Guidebook for San Francisco
Arts & Culture
Amazing old movie palace with a great program. Home to all the film festivals in San Francisco.
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Castro Theatre
429 Castro StAmazing old movie palace with a great program. Home to all the film festivals in San Francisco.
Great art house movie theater. And a venue for many of the major film festivals. Love seeing films in this very NOT cineplex environment.
87 abantu bendawo batusa
Roxie Cinema
3117 16th StGreat art house movie theater. And a venue for many of the major film festivals. Love seeing films in this very NOT cineplex environment.
old, important, vibrant, vital storefront theatre company . Loretto Grecco is at the helm and runs a fierce season of work.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
Magic Theatre
2 Marina Blvdold, important, vibrant, vital storefront theatre company . Loretto Grecco is at the helm and runs a fierce season of work.
great touring collections, but the real treat is the museum itself- from the perforated brass exterior that is patinaing green, to the twisted tower, to the sculpture garden.. don't miss the Turrell!
999 abantu bendawo batusa
Iziko lede Young
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drgreat touring collections, but the real treat is the museum itself- from the perforated brass exterior that is patinaing green, to the twisted tower, to the sculpture garden.. don't miss the Turrell!
Fantastic modern arts museum. Recently renovated/expanded.
813 abantu bendawo batusa
Iziko lezobuciko ze-San Francisco zaseMzantsi
151 3rd StFantastic modern arts museum. Recently renovated/expanded.
Excellent venue for jazz and other music. Check out their calendar for the events.
114 abantu bendawo batusa
SFJAZZ
201 Franklin StExcellent venue for jazz and other music. Check out their calendar for the events.
Essentials
Safeway
2020 Market StLarge gorcery store.
Whole Foods Market
3950 24th StLarge grocery store.
A corner store with a huge selection of beers. Also sells snacks and ice creams and other corner store fare. Owner is a very nice Palestinian American guy with some Irish connection.
37 abantu bendawo batusa
Healthy Spirits
300 Valencia StA corner store with a huge selection of beers. Also sells snacks and ice creams and other corner store fare. Owner is a very nice Palestinian American guy with some Irish connection.
A funky corner store with cheap and good produce, flowers, cheese, and other goodies. One of my favorite place to shop in the 'hood.
26 abantu bendawo batusa
Courtney's Produce
101 Castro StA funky corner store with cheap and good produce, flowers, cheese, and other goodies. One of my favorite place to shop in the 'hood.
Neighborhood deli & liquor store. Opens later than most stores in the area.
Rosenberg Food & Beverage, Liquor
276 Noe StNeighborhood deli & liquor store. Opens later than most stores in the area.
Food Scene
La Mediterranee
2936 College AveGreat neighborhood Mediterranean restaurant.
Dinosaurs
50 Eureka DrGreat fast cheap Vietnamese sandwiches
Fantastic small seafood place. From another era. But beware, lines long, no reservations taken. Put name on board and go for a walk for a while. Especially love the pasta seafood dishes.
148 abantu bendawo batusa
Anchor Oyster Bar
579 Castro StFantastic small seafood place. From another era. But beware, lines long, no reservations taken. Put name on board and go for a walk for a while. Especially love the pasta seafood dishes.
Favorite laid back breakfast simple brunch place. Sit outside if weather is nice, sun warms you as you drink your coffee and eat their great almond crossoints.
95 abantu bendawo batusa
Cafe du Soleil
400 Fillmore StFavorite laid back breakfast simple brunch place. Sit outside if weather is nice, sun warms you as you drink your coffee and eat their great almond crossoints.
Neighborhood Japanese restaurant with nice owners. Service sometimes slow, but excellent food.
13 abantu bendawo batusa
Amasia Hide's Sushi Bar
149 Noe StNeighborhood Japanese restaurant with nice owners. Service sometimes slow, but excellent food.
Very nice small neighborhood French bistro. Excellent food. Hard to get a table so book early.
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L'Ardoise
151 Noe StVery nice small neighborhood French bistro. Excellent food. Hard to get a table so book early.
Fun and lively bar and restaurant. Casual with good food. Medium priced.
