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United States · City guide
What to do in San Francisco
17 vlogs from 16 channels mention 155 places in San Francisco; 1 of them appears in at least half of the vlogs. Places are ranked by how often the vlogs mention them. Press the play button on any place to watch that exact moment.
- 155places
- 17vlogs
- 297moments
- 5.7 hof video
155 places · most mentioned first
Powell Street Cable Car
San Francisco's historic cable car line, starting at Powell and Market and climbing the hills from downtown; a classic tourist ride.
5:43· touropiain 9 vlogsChinatown
Established in 1848, this is the oldest Chinatown in North America, full of shops and restaurants to explore on foot.
5:13· Yellow Productionsin 8 vlogsGolden Gate Bridge
San Francisco's iconic red-orange suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, popular to cycle across or photograph from viewpoints.
13:48· Architectural Digestin 8 vlogsAlcatraz Island
A former federal prison that once held notorious criminals, now a national park reached by boat and explored on a self-guided audio tour.
6:56· touropiain 7 vlogsFisherman's Wharf
A busy, touristy waterfront area with seafood restaurants, bakeries, souvenir shops and attractions.
5:25· Wolters Worldin 7 vlogsPainted Ladies
A row of pastel Victorian houses made famous by the opening of the 90s TV show Full House.
8:33· Architectural Digestin 7 vlogsGolden Gate Park
A massive urban park, larger than New York's Central Park, stretching across the west side of the city to the Pacific Ocean.
4:44· touropiain 6 vlogsUnion Square
The central plaza and shopping heart of downtown San Francisco, surrounded by department stores, luxury boutiques and historic hotels.
7:22· Peter Santenelloin 5 vlogsTenderloin
A dense, historically gritty downtown neighborhood known for street homelessness and drug use, located just blocks from wealthy Nob Hill.
19:13· Peter Santenelloin 5 vlogsCoit Tower
A tower over 200 ft tall, built in 1933, with murals inside and an elevator to an open-air top floor overlooking the city.
6:36· Architectural Digestin 5 vlogsLombard Street
Billed as the crookedest street in the world, with eight hairpin turns that visitors walk or drive down.
3:21· Wolters Worldin 5 vlogsPalace of Fine Arts
A landmark built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, with a striking central rotunda beside a lagoon; free to walk around.
0:57· touropiain 5 vlogsFerry Building Marketplace
A historic waterfront building filled with shops and eateries, located next to the departure point for Alcatraz tours.
46:07· Sam and Victorin 5 vlogsNorth Beach
San Francisco's Little Italy, packed with pizza, pasta, gelato, espresso and lively evening cocktail bars.
26:12· Dots on a Mapin 5 vlogsMission District
A historically Hispanic neighborhood with a young, hipster crowd, known for its strong art presence, murals and live music scene.
8:25· Wolters Worldin 4 vlogsGhirardelli Square
A historic chocolate factory complex with old buildings, the famous sign, and rich ice cream.
11:08· Island Hopper TVin 4 vlogsCable Car Museum
A free-admission museum explaining the history and workings of San Francisco's cable cars.
17:27· Island Hopper TVin 4 vlogsGolden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
A Chinatown fortune cookie factory where cookies are folded by hand and visitors can have their own fortunes made.
14:07· Yellow Productionsin 4 vlogsMusée Mécanique
A collection of antique coin-operated arcade games and mechanical shows that are still playable.
11:21· Aly Smallsin 4 vlogsde Young Museum
A fine arts museum in Golden Gate Park, with openings throughout the building that frame views of the surrounding park.
2:34· The New York Timesin 4 vlogsTransamerica Pyramid
San Francisco's other famous icon besides the Golden Gate, an 853-foot pyramid skyscraper designed by William L. Pereira and finished in 1972.
0:13· Architectural Digestin 4 vlogsPier 39
A pier at the eastern end of Fisherman's Wharf, famous for its resident sea lions.
1:07· Island Hopper TVin 4 vlogsHaight-Ashbury
Birthplace of 1960s counterculture and the Summer of Love, full of vintage stores, record shops, cafes and tie-dye.
