I (Jeremy) first moved to San Francisco in 2009 for college, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and right in the middle of that perfect time period between Tech Boom 1.0 and Tech Boom 2.0. The city I moved to was quirky and affordable: I was able to work as a barista and attend art school while still being able to pay for rent and my college social life.
That seems like a long time ago now – an affordable San Francisco feels like a distant memory. Since then, I’ve changed as much as the city has. But a few things have remained the same: I’ll always get that butterfly-in-my-stomach feeling of excitement when I cross over the Bay Bridge from our current home in Oakland and catch glittering sunlight reflecting off skyscrapers in the Financial District and shining on Coit Tower, or when I’m able to catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge unobscured by fog.
One more thing has stayed the same: San Francisco will always be a city that changes. Since San Francisco first began to attract hopeful visionaries in the early days of the Gold Rush, it’s been a lightning rod for whatever’s next, new, and exciting. San Francisco feels like the future – but pieces of the city will always reflect its past. The Summer of Love in 1967 may have felt like the next big thing for young Americans at the time, but today, Haight-Ashbury feels like it’s charmingly frozen in time, a living museum to an era long gone.
This is also why it can feel incredibly confusing to figure out where to stay in San Francisco. For one thing, there are a TON of different neighborhoods, each with a completely distinct vibe, history, scenery, and even weather. And despite San Francisco’s relatively tiny size, it can take hours to get from one side of the city to another on public transportation thanks to ridiculous hills and traffic.
Basing yourself in the right spot can mean the difference between walking out your front door to explore, and spending an hour and a half in a bus or train or car just to see the sights.
We know where you stay can make or break your travel experience, and we want you to fall in love with San Francisco – and to get that butterfly feeling when you listen to San Francisco songs like San Francisco by the Mowgli’s, San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) by Scott Mckenzie, San Francisco by Foxygen, or Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding.
Now that you’ve got your playlist all queued up (and a cup of coffee or tea, perhaps – this is a long post!) let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Psst: Planning to visit the Bay Area? We’ve got a ton of blog posts about our home! Here are a few of our favorites to help you prepare for your trip, or browse them all.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco
- 30 Things Nobody Tells You About San Francisco
- 26 Awesome Things to Do in Oakland, California (Oakland is just 5 minutes from San Francisco across the bridge!)
San Francisco At-a-Glance ✍
Here’s a bite-sized snapshot of everything you need to know to plan your trip!
- When to Go: Visit in February, March, April or May, when the rains give way to flowers and green hills and before the foggy summer gloom and hot, dry fire season set in.
- Where to Stay: We recommend staying in Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, The Castro, or North Beach at The Stanyan Park Hotel, The Hayes Valley Inn, and Parker Guest House. Vacation rentals in San Francisco are strictly limited as they have historically contributed to the housing crisis, so we recommend a hotel instead. More details in our guide to where to stay in San Francisco.
- How to Get Around: Use Bart and Muni to get around (a Clipper Card makes paying easy), Lyft and Uber when you need a car, and walk everywhere else. Driving in SF is difficult, and parking is impossible, so we don’t recommend renting a car.
- Top 3 Highlights: Do our free self-guided San Francisco Walking Tour (this quirky 70’s themed VW Bus tour is a great alternative without all the hills). Take a walking food tour of The Mission, Chinatown, or Little Italy. Take a day trip to Muir Woods for redwoods or Napa & Sonoma for wine.
- Before You Go: You MUST read Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love. Also, use our San Francisco packing guide so you don’t forget anything!
We also have a Podcast episode about San Francisco! Find out what to eat, where to drink, & the best things to do, plus answers to questions you never knew you had… like whether there is weed everywhere (yes) and if you’ll accidentally see nudity (double yes). We’re also spilling the fair-trade, organic, ethically sourced tea on our lesser-known life of crime.
