The Best Three Hours in San Francisco
Visiting San Francisco for the first time? Welcome. The thing to understand about SF is that it is a city of duality. It is probably the only city where you can see a self-driving car drive itself past a homeless person. Within a few dozen blocks, you can traverse the entire spectrum of the human condition, from the dense opulence of tree-lined mansion neighborhoods (Presidio Heights) to dysfunction in every human sense (Tenderloin / Civic Center).
Hence why I am writing this guide for you—where you go shapes your perception of the city. I actually didn’t like SF the first two years I was here because I lived in the wrong neighborhood and spent most of my time at the OpenAI office. But after exploring the city more and moving to a neighborhood on the north side (Cow Hollow), I now know enough to recommend where to go so that you can see the best of what our diverse city has to offer.
Below is a journey that I recommend for a roughly three-hour exploration of San Francisco. It technically only takes one hour and twenty minutes to do the entire walk, but I would block out 3-4 hours if you want to take photos, shop, get coffee, etc. It starts in Japantown, then goes through Pacific Heights, the Presidio, and the Marina. A nice way to do it is to start with lunch in Japantown and aim to end at Crissy Field Beach in the Marina for sunset.
You can do this route by yourself or with friends. Or ask out your crush who’s also visiting and tell her (or him) your local buddy recommended a unique adventure. Just remember to bring a jacket, as SF gets cold in the evening. I will recommend places for lunch and dinner in the “bonus” section at the end.
The visual map is at the top of the page, and here is a [google maps link with the route].
And below is a description you can refer to while you’re walking the route.
(1) Japan Center Mall (starting point). I would start by taking a car here if you are not staying close by. I recommend walking through the whole mall once (it’s not that big) just to see what there is, and then having lunch here if you start around lunch time. I personally like the stationery and toy shops. For something quick, Nijiya Market is a grocery store that I frequent for their sashimi.
(2) Fillmore street. Fillmore street is the shopping corridor that bisects the Pacific Heights neighborhood. It has a lot of boutique stores, including Diptyque (candles), Sézane (French women’s brand).
(3) Alta Plaza Park. Just one block away from Fillmore street, Alta Plaza Park is my favorite park in San Francisco. You probably won’t see other tourists here, and many locals haven’t been. It’s a great place to lay down and read, or play tennis or spikeball if you’re into that. It’s a terraced park, so it has a nice southern view of San Francisco.
(4) Broadway. The stretch of Broadway on this route is filled with old Victorian houses and occasional views north towards the bay. There is no particular attraction but you will get a feel of a quiet neighborhood in SF that most tourists don’t see, and you will like it if you are into architecture.
(5) Lyon Street Steps. At the western end of Broadway is the Lyon Street steps, a set of stairs descending the hill alongside manicured gardens. You get a nice view of the Palace of Fine Arts and you will often see people working out here.
(6) Presidio. From the Lyon Street Steps, you can enter west directly into the Presidio, one of the largest parks in SF. The Presidio used to be a US army post and it is cool to transition from the dense city directly into a forested national park.
(7) Lover’s Lane. Along your walk in the Presidio is a picturesque path called Lover’s Lane. Apparently soldiers historically used the path as a shortcut into the city to meet their lovers, hence the name. Today it’s just a very pleasant shaded walk.
(8) Yoda Fountain. The Yoda Foundation is a small landmark along your walk in the Presidio, and is cool if you’re a Star Wars fan.
(9) Palace of Fine Arts. The Palace was originally built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a world’s fair held in SF. It is probably one of the most photogenic structures in the city: a giant classical rotunda surrounded by columns, a lagoon, and landscaped grounds. This is the most tourist-y stop.
(10) Crissy Field Beach. This is where I would try to time the end of the walk for sunset. You get an unobstructed view of the Golden Gate Bridge in one direction and Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline in the other.
And there you have it—my recommended exploration of San Francisco. The route mixes places where locals hang out with a few of SF’s classic landmarks, and you’ll probably go to a few places that even your local friends haven’t been to. I cannot guarantee that you’ll like it, but in the end at least you’ll know that you experienced the city the way I do :)
Bonus recommendations
For food around Japantown, I like Daeho (Korean) and Nono Baru (Japanese). Most restaurants in Japan Center are probably OK if you’re not picky and haven’t planned ahead. To temper your expectations, I don’t consider SF a stellar city for food compared to New York, Italy, or most of Asia (many will disagree with me).
For dinner in the Marina, I actually don’t have any place I can strongly recommend, though Balboa Cafe in Cow Hollow is pretty popular. If you want to explore another neighborhood, I would take a car to Polk Street in Russian Hill for dinner; I recommend Bar Iris, which serves food alongside excellent cocktails. If you crave Asian food like I do when traveling, my favorite hot pot place in the city is Nan Hot Pot.
If you want high-end dining don’t ask me because I haven’t been to many Michelin-starred places in SF. My single favorite restaurant in SF is San Ho Won, which typically requires reservations.
End the night:
Go to Hayes St in Hayes Valley, which is a beautiful street that young people in San Francisco love. You’ll find restaurants, shops, and bars there (my Italian friend likes Doppio Zero for Italian food).
If you’re into speakeasies, Bourbon and Branch is my favorite bar in the city and I can basically guarantee that you will have a good time. It is in the Tenderloin though, so take a car there, make a reservation, and be ready with the passcode so you don’t have to wait outside on the street.
After some drinks, head to Level2 Karaoke in Japantown, if karaoke is your thing.
Other places to check out if you still have time:
This guide focused on the north side of SF, but there are a few nice neighborhoods on the south side of SF, too. Noe Valley is a neighborhood where a lot of AI researchers like to live and my favorite lunch spots there are Billingsgate or Saru Sushi. In the Mission, there are great bars like Bar Gemini and True Laurel.
If you’re into nature and willing to drive or uber a little bit, go to Lands End to see the Pacific Ocean.
If you really like nature and are willing to go a little further, Devil’s Slide which is around an hour away is a beautiful place to go for a sunset date or a nice walk with friends (make sure you bring sunscreen).