4:38· Aly Smallsin 4 vlogsNapa Valley
Famous wine region about an hour from the city with hundreds of wineries and beautiful views.
18:46· Aly Smallsin 4 vlogsDragon Gate
The ornamental gateway at the entrance to Chinatown on Grant Avenue.
7:14· Aly Smallsin 3 vlogsBoudin Bakery
A historic sourdough bakery on Fisherman's Wharf, best known for clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.
2:45· Yellow Productionsin 3 vlogsLands End
A short coastal trail with near-constant views of the Golden Gate Bridge and many lookouts.
9:40· California Through My Lensin 3 vlogsSutro Baths
Ruins of a privately run saltwater swimming pool complex on the coast, with spectacular ocean views.
10:15· California Through My Lensin 3 vlogsMuir Woods National Monument
A redwood forest about 35 minutes from downtown San Francisco, with impressive trees and walking paths.
16:33· Wolters Worldin 3 vlogsGrant Avenue
The main street of Chinatown's tourist section, running from Bush Street to Broadway.
8:23· Yellow Productionsin 3 vlogsAlamo Square
A residential neighborhood and park ringed by pretty Victorian houses, with a playground and tennis court popular with locals and dog owners.
2:42· touropiain 3 vlogsBuena Vista Cafe
Century-old institution credited with introducing Irish coffee to the US, packed from open to close.
1:02· S3in 3 vlogsThe Castro
Colourful neighbourhood with rainbow-painted sidewalks, numerous bars and the lavish Castro Theatre.
6:24· Island Hopper TVin 3 vlogsSunset District
A large, foggy residential district near the ocean with a strong local identity.
41:01· Peter Santenelloin 2 vlogsMarket Street
San Francisco's main downtown thoroughfare, running from the Financial District past Union Square toward Civic Center.
13:47· Island Hopper TVin 2 vlogsPresidio
A large former military post turned national park near the Golden Gate, with trails, bay views and green space at the city's northern tip.
6:39· California Through My Lensin 2 vlogsTwin Peaks
A pair of hills at the center of San Francisco offering sweeping city views and dividing downtown from the western neighborhoods.
8:03· California Through My Lensin 2 vlogsBattery Spencer
A former military battery on the Marin Headlands with a classic close-up view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
0:56· Aly Smallsin 2 vlogsMarshall's Beach
A rugged beach below the coastal bluffs with one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
10:44· California Through My Lensin 2 vlogsFort Point
A historic fort right beneath the Golden Gate Bridge with old cannons and several floors to explore.
11:17· California Through My Lensin 2 vlogsSan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
A National Park Service site with a half-dozen restored historic ships that visitors can board and explore.
4:46· California Through My Lensin 2 vlogsCalifornia Academy of Sciences
A family-friendly science museum with an indoor rainforest dome where visitors walk among butterflies and other wildlife.
4:48· Island Hopper TVin 2 vlogsMile Rock Beach
A small sandy beach below the Lands End trail.
10:01· California Through My Lensin 2 vlogsHog Island Oyster Co.
An oyster bar inside the Ferry Building Marketplace.
5:01· Cynthia Colein 2 vlogsGott's Roadside
A roadside-style burger stand inside the Ferry Building Marketplace.
9:53· Condé Nast Travelerin 2 vlogsYoda Fountain
Life-sized Yoda statue in the Presidio, a fun stop for Star Wars fans.
10:35· Island Hopper TVin 2 vlogsEmbarcadero
Waterfront promenade lined with piers offering great bay views.
7:41· Island Hopper TVin 2 vlogsBaker Beach
One of the city's most popular beaches, with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
1:49· Aly Smallsin 2 vlogsWashington Square
A park in North Beach popular for soaking up the sunshine and hanging out.
10:01· Aly Smallsin 2 vlogsSonoma County
A wine region next to Napa with a more casual feel, beautiful scenery and great restaurants.
19:22· Aly Smallsin 2 vlogsAquarium of the Bay
Aquarium on Pier 39 showcasing marine life of the San Francisco Bay.
1:21· Island Hopper TVin 2 vlogsRoss Alley
Narrow Chinatown alley that is home to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.