Where to Stay in San Francisco – Summary
This is a long, detailed post, so we wanted to give you a quick at-a-glance version:
- The Best Areas to Stay in San Francisco: We recommend staying in Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, The Castro, or North Beach.
- The Best Hotels in San Francisco: Our top hotel picks are The Stanyan Park Hotel, The Hayes Valley Inn, and Parker Guest House. Pick any one of those 3 options and you’re golden.
- The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco: Hotel Argonaut in Fisherman’s Wharf and Hotel Nikko in Union Square are the best dog-friendly hotels in San Francisco.
- Why aren’t recommending any AirBnBs? Unfortunately, AirBnBs in San Francisco have historically contributed to the housing crisis, which in turn affects homelessness. Over the years, strict laws have been established, limiting the number and type of AirBnBs found in the city. So while you can still find private rooms in SF, in order to be a more responsible traveler, we recommend that you choose to stay in hotels instead.
Wow, I can’t believe we just managed to condense 5k words into one paragraph. Well done, us!
Now, for the full scoop on each neighborhood and why we do (or don’t) recommend staying there, read on.
The Best Areas to Stay in San Francisco
Union Square
We’ll start out with one of the most popular choices, before giving you a bunch of other options that we highly encourage you to choose instead. Union Square and the surrounding areas are one of the most popular tourist destinations in San Francisco. The square itself isn’t much to get excited about (except during Christmas, when it turns into a beautiful ice skating rink with a giant Christmas Tree), but the surrounding streets are packed with some of the best shopping in the city. Every clothing brand you can think of has a storefront here.
Union Square is centrally located, close to transit, and the hotels in this area serve up fantastic high-rise views. If you’re visiting for work, Union Square is just close enough to the Financial District and the Moscone Convention Center for a brisk morning walk, and suffers less from the FiDi’s “everything closes after 6pm” curse.
That said, if you’re not visiting for work, there are a lot more interesting places to stay – Union Square does not exactly serve up San Francisco charm. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit, though: you might find yourself passing through Union Square for a ride on our famous Cable Car, an afternoon of shopping, or an outdoor lunch and an iconic photo in stunning Maiden Lane.
- Where to Stay in Union Square: Most of the hotels in this neighborhood are on the higher end, like the Westin St. Francis, which borders one end of Union Square – pop in for a stunning lobby display during the Christmas Season and if you can, ride the glass elevators to the top of the towers for one of the best views in the city. If you’d prefer a more budget-friendly room, try Villa Florence instead.
South of Market, aka SoMa
Locals refer to the sweeping area south of market street in the eastern half of the city as SoMa. It’s VERY large. So large, in fact, that there are sub-districts within SoMa like East Cut, South Park, and Rincon Hill. Historically, this neighborhood was a warehouse district, but now it’s home to tech companies and lofts which occupy the roomy old warehouse buildings.
SoMa is a fantastic place to stay with quite a bit going on, but different parts of SoMa have different vibes. For example, on the eastern-most tip of SoMa, you’ll find beautiful homes surrounding South Park, a quiet green London-Style little park square.
But head west to Folsom Street between 7th and 9th and you’ll find the BDSM and leather culture block (because …San Francisco) that houses our notorious Folsom Street Fair every September. If you’re visiting San Francisco in September, and you’re NOT into leather, kink, or nudity, do not stay in this area. Consider yourself duly prepared.
In other parts of SoMa, you’ll find some of the best restaurants in the city, like Saison, Bar Agricole, and South Park Cafe. There’s also excellent nightlife at bars and clubs like 21st Amendment, Raven, Bloodhound, Wish, Butter, DNA Lounge, House of Shields, Local Edition, and Tempest. And there’s plenty of culture as well: the San Francisco MoMA, Yerba Buena Center, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum will scratch your art itch.
And of course, you can’t visit San Francisco during baseball season without stopping at Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park) to watch the SF Giants! Sure, we haven’t been in top form since 2014, but it’s still the most beautiful ballpark in the country. Local’s tip: the fog settles in around 9pm, so bring a rain jacket if you’ll be at a late-night game. Also, order the Garlic Fries.
