The Bride's Guide to San Francisco
Shopping - Union Street Neighborhood:
A great district for trendy boutique shopping after some much needed pampering at one of the neighborhoods many salons and spas. Also a short walk south to Chestnut Street shopping, and Crissy Field Marsh and Beach for sweeping views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Also home to one of my favorite restaurants/bars Balboa Café.
Need your hair or makeup done for the wedding? I can highly recommend Milvali Salon & Cosmetics on Union Street.
Shopping - Fillmore Street
Specialty shops and brand luxury shops away from the heavy tourist districts of downtown. Great restaurants and cafes to people watch.
For Foodies - The Ferry Building
A must for foodies or friends of foodies. It’s great any day of the week but extra special on Saturday’s for the famous Farmers Market. Insider tip: Get to the Saturday market early to avoid the hordes of tourists that start to showing up for brunch.
Want to go wine tasting without leaving the city?
Visit the Bluxome Street Winery tasting room. Wines from great urban winemakers. (Tastings $12-18. Bottles $23-48)
Staying at the Westin Saint Francis? Head downstairs for a special taste of the Calistoga wine region without the mud baths. Visit the Chateau Montelena tasting room. (Tastings $30. Bottles $25-175) Or try the ENO Wine Room also located at the Westin. ENO carries a diverse selection wines to try and purchase while showcasing local merchants, wine, cheese and chocolate selections evolve weekly based on seasonality, leading to new discoveries at every turn. (Wine Tasting Flights $17-22)
Art & Culture:
San Francisco has so many great art museums that have been renovated in the last 10 years. If you decide to visit one of them we recommend you purchase your museum tickets prior to traveling to San Francisco. Weekends are extremely busy and often admissions and special exhibits sellout well in advance.
If you are staying at the Westin St. Francis these two museums are only a few blocks away:
The newly renovated San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, is massive, allow yourself 2-3 hours for your visit.
Contemporary Jewish Museum, where visitors can connect with one another through dialogue and shared experiences with the arts.
If you plan to visit Golden Gate Park, The DeYoung is a must visit for art lovers. Be sure to head to the top of Hamon Tower for panoramic views of the surrounding park.
Also, highly recommend Legion of Honor, and Asian Art Museum.