8:32· Yellow Productionsin 2 vlogsDolores Park
Popular hillside park in the Mission District, a favourite local hangout.
1:26· Dots on a Mapin 2 vlogs
Mentioned once
101 more picks, each from a single vlog, so not ranked.
Pacific Heights
One of San Francisco's wealthiest neighborhoods, with grand, manicured mansions on hills sloping down to the bay and clean, quiet streets.
2:18· Peter Santenello1 vlogBoeddeker Park
A small, renovated neighborhood park in the Tenderloin with a playground, next to a Boys and Girls Club, and patrolled by assigned officers.
23:21· Peter Santenello1 vlogNoe Valley
A charming, somewhat wealthier residential neighborhood just a few blocks from the Mission.
31:51· Peter Santenello1 vlogWest Portal
A small-town-feeling neighborhood beyond Twin Peaks with a long-standing Irish community and a local shopping street rarely visited by tourists.
32:57· Peter Santenello1 vlogGrandma's Saloon
A super old-school neighborhood bar on Taraval Street in the city's western neighborhoods.
44:14· Peter Santenello1 vlogSt. Francis Wood
An affluent, leafy enclave of mansions near West Portal, bathed in soft Pacific light and only a couple of miles from the ocean.
45:56· Peter Santenello1 vlogCowgirl Creamery
A cheese shop inside the Ferry Building Marketplace.
Rincon Park
A waterfront park that is home to Cupid's Span, a giant bow-and-arrow sculpture, with views of the Bay Bridge.
Wave Organ
An acoustic sculpture at the end of a jetty, where waves push through pipes to make sound.
Spire
A tall Andy Goldsworthy sculpture made of cypress trunks in the Presidio.
Earth Wall
An Andy Goldsworthy artwork of rammed earth and a tree branch in the Presidio.
Tree Fall
An Andy Goldsworthy installation inside a former powder magazine in the Presidio.
Wood Line
A serpentine line of eucalyptus logs by Andy Goldsworthy in a Presidio grove.
Walt Disney Family Museum
A museum about Walt Disney's life in the Presidio.
Dutch Windmill
A historic windmill at the western end of Golden Gate Park.
Bison Paddock
An enclosure in Golden Gate Park where real bison roam.
Lands End Labyrinth
A stone labyrinth on a point along the Lands End trail.
Point Bonita Lighthouse
A picturesque cliffside lighthouse reached by a half-mile walk and a suspension bridge over the water.
Hallidie Building
Willis Polk's 1917 building with one of America's first glass curtain walls, named for cable car inventor Andrew Hallidie.
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Building
A 1925 building billed as San Francisco's first modern skyscraper, with a Sierra Nevada granite base and terracotta cladding over a steel frame.
555 California Street
Former Bank of America world headquarters, with crystalline faceted bays rising from street to sky under a unified faceted crown.
The Wall (3200 Block of Pacific Avenue)
Once the city's most prestigious address, a block of homes by top architects along the masonry wall bordering the Presidio, showcasing all three Bay Area styles.
Presidio Tunnel Tops
Parkland built over the Presidio Parkway tunnels with lawns, trails and bay views.
1:15· Aly Smalls1 vlogTank Hill
Hidden-gem viewpoint up a short, steep staircase with 360° views of the entire city and bay.
3:48· Aly Smalls1 vlogHang Ah Tea Room
Dim sum house dating to 1920, said to be the first place in the US to serve dim sum.
8:25· Aly Smalls1 vlogLi Po Cocktail Lounge
Historic 85-year-old Chinatown dive bar full of character.
9:04· Aly Smalls1 vlogCaffe Trieste
Historic, legendary Italian espresso house in North Beach since the 1950s.
9:35· Aly Smalls1 vlogSurisan
Korean fusion restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf serving an excellent breakfast.
13:21· Aly Smalls1 vlogScoma's
Upscale-casual waterfront seafood restaurant with its own fishing boat serving the catch of the day.
17:31· Aly Smalls1 vlogRed Bay Coffee
Coffee stand inside the Ferry Building known for its charcoal latte.
