“Dolo” as the cool kids call it, is one of the most “SF” style places to hang. It's a massive park which turns into a mini circus of yogis, acrobats, brunchers, hipsters and everyone else who wants to get some fresh air. Everyone comes to Dolores to eat, drink and have a good time. Music is blaring, people are playing games and if you visit on a weekend I can guarantee you'll be entertained by just people watching. If you plan to visit, pack a blanket, speaker, games, drinks, snacks and some cash because you might want to make a purchase from a food vendor. The park offers limited parking, so you should consider a taxi or rideshare from where you're staying. It's also a park located walking distance from a restaurant called “Foreign Cinema” ($$$) which is known for its outdoor cinema playing old movies under the stars. This is one of the most popular restaurants in SF and the food is pretty good but comes in small portions.

Brunching is a lifestyle in the city, a full day event of cute outfits and bottomless mimosas. In typical SF Brunch spirit you'll dress up in your most fashionable outfit, and join your friends for a mea. You can find bottomless mimosas (which means unlimited mimosas) at a ton of restaurants on the weekends, and I have a few absolute favorite spots depending on my mood. If I'm in a party mood, my number one choice Pink Elephant The music is blaring and the mimosas come in any flavor you want, and it's a do it yourself situation. When you arrive, you add your name to a waiting list and wait about an hour for a table. In the meantime, we usually grab an appetizer at a restaurant nearby. Once you're in Pink Elephant, you'll receive a wristband and a time limit, which you'll then be able to drink as much as you'd like within that time. You'll have the best day, dancing, singing and drinking crazy mimosa flavors! Another brunch place I love if I'm feeling like I want to do some shopping, is Home Plate. This restaurant is in the Marina and near a bunch of adorable boutiques, which I personally could shop at for hours. The food at Home Plate is fantastic, and although the service is not great, it's one of the better brunch spots in terms of ambiance. Finally, if I'm in the mood for a great view, I'll visit Mission Rock Resort which is located along the bay and has the most beautiful brunch view. They don't offer bottomless mimosas but do offer bottles of champagne at a discounted rate which end up equaling the cost of bottomless. If you love seafood, you'll have a few great options at Mission Rock Resort, but they do also have the classic brunch menu. I'm sure you'll find other locations which have similarly great brunches, so feel free to explore the area you're staying in!

If you've always wanted the perfect Golden Gate Bridge view, China Beach is your spot. This beach is located to the lower left of the bridge and offers one of the closest pictures of the Golden Gate. It's also a small and intimate beach, so arrive early to grab a spot. If you've never been to San Francisco, the beaches are mainly used for picnics and hanging out, the water is far too cold to casually play in without a wetsuit. If you do visit, I would suggest that you drive yourself rather than take an Uber or Lyft because it's a bit off the beaten path and can be hard to schedule ride transportation for pickup. Another important note is that China beach tends to be way more windy than most beaches, so bring a jacket, maybe a hairtie and definitely don't wear typical beach attire because you'll be cold.

Alamo Square Park is where you'll find the famous Full House homes, also known as the Painted Ladies. Of course that's pretty iconic but you can really only stare at those houses for a few minutes, until the moment is over. The real reason I love this park is because of the view of the city and the fun events they put on during the Summer. Some nights they play movies in the park while other nights they have food trucks. I also love that it's a dog friendly park and fairly safe in the evening. This park is also a great place for a picnic on any day but remember to bring your jacket, since it's usually pretty windy.

Fisherman's Wharf is extremely touristy but still one of my favorite spots in SF for two reasons. First, the clam chowder is amazing and second, Ghirardelli Square is the absolute cutest spot to visit during Christmas. Actually, any time of year in SF still calls for hot chocolate since it's cold but Ghirardelli makes it so much better than any place I've been in the city. Of course if you're a chocolate lover you'll also appreciate the many choices of Ghirardelli chocolate squares and ice cream masterpieces. When you visit Fisherman's Wharf, you'll also find a slew of restaurants, shopping and even a few mini museums in the area. My favorite place to visit is the Exploratorium, but you'll also find the Wax museum and Ripley's Believe it or Not in the same area if that's more your vibe. One of the most fun places to eat in this area, especially if you have kids, is the Rainforest cafe, where it's decorated exactly like a rainforest. The entire Fisherman's Wharf area is filled with street artists, good food and of course the famous seals. If you love animals, you have to make the trip to this area because it's where you'll find seals laying out on the harbor and it's just as adorable as you'd expect!

Mission District

I can't say enough about the food in the Mission District. If you're a foodie, I would try one of the walking food tours often offered on Airbnb so that you can try all of the hot spots. One of my favorite restaurants is Gracias Madre which is a plant based Mexican restaurant. I know, plant based Mexican food doesn't sound great, but it's actually delicious, and their drinks are fantastic. Another super popular restaurant is El Farolito, if you're in the mood for take out. The ambiance isn't as great, but everyone swears by their authentic burritos.

The Marina

The Marina is filled with a ton of restaurants perfect for breakfast, brunch and dinner. I love Delarosa which has three locations around SF. Delarosa serves one of the freshest Margherita pizzas, paired perfectly with their wine and beer options. I also mentioned it in an earlier post but the Marina is where you can find Home Plate, one of the best brunch spots in the area. Another place you can't leave SF without trying is Chubby Noodle. They not only serve amazing food but the experience is one you won't forget. You need to make a reservation in advance (you do put money down for the reservation) and once you arrive, you'll have a 2 hour period where you're served a series of different Chinese comfort food dishes along with unlimited mimosas and beer. You'll be absolutely stuffed by the end, but it's one of the best meals I've had in SF.

Rooftop Bars

There aren't a ton of rooftop bars in San Francisco but there are a couple that I really enjoy. First, is Charmaine's Rooftop Bar in the Proper Hotel. It's easy to be turned off by the surrounding neighborhood but when you get up to the bar you'll absolutely love it. The drinks are unique, the firepits are cozy and the view is perfect. My second favorite rooftop bar is El Techo which typically has a super long line but is also worth the wait. The food is fantastic, and you'll love the margaritas. Finally, for a more classic SF spot, Top of the Mark has one of the best views in the city. It's an indoor bar, and drinks are fairly expensive but the view is worth it, even just for one drink.