There are a few drawbacks to staying in SoMa: being so absolutely enormous, the neighborhood lacks any real identity, making each block feel sort of like its own thing. In San Francisco, home of incredibly unique micro-neighborhoods, that’s quite rare.
SoMa is also not … very pretty. It’s mostly a lot of lofts, warehouses, and wide streets with massive sidewalks – charm is definitely lacking. Also, all downtown highway exits pass through here, making traffic an absolute nightmare.
That said, SoMa is home to several bus lines, making it fairly transit friendly even if you’ll have to head up to Market to catch a BART train. And because the neighborhood is so HUGE, there are a variety of different vibes to suit your travel style.
- Where to Stay in SoMa: The beautiful and affordable BEI Hotel is located on the westernmost tip of SoMa, close to several transit options and bordering some of San Francisco’s best neighborhoods. We’d happily stay here! Far to the east side side of SoMa, the more upscale Hotel Griffon offers Bay Bridge views, walkable Financial District access, easy transportation to CalTrain if you’re heading into Silicon Valley for work, and easy access to Oracle Park; this is a great option for business travelers.
Haight-Ashbury
Haight-Ashbury is one of our absolute favorite neighborhoods, and one of the most iconic and historic in San Francisco! The Summer of Love days may be long gone, but the Haight still preserves some of the same feelings. In fact, I think some of the same people from that summer are still hanging around the neighborhood…
There are a few reasons why you might not want to base yourself in Haight-Ashbury. Here are a few that come to mind:
- You still hate hippies… and today’s equivalent counterculture folk, which is sort of a gutter-punk crust/grunge mashup
- You’re allergic to weed smoke
- Tie-Dye stuff makes you see red
If none of the above apply, allow us to convince you to base yourself in this area. For starters, it’s freakin’ gorgeous and the architecture can’t be beaten: there’s nothing more iconically San Francisco than the colorful, frilly Victorian homes that line the streets of the Haight.
In addition to the gorgeous historic homes, you’ll find tons of adorable, unique little boutique shops. When it comes to shopping in San Francisco, we actually prefer Haight-Ashbury to Union Square: the shops here have that local flair and are expertly curated. If you’re not into beautiful upscale shops, though, you’ll also find some of the best thrift stores in the city, a bunch of groovy shops selling tie-dye and weed accessories, and a plethora of truly excellent costume shops.
Haight-Ashbury is also centrally located in the city and borders beautiful Golden Gate Park (no relation to the Golden Gate Bridge, and no, it’s not nearby). By the way, did you know that Golden Gate Park is bigger than Central Park?! And that it’s home to a herd of bison? And redwoods? And hikes? And a botanical garden? And a flower conservatory? And an art museum? And a science museum? And a Japanese Tea Garden?
Look, we’re just going to say it: Golden Gate Park is the best city park in the country and NYC can stuff it. Don’t @ us.
While there’s no easy access to BART in the Haight, there’s plenty of MUNI lines running in and out of the area, so you’ll have no trouble getting around within San Francisco. If you don’t stay here, at least pay the neighborhood a visit – and be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. You’d be surprised how small Haight-Ashbury actually is: you can see the whole neighborhood in a day.
- Where to Stay in Haight-Ashbury: The Stanyan Park Hotel borders Golden Gate Park, with luxurious old-world Victorian charm and budget-friendly rates. We think this is one of the best places to stay in San Francisco!
Hayes Valley
Hayes Valley is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in San Francisco. We’d LOVE to live here, but let’s just say we … can’t … afford it. But hey, let’s not talk about SF rent – it’s one of the local’s favorite topics of discussion, but as a visitor, you don’t have to worry about it (you lucky duck).
