russian Hill
Nob Hill
Chinatown
Embarcadero
Financial District
Union Square
Tenderloin
Civic Center
SoMa (South of Market)
South Beach
Mission Bay
Lower Pacific Heights
Japantown
Fillmore
NoPa (North of the Panhandle)
Alamo Square
Hayes Valley
Duboce Triangle
Castro
Dolores Heights
Mission
Noe Valley Design District
Potrero Hill
Dogpatch
Bernal Heights
Bayview/Hunters Point
3 North East + East 4 Central North 5 Central + East 2 North East
5 of the city’s BEST PASTRY SHOPS 28 5 places to satisfy a SWEET TOOTH 30 5 great BREAD BAKERS 32 5 VEGETARIAN and VEGANfocused restaurants 34 5 spots for MEAT LOVERS 36 5 places to grab a good PIZZA PIE 39 5 of the city’s BEST BURGERS 41 5 GREAT BURRITOS according to locals 43 5 places to get GOOD DUMPLINGS 45 5 vibrant FOOD MARKETS to visit 47 5 CHEESE and SPECIALTY SHOPS 49
95 PLACES TO EAT OR BUY GOOD FOOD
5 restaurants where DINING MAKES A DIFFERENCE 51 5 BRUNCH SPOTS worth waiting for 53 5 great SMALL PLATES restaurants 55 5 of the most sought DINNER DATE spots 57 5 fun PLAY DATE spots 60 5 places for hearty COMFORT DISHES 63 5 places to SLURP OYSTERS 65 5 good old CLASSIC SF JOINTS 68
5 of the city’s BEST PASTRY SHOPS
1 ARIZMENDI
1331 9th Avenue
Inner Sunset ➅
+1 415 566 3117
arizmendibakery.com
2 NEIGHBOR
BAKEHOUSE
2343 3rd Street
Dogpatch ➄
+1 415 549 7716
neighborsf.com
3 BLACK JET
BAKING CO.
833 Cortland Avenue
Bernal Heights ➄
+1 415 829 3905
blackjetbakery.com
This worker owned bakery is known for its wide variety of savory and sweet pastries, artisan bread, and vegetarian pizza. They post their daily menu and bread schedule online so you can order ahead before selections run out. A second location is in the Mission.
Some excellent morning pastries of the sweet and savory kind, as well as sourdough bread loaves can be found here. Line up early and get your hands on anything you can before they sell out –especially the Everything Croissant. Most things disappear way before the 2 pm closing time at this bake shop.
This is one of those tiny neighborhood bakeries that people line up for every morning. If you’re looking for amazing baked goods and breakfast pastries, this is your spot. They make great versions of childhood favorites (like oreo sandwich cookies and pop tarts) and some of the best pies in the city.
28
4 B. PATISSERIE
2821 California St Pacific Heights ➀
+1 415 440 1700 bpatisserie.com
5 TARTINE BAKERY & CAFE
600 Guerrero Street Mission ➄
+1 415 487 2600 tartinebakery.com/ san-francisco/bakery
A modern French-style patisserie with an open kitchen and wraparound case displaying delectable cakes, tarts, macarons, and other viennoiseries. They’re famous for their kouign amanns (think caramelized croissant), and new seasonal flavors are introduced regularly. For something more savory, they serve tartines and its sister shop across the street offers heartier sandwiches.
A continuous line forms at this corner bakery – rain or shine. And it’s worth the wait each time. Get there early for a morning bun or pain au chocolat. Or stop by for their world-renowned bread loaves – they are legendary. Their nearby outpost, Tartine Manufactory, offers additional varieties of baked goods, lunch and dinner items, and ice cream.
