Guidebook for San Francisco
Shopping
Our local independent grocery store is friendly, has great fresh produce and everything you need.
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The Good Life Grocery
448 Cortland AveOur local independent grocery store is friendly, has great fresh produce and everything you need.
The local ice creamery. Mitchell's also distributes their ice cream to other local venues, including Progressive Grounds right near us. (You'll need the walk up the hill after eating it though!)
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Mitchell's Ice Cream
688 San Jose AvenueThe local ice creamery. Mitchell's also distributes their ice cream to other local venues, including Progressive Grounds right near us. (You'll need the walk up the hill after eating it though!)
Heartfelt
436 Cortland AveLots of locally made trinkets, gifts, and housewares.
Local small batch / artisanal foods, wine, and more, right around the corner from the house.
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The Epicurean Trader
401 Cortland AveLocal small batch / artisanal foods, wine, and more, right around the corner from the house.
Food Scene
Martha & Bros. Coffee Co.
745 Cortland AveA nice spot to hang out and chat with the locals.
A quintessential California progressive coffee shop. Garden area out back, decent (though hot) coffee, bagels, sandwiches, philosophers of all walks of life.
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Progressive Grounds Coffee shop and Eatery
400 Cortland AveA quintessential California progressive coffee shop. Garden area out back, decent (though hot) coffee, bagels, sandwiches, philosophers of all walks of life.
A great place for brunch on the weekends; love sitting outside for people-watching. Tends to be less hectic than other spots. The staff is super nice.
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Moonlight Cafe
634 Cortland AveA great place for brunch on the weekends; love sitting outside for people-watching. Tends to be less hectic than other spots. The staff is super nice.
This is our default authentic local Mexican place. Fast and friendly, serves beer and wine. I love the veggie tacos and my partner likes the tortilla soup.
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Taco Los Altos
737 Cortland AveThis is our default authentic local Mexican place. Fast and friendly, serves beer and wine. I love the veggie tacos and my partner likes the tortilla soup.
Oh my gosh, I think I'm still drooling a bit from our last trip to Sandbox. Their pastries are delicious and they make single-drip coffees. People queue up a bit for this but the wait isn't too bad.
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Sandbox Bakery
833 Cortland AvenueOh my gosh, I think I'm still drooling a bit from our last trip to Sandbox. Their pastries are delicious and they make single-drip coffees. People queue up a bit for this but the wait isn't too bad.
Indian pizza is not served many places. It is actually delicious and good for large groups. They have regular Indian food but also pizza and naan.
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Zante Pizza & Indian Cuisine
3489 Mission StIndian pizza is not served many places. It is actually delicious and good for large groups. They have regular Indian food but also pizza and naan.
Even our Cambodian friend thinks this place is good, and authentic.
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Angkor Borei Restaurant
3471 Mission StEven our Cambodian friend thinks this place is good, and authentic.
Yummy American and California cuisine, with creative flair. Brussel sprouts and mac n' cheese are delicious and you can wait in rocking chairs on, of course, the Front Porch. Reservations recommended.
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The Front Porch
65 29th StYummy American and California cuisine, with creative flair. Brussel sprouts and mac n' cheese are delicious and you can wait in rocking chairs on, of course, the Front Porch. Reservations recommended.
A friendly, relaxing dining experience and a retreat from the hectic action of Mission Street. Yummy Vietnamese crepes, soups, curries, and other dishes.
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Lotus Garden Vietnamese Cuisine
3216 Mission StA friendly, relaxing dining experience and a retreat from the hectic action of Mission Street. Yummy Vietnamese crepes, soups, curries, and other dishes.
This is one of the most appropriately-named restaurants. Plentiful Italian dishes, great for small groups and families. Nice for an evening out, but not fancy or fussy.
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Emmy's Spaghetti Shack
3230 Mission StThis is one of the most appropriately-named restaurants. Plentiful Italian dishes, great for small groups and families. Nice for an evening out, but not fancy or fussy.
Awesome pizza, salad, and craft beers on family style bench tables.
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PizzaHacker
3299 Mission StAwesome pizza, salad, and craft beers on family style bench tables.
By morning: great brunch; enter the side entrance to sit outside in the back patio. By night: a great local restaurant, and in the back, a wine bar. French influences and California cuisine.
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Bernal Star
410 Cortland AveBy morning: great brunch; enter the side entrance to sit outside in the back patio. By night: a great local restaurant, and in the back, a wine bar. French influences and California cuisine.
Delicious Nepalese food for a lovely night out. They do yummy combination platters that come with rice and naan. Great for vegetarians too. A family-run restaurant that serves great food and has been here for a very long time.
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Cuisine of Nepal Restaurant
3486 Mission StDelicious Nepalese food for a lovely night out. They do yummy combination platters that come with rice and naan. Great for vegetarians too. A family-run restaurant that serves great food and has been here for a very long time.
Delicious brunch spot. On weekends there's often a line, so get there early and put your name on the list. Weekdays it isn't quite as busy but sometimes even then there is a wait. Worth it, though!