Here is why you should live out our personal San Francisco fantasy and base yourself in Hayes Valley: it’s freaking adorable. Think tree-lined streets, restaurants spilling out onto shaded sidewalk cafes, and lots of small boutique shops (including some of our favorite ethical/sustainable clothing brands, Alternative Apparel, Outdoor Voices, and locally-based fave Marine Layer). We’d rather go shopping here than in Union Square any day!
That said, Hayes Valley is more walkable than transit-able, and like the rest of San Francisco, having a car will bring you nothing but trouble.
Also, fair warning: if you happen to be staying in Hayes Valley during Bay to Breakers in May, you’re in for a very weird, VERY San Francisco experience. (Honestly, we’d highly recommend it, but prepare yourself: there will be nudity, partying, elaborate costumes, general ridiculousness, and a LOT of fun. Also a historic marathon, but that’s really the least interesting bit.)
We definitely encourage anyone not staying in Hayes Valley to visit, particularly if you’re nearby at Alamo Square to snag a Painted Ladies photo for the ‘gram.
- Where to Stay in Hayes Valley: The Hayes Valley Inn is one of the most surprisingly high-value hotels in San Francisco. It’s crazy affordable for the most expensive city in the country, especially considering it’s located right in the heart of one of its most beautiful neighborhoods. In exchange for those savings, though, you’ll have to share a bathroom with the other guests. Look, there’s always a catch. If you prefer to shower in the privacy of your room, stay at The Grove Inn just off of Alamo Square instead.
The Castro
The Castro is one of the most iconic neighborhoods in San Francisco, and chances are you’ve already seen photos of its rainbow-flag lined streets. Since the 70’s, the Castro has been one of the most famously LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in the USA. If you’re a respectful participant in queer culture or a card-carrying ally, we highly recommend a visit to the Castro to explore its historic streets and sights, and we’d encourage you to consider staying here, too. Obviously, if you’re homophobic, trans-phobic, or just not comfortable with queer culture, you should avoid the Castro… and possibly consider not visiting San Francisco at all.
There are a ton of reasons why we love the Castro, starting with the weather. I know it sounds weird, but every neighborhood in San Francisco has different weather (they’re called Micro-Climates). It has something to do with different building layouts and how they affect sun and wind exposure, but I’m no Brick Tamland. What I do know is the Castro almost always seems like one of the warmest places in the city.
We also love that the Castro is near the iconic Seward Slides. And you’ll have easy access to Dolores Park, a must visit while in the city. DoLo is where everyone comes on warm days to lay out with friends and party in whatever way they see fit. Some folks drink and dance, some folks drink and nap, some drink and play elaborate games while others watch. Drinking is the official activity though. There is also some premium dog watching (my favorite), plus some hilariously San Franciscan vendors that walk around. My personal favorites are Michael the Coconut guy (he walks around machete-ing coconuts and filling them with rum) and the cereal bars from the woman with the basket and vaguely Swiss maid outfit. Yes, there’s weed in them.
The Castro is also home to some of the best nightlife in the city – which is great if you’re spry and with it, and maybe not so desirable if you’re old at heart and prefer to go to bed early.
Before you visit, read up on LGBTQ+ history and culture in San Francisco so you have some context for where you’re staying. Also, remember that while you’re here, you’re a visitor in the queer community, so please be respectful.
- Where to Stay in the Castro: Parker Guest House is beautiful, perfectly located, highly rated, and fairly affordable – so pretty much a home run when it comes to places to stay in San Francisco!
North Beach (& Chinatown)
Although these two neighborhoods are vastly different – in fact, the border of the two neighborhoods on Kerouac Alley is one of the best examples of the distinct dichotomy between neighborhoods in San Francisco – we’re including them together because they’re so close that you’ll find yourself weaving in and out of them frequently during your stay. Also, because there really aren’t any hotels to speak of in Chinatown, so the closest you can really get is North Beach.
We love this area for a few reasons. First of all, the food. There is no shortage of good food here! Between the largest Chinatown in America, and San Francisco’s Little Italy, you’ll never go hungry.
