San Francisco

Ferry Building

A historic ferry terminal which survived the 1906 earthquake and fire and had 100,000 people pass through it every day before the bridges were built. It was renovated several years ago and now it's a great example of Bay Area "foodie" culture. Inside you'll find little shops selling artisanal bread (Acme), cheese (Cowgirl), chocolate (e.g., Recchiuti, Ghiradelli, Scharffen Berger, etc.), slow-drip coffee (Blue Bottle), and so on. There's even a stand selling vegan donuts! There are also a few excellent little restaurants and specialty markets as well as a large farmers market out front (Tuesdays and Saturdays year-round and on Thursday evenings in the summer). Together with its surroundings, the Ferry Building is beautiful to see, especially at night (although the shops will be closed at night). It's a popular place to visit for downtown office workers and tourists alike.

Mo-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 07:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00 · Wheelchair accessible

United Nations Plaza

The UN Charter was signed in the Civic Center in 1945, and this plaza was constructed in honor of its ideology and is ironically over the site of the original San Francisco City Cemetery. Designed by architect Lawrence Halprin, and completed in 1975, this is a three acre red-bricked pedestrian plaza. Brick columns inscribed with UN members country names line the plaza, and the UN Fountain sits at its center. Intended to be a visual gateway to the Civic Center, it is often habituated by the city's homeless, but has a compact and diverse Farmers' Market on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Wheelchair accessible

Pier Market

Pier Market is a real market and restaurant at Pier 39. It's definitely one of the better seafood options on the Wharf; the fish always seems to be fresh, the service is fast and friendly, and the prices are pretty low given the quality.

Winter hours: Mon-Thu 11AM-9PM, Fri 11AM-10PM, Sat Sun 10:30AM-9PM. Summer hours: Mon-Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri 11AM-11PM, Sat 10:30AM-11PM, Sun 10:30AM-10PM · $10-33

1015

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

Warfield Theater

This historic theater on Market St has a balcony and approximately 2,700 seats. Built in the 1920s, it was renovated in 1969 and today it is as popular as ever hosting some major acts like Velvet Revolver and Bill Maher.

Hours vary but shows usually start at 8PM · Prices vary depending on act

The Panhandle

This long narrow park is the main entrance to Golden Gate Park, which goes for another 40+ blocks to the west (and the Pacific Ocean). The Panhandle also includes the most famous bicycle route in the city, the Wiggle, which follows the easy grades of a former creekbed to connect Market Street with the Fillmore, Haight, Golden Gate Park and the Avenues. You'll find a playground, basketball courts, dog walking, weekend barbecues and picnics. It's an easy two block walk to the Haight Street shopping district, or three blocks to the University of San Francisco's hilltop campus and its imposing St. Ignatius Cathedral.

Twin Peaks

The small parking area at the northern tip of Twin Peaks Boulevard (875' above sea level) is near the physical center of the city, and one of its highest points, providing spectacular views in all directions. Tour buses can get backed up here during the day, but it's a great place to really appreciate the city from above, especially at and after sunset. Temperatures up there can be quite a bit lower than in the rest of the city, so bring a jacket. Muni bus #37, a scenic ride from the Haight-Ashbury or Castro and Market streets, gets you close, so you only have to climb the last 120' up.

Rincon Center

This is mostly for dining but there are also many shops here as well.

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

Haight Street Market (aka Gus's)

Family-owned grocery store serving the Upper Haight since 1981. Well-stocked, and with a good range of organic fruit and veg. Also has a deli counter that makes a wide range of sandwiches, which can be eaten at the parklet outside.

7AM-9PM daily

Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater

Tourists have flocked here for live, nude girls and dirty movies since 1971, when porn star Marilyn Chambers followed her performance in a Mitchell Brothers' film by becoming an Ivory Snow model. The venue is large, clean, and the biggest rip-off in adult entertainment this side of Paris. If possible, avoid this over-priced, over-hyped tourist trap for the Crazy Horse on Market (next to the Warfield) or any of the clubs on Broadway in North Beach.

Mon-Sat 11:30AM-1:30AM, Sun 5:30PM-1:30AM · $20 before 6PM, $40 after 6PM, girls demand large tips for anything more

Good Life Grocery

People tend to have a love-hate relationship with this grocery store on the busy Cortland/Andover corner. On one hand, it's a fine, manageably-sized market with all the quality brands of pasta, meat, dairy, condiments, juices, vegetarian staples, etc. that you would hope for in a neighborhood with a significant upscale, foodie population. On the other hand, the prices are high, and it would be really nice to be able to purchase a razor blade or non-natural hair conditioner. Great wine selection and recommendations, though.