18:17· Aly Smalls1 vlogPineapple King Bakery
Asian bakery in the Sunset known for pineapple buns in many flavours, including original, matcha and salted egg yolk.
0:39· feed meimei1 vlogSan Tung
Chinese restaurant famous for its dry fried chicken wings, which have a sticky, slightly sweet glaze with white pepper and chili flakes.
1:59· feed meimei1 vlogShanghai House
Shanghainese restaurant in the Richmond known for sheng jian bao, pan-fried pork buns topped with sesame seeds and green onion.
2:58· feed meimei1 vlogMama Huhu
Chinese-American spot whose name means "so-so" in Mandarin. It serves a sweet and spicy fried chicken sandwich on a pineapple bun with slaw.
4:22· feed meimei1 vlogGarden Creamery
Ice cream shop known for unique Asian-inspired flavours such as ube pandan, salty kaya and horchata.
8:01· feed meimei1 vlogDumpling Home
Xiaolongbao specialist where the dumplings are folded in view of diners. The thin, chewy skins hold plenty of soup.
9:07· feed meimei1 vlogUrban Ritual
Boba shop known for high-quality drinks, including its signature crème brûlée milk tea.
14:23· feed meimei1 vlogSan Francisco Botanical Garden
55-acre garden in Golden Gate Park with landscaped areas and open spaces holding about 8,000 plant types.
9:55· Island Hopper TV1 vlogTin How Temple
Historic Chinese temple in Chinatown dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu.
6:09· Island Hopper TV1 vlogChinese Historical Society of America Museum
Museum in Chinatown documenting the history of Chinese Americans.
6:14· Island Hopper TV1 vlogPiedmont Boutique
Haight Street store mixing costume shop and clothing boutique, billed as SF's most outrageous shopping experience.
7:12· Island Hopper TV1 vlogCrissy Field
Bayfront beach and park near the Golden Gate Bridge, good for sunbathing and whale watching from shore.
11:44· Island Hopper TV1 vlogThe Franciscan Crab Restaurant
Seafood restaurant on the waterfront known for crab.
14:49· Island Hopper TV1 vlogColumbus Tower (Sentinel Building)
Copper-clad flatiron building on Columbus Avenue, older than the Transamerica Pyramid behind it.
16:16· Island Hopper TV1 vlogConservatory of Flowers
Greenhouse and botanical garden in Golden Gate Park with a large flower collection.
17:50· Island Hopper TV1 vlogTransamerica Redwood Park
Privately owned public open space with a small redwood grove behind the Transamerica Pyramid.
Fisherman's Wharf Crab Stands
Row of seafood stands across from Boudin that boil fresh crab, lobster and shellfish to order.
Monterey
Coastal town south of San Francisco, home to a world-famous aquarium.
Santa Cruz
Classic California beach town between San Francisco and Monterey.
Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine
Thai restaurant serving unique dishes best shared family-style with a group, with a special table for birthday celebrations.
1:28· Cynthia Cole1 vlogThe Bird
Counter-service fried chicken spot known for cheap free-range chicken sandwiches in regular or spicy versions.
2:18· Cynthia Cole1 vlogTartine Manufactory
Expanded offshoot of the famous Tartine bakery, a huge space combining a bakery, restaurant, bar and coffee shop.
2:51· Cynthia Cole1 vlogKitchen Story
Fusion brunch spot serving omelets, burgers and breakfast burritos, famous for its thick millionaire's bacon.
3:33· Cynthia Cole1 vlogROOH
Upscale Indian restaurant with a California twist, praised for creative, spice-forward dishes.
4:20· Cynthia Cole1 vlogHouse of Prime Rib
San Francisco classic open since the 1940s, serving prime rib carved and salads prepared tableside.
5:38· Cynthia Cole1 vlogDumpling Time
Fun, casual Asian dumpling restaurant where chefs can be watched making fresh dumplings through the window.
6:27· Cynthia Cole1 vlogInternational Smoke
Ayesha Curry and Michael Mina's globally inspired barbecue restaurant offering an elevated dining experience.