For Italian food, we recommend The Italian Homemade Company, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Baonecci Restaurant, or Il Casaro.
For Chinese, check out Hunan’s Home, Z & Y Restaurant, Mister Jiu’s, R&G Lounge, City View, or Sam Wo. Don’t forget to pop into one of Chinatown’s little bakeries to pick up a delicious treat for dessert, too!
These two neighborhoods are also home to some gorgeous San Francisco views. North Beach is tree-lined and green, dotted with historic sights like the Sentinel Building while the Transamerica Pyramid pops up around every corner.
But Chinatown transports you to another country: during the day, its crowded streets fill with grocers and vendors hawking a variety of bewildering wares, but around twilight everyone mysteriously vanishes, leaving you to explore quiet streets splashed with colorful street art and enjoy the bright red lanterns twinkling overhead almost completely alone.
The neighborhoods are both perfectly positioned for visitors, with close proximity to many of San Francisco’s best sights. You’re right next to Coit Tower, Ghiradelli Square, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Telegraph Hill and the Filbert Steps (home of a famous flock of parrots), Kerouac Alley, and Washington Square Park. Whew. That’s a LOT of tourist destinations in one very small area! Which, of course, is why our self-guided San Francisco walking tour goes straight through this area *ahem.*
We also love the history of these two neighborhoods. From escaped slave refugees to immigrants to the great beat writers of the 1950’s, this small pocket of the city has rich stories to tell. We highly recommend you read up on the history of Chinatown and North Beach, and consider booking a guided tour in the daytime or evening to really get to know these two incredible neighborhoods.
We do want to give you a heads-up, though: while these two neighborhoods are some of the best in San Francisco to visit and to stay in, North Beach can get a little weird at night. There are like, a bunch of strip clubs. With really bright neon lights that turn on after dark. And between the strip clubs, dance clubs, and promoters handing out ads to them, Broadway can start to feel a bit like Las Vegas at night.
But it’s an easy fix: just avoid that stretch of Broadway and make sure you’re staying far enough away to not get neon lights lighting up your hotel room at night.
- Where to Stay in North Beach & Chinatown: The Washington Square Inn is a lovely, cozy little Victorian-style inn located on the absolutely beautiful Washington Square park in North Beach. If you’re on a tight budget, the Hotel North Beach sacrifices a few comforts (think: shared bathrooms) but offers an insanely good price, and is located directly along the border between these two neighborhoods.
Dog-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco
If you’re like us, traveling with your pup may be a mandatory requirement. And San Francisco is a uniquely dog-friendly city – in fact, there are more dogs here than children! From the dog-friendly beaches to the dog-friendly bars, restaurants, and parks, you can pretty much bring your dog with you everywhere you go. (And we totally do.)
So if you’ll be bringing your pup with you on your trip, we’ve found some amazing places to stay:
- Hotel Argonaut: Located on Fisherman’s Wharf, this deliciously handsome eco-friendly hotel offers beautiful views across the San Francisco Bay. Watch the boats go by from your nautical themed room, with its exposed bricks and ship-themed touches. Take your pup for a walk by the water; it’s right there!
- Hotel Nikko: Located in Union Square, Hotel Nikko goes a step further for your dog – they offer pet-friendly rooms on the VIP (Very Important Pet) Floor with dog beds, food and water bowls, and mats! You can even walk out on their Pet Terrace, which features an off-leash dog run for play time and city views. Besides pet offerings, they hotel is decoarted in modern blues and whites and has a glass-enclosed pool.
Where Not to Stay in San Francisco
Now that we’ve given you our favorite areas to stay in San Francisco, here are the neighborhoods we would recommend you NOT staying in. These are all fantastic places to visit, but not the best spots to base yourself during your visit to San Francisco. Don’t worry, we’ll explain why!
