Ginny’s guidebook
Food scene
Lots of options throughout the city, but here are a few of our local favorites. Most are within a short walk away. So many delicious options, so little time!
8 minute walk - Why have a pizza when you can have a delicious, thin-crust pinsa?! Pinsa is like a pizza, but has some rice flour mixed into the flour of the crust. Makes for a delightfully crispy and chewy crust.
Walking distance from the house.
This is a regular spot for us when we're in the mood for pizza/pinsa!
Barbara Pinseria & Cocktail Bar
431 Columbus Avenue8 minute walk - Why have a pizza when you can have a delicious, thin-crust pinsa?! Pinsa is like a pizza, but has some rice flour mixed into the flour of the crust. Makes for a delightfully crispy and chewy crust.
Walking distance from the house.
This is a regular spot for us when we're in the mood for pizza/pinsa!
Long walk or 5 minute Uber away - Delicious dim sum with a view of the Embarcadero! Everything is good at this Cantonese style dim sum restaurant. They also have mains. Try ordering the salt and pepper crab. Or the Hong Kong Pan Fried noodles. Yum!
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Harborview Restaurant & Bar
4 Embarcadero CtrLong walk or 5 minute Uber away - Delicious dim sum with a view of the Embarcadero! Everything is good at this Cantonese style dim sum restaurant. They also have mains. Try ordering the salt and pepper crab. Or the Hong Kong Pan Fried noodles. Yum!
8 minute walk - Do you like authentic, spicy Sichuan cuisine?! Then this place is a must. Spicy wontons, cauliflower with pork, spicy catfish... Order a TsingTao to tame the heat.
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Z & Y Restaurant
655 Jackson St8 minute walk - Do you like authentic, spicy Sichuan cuisine?! Then this place is a must. Spicy wontons, cauliflower with pork, spicy catfish... Order a TsingTao to tame the heat.
8 minute walk - This is our go-to restaurant for Italian style seafood. Though Sotto Mare (immediately next door) is in all the tourist guides, this is far superior. Go where the locals go! We love the Cioppino and the Sea Urchin Bucatini.
California Fish Market restaurant
550 Green Street8 minute walk - This is our go-to restaurant for Italian style seafood. Though Sotto Mare (immediately next door) is in all the tourist guides, this is far superior. Go where the locals go! We love the Cioppino and the Sea Urchin Bucatini.
5 minute walk - Delicious Turkish salads, bowls, wraps, soups. Highly recommended!
Sumac Istanbul Street Food
1096 Union Street5 minute walk - Delicious Turkish salads, bowls, wraps, soups. Highly recommended!
20 min walk - Dim Sum with cocktails and a view of the Bay at Ghirardelli Square.
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Palette Tea House
900 North Point St20 min walk - Dim Sum with cocktails and a view of the Bay at Ghirardelli Square.
Local sushi spot - 5 min walk. Super friendly staff, family run. Menu is solid. Positive, casual vibe. Decent happy hour menu.
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Sushi On North Beach
745 Columbus AveLocal sushi spot - 5 min walk. Super friendly staff, family run. Menu is solid. Positive, casual vibe. Decent happy hour menu.
5 min walk - hole in the wall spot for typical pho place; we go here all the time for a bowl of pho (noodle soup) or their combination plates. Super solid spot for a quick, casual, Vietnamese meal.
Pho Vung Tau
708 Vallejo Street5 min walk - hole in the wall spot for typical pho place; we go here all the time for a bowl of pho (noodle soup) or their combination plates. Super solid spot for a quick, casual, Vietnamese meal.
5 min walk - Delicious, upscale Mexican food with a hip, lively casual environment - try the lobster tail tacos (puerto nuevo lobster), Mexican sashimi, tortilla soup, guac...weekend brunch is pretty good too.
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Don Pistos
510 Union St5 min walk - Delicious, upscale Mexican food with a hip, lively casual environment - try the lobster tail tacos (puerto nuevo lobster), Mexican sashimi, tortilla soup, guac...weekend brunch is pretty good too.
