Groom's Guide to San Francisco
GROOVY AND REAL GONE GO TO GUIDE FOR GREAT GALLIVANTING
North Beach Neighborhood:
North Beach is home to San Francisco’s Beatnik history. Learn more by visiting the corner of Columbus and Broadway, and these historic beatnik locations:
Café Trieste (the first espresso house on the west coast, since 1956)
If you leave your heart in San Francisco, find it again at Schein & Schein who’s gallery contains thousands of authentic Antique Maps and Prints. (1435 Grant Ave.)
Italian dining in North Beach:
Café Greco (423 Columbus Ave.)
Stella Bakery (446 Columbus Ave.) Best cannolis outside of Brooklyn!
Molinari’s Deli (old school Italian Deli, 373 Columbus Ave.)
Haight Ashbury Neighborhood:
Take the Flower Power Walking Tour!
Amoeba Records-massive selection of music (1855 Haight St.)
Groove Merchant Records, a DJ record shop (687 Haight St. - Lower Haight)
The Castro Neighborhood:
One of the first openly gay neighborhoods in the United States. Check out GLBT History Museum, Harvey Milk House and Plaza, Castro Theater, people watching. I usually wouldn’t recommend going to a Starbucks but the one on 18th Street near Castro Street is quite the scene.
The Mission Neighborhood:
Burritos, lots of awesome burritos. This middle aged man’s burrito survival tip: easy or no rice if you’re watching your carbs! Here are the best Taquerias:
- El Farolito (2779 Mission St.)
- La Taqueria (2889 Mission St.)
- Pancho Villa (3071 16th St.)
- La Cumbre (515 Valencia St.)
- Papalote (3409 24th St.)
Union Square and Downtown:
Bourbon and Branch, Speakeasy Sign outside says “Anti-Saloon League” (501 Jones St.) The password to get in is “Books”. Be careful, very rough street but once you walk over the crackheads its super cool inside. You will need to say you want to go to the “Library” visit the hidden bar.
Tonga Room, Tiki Bar at the Fairmont Hotel
Farmer Brown’s, Hipster Soul Food (25 Mason St.)
Sushiritto, a very SF hip thing, yes sushi roll wrapped in a big piece of seaweed and eaten like a burrito-AMAZING!
Other Points of interest:
Lombard Street, crookedest street and two blocks south is Filbert Street-the steepest street in SF-worth checking out! Both off Hyde Street Cable Car.
SF Staircases, touring SF hills can be a real trip by going up and down these famous street staircases:
- Coit Tower: WPA Murals and amazing views. The Coit Tower Filbert Street Steps take you to a magical hidden cliffside gardens. Start at the bottom of the parking area and go down the steps or climb up the 284-foot hill from Sansome and Filbert streets near Levi’s Plaza. (You may even see the famous Telegraph Hill Parrots around here!)
- Golden Gate Heights-tiled staircase at 16th Ave. and Moraga
- Russian Hill-start at Greenwich and Larkin and walk the neighborhood near Lombard Street
- Walk around Cumberland and Church Street to Sanchez and 21st Street above Dolores Park for crazy hills and staircases
Views:
- Golden Gate Bridge: Fort Point & Fort Mason
- Lands End: if it’s sunny a great spot to check out Golden Gate Bridge, Sutro Baths and the beaches. Also rocky Labyrinth at China Beach!
- Views from Twin Peaks, Tank Hill and Corona Heights are breathtaking.