You can get a downloadable map of this itinerary here.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL: Most of the year is lovely, but I would recommend avoiding June-August, as these tend to be our chillier, foggier, and more forest fire-prone months. Regardless of when you travel to the Bay Area, be sure to pack layers! Some events you could plan around include Fleet Week or Outside Lands, which are both in October.

WHERE TO STAY: My favorite hotels are Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, the San Francisco Proper, or the Palace. It’s very popular (and generally safe) to stay near Fisherman’s Wharf as well. I would recommend avoiding the Tenderloin–the cheapest hotels can be found in this neighborhood, but it’s not a very safe area to stay.

friday.

Start your day off with a croissant and your other carbs of choice at Tartine Bakery (very famous), As Quoted (good gluten-free options and killer banana bread muffin), Le Marais (best croissant in SF), or Jane on Fillmore (cute, local spot). If the line is too long, you could also try walking into Tartine Manufactury, which will have more substantial food options. Once you have your fix of baked goods, head towards the Panhandle, which is the main entrance into Golden Gate Park. Rent a city bike through Lyft (use this code for a discount on your ride), and take a loop around the park. This website has a great list of all of the highlights in GGP. My favorite, which just so happens to be the PERFECT place for a light bite as well, is the De Young Museum. I’d recommend spending a few hours admiring the exhibits, but don’t miss going up to the rooftop! Once at the top (or at the Ferris wheel nearby), you’ll have 360 views of the city.

For dinner, head to my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE dinner spot in the city, Flour + Water. With a pasta tasting menu, how could it not be life changing? You’ll need to make a reservation far in advance, or show up immediately when they open, or else you likely won’t be able to get a table. Trust me on this one–I think about their pasta nearly every day.

Worst case, if you aren’t able to get in, you can go down the street to Flour + Water Pizzeria or El Farolitofor an AMAZING hole-in-the-wall burrito (cash only). I’d get your meal to go and watch the sunset at Dolores Park. After dinner, head a block away to Bi-Rite Creamery. They have an ice cream tasting flight, but if you’re going to choose one flavor, the Malted Vanilla Peanut Brittle is my go-to.

If you need a night cap, head to Charmaine’s Rooftop at the Proper Hotel, The Interval at Long Now, or Novela. If there’s a late-night show, San Francisco also has great jazz bars–a local favorite is Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio.

saturday.

Start your Saturday with breakfast at Rose’s Cafe, and be sure to get the breakfast pizza. They don’t take reservations, but I’ve never had to wait more than 20 minutes for a table out on the terrace. After brunch, head over to the Palace of Fine Arts. No tickets are needed, and you can walk right in. If you’re ready for a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge, walk across the street to Chrissy Field.

For your afternoon, drive across the Golden Gate Bridge and hike in the Marin Headlands. Two STUNNING hikes that are very easy to do back-to-back are the Point Bonita Lighthouse and the Black Sand Beach. If you don’t have a car to drive over to Marin, there are still stunning hikes in San Francisco. The most popular is Lands End, but I’m partial to the Coastal Trail from the Golden Gate Bridge.

After hiking, head over to Sausalito, THE CUTEST little town right on the water that will make you feel like you’re in Europe. You can also get here by a ferry from the Ferry Building. If you depart from the Ferry Building, be sure to check out my favorite specialty store in SF, Epicurean Trader. Walk around and window shop, and then finish with dinner at Copita Tequileria for gluten-free Mexican or Fish. for great seafood (it’s about a 25 minute walk from the main square, but worth it). If you’d prefer to stay in San Francisco, an absolute staple is Balboa Cafe. It’s close to great night life, and has a CLASSIC San Francisco feel. They are known for their espresso martinis on draft.

For your evening, I’d recommend checking out some local Napa wine at Union Larder (my HAPPY PLACE in San Francisco) or Verve Wine. Noosh or Palmer’s nearby are good options if you’re looking for food as well, but on my perfect night, I would walk about a mile and grab the best burger in the city at Spruce (if you didn’t get a reservation, try getting a seat at the bar).

sunday.

I start EVERY Sunday with a trip to SPQR to get freshly-made doughnuts and a latte with vanilla bean cream. It’s essential, don’t miss it. Then, I head down to the Fort Mason Farmers Market to sample the best the Bay has to offer.

If it’s a game day, hop on a Revel (the most classic way to get around San Francisco) and go to a Giant’s Game. Use this link to get a $10 discount on your ride, and make sure you complete the 10 minute training with Revel before your ride. If you sit in the upper area near third base, you’ll have a good view of the game and the bay.

If it’s not a game day, or you have some more time on your hands, head to Chinatown or Japantown. Chinatown is more popular and has great spots like the Fortune Cookie Factory and Home Coffee Roasters. I think Japantown is super underrated, though–it it one of only three left in the United States. If you have time for one more meal, DO NOT MISS Dumpling Home in Hayes Valley!

Please reach out if you have any questions about your trip to San Francisco! I’d love to help you plan the perfect trip.