8 minute walk - lucky you - you're staying minutes away from the original location of Swensen's Ice Cream! My favorite - Sticky, Chewy Chocolate...mmmm....
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The First Swensen's Ice Cream Store
1999 Hyde St8 minute walk - lucky you - you're staying minutes away from the original location of Swensen's Ice Cream! My favorite - Sticky, Chewy Chocolate...mmmm....
15 min walk - delicious handmade Italian pastas, date night, gorgeous interiors, impeccable service. A true foodie scene
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Cotogna
490 Pacific Ave15 min walk - delicious handmade Italian pastas, date night, gorgeous interiors, impeccable service. A true foodie scene
Italian American classic - large portions! steak, pasta, burgers, seafood, dessert
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Original Joe's
601 Union StItalian American classic - large portions! steak, pasta, burgers, seafood, dessert
Michelin rated, James Beard award winning. Absolutely delicious Chinese influenced New American/Californian cuisine. Amazing…
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Mister Jiu's
28 Waverly PlMichelin rated, James Beard award winning. Absolutely delicious Chinese influenced New American/Californian cuisine. Amazing…
Definitely a place for a special occasion. Truly an unforgettable, upscale foodie experience. Can’t really describe it.
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Nightbird
330 Gough StDefinitely a place for a special occasion. Truly an unforgettable, upscale foodie experience. Can’t really describe it.
10 minute walk - Fabulous sushi in Russian Hill...just across the street from Swensen's for an ice cream treat.
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Elephant Sushi
1916 Hyde St10 minute walk - Fabulous sushi in Russian Hill...just across the street from Swensen's for an ice cream treat.
Spicy King
65 Waverly Pl10 minute walk - Authentic sichuan cuisine. Spicy and delicious.
Groceries/Household
Nearby options for groceries and household items, but of course there's always Instacart...
Here's the closest corner store for a quick pick-up of groceries, household items, etc. Bonus - they have a fresh orange juice machine, made on the spot.
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Union Street Produce Co
801 Union StHere's the closest corner store for a quick pick-up of groceries, household items, etc. Bonus - they have a fresh orange juice machine, made on the spot.
Trader Joe's
401 Bay StClosest Trader Joe's - 10 min walk
There's a Safeway near the Trader Joe's on Bay Street, but this one is better.
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Safeway
15 Marina BlvdThere's a Safeway near the Trader Joe's on Bay Street, but this one is better.
Parks, Playgrounds and Open Space
Here are a few nearby open space options to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of our city and natural landscape.
About a 5 minute walk away - an open lawn surrounded by food and drinks - come for picnics, reading in the sun, playing frisbee on the lawn, just outdoor time. Has a small playground with public bathrooms.
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Pjazza Washington
About a 5 minute walk away - an open lawn surrounded by food and drinks - come for picnics, reading in the sun, playing frisbee on the lawn, just outdoor time. Has a small playground with public bathrooms.
5 mins aways - great playground and recreational park for kids and adults alike. Extensive play structure, basketball courts, tennis courts, swimming pool, bocce ball and picnic tables.
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Joe DiMaggio Playground
651 Lombard St5 mins aways - great playground and recreational park for kids and adults alike. Extensive play structure, basketball courts, tennis courts, swimming pool, bocce ball and picnic tables.
5 mins walk away - Great, little park, a little more secluded than Joe D. Play structure, one basketball court, lawn, community garden, picnic table.
Michelangelo Playground
1085 Greenwich St5 mins walk away - Great, little park, a little more secluded than Joe D. Play structure, one basketball court, lawn, community garden, picnic table.
A National Historic Park that includes a lovely, small beach and bay cove in the neighborhood. You'll find kids, families, couples on the beach; cold-water swimmers in the protected cove. Great destination for a short run. Connects to Fort Mason and the Marina, Crissy Field, Golden Gate Bridge.