7:19· Cynthia Cole1 vlogLolo
Quirky, colourfully decorated Mexican restaurant with a Mexico City feel and a lively bar.
8:07· Cynthia Cole1 vlogArsicault Bakery
Acclaimed bakery named Bon Appétit's best new bakery in America a year after opening, known for its flaky croissants.
2:33· S31 vlogCalifornios
Two-Michelin-star California-Mexican restaurant serving a 10-course menu of West Coast ingredients, with heirloom corn masa.
12:16· S31 vlogBattery Godfrey
Historic coastal gun battery in the Presidio with clifftop views toward the Golden Gate Bridge.
34:37· Sam and Victor1 vlogSFMOMA Museum Store
Gift shop of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, selling design objects, books and art-inspired gifts.
39:05· Sam and Victor1 vlogCalifornia Street Cable Car
A less touristy cable car line running along California Street, with far fewer riders and much shorter lines than the Powell lines.
2:27· Yellow Productions1 vlogRichmond District
A western San Francisco neighbourhood known for some of the city's best Chinese food.
5:15· Yellow Productions1 vlogChina Live
A popular Chinese restaurant and food hall in Chinatown, a sought-after reservation in San Francisco.
6:56· Yellow Productions1 vlogStockton Street
A busy Chinatown street lined with many Chinese markets.
8:44· Yellow Productions1 vlogPortsmouth Square
Chinatown's central square, where locals gather to play cards and mahjong and practise tai chi in the morning.
8:48· Yellow Productions1 vlogPalette Tea House
A dim sum restaurant in Ghirardelli Square, known for colourful dumplings.
9:28· Yellow Productions1 vlogOcean Beach
Long Pacific beach on the city's west edge, better suited to walks and hikes than swimming.
5:13· Wolters World1 vlogSan Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The city's modern and contemporary art museum.
11:41· Wolters World1 vlogWells Fargo History Museum
Museum on the history of the Wells Fargo bank and its role in the development of the West.
11:45· Wolters World1 vlogAsian Art Museum
Museum dedicated to Asian art, one of the city's many cultural institutions.
11:56· Wolters World1 vlogSan Francisco Railway Museum
Small museum on the city's rail and streetcar history.
11:56· Wolters World1 vlogSausalito
Cute waterfront town across the Golden Gate, easy to reach by bike with a ferry ride back.
16:24· Wolters World1 vlogLa Taqueria
Family-run Mission taqueria open for over 40 years, known for fresh ingredients, hourly-made guacamole and grilled meats cooked in full view.
Lunette
Cambodian restaurant in the Ferry Building run by self-taught chef Nite Yun, serving deeply layered dishes built on fermented shrimp and fish pastes.
Rintaro
Mission izakaya by Sylvan Mishima Brackett blending California ingredients with Japanese tradition, with house-made udon and individually cured sashimi.
Swan Oyster Depot
Family-run seafood counter, over 100 years old, serving mostly raw, always-fresh seafood from a menu that hasn't changed since day one.
7:49· Dots on a Map1 vlogFolsom Street Fair
An annual free leather and fetish street festival held in September, known as one of the city's most outlandish public events.
Marina District
An upscale northern waterfront neighbourhood with its own distinct local vibe.
Bay to Breakers
An annual footrace from the bay to Ocean Beach that turns into a citywide costume party.
Yosemite National Park
A celebrated national park in the Sierra Nevada, about four hours east of San Francisco.
Pacifica
A coastal town just south of San Francisco, known for surfing.
Lake Tahoe
A large alpine lake that is home to most of Northern California's ski resorts.
Heirloom Café
Wine-focused restaurant with a large cellar, serving simple, vegetable-driven California cuisine with Italian and French influences.
1:01· The New York Times1 vlogHard Water
American whiskey bar with about 300 unique bottles and some of the best fried chicken in town, plus views of the Bay.
2:02· The New York Times1 vlogZeitgeist
Grungy former punk rock biker bar turned craft beer bar, with an outdoor space ideal on sunny days.
4:53· The New York Times1 vlogMission Bowling Club
Intimate boutique bowling alley with six lanes, a full kitchen and a full bar.
5:29· The New York Times1 vlog