29
3 BLACK JET BAKING CO.
5 CULT COFFEE shops of SF 74 5 PICTURE PERFECT PLACES for coffee 76 5 places to SIP TEA 79 5 TIKI BARS for kitschy cocktails 81 5 of the best places for CRAFT COCKTAILS 83 5 places for COCKTAILS IN A LUXE SETTING 85 5 BEER HALLS for brews and bites 87 5 unique WINE BARS 89 5 BEER GARDENS for group gatherings 91 5 LOCAL CRAFT BREWERIES to visit 93 5 SECRET SPEAKEASY BARS 96
75 PLACES FOR A DRINK
5 cool SPECIALTY SPIRITS BARS 98 5 fun bars with OUTDOOR PATIOS 100 5 great ROOFTOP BARS 102 5 great bars where TIME STANDS STILL 104
5 CULT COFFEE shops of SF
96 BLUE BOTTLE KIOSK
315 Linden Street
Hayes Valley ➃
+1 510 653 3394
bluebottlecoffee.com
97 PHILZ
3101 24th Street
Mission ➄
+1 415 875 9370
philzcoffee.com
98 LINEA
1125 Mariposa Street
Potrero Hill ➄
lineacaffe.com
This company was founded by James Freeman, who sought a lightly roasted cup of coffee to expose the beans’ natural flavors. This he had seen in Japan where baristas slowly brewed each cup by hand. He opened this tiny kiosk in 2005 and his patrons loved the brew method. There are now Blue Bottle cafes worldwide.
No espresso drinks here. For 25 years it’s been all about brewing one cup at a time and customizing it to your preference (milk type and sweetness level). They offer over twenty blends of beans, all listed on the large menu board. This is the original location of the first Philz.
This is the boutique roaster’s newer roastery and cafe. Its first location is in the Mission. Food & Wine magazine once included Linea in its lineup of the “11 Best Indie Coffee Shops in America”, and its sweet, certified organic coffee blends are absolutely deserving of that title.
74
99 ANDYTOWN
3655 Lawton Street
Outer Sunset ➅
andytownsf.com
100 SIGHTGLASS COFFEE
270 7th Street
SoMa ➂ +1 415 861 1313
sightglasscoffee.com
This is where Andytown started. Two more cafes, one includes a roastery and training lab, are located further out in the neighborhood. Fans have flocked to all three for great coffee and their signature drink called the Snowy Plover.
Two brothers founded this cafe and roastery which takes its name from the viewing window on their vintage PROBAT Roaster. It takes center stage at this bilevel roastery. They source their green coffee from many regions and operate as small-batch producers, enabling them to explore and perfect their methods. Two other cafes are in NoPa and the Mission.
75
HEATH CERAMICS
5 perfect PLANT and GARDEN shops 108 5 TRENDY DESIGN shops 110 5 LOCAL POTTERS shops 113 5 VINTAGE SHOPS for cool finds 115 5 unique SPECIALTY SHOPS 118 5 CURIOSITY SHOPS for cool discoveries ———— 120 5 places to fill up on ART SUPPLIES 124 5 BOOKSHOPS for BOOKWORMS 126 5 spots for SPECIALTY MAGAZINES 128 5 places for the BEST BLOOMS 130 5 magnificent HOME DECOR shops 133 5 shops for COOL SURF and COASTAL LIVING 135 5 shops to STOCK YOUR KITCHEN 137
65 PLACES TO SHOP
5 perfect PLANT and GARDEN shops
171 FLORA GRUBB GARDENS
1634 Jerrold Avenue
Bayview/ Hunters Point ➄
+1 415 626 7256
floragrubb.com
This is one of the lushest sanctuaries in SF. It offers a wide selection of indoor and outdoor plants and vibrant containers and furnishings. They display everything in a unique way – keep an eye out for a rusty car full of plants. You can also order coffee from their cafe and enjoy it in the garden’s many seating areas.
108
174 REVEL
172
THE GARDENER
1 Ferry Building
Embarcadero ➁
+1 415 981 8181
gravelandgold.com
173
PLANTS AND FRIENDS
522 Octavia Street
Hayes Valley ➃
+1 415 949 0125
plantsandfriends
togo.com
174 REVEL
2421 3rd Street
Dogpatch ➄
+1 415 829 7380
revelshopsf.com
175 SUCCULENCE
402 Cortland Avenue
Bernal Heights ➄
+1 415 282 2212
thesucculence.com
Here you’ll find all the goods and gifts to plant, prep and celebrate your harvest from the garden. They offer tools, totes, baskets, serving ware, linens and newly released cookbooks. The second and larger location is in Berkeley.