8AM-9PM daily

Peking Bazaar

Huge sprawling store selling a wide range of discount imported goods from Asia including lanterns, candles, sarongs, silk kimono, geisha outfits and Chinese dolls.

10AM-10PM daily

San Francisco Antique and Artisans Market

Three times a week, over 100 vendors come together to sell antiques, gifts, and keepsakes from all over the world. Appropriately, the market is held at UN Plaza.

Mon, Thu, and Fri 8AM-6PM

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

A large, very popular year-round organic farmers market.

Tue 10AM-2PM, Sat 8AM-2PM

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.

Miraloma Market

Neighborhood convenience store that also sells lottery tickets and is also home to the Miraloma Tacqueria.

Nijiya Market

This extensive Japanese grocery store has remarkably good takeout sushi, which can be pleasantly eaten in either of the plazas that are part of Japantown.

Village Market

Small, inviting food market featuring organic produce, wine, beer, and coffee to-go.

Clement Street Farmers Market

three blocks of food stalls with live music in the background - one of the larger farmer's markets in San Francisco

Sundays from 9 am - 2 pm

Heart of the City Farmer's Market

The farmer's market held Sundays and Wednesdays offers a less expensive alternative to the yuppie Ferry Building Farmer's Market, though it helps if you're seeking the ingredients for Asian food. On other days, there are often tents with vendors selling jewelry, scarves, clothing, snacks, house wares, and who-knows-what. The fun is in the surprises.

Sun 7AM-5PM, Wed 7AM-5:30PM · Free

San Francisco Pride Festival

Known as "San Francisco Pride" for short, it's one of the largest gay pride festivals in North America, a huge, happy, chaotic celebration of diversity, politics, sexuality, and San Francisco wackiness. The two day festival grew up around the parade (below) which takes place on Sunday. Some seven city blocks between City Hall and Market St are closed to vehicles, and about a dozen stages and spaces offer everything from square dancing to hip-hop, from a family garden to Leather Alley. Hundreds of businesses, community groups, non-profits, and political groups attempt to connect with hundreds of thousands of celebrants. It's a movement, it's a market, and it's a party. Car and bus traffic is interrupted during the celebration, and parking is even worse than usual; take BART or Muni trains (which run underground, and put on extra cars to carry the load) instead. Both parade and celebration are for everyone — straight as well as gay are welcome.

Final full weekend in June: Sat noon-6PM, Sun noon-7PM · Free (donations encouraged)

Noe Valley Farmers Market

Year-round California-certified farmers market.

Sat 8AM-1PM

San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade and Celebration

One of the largest gay pride parades and festivals in North America, centered in the Civic Center area. It's a huge, happy, chaotic celebration of diversity, politics, sexuality, and San Francisco wackiness, on the last weekend in June. About a dozen stages and spaces offer everything from square dancing to hip-hop, from a family garden to Leather Alley. It's a movement, it's a market, it's a party. The parade and celebration are for everyone—straight and gay are welcome.

One Market Restaurant

Organic food dishes.

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30AM-2PM; Dinner: Mon-Sat 5:30PM-9PM

Critical Mass

On the last Friday of each month, bicyclists in San Francisco (and about 200 like-minded cities world-wide) gather at the north end of Market Street on the Embarcadero and ride en masse to some destination, demonstrating their right to use the roads. If you are driving in SF on a Critical Mass day, you will want to listen for radio traffic reports, but if you are stopped by the mass the best thing to do is maintain a good sense of humor and remember that it will all pass in about 5 minutes. Tempers can and do flare, and there have been cases where run-ins with drivers and bicyclists have gotten violent. If your car is surrounded by bikes, definitely do not move until they have passed or they might feel threatened.

Mollie Stones Tower Market

Boutique market with butcher and deli departments

8AM-9PM daily

SoMa StrEat Food Park

428 11th Street

Mo-Fr 11:00-15:00,17:00-21:00; Sa 11:00-22:00, Su 11:00-17:00 · Wheelchair accessible

Clement St. Farmers Market

244 Clement St

Su 09:00-14:00

Amal's Deli

1416 Haight Street

Mo-Th 10:30-24:00, Fr,Sa 10:30-02:00, Su 10:30-24:00 · Wheelchair accessible