Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco
Slide Nr 1With its striking natural beauty, eclectic neighbourhoods and progressive spirit, San Francisco offers diverse charms to beguile visitors of all stripes. You could easily spend weeks in the City by the Bay without running out of exciting new things to see and do, so you need to plan carefully if you only have 24 hours to take it all in. From crossing renowned attractions off your bucket list to experiencing the best of the city’s dining scene, here’s how to spend an action-packed day in San Francisco.
0/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 28am. Fuel Up At Tartine Manufactory – Kick off your day with breakfast at the impressive Tartine Manufactory, a multipurpose outpost of San Francisco’s acclaimed Tartine Bakery. Set in a stylish former warehouse, the food hall-style space includes a bakery, coffee shop, ice cream counter and wine bar. Depending on your hunger level, you can pick up fresh pastries to go or sit down for full breakfast dishes like fried egg sandwiches or coddled eggs. The Manufactory shares the same building as Heath Ceramics, and it’s worth making time to check out their handsome collection.
1/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 39am. Explore The Mission District – A historic hub for San Francisco’s Latino community, the Mission District is one of the city’s hippest and most rapidly changing neighbourhoods. Focus your walk on the stretch of Valencia Street between 16th and 24th, where you’ll find browsable shops and lots of interesting detour options. Don’t miss Mission Dolores, the neighbourhood’s namesake and the oldest remaining structure in San Francisco. If the weather is nice, turn down 18th street and head to Mission Dolores Park for people-watching and beautiful views of downtown San Francisco. Head east on 24th to see the colourful Balmy Alley Murals, the lower Mission’s lesser-known equivalent to the popular Clarion Alley Murals.
2/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 411am. Say Hello To The Painted Ladies – Built between the mid-1800s and early 1900s, the colourful houses known as the ‘Painted Ladies’ are designed in the ornate Queen Anne architectural style. A handful of these distinctive Victorian-era homes have been restored throughout San Francisco, but the stretch of Steiner Street across from Alamo Square Park is home to one of the city’s largest concentrations. Walk up the hill in Alamo Square Park for the best view of the pastel-hued houses dramatically backed by the San Francisco skyline.
3/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 512pm. Lunch At Okane – You’ll be ready for a break and a bite to eat after a morning of walking, so it’s time for a lunch stop at Okane – the casual, more affordable sister restaurant to neighbouring Michelin-starred Omakase. Modelled after a Japanese izakaya, Okane specialises in well-prepared small plates like noodles and karaage. Don’t skip the sushi though: Okane shares the same top-notch fish purveyors as its fancier sibling restaurant. You’ll be tempted to eat everything here, but you may want to save a little room for afternoon snacking. [Photo: April Tran]
4/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 62pm. Make A Pit Stop At Union Square – Union Square isn’t as flashy as New York’s Times Square, but it has played an important role in San Francisco history. It has served as a community gathering place as far back as the 19th century; its name dates to the Civil War era when it was a rallying point for supporters of the Union. Today, it’s a pleasant, leafy plaza surrounded by high-end shops and dominated by the 27-metre-high Dewey Monument. [Photo: Benson Kua/Wikimedia Commons]
5/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 73pm. Wander Around Chinatown – It may be a popular tourist attraction, but San Francisco’s Chinatown is also a bustling neighbourhood that continues to cater to the local Chinese community. In fact, the district is notable for being home to one of the largest Chinese populations outside of Asia, and it’s also one of North America’s oldest Chinatowns. Stop for a snack at one of the historic bakeries, or enjoy a tea tasting at Vital Tea Leaf, which features over 100 varieties of loose-leaf tea imported from China and Taiwan. Wander down picturesque Waverly Place, a street lined with temple flags and colourful balconies. [Photo: April Tran]
6/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 84pm. Snap The Perfect Photo At Lombard Street – Hop on the Hyde Street Cable Car, one of San Francisco’s three historic cable car routes, headed to Fisherman’s Wharf. Dating back to the late 19th century, San Francisco’s cable cars are the only mobile National Monument in the world. Jump off at the intersection of Hyde and Lombard streets to take a few photos of Lombard Street, a steep block famed for its eight dramatic switchback turns. The street was designed in the 1920s in an attempt to slow speeding cars. Today, it’s decorated with lovely flower beds and offers a wonderful view of the city.
7/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 95pm. Cycle To The Golden Gate Bridge – No trip to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to its most legendary attraction: the Golden Gate Bridge. Rent a bike from one of the many outfitters found in Fisherman’s Wharf and make the scenic journey along the coast to Fort Point National Historic Site, which offers prime views of the bridge. If time (and energy!) allows, you can bike right across the bridge for jaw-dropping views of the bay and the city.
8/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 107pm. Take In The View At La Mar Cebicheria – La Mar combines killer Peruvian food with beautiful waterfront views. The kitchen is helmed by Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Gastón Acurio, who has helped Peruvian cuisine gain global recognition and is known for opening one of Lima’s enduring fine-dining favourites, Astrid y Gastón. True to the restaurant’s name, the cebiches (or ceviches) are the key dishes to try here: opt for the tasting trio if you’re with friends. The crispy, savoury empanadas are a nice pairing for the zesty ceviche. [Photo: April Tran]
9/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 119pm. Close Out The Day At Verjus – It would be a shame to be so close to the top-notch winemaking regions of Napa and Sonoma without indulging in some good vino. Parisian-inspired wine bar Verjus offers a lengthy but approachable list of wines. Although the vibe is relaxed, the wines here are some of the best in the city, with an emphasis on natural and organic bottles from small producers across France, Italy and the US. It’s the perfect spot to linger over a few drinks and toast to a busy but satisfying day exploring San Francisco.
10/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 13Read Before You Go – San Francisco Stories by Jack London. As the name implies, this book features a collection of stories by 19th-century writer Jack London, who was born in San Francisco and wrote extensively about the city throughout his career. The book brings together 23 of London’s stories set in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering an intriguing perspective into the city’s past. The anthology also includes London’s first-hand narrative of the devastating earthquake that occurred in 1906.
12/14
Travel
24 Hours In… San Francisco.
Slide Nr 15Jessica Huras is a Toronto-based writer and editor who covers stories on food, travel and culture. She can usually be found eating, or writing about eating. Read more at jessicahuras.com.
14/14
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.