Keep Hunger and Thirst at Bay in the City by the Bay.

San Francisco, long considered the cultural and financial center of Northern California, is so much more than the tech hub it’s painted to be in the media. Yes, you’re much more likely to witness riders stepping into an autonomous vehicle in SF – and the majority of people you’ll meet will likely work in a job that didn’t exist a decade ago – but at its heart, the city is teeming with unbelievable views, unforgettable eats, and an unmistakable energy that’ll make you consider booking that late flight home.

The entire city and its 815,000 inhabitants occupy a seven-milewide, seven-mile-tall peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay, known colloquially as “The Bay.” This comparatively small scale (Kansas City, MO, for instance, is seven times larger than San Francisco by land area) makes SF the second most densely populated city in the country. Lucky for you, that means it’s feasible to see much of the city in a single visit – but doing so requires a bit of advance planning.

Getting your bearings before you touch down is always beneficial for uninitiated visitors. San Francisco has plenty of walkable neighborhoods, but it’s also home to two of the steepest streets found anywhere, including Bradford Street in Bernal Heights (which boasts a whopping 41-percent grade) and the famed zigzagging Lombard Street in The Presidio, known as “the crookedest street in the world,” featuring eight hairpin turns in a single block. Suffice it to say that, unless you plan ahead, your calves might be feeling it the next morning.

In keeping with this “know before you go” mentality, we’re going to start north and work our way south outlining four neighborhoods and districts you should put on your list before heading to the City by the Bay.

Marina District And The Presidio

A visit to San Francisco isn’t complete without getting up close and personal with arguably the most recognizable bridge in the world: the Golden Gate Bridge. Start your trip in the Marina District – Union Street and Chestnut Street both boast a number of excellent options for brunch (try Rose’s Cafe or The Brixton), shopping or a quick coffee, or head south from the Marina to Fillmore Street for a wide range of upscale dining (check out Noosh or Troya for some memorable Mediterranian eats) and boutique shopping. Don’t forget to stop into Jane’s on Fillmore for housemade baked goods and a cup of fair-trade coffee.

Once you’ve filled your cup and your stomach, head up the hill to Broadway Street in Pacific Heights for some impressively walkable and gawkable neighborhoods. Known locally as

“Billionaire’s Row,” the three-block stretch between Divisadero and Lyon Street is home to some of the most impressive (and expensive) residential real estate in the country.

From there, continue your walk through Presidio Heights or Cow Hollow, or take the Lyon Street Steps down 332 steps into The Presidio, a 1,500-acre former military post turned park, which is home to several beaches, a golf course, the century-old Palace of Fine Arts, and large concrete fortifications leftover from as early as 1891. The history of this remarkable corner of San Francisco is significantly older than that, even: Spanish settlers began fortifying the foothold as early as 1776. From there, you can complete your walk back to The Marina – past the yacht harbor and onto the sprawling lawn at the park at Fort Mason toward the bridge for some of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge that SF has to offer.

North Beach And Chinatown

A short walk south of the Marina and the nearby, more tourist-laden Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach is the historic heart of San Francisco’s Italian population, with an eclectic mix of white tablecloth eateries, wine bars, trendy cafes, and bohemian bars. In North Beach, you’ll find old-school Italian restaurants like Fior d’Italia, which, having served patrons since 1886, is considered to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States.

Much like New York City, San Francisco’s Chinatown is located immediately to the south of its “Little Italy,” and makes for one of the most memorable walks in the city. China Live has an extensive menu and an electric atmosphere. Located in a back alley, Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory makes for a fun pitstop (be sure to write your own fortunes!). And there are too many dim sum and dumpling spots to name here, but suffice it to say that if you leave Chinatown hungry, you’re doing it wrong. But if you’re still looking for some grub in the neighborhood, take a short walk from Chinatown to Del Popolo, which has been firing up some of the best Neapolitan-style pizzas for over a decade.

HAIGHT-ASHBURY AND GOLDEN GATE PARK

For many, San Francisco is perhaps best known for its role in the counterculture movement of the 1960s and subsequent “hippie” communities in the 1970s. The neighborhood most widely credited with this reputation is the Haight-Ashbury district in Central San Francisco. Here, you’ll find a lively, grungy, and eclectic hodgepodge of vintage clothing stores, dive bars, and record shops. You’ll also find some of the most colorful and well-preserved Victorian architecture in this neighborhood, and a well-rounded assortment of sandwich shops (check out Bite Me Sandwiches), vegan eateries (try VeganBurg SF), and authentic global restaurants (choose from Parada 22 or Hippie Thai Street Food) to curb your appetite.

Immediately to the west of Haight-Ashbury lies Golden Gate Park, a three-mile-long, more than 1,000-acre park stretching from the University of San Francisco campus to the Pacific Ocean. Often compared to New York’s Central Park, Golden Gate Park is home to a Japanese Tea Garden, the famed de Young Museum, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, a disc golf course, an 11-acre bison paddock, a polo field, a golf course, and two giant Dutch windmills facing out to the Pacific. A walk or a drive west through this incredible urban park will culminate at Ocean Beach, where daytime hikers make the pilgrimage north to the Lands End Lookout and nighttime beachgoers gather around firepits illuminating the 3.5-mile long stretch of sand.

For visitors with a car at their disposal, a short drive south down the coast will take you to Fort Funston, yet another former harbor defense and artillery battery turned park. Fort Funston is perched hundreds of feet above the water, making it a well-known launch spot for San Francisco’s hang-gliding community – a fun spectator sport from up on the cliffs or below on the beach.

The Mission District

Moving south of San Francisco’s financial district and Market Street, the Mission District has long served as the center of the city’s Mexican-American community. Known for its vibrant food scene, beautiful parks, historical architecture, and progressive art community, The Mission is considered to be the oldest neighborhood in SF. And in a city well-known for its “microclimates” – an anomaly where different neighborhoods will have vastly different weather caused by ocean air, thick tendrils of fog, and man-made wind tunnels – The Mission is definitely the place to be for people who enjoy warm weather.

The undisputed gem of The Mission is Delores Park, a foursquare-block, 16-acre park built into a hill with a beautiful view of the San Francisco skyline. Perfect for late afternoon picnics, consider stopping by the nearby Fort Point Valencia location for a six-pack of locally brewed Kölsch and Tartine Bakery for SF’s most sought-after sandwiches and pastries (or Pancho Villa Taqueria for a famed Mission-style burrito). Then climb your final hill of the weekend, crack a cold one, and toast to a trip well-traveled in the City by the Bay.

ABOUT THE WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Anna Petrow and Patrick Mulvihill call Kansas City home, but they have been known to find themselves off the beaten path. Born and raised in Kansas City, Anna is a culinary and lifestyle photographer with a knack for letting her camera lens guide her travels. Patrick is a writer, an enthusiastic travel companion, and a proud St. Louis native who uses each new trip as an excuse to eat five meals a day.