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Aquatic Park
700-898 Beach StA National Historic Park that includes a lovely, small beach and bay cove in the neighborhood. You'll find kids, families, couples on the beach; cold-water swimmers in the protected cove. Great destination for a short run. Connects to Fort Mason and the Marina, Crissy Field, Golden Gate Bridge.
National Park minutes from your doorstep - enjoy the very best of San Francisco and Northern California landscape. NPS says: "With its breathtaking San Francisco Bay views, easy hiking, welcoming beaches and picnic areas, and wild open spaces, Crissy Field is a recreational paradise that has long been discovered by locals. The site has a rich history – first as a home for the Native Ohlone, then as an Army airfield, and later as busy industrial area for the military."
Go for a walk, run, bike ride, and take it all in.
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Crissy Field
National Park minutes from your doorstep - enjoy the very best of San Francisco and Northern California landscape. NPS says: "With its breathtaking San Francisco Bay views, easy hiking, welcoming beaches and picnic areas, and wild open spaces, Crissy Field is a recreational paradise that has long been discovered by locals. The site has a rich history – first as a home for the Native Ohlone, then as an Army airfield, and later as busy industrial area for the military."
Go for a walk, run, bike ride, and take it all in.
A national park in San Francisco - You can walk along the waterfront to Aquatic Park, Fort Mason, Marina Green, East Beach/Crissy Field and to the Golden Gate Bridge. Beautiful walk.
Presidio of San Francisco
A national park in San Francisco - You can walk along the waterfront to Aquatic Park, Fort Mason, Marina Green, East Beach/Crissy Field and to the Golden Gate Bridge. Beautiful walk.
One of the best and newest playgrounds in San Francisco, right in the Presidio with an unbeatable view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Imaginative play structure for little kids (pre-school) and older elementary school-aged kids as well. A must for families.
Presidio Tunnel Tops
One of the best and newest playgrounds in San Francisco, right in the Presidio with an unbeatable view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Imaginative play structure for little kids (pre-school) and older elementary school-aged kids as well. A must for families.
Community and Cultural Space
Fort Mason Arts and Cultural Center is a National Park hosting weekly Sunday Farmers Markets, Friday Off-The-Grid food truck bonanza, art galleries, restaurants, theater and more!
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Fort Mason Center Farmers' Market
Marina BoulevardFort Mason Arts and Cultural Center is a National Park hosting weekly Sunday Farmers Markets, Friday Off-The-Grid food truck bonanza, art galleries, restaurants, theater and more!
Highly recommended theatrical acrobatic performance here in North Beach. The current show is called "Dear San Francisco". It's a love letter to all that is wonderful about San Francisco. Highly recommended for all ages!
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Club Fugazi
678 Green StHighly recommended theatrical acrobatic performance here in North Beach. The current show is called "Dear San Francisco". It's a love letter to all that is wonderful about San Francisco. Highly recommended for all ages!
Coffee!
Go for a walk, pick up your favorite Philz coffee, and walk the Polk retail corridor - restaurants, groceries, cafes, retail, etc.
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Philz Coffee
3101 24th StGo for a walk, pick up your favorite Philz coffee, and walk the Polk retail corridor - restaurants, groceries, cafes, retail, etc.
5 mins away - Serving Four Barrel Coffee, pastries and bread by Firebrand, house-made sandwiches, salads and snacks.
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Beacon Coffee & Pantry
805 Columbus Ave5 mins away - Serving Four Barrel Coffee, pastries and bread by Firebrand, house-made sandwiches, salads and snacks.
Storied, historic North Beach cafe - come for an espresso and soak in the old school North Beach vibe. They occasionally feature live music on weekends.
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Caffe Trieste
601 Vallejo St.Storied, historic North Beach cafe - come for an espresso and soak in the old school North Beach vibe. They occasionally feature live music on weekends.
Parking Garages
721 Filbert Street
721 Filbert StPublic Parking Garage
721 Filbert Street
less than a 5 min walk