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Chloe's Cafe
1399 Church StreetDelicious brunch spot. On weekends there's often a line, so get there early and put your name on the list. Weekdays it isn't quite as busy but sometimes even then there is a wait. Worth it, though!
Classic diner with great brunch food and vintage decor. There's a counter and several cozy booths. (Great for vegetarians, they make yummy plates with fun names.)
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St. Francis Fountain
2801 24th StClassic diner with great brunch food and vintage decor. There's a counter and several cozy booths. (Great for vegetarians, they make yummy plates with fun names.)
Drinks & Nightlife
This old Victorian was converted to a bar in the early '60s, and has lots of charm, wacky decor, a fireplace, pool table, pinball, and a huge backyard beer garden.
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Wild Side West
424 Cortland AveThis old Victorian was converted to a bar in the early '60s, and has lots of charm, wacky decor, a fireplace, pool table, pinball, and a huge backyard beer garden.
This venue is a favorite for folks all over town. Giant beer garden, frequent shows and LGBT events, a karaoke night, Salsa Sundays (with free lessons!), great on a weekend afternoon.
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El Rio
3158 Mission StThis venue is a favorite for folks all over town. Giant beer garden, frequent shows and LGBT events, a karaoke night, Salsa Sundays (with free lessons!), great on a weekend afternoon.
Swanky little joint, delicious (stiff!) cocktails, very dark lighting, and frequently a live organist or other lounge-style musical act.
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The Royal Cuckoo
3202 Mission StSwanky little joint, delicious (stiff!) cocktails, very dark lighting, and frequently a live organist or other lounge-style musical act.
This is a neighborhood mainstay, with a friendly, dive-bar atmosphere, pool table, and nights for karaoke and live music.
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The Lucky Horseshoe
453 Cortland AveThis is a neighborhood mainstay, with a friendly, dive-bar atmosphere, pool table, and nights for karaoke and live music.
Dark lounge atmosphere here in the hood, with lots of excellent specialty cocktails (we've tried them all!) and fun beer flights where you can taste 4oz samples of any 4 beers on the menu for $12.
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Holy Water
309 Cortland AveDark lounge atmosphere here in the hood, with lots of excellent specialty cocktails (we've tried them all!) and fun beer flights where you can taste 4oz samples of any 4 beers on the menu for $12.
Our new local brewery, just a short walk down the hill, makes fantastic beers. They often have food trucks out front on weekends; you are welcome to bring your own food in any time. They have corn hole and big tables for hanging out with friends or meeting locals.
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Barebottle Brewing Company
1525 Cortland AveOur new local brewery, just a short walk down the hill, makes fantastic beers. They often have food trucks out front on weekends; you are welcome to bring your own food in any time. They have corn hole and big tables for hanging out with friends or meeting locals.
This place has great drinks, and a big outdoor patio in the back with heat lamps.
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Virgil's Sea Room
3152 Mission StThis place has great drinks, and a big outdoor patio in the back with heat lamps.
Parks & Nature
1.5 blocks up the hill at the end of our street (next to the big yellow house on the left, 100 Bocana) is one of many paths that lead up to Bernal Heights Park. There's a ring road that goes all the way around as well as hiking trails. Amazing 360 degree views of the City, Bay, and bridges.
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Bernal Heights Park
3400-3416 Folsom St1.5 blocks up the hill at the end of our street (next to the big yellow house on the left, 100 Bocana) is one of many paths that lead up to Bernal Heights Park. There's a ring road that goes all the way around as well as hiking trails. Amazing 360 degree views of the City, Bay, and bridges.
One of the biggest city beaches you'll ever see, Ocean Beach at the end of Golden Gate Park is a must-see. At the north end of the beach you'll find the historic Cliff House, the Camera Obscura, Sutro Baths, and the start of a hiking trail with amazing views.
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Ocean Beach
La Playa StOne of the biggest city beaches you'll ever see, Ocean Beach at the end of Golden Gate Park is a must-see. At the north end of the beach you'll find the historic Cliff House, the Camera Obscura, Sutro Baths, and the start of a hiking trail with amazing views.
There is so much to see and do in Golden Gate Park, from the Conservatory of Flowers, to the Botanic Gardens, to de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences. There are lakes, forests, and gardens galore. Rent a bike and cycle the park, or, just wander and see what you find.
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Ipharki ye-Golden Gate
There is so much to see and do in Golden Gate Park, from the Conservatory of Flowers, to the Botanic Gardens, to de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences. There are lakes, forests, and gardens galore. Rent a bike and cycle the park, or, just wander and see what you find.
Sightseeing
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate BridgeArts & Culture
Known as the heart of the Beat Generation, poetry and literature. Start here and walk around North Beach, the historic Italian neighborhood.
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City Lights Booksellers
261 Columbus AveKnown as the heart of the Beat Generation, poetry and literature. Start here and walk around North Beach, the historic Italian neighborhood.
Essentials
Our local laundromat, a block away. Get your laundry going and then pop across the street to Progressive Grounds, one of many local cafés (with delicious ice cream, too).
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Bernal Bubbles
397 Cortland AveOur local laundromat, a block away. Get your laundry going and then pop across the street to Progressive Grounds, one of many local cafés (with delicious ice cream, too).