About

About ULTIMATE San Francisco City Guide

ULTIMATE San Francisco City Guide is an independent guide for visitors to San Francisco, California. We publish 17 curated lists: hotels, restaurants, cafés & bakeries, bars, nightlife & live music, sights, museums & performing arts, parks & walks, shopping, supermarkets & pharmacies, spas & wellness, hospitals, luxury lifestyle, boats & ferries, motoring, property and getting around. Together they cover Union Square, Nob Hill, North Beach, Chinatown, the Mission, Pacific Heights, the Marina and the Presidio, SoMa and the Embarcadero, Hayes Valley and Fisherman’s Wharf, with day trips to Sausalito, Muir Woods and wine country.

How we choose

Every place in our lists has been checked against its own website or an official source such as the National Park Service, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency or the City and County of San Francisco. We don’t use review scores, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm. MICHELIN distinctions are quoted only from the official MICHELIN Guide.

Before you go

Opening hours, prices and schedules change often. Please check directly with each place before you visit. Prices are in US dollars.

For venues

Run a venue in San Francisco and spotted something to update? We review our lists regularly and welcome corrections.

Photo credits

• Alcatraz Island seen from PIER 39, by Steven Lek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Painted Ladies on Alamo Square, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• SFMOMA seen from Yerba Buena Gardens, by Beyond My Ken, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery Spencer, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Irish coffee at the Buena Vista, by Julia Sumangil, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A BART train and the skyline at sunset, by Pi.1415926535, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Alcatraz Island seen from PIER 39, by Steven Lek, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Irish coffee at the Buena Vista, by Julia Sumangil, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A cable car on California Street, by Frank Schulenburg, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A cable car above the Bay, with Alcatraz behind, by Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tartine Bakery in the Mission, by Carl Collins from Brooklyn, NY, USA, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• San Francisco from Twin Peaks, by Tuxyso, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Castro Theatre marquee, by Gotanero, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Fort Baker and Cavallo Point, by Sausalitoarchitect, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Dragon Gate at the entrance to Chinatown on Grant Avenue, by BrokenSphere, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• City Lights and Vesuvio on Columbus Avenue, by Carwriter1, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill, by Sasha • Stories, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Crissy Field beach and the Golden Gate Bridge, by Brocken Inaglory, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Ferry Building clock tower on the Embarcadero, by Frank Schulenburg, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Fairmont San Francisco on Nob Hill, by JCruzTheTruth, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Ferry Building clock tower on the Embarcadero, by Frank Schulenburg, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Garden Court at the Palace Hotel, by Dllu, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge above the fog, by Dongmin03, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Ghirardelli Square sign, by Miscellaneous contributor, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery Spencer, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill, by Yair Haklai, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Waves on the coast at Half Moon Bay, by Josh Dobson from UK, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A street in Hayes Valley, by FASTILY, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• San Francisco from Twin Peaks, by Tuxyso, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The San Francisco skyline from Pier 7 on the Embarcadero, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Fairmont San Francisco on Nob Hill, by JCruzTheTruth, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Historic ships at Hyde Street Pier, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lands End Trail, by Sharon Mollerus, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The crooked section of Lombard Street, by Cornflower123, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge above the fog, by Dongmin03, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Mission Dolores Park at sunset, by Ju13serv, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Mission San Francisco de Asís and the Dolores Basilica, by Ligocsicnarf89, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Redwoods in Muir Woods, by Niranjan Arminius, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Vineyards in the Napa Valley, by Brocken Inaglory, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos Hill, by A.Savin, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the Exumas, by DrGvago, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Grand Palace reflected at dawn, by Nawit science, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. James, by Barry haynes, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael, by Tatil Dükkanı, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Romanian Athenaeum in its garden, by Jorge Franganillo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the Danube, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coast, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, by Miamireader, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini caldera, by Norbert Nagel, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Helsinki Cathedral above the South Harbour, by Ввласенко, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Blue Mosque at night, by Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Las Vegas Strip at dusk, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Triple Bridge over the Ljubljanica, by Fred Romero from Paris, France, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower, by Domob, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyond, by The Fun Chronicles, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the Maldives, by Luka Peternel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts in Puerto Banús, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, by Robbschultz69, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountains, by Spike, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbour, by iMahesh, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset at the Naples Pier, by pmarkham, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The New York City skyline from Top of the Rock, by Dillan Payne, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Millennium Bridge over the Morača, by Desemeus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery Spencer, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sebilj fountain and the square of Baščaršija, by Yukof, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lujiazui skyline across the Huangpu River from the Bund, by Zhang Zhang (张涨）), licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Stone Bridge over the Vardar, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, by Julian Lupyan, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Nine Arch Bridge near Ella, in the hill country, by Knthabrew, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed Pitons, by xiquinhosilva, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey Mosque, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The tiled roof of St Mark’s Church in Zagreb’s Upper Town, by Bernard Gagnon, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Castro Theatre marquee, by Gotanero, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Columbus Avenue in North Beach, by InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The War Memorial Opera House, by Sanfranman59, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, by Missvain, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Painted Ladies on Alamo Square, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lands End Trail, by Sharon Mollerus, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Point Reyes Lighthouse, by Frank Schulenburg, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Painted Ladies on Alamo Square, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tadich Grill on California Street, by Olaf Meister, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Salesforce Tower, by Saggittarius A, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sausalito waterfront, by Pierre André, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• California sea lions at PIER 39, by Brocken Inaglory, licensed Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
• SFMOMA seen from Yerba Buena Gardens, by Beyond My Ken, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The International Terminal at SFO, by Constantine Kulikovsky, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Union Square in December, by Dllu, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The pagoda in the Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park, by Daderot, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The ruins of the Sutro Baths and Seal Rocks, by Brocken Inaglory, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tadich Grill on California Street, by Olaf Meister, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• San Francisco from the East Peak of Mount Tamalpais, by Chris Koerner from St. Louis, USA, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tartine Bakery in the Mission, by Carl Collins from Brooklyn, NY, USA, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The pagoda in the Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park, by Daderot, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A cable car on California Street, by Frank Schulenburg, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• San Francisco from Twin Peaks, by Tuxyso, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Union Square in December, by Dllu, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Fisherman's Wharf sign, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yerba Buena Gardens in SoMa, by This photo was taken by Anton Zelenov. Please credit this with : Photo : Anton Z, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.