A small, but cozy indoor nursery for people who like plants. And a super friendly staff that will help choose the right ones for you and provide tips to ensure they thrive in your space. Their second shop is in Pacific Heights.
Inside this gem you’ll find indoor plants, containers, baskets and botanical inspired home goods, including many made by local artisans. As you head towards the back, you’ll see all the beautiful blooms on display. Grab a bouquet or select your stems for a personal arrangement.
As the name suggests, this is where you’ll find succulents – and plenty of them. Head to their greenhouse at the back of the shop. They have houseplants and other rare species, too. After you’ve picked out your plant and container, head to the planting bar for soil, pebbles and moss to make your own creation.
109
199 LOST ART SALON
RUSSIAN HILL
5 unique HISTORIC HOMES to visit 160 5 places as SEEN IN THE MOVIES 162 5 of the city’s STEEPEST HILLS 166 5 HILLS WORTH CLIMBING for the view 168 5 of the lushest URBAN GARDENS to wander 171 5 great POPOS to unwind 174 5 THINGS THAT ARE GOLD (the Golden Gate Bridge is not) 176 5 must-see spots in CHINATOWN 178 5 places to discover THE SUMMER OF LOVE 180 5 spots of THE BEAT GENERATION 182 5 unique discoveries in GOLDEN GATE PARK 184 5 great attractions in THE PRESIDIO 186 5 OLD RUINS worth discovering 189 5 places to CATCH A RAINBOW in foggy SF 191
70 PLACES TO DISCOVER SF
5 unique HISTORIC HOMES to visit
276 HAAS-LILIENTHAL HOUSE
2007 Franklin Street
Pacific Heights ➀
+1 415 441 3000
sfheritage.org/haaslilienthal-house
277 MCELROY
OCTAGON HOUSE
2645 Gough Street
Marina/
Cow Hollow ➀
+1 415 441 7512
nscda-ca.org/ octagon-house
If you’re wondering what life was like for a middle-class family in a grand Victorian at the turn of the 19th century, visit this home. It’s filled with original furnishings, clothing and even a giant antique train set. You can sign up for a tour of the house or a walking tour of the neighborhood.
During the 19th century some believed a house of this shape was a more efficient use of space, energy and cost than a typical square kind. That was short lived and this is one of three remaining octagon homes in the city. A historic landmark, it is now a museum of period arts, craft and furniture.
278
SPRECKELS MANSION
2080 Washington St
Pacific Heights ➀
This impressive chateau was built for sugar tycoon Adolph Spreckels and his wife, Alma. A love story of a rich, older man and a poor, younger woman who lived in the finest home in the city. It sits on an entire half block in the city and has its own crooked road.
160
279 ABNER PHELPS HOUSE
1111 Oak Street
Haight-Ashbury ➃
This is the oldest house in SF and it was constructed around 1850 for Abner Phelps, a colonel in the MexicanAmerican War and lawyer in the city. Where it was first built (before it was reassembled) remains a mystery. The house is pushed much further back from its neighbors, enabling Abner to build stores on nearby Divisadero Street.
280 TOBIN HOUSE
1969 California St
Pacific Heights ➀
What appears as a half completed home was meant to be two. Michael De Young (founder of the San Francisco Chronicle) intended for his daughters to occupy two mirroring houses. One was happy to live there; the other was not. The second house was never built, which explains the abruptly ending archway.
161
278 SPRECKELS MANSION
COLOPHON
EDITING and COMPOSING — Leslie Santarina
GRAPHIC DESIGN — Joke Gossé and doublebill.design
PHOTOGRAPHY — Leslie Santarina
COVER IMAGE — Helipad House (secret 364)
The addresses in this book have been selected after thorough independent research by the author, in collaboration with Luster Publishing. The selection is solely based on personal evaluation of the business by the author. Nothing in this book was published in exchange for payment or benefits of any kind.
D/2022/12.005/16
ISBN 978 94 6058 3117
NUR 510, 513
© 2018 Luster Publishing, Antwerp
Third edition, June 2022 – Second reprint, June 2022
lusterpublishing.com – THE500HIDDENSECRETS.COM info@lusterpublishing.com
Printed in Italy by Printer Trento.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher. An exception is made for short excerpts, which may be cited for the sole purpose of reviews.
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