Fisherman’s Wharf
Arguably the most obvious choice for where to stay in San Francisco also happens to be the first one that I would tell you to take a hard pass on. Sure, it’s an iconic location, and clam chowder in a bread bowl is always nearby, as well as other San Francisco staples like Buena Vista Cafe, Ghirardelli Square, Musee Mecanique, Boudin Bakery, and the seals at Pier 39.
But it’s also insanely crowded, full of tourists, and lacks any real essence of San Francisco other than what you might see on a mug or a magnet. Plus, the hotels here are pricey.
We definitely encourage you to visit – in fact, our San Francisco Walking Tour takes you up and down the whole Embarcadero to show you how much we love this area – but we don’t recommend that you stay here.
The one exception is if you’ll be traveling with a dog – the Hotel Argonaut is located right off Fisherman’s Wharf and is a fantastic dog-friendly hotel!
- Where to Stay Instead: We’d recommend staying in North Beach or Chinatown, both of which offer easy, walkable access to Fisherman’s Wharf. Take a look at the Washington Square Inn, a lovely, cozy little Victorian-style inn located on the absolutely beautiful Washington Square park.
Near Golden Gate Bridge/The Presidio
Quite a lot of visitors to San Francisco assume that the Golden Gate Bridge is close to the rest of the city. It’s not. It’s way out of the way.
The area around the Golden Gate Bridge is called the Presidio, and it’s actually a giant nature park that used to be a military base. It’s absolutely gorgeous and a wonderful place to go hiking (we recommend the Batteries to Bluffs trail) or to watch the sun setting at Land’s End.
But don’t stay there if your goal is to explore San Francisco. It’s quite out of the way and takes a long time to access on transit! We’d only recommend basing yourself here if you want peace, quiet, nature, isolation, and easy access to the Marin Headlands.
That said, there is one big plus to the Presidio: this is one of the few neighborhoods in San Francisco where it’s not a major disadvantage to have a car.
- Where to Stay Instead: Honestly, anywhere else on our neighborhood list would be a better choice. If you’re after Golden Gate Bridge views, you can find them all over the city if you stay in a high-rise building- but expect to pay more for the privilege.
Nob Hill
You should only stay in Nob Hill if you love incredibly steep, near-vertical hills and have a lot of money.
Look, we do like Nob Hill – we actually got engaged on the roof of the gorgeous Fairmont Hotel and spent our wedding night there – but there’s a reason locals call it Snob Hill. Which is that it’s insanely expensive. And on an incredibly steep hill.
Spend a night partying at the Tonga Room and enjoying the sweeping views of the plebs city, but don’t stay here.
- Where to Stay Instead: Chinatown and North Beach are in the same area, but at the base of the hills rather than on top of them.
The Mission & the Tenderloin
These are two of San Francisco’s most popular and well-known neighborhoods, even outside of California locals. And while we highly encourage you to visit, we want to strongly discourage you from basing yourself here. Allow us to explain why.
I lived in the Tenderloin for a couple of years and loved it. It may be the grittiest neighborhood in the city, but it has a certain charm. As you walk from Union Square into the Tenderloin, huge high-end stores filter into tiny mom-and-pop shops, chain hotels become seedy motels, gilded bars turn into local dives, sit down restaurants turn into taquerias and pizza shops.
Anyone familiar with authentic inner-city neighborhoods (think Harlem, not Midtown, as a New York equivalent) shouldn’t be too shocked by the Tenderloin. It’s conveniently placed and home to several places I would recommend visiting.
But it’s uh…got a rep. Here’s the thing: The TL, as the locals call it, is the neighborhood where drug rehabilitation, homeless services, and needle swap clinics are located. As a result, there are quite a few homeless residents, drug users, and other down-on-their-luck folks who spend most of their time in this area.
Put it this way: San Francisco has a lot of problems, and you’re going to see all of them in the Tenderloin. I’ve never felt unsafe there, but I’m a straight white man. I can’t guarantee you’d feel the same.
Most people you see on the streets of San Francisco are there because the city lacks the infrastructure to help everyone. However, opportunity crime is REAL in the Tenderloin. Muggings, phone snatches, and car break-ins are quite common at night. If you’re used to big cities, you’ll know what to expect. (For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t worry much about violent crime in the area – smashed car windows are irritating, but not life-threatening.)
Now to be fair, there has been an attempt in recent years to revamp the neighborhood … but it was pretty problematic. Not to get too political, but the late Mayor essentially wanted to sweep out the displaced and mentally ill folks who call the neighborhood home to make way for shiny new tech offices paying high rents.
Look, let’s just say it: we’re talking about gentrification, and it’s the real reason we’d discourage you from staying in the Tenderloin. The more people stay here, the more change happens. And sure, that’s good for the CITY, but it’s not necessarily good for the people living in the neighborhood who can’t afford the ballooning rent, small business owners who are being (quite literally) muscled out of their leases to make way for bigger companies or fancy hotels, and the displaced and unmedicated on the street.
So please, don’t stay here, and if you visit, do so mindfully and respectfully – the homeless are our neighbors, and we urge you to be empathetic to their struggles.
I love The Mission for the same reason I love the TL, but it has very similar problems. The neighborhood got hit hard in the tech boom, and generations of families living under one roof have been pushed out of the place they’ve known as home their whole lives. And why? Another third wave coffee shop? More space for AirBNBs? Gentrification a complex issue and we aren’t going to tackle it here, but we want to make you aware that it is a pervasive and ever-present reality for San Franciscans.
Yes, the Mission and the Tenderloin are dirty. Yes, there is opportunity crime. Yes, it’s a great market from a business perspective. But thinking that way ignores the human element. It ignores the lifeblood of the city and what makes San Francisco so freakin’ weird and cool. And that’s why I say don’t stay there.
Now, all that said…you should totally VISIT the Tenderloin and the Mission. Both The Mission and Tenderloin are located on Bart and bus lines, so you can easily stop by.
In the Tenderloin, go to Brenda’s for the best brunch in the city (but expect a crazy long wait). There’s usually a drag and/or comedy show going on at PianoFight. Bourbon and Branch is the local speakeasy you need a password and possibly a 1920’s costume to enter – across the street, Tradition has just as good drinks but with less of the strict historic speakeasy vibe. If you want a banh mi that will change your life, go to Saigon Sandwich.
We definitely recommend spending a warm, sunny afternoon (because micro-climates) exploring the street-art splashed streets of the Mission. The best burrito in San Francisco is often contested, but the big contenders all live in the Mission: Taqueria Cancun (the 19th and Mission location is our fave), La Taqueria, and El Farolito. It’s important for us to note that thse were all finalists in the NATIONAL BURRITO CONTEST. (Sidenote, how do I get on that judging board? I have the qualifications.)
After you’ve experienced the Mission burrito, enjoy some powerful margaritas and dance salsa at Latin America Club. Play some pool, pet some doggos, and drink some cheap drinks at Kilowatt. And wander along Valencia Street for a mixture of thrift shopping, bookstores, and high-end boutiques – don’t miss the Pirate Shop, a pirate supply store slash literary community (just trust us).
- Where to Stay Instead: The Castro, Hayes Valley, and SoMa are all excellent places to stay nearby – we’ve got our picks listed up above in the sections for each of those neighborhoods.
Inner or Outer Sunset
The Sunset – along with the Richmond district – are San Francisco’s suburban areas, and quite a lot of San Francisco residents live here. And plenty of unsuspecting tourists are tempted to stay in this area.
Yes, it’s a pretty name for a neighborhood. Yes, it’s right next to San Francisco’s coast and Ocean Beach. Yes, there’s excellent food (especially Asian cuisine – the dumplings are next level) and a cute local flair and cultural vibe. And yes, you’ll be bordering beautiful Golden Gate Park, