San Francisco

1015

Lines all night outside during the weekend. A twenty-something meat market.

1235 Masonic Ave

Patty Hearst hid in a Symbionese Liberation Army safe-house here.

15 Romolo

The hidden bar has a lovely dark red decor. Formerly the "Basque Hotel" this historic hotel and bar becomes quite crowded on one of the busiest blocks during a Friday and Saturday night in North Beach. It's also positioned on a steep street, with a side entrance that seems furtive and secret.

5:30PM-2AM daily

16th Avenue Tiled Steps

Stair risers comprise a colorful mosaic added during a 2005 renovation of the stairs. Climb to the top then go left or right to find a way into Grand View Park.

24th Street Cheese Company

Carries hundreds of cheeses where you can taste before you buy.

4 Star Theatre

Independently-owned theatre showing Hong Kong and alternative world cinema.

440 Castro

Heavy gay bar with a rowdy crowd and lots of bears, but for some this is the definitive Castro bar.

Noon-2AM daily

4th and Geary Farmer's Market

Inexpensive fresh fruits and vegetables, and a decent selection of your basic grocery needs which might not be covered as well by the local Asian groceries. Only takes cash and check.

540 Club

Friendly bar with cool art, above-average beer selection, free wi-fi, and a great Sunday trivia night.

10AM-2AM daily

6th Avenue Aquarium

Small store selling aquarium supplies and fishes, but its small scale beats many public exhibits for fun and colorful fish.

Mon-Fri 11AM-10PM, Sat?Sun 10AM-10PM

731 Buena Vista West

Former home of Graham Nash (and several owners later) Bobby McFerrin.

826 Valencia

The Pirate Store

The majority of this space is dedicated to children's writing workshops. The front, however, is an emporium for all your piracy related needs. Not to be missed. Founded by McSweeney's Dave Eggers.

Noon-6PM daily

83 Proof

This narrow lounge sits precariously between a Walgreens and a Wachovia. Friendly bartenders will concoct any type of drink you desire, which makes it great for a quick, after-work drink or late-night cocktails. 83 Proof is also well-suited to group outings with its cozy atmosphere and chill vibe. Along with the DJ, weekend nights can get pretty loud sometimes.

A. Cavalli & Co

This shop with its friendly proprietor sells everything Italian, from ornate imported espresso and pasta makers to Italian newspapers, magazines, CDs, and DVDs.

Mon-Sat 11AM-11PM, Sun 11AM-6:30PM

A16

This is part wine bar part restaurant; they serve simple Italian favorites (pizza, pastas, salumi) from the Campania region of Italy. They also have traditional wood-burning ovens to perfect your pizza.

Dinner: Sun-Thu 5PM-10PM, Fri-Sat 5PM-11PM Lunch: Wed-Fri 11:30AM-2:30PM · $15-30

ABV

Excellent cocktail bar with food until midnight, popular with industry types. No TVs and no Santas.

4pm-2am daily

Absinthe

Restyles the rustic foods of southern France into sleek urban classics. Wonderful (expensive) cocktails based on 100-year old recipes. Not the cheapest place in town, but affordable and the quality of the food is an excellent value. A pretty, white-tablecloth setting and excellent service make this a lovely lunch spot. Avoid weekend evenings before 8PM, when crowds from the nearby theater district can mean a wait. And they now serve absinthe.

Tue-Wed 11:30AM-midnight, Thu-Fri 11:30AM-2AM, Sat 11AM-2AM, Sun 11AM-10PM

Ace Wasabi's Rock-N-Roll Sushi

This sushi place is popular with the locals, offering good sushi with a rock and roll theme. Quirky and a bit of fun.

Mon-Thu 5:30PM-10:30PM, Fri-Sat 5:30PM-11PM, Sun 5PM-10PM · $5-14.50

Adventure Cat Sailing Charters

Offers a 90-minute bay cruise on a 55-foot luxury catamaran and also sunset cruises in the evening.

Cruise times vary — see website · Bay Cruise: adult: $40, children 6-12: $20, children 5 and under free; Sunset Cruise: adults $55 (no discount for children) — Sunset Cruise includes light hors d'oeuvres and 2 complimentary drinks

Alamo Drafthouse

A theater with current popular movies, reserved seating and food and drink service.

Alamo Square Park

This park is best known for the famous Painted Ladies row of Victorian houses on its east side along Steiner Street, which is often the subject of many a San Francisco postcard. There are also many other pretty Victorians encircling the lovely park. The 6-Hayes bus route goes along its south side, the 5-Fulton bus passes by a block north of the park, or if you enjoy walking and don't mind modest grades you can get there by walking west from Hayes Valley or north from the Haight.

5AM - Midnight

Alcatraz Cruises

Information on the island can be found on the National Park Service's website.

Cruises start at 8:45AM and continue throughout the day. 10-15 daily departures depending on the time of year. Evening tours offered. Ticket booth at Pier 33 open 7:30AM-5PM · $47.95 adults, $29.15 children (5-11), $45.15 seniors, children 4 and under free, family (2 adults and 2 children) $139.60. Evening tours cost extra

Alcazar Theater

Built in 1917 in honor of the Shriners (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine); this Byzantine-style Islamic temple (now a 500 seat theater showing Broadway and off-Broadway shows), is now a historical city landmark. It also houses a contemporary art gallery. The architect was T Patterson Ross.

By appt only, and for events · Free

Aldea Home + Baby

A design-minded shop with a wide array of lifestyle accessories, bed and bath products and dining accouterments. It's also a shop that caters to all of your baby needs, with stylish clothing, hand-picked toys, and unique, modern furnishings.

Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 10AM-6PM

Alegrias

Alegrias is a colorful, friendly, and romantic little Tapas bar in the Marina. Like many other Tapas bars, it's a great place to go if you want to sample many flavors and tastes from small plates. If you're still hungry after that, they have a more substantial main menu with plates like grilled lamb, paellas, and stewed rabbit.

Wed-Mon 5:30PM-10PM · $8-23

Alemany Farmers Market

Forget the farmers market at the Ferry Building, unless you just can't live without the high prices and the most fashionable vegetables. San Francisco's original 1943 farmer's market is where it's at. It was founded by the Victory Garden Council as a WWII ag-surplus depot! Rock-bottom cheap, we-picked-it-at-3AM fresh, it's where elderly Asian ladies swarm piles of fresh peanuts and carefully pick out the live chicken to bring home. It has flowers at unbelievable prices and a really stellar selection of basic fruits, nuts, tubers and vegetables, and exotic Asian produce. There aren't that many organic farmers, but there are some. Get there early for salad greens and Euro-American vegetables, as these go fast. The fish market is mixed but sometimes has good local catches.

Sat dawn-dusk

Alice's Restaurant

Good, not fanciful Chinese food, and quiet enough that you can talk to your dinner companions.

11AM–9:30PM, later weekends · $10–15

Alta Plaza Park

A charming and immaculately manicured Pacific Heights park with great vistas over the Bay. It has tennis courts and a playground, and is a pretty good place for a picnic, or even just a rest if you've just scaled the hill.

Amazing Fantasy

A comic book store, owned by a guy named Frank. Friendly staff. They have a small collection of back issues, and will order anything for you by request.

Ambiance

The store has a great selection of women's clothes and jewelry.

Mon-Fri 11AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 11AM-7PM