Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
French-themed coffee shop that serves paninis, beer, and French-style baked goods. I consider this to be the most "yuppie" of the three Lower Haight coffee shops.
95 locals recommend
Cafe du Soleil
400 Fillmore StFrench-themed coffee shop that serves paninis, beer, and French-style baked goods. I consider this to be the most "yuppie" of the three Lower Haight coffee shops.
Bean There
201 Steiner StThe "hipster" coffee shop in the area, with lots of outdoor seating.
The "hippy" coffee shop, serving some of the best ice coffee in the City (the key: the ice cubes are made from frozen cofee). The owner is super friendly, but I find the music too loud at times.
23 locals recommend
Cafe International
508 Haight StThe "hippy" coffee shop, serving some of the best ice coffee in the City (the key: the ice cubes are made from frozen cofee). The owner is super friendly, but I find the music too loud at times.
Some of the more interesting cocktails in the City can be found here, along with some delicious small plates (e.g. duck sliders!).
90 locals recommend
Maven
598 Haight StSome of the more interesting cocktails in the City can be found here, along with some delicious small plates (e.g. duck sliders!).
Higher end Mexican food, but still pretty affordable. One of my favorite restaurants in SF -- the ceviche, carnitas. and chocolate-cinnamon popsicles are recommended.
99 locals recommend
The Page
298 Divisadero StHigher end Mexican food, but still pretty affordable. One of my favorite restaurants in SF -- the ceviche, carnitas. and chocolate-cinnamon popsicles are recommended.
Popular and crowded German restaurant with a good selection of German beers on tap. Arrive early to avoid waiting to be sat.
158 locals recommend
Suppenküche
525 Laguna StPopular and crowded German restaurant with a good selection of German beers on tap. Arrive early to avoid waiting to be sat.
Nicely priced quality restaurant. I've liked the desserts I've tried here.
24 locals recommend
Alamo Square Seafood Grill
803 Fillmore StNicely priced quality restaurant. I've liked the desserts I've tried here.
Coffee shop by day, wine bar by night. Has tasteful decor and a pub quiz on Tuesday nights.
43 locals recommend
Vinyl Coffee and Wine Bar
359 Divisadero StCoffee shop by day, wine bar by night. Has tasteful decor and a pub quiz on Tuesday nights.
Little Baobab SF
2243 19th StAfrican restaurant that turns into a club.
Cha Cha Cha
1801 Haight StPopular Caribbean tapas & sangria restaurant.
The restaurant for beer lovers -- all dishes have a recommended (fancy) beer pairing. Often has long waiting times.
177 locals recommend
The Monk's Kettle
3141 16th StreetThe restaurant for beer lovers -- all dishes have a recommended (fancy) beer pairing. Often has long waiting times.
Reasonably-priced restaurant with good pasta, comfort food, and salads.
96 locals recommend
Chow Food Bar
215 Church StReasonably-priced restaurant with good pasta, comfort food, and salads.
Bar Jules
609 Hayes StreetOrganic, Waters-esque slow food kind of place.
Good quality Indian restaurant - one of the better places for Indian in the City.
33 locals recommend
Indian Oven Restaurant
233 Fillmore StGood quality Indian restaurant - one of the better places for Indian in the City.
Axum Cafe
698 Haight StGood Ethiopian food.
Syrian-owned place with delicious rotisserie chicken (and garlic sauce). I recommend carry out rather than eating here, however.
32 locals recommend
Palmyra
700 Haight StSyrian-owned place with delicious rotisserie chicken (and garlic sauce). I recommend carry out rather than eating here, however.
Kate's Kitchen
471 Haight StreetTop breakfast place in the neighborhood.
The Grind
783 Haight StGood option for coffee and breakfast food.
Finally, a Chinese restaurant in the Lower Haight! Above average food and friendly staff.
34 locals recommend
Wonderland Restaurant
500 Haight StFinally, a Chinese restaurant in the Lower Haight! Above average food and friendly staff.
Best pizza in SF, according to me. I love the corn meal crust. Go with the deep dish.
360 locals recommend
Little Star Pizza
846 Divisadero StBest pizza in SF, according to me. I love the corn meal crust. Go with the deep dish.
Herbivore
531 Divisadero StreetBelieve it or not, this is a vegetarian restaurant.
Stacks
501 Hayes StA good breakfast place (though it's no Kate's Kitchen!).
Best burrito place in the area, though also a bit more chi chi than most. Also has good brunch on the weekends.
187 locals recommend
The Little Chihuahua
292 Divisadero StBest burrito place in the area, though also a bit more chi chi than most. Also has good brunch on the weekends.
L'Ardoise
151 Noe StCozy and romantic French bistro.
I'm not sold on this place, but they do make deep fried Thanksgiving balls. Which is awesome.
11 locals recommend
Greenburger's
518 Haight StreetI'm not sold on this place, but they do make deep fried Thanksgiving balls. Which is awesome.
Carnival-themed place with lots of fried and comfort food, and also some cajun for some reason. The signature dish is a fried chicken and waffle monte cristo.
43 locals recommend
Straw
203 Octavia BoulevardCarnival-themed place with lots of fried and comfort food, and also some cajun for some reason. The signature dish is a fried chicken and waffle monte cristo.
Uva Enoteca
568 Haight StThe neighborhood wine bar.
One of my favorite restaurants -- quality Mexican for a good price. I recommend the ceviche, carnitas, and the Mexican chocolate popsicle desert.
306 locals recommend
Nopalito
306 Broderick StOne of my favorite restaurants -- quality Mexican for a good price. I recommend the ceviche, carnitas, and the Mexican chocolate popsicle desert.
Drinks & Nightlife
The best beer bar in the City, with dozens of craft beers on tap. It can get crowded, even on weeknights, and stinky too.
185 locals recommend
Toronado
547 Haight StThe best beer bar in the City, with dozens of craft beers on tap. It can get crowded, even on weeknights, and stinky too.
Dark, atmospheric "cavern" bar with friendly bar tenders and a good beer selection (including gluten-free). Does not serve liquor.
46 locals recommend
Noc Noc
557 Haight StDark, atmospheric "cavern" bar with friendly bar tenders and a good beer selection (including gluten-free). Does not serve liquor.
Fairly standard Irish pub/sports bar, but it's one of my favorites because it's clean, has friendly staff, and decent food for a pub. Hosts a pub quiz on Monday nights.
22 locals recommend
Nickies
466 Haight StFairly standard Irish pub/sports bar, but it's one of my favorites because it's clean, has friendly staff, and decent food for a pub. Hosts a pub quiz on Monday nights.
Primary sports bar in the neighborhood and a top soccer bar in the City. However, the food is iffy, staff is sometimes surly, and liquor is not served. Hosts pub quizzes on Tues and Thurs nights.
23 locals recommend
Mad Dog in the Fog
1568 Haight StPrimary sports bar in the neighborhood and a top soccer bar in the City. However, the food is iffy, staff is sometimes surly, and liquor is not served. Hosts pub quizzes on Tues and Thurs nights.
The "punk" dive bar in the neighborhood featuring tattoos, piercing, and pinball. On weekends the Tamale Lady usually stops by.
23 locals recommend
Molotov's
582 Haight StThe "punk" dive bar in the neighborhood featuring tattoos, piercing, and pinball. On weekends the Tamale Lady usually stops by.
Standard Irish pub, allows outside food. Hosts a pub quiz on Wednesday nights.
26 locals recommend
Danny Coyle's
668 Haight StStandard Irish pub, allows outside food. Hosts a pub quiz on Wednesday nights.
One of my favorite bars in the area. Most nights feature either live music or good DJs, and the menu includes good beer and interesting cocktails. Gets packed on weekend nights.
131 locals recommend
Madrone Art Bar
500 Divisadero StOne of my favorite bars in the area. Most nights feature either live music or good DJs, and the menu includes good beer and interesting cocktails. Gets packed on weekend nights.
Churchill
198 Church StFairly clean bar with good cocktails and beers served in mason jars.
Rather undercover bar with ample couch space and a good selection of cocktails.
19 locals recommend
The Residence
718 14th StreetRather undercover bar with ample couch space and a good selection of cocktails.
The Homestead
2301 Folsom StGreat neighborhood bar. With peanuts!
Amnesia
853 Valencia StNo hard liquor here, but lots of live music.
The 500 Club
500 Guerrero StNeighborhood dive bar.
Elixir
3200 16th StCozy neighborhood bar, not as divey as the 500 Club.
Casanova Lounge
527 Valencia StMy favorite hipster dive bar.
The best bar in SF, according to me. One of the only places with significant outdoor space, has a good selection of beer and decent grilled food.
222 locals recommend
Zeitgeist
199 Valencia StThe best bar in SF, according to me. One of the only places with significant outdoor space, has a good selection of beer and decent grilled food.
The "porn bar" owned by the Armory studios across the street. Actually a pretty classy place, aside from the occasional digital porn shots on the wall (nothing too graphic, from what I've seen).
38 locals recommend
The Armory Club
1799 Mission StThe "porn bar" owned by the Armory studios across the street. Actually a pretty classy place, aside from the occasional digital porn shots on the wall (nothing too graphic, from what I've seen).
One of the hotter, newer spots in the mission. It can be difficult to get a lane during peak hours, but still a good place to have a drink.
127 locals recommend
Mission Bowling Club
3176 17th StOne of the hotter, newer spots in the mission. It can be difficult to get a lane during peak hours, but still a good place to have a drink.
Not always friendly to outsiders, but a good dive. If you're lucky you'll catch the guy playing punk covers on the piano.
9 locals recommend
Rite Spot Cafe
2099 Folsom StNot always friendly to outsiders, but a good dive. If you're lucky you'll catch the guy playing punk covers on the piano.
The best new music venue in SF, built in a former church. You can also check out the bar's quality cocktail selection without paying a cover for the music.
135 locals recommend
The Chapel
777 Valencia StreetThe best new music venue in SF, built in a former church. You can also check out the bar's quality cocktail selection without paying a cover for the music.
One of my favorite bars/gastropubs, due in part to the outrageously delicious lamb sliders they serve. Good selection of Belgian-style beers.
26 locals recommend
The Sycamore
2140 Mission StOne of my favorite bars/gastropubs, due in part to the outrageously delicious lamb sliders they serve. Good selection of Belgian-style beers.
Dive bar with a good beer selection and lots of quality punk on the jukebox.
58 locals recommend
Lucky 13
1301 Park StDive bar with a good beer selection and lots of quality punk on the jukebox.
Listing this as a bar. If you want to eat Ethiopian food, try Axum on Haight.
30 locals recommend
Club Waziema
543 Divisadero StListing this as a bar. If you want to eat Ethiopian food, try Axum on Haight.
Arts & Culture
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell StLive music venue.
Cafe Du Nord
2174 Market StLive music venue.
The Independent
628 Divisadero StLive music venue.
Such a great place to see a movie -- classic theater with live organ player to entertain you before the show.
332 locals recommend
Castro Theatre
429 Castro StSuch a great place to see a movie -- classic theater with live organ player to entertain you before the show.
One of SF's finer live music venues, with lots of Edwardian details.
56 locals recommend
Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell StOne of SF's finer live music venues, with lots of Edwardian details.
My favorite SF music venue, due to it's swing era vibe and sound acoustics.
23 locals recommend
Bimbo's
1025 Columbus AveMy favorite SF music venue, due to it's swing era vibe and sound acoustics.