135 abantu bendawo batusa
Starbelly
3583 16th StFun and lively bar and restaurant. Casual with good food. Medium priced.
Lovely place to hang out outdoors when the weather is nice. Good for brunch, lunch, or just tea/coffee. No outlets available for laptops.
88 abantu bendawo batusa
Duboce Park Cafe
2 Sanchez StLovely place to hang out outdoors when the weather is nice. Good for brunch, lunch, or just tea/coffee. No outlets available for laptops.
Nouveau American diner that open later. Good, cheery spot. One of our regular places.
96 abantu bendawo batusa
Chow Food Bar
215 Church StNouveau American diner that open later. Good, cheery spot. One of our regular places.
Seriously delicious ice cream. Always a line outside the door. Worth the wait.
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Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th StSeriously delicious ice cream. Always a line outside the door. Worth the wait.
Burgers! Soft serve dipped in chocolate! Need I say more?
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Super Duper Burgers
721 Market StBurgers! Soft serve dipped in chocolate! Need I say more?
The Cove on Castro
434 Castro StJust a old fashion, unpretentious, gay Castro diner.
Where I go when I'm craving a bowl of pho or five-spice chicken. Love the nonstop video of people cooking food in Saigon on the TVs overhead.
37 abantu bendawo batusa
Jasmine Garden
708 14th StWhere I go when I'm craving a bowl of pho or five-spice chicken. Love the nonstop video of people cooking food in Saigon on the TVs overhead.
Fine dining restaurant. Delicious and hugely popular. Hard to get a reservation but can try to walk in right when the place opens or way late.
149 abantu bendawo batusa
Frances
3870 17th StFine dining restaurant. Delicious and hugely popular. Hard to get a reservation but can try to walk in right when the place opens or way late.
Hole-in-the-wall delicious Vietnamese food with the (original) Mission vibe.
28 abantu bendawo batusa
Sunflower
3111 16th StHole-in-the-wall delicious Vietnamese food with the (original) Mission vibe.
Pancho Villa Taqueria
3071 16th StThe classic massive Mission taqueria. All tasty.
Great Mexican food with funky vibe, although it is louder and losing its edge of late. But Marguerita and pozole. Yum.
69 abantu bendawo batusa
Puerto Alegre
546 Valencia StGreat Mexican food with funky vibe, although it is louder and losing its edge of late. But Marguerita and pozole. Yum.
Nice farm fresh ingrediants restaurant-- California Cuisine. Bit more expensive but good food.
47 abantu bendawo batusa
Fable
558 Castro StNice farm fresh ingrediants restaurant-- California Cuisine. Bit more expensive but good food.
Every saturday there is a big farmers market on the pier, full of fresh organic produce. And tons of great food, coffee, sweets from the store in the ferry building. Fun relaxed day.
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Ferry Building Marketplace
Every saturday there is a big farmers market on the pier, full of fresh organic produce. And tons of great food, coffee, sweets from the store in the ferry building. Fun relaxed day.
A neighborhood institution. Food is okay, but a fun place to hang out, have a coffee/drink, and people-watch.
69 abantu bendawo batusa
Flore on Market
2298 Market StA neighborhood institution. Food is okay, but a fun place to hang out, have a coffee/drink, and people-watch.
Peet's Coffee
2080 Chestnut StGreat coffee & tea.
Tacorgasmico
2337 Market StGreat Mexican spot with delicious food.
Tacos Club
2312 Market StSimple taqueria around the corner with good food and outdoor seating.
Castro institution. Super casual. Great place to grab a slice before going to the movies at the Castro Theater.
24 abantu bendawo batusa
Marcello's Pizza
420 Castro StCastro institution. Super casual. Great place to grab a slice before going to the movies at the Castro Theater.
Good excuse to check out Glen Park. Great pizza but no reservation, so be prepared to wait.
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Gialina
2842 Diamond StGood excuse to check out Glen Park. Great pizza but no reservation, so be prepared to wait.
Sightseeing
A short hike and a amazing view of downtown and Bay Bridge. 2 tennis courts if you walk up the hill on 15th Street.
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Iphamu ye-Corona Heights
Museum WayA short hike and a amazing view of downtown and Bay Bridge. 2 tennis courts if you walk up the hill on 15th Street.
San Francisco landmark. Going under a full renovation at the moment, but a great place to hang out, see the city view, and buy anything from hot tamales to... other stuff.
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Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetSan Francisco landmark. Going under a full renovation at the moment, but a great place to hang out, see the city view, and buy anything from hot tamales to... other stuff.
Ruins of huge Victorian Vacation Public Baths, evocative, haunted place on the stunning coast. Go the the park above and to the north in lands end, some spectacular trails on sea. But dress warm!
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Sutro Baths
1004 Point Lobos AveRuins of huge Victorian Vacation Public Baths, evocative, haunted place on the stunning coast. Go the the park above and to the north in lands end, some spectacular trails on sea. But dress warm!
Get a taste of the public stairs ("steps") that San Francisco is famous for. This is walking distance... more extravagant ones are in the northeast side of the City.
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Vulcan Stairs
Vulcan StairwayGet a taste of the public stairs ("steps") that San Francisco is famous for. This is walking distance... more extravagant ones are in the northeast side of the City.
Iconic "Tales of the City"-esque steps in North Beach. A real hike but totally worth it.
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Filbert Steps
Iconic "Tales of the City"-esque steps in North Beach. A real hike but totally worth it.
Shopping
Particularly good 2nd hand clothing store. Think it is due to it being a gay neighborhood and the boys always buying new cloths. I am happy getting great cloths that are barely used a year later.
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Crossroads Trading
1901 Fillmore StParticularly good 2nd hand clothing store. Think it is due to it being a gay neighborhood and the boys always buying new cloths. I am happy getting great cloths that are barely used a year later.
Great used bookstore. Large selection (we buy lots of art books for research).
14 abantu bendawo batusa
Aardvark Books
227 Church StreetGreat used bookstore. Large selection (we buy lots of art books for research).
Old fashion hardware store crossed with drag queen supplies crossed with toy store. Check out both store (right next to each other). Love Cliffs
69 abantu bendawo batusa
Cliff's Variety
479 Castro StOld fashion hardware store crossed with drag queen supplies crossed with toy store. Check out both store (right next to each other). Love Cliffs
Three Twins Ice Cream
good close ice cream place, SF made.
oddities- from gems to bones to stuffed animals to some great books.
133 abantu bendawo batusa
Paxton Gate
824 Valencia Stoddities- from gems to bones to stuffed animals to some great books.
The UPS Store
6748 Mission StShip some souvenirs home!
Walgreens Pharmacy
4129 18th StDrugstore/pharmacy. Opens 24 hours!
Drinks & Nightlife
Gay dive bar with back patio. Low key hang out spot for a couple of beers.
27 abantu bendawo batusa
The Metro
4086 18th StGay dive bar with back patio. Low key hang out spot for a couple of beers.
If you want to do some dancing in the Castro, this would be a good spot. Intimate and posh.
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QBar
456 Castro StIf you want to do some dancing in the Castro, this would be a good spot. Intimate and posh.
Great cocktails. Fun place to hang out with friends. On the louder side.
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Blackbird
2124 Market StGreat cocktails. Fun place to hang out with friends. On the louder side.
The Residence
718 14th StreetFun bar in a living room setting. Good mixed crowd.
Industrial vibe. Big windows. Packed all the time. Lots of hipsters.
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Churchill
198 Church StIndustrial vibe. Big windows. Packed all the time. Lots of hipsters.
Everything Else
Castro branch of the San Francisco chain of gyms. Busy. Mostly men.
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Fitness SF Castro
2301 Market StCastro branch of the San Francisco chain of gyms. Busy. Mostly men.
ATM (Chase Bank)
255 King StBank & ATM
Usually a line... try not to go at lunch time or towards the end of the day.
35 abantu bendawo batusa
United States Postal Service
2111 Lane StUsually a line... try not to go at lunch time or towards the end of the day.
Jack's Laundry
196 Noe StLaundry and dry cleaning. Nice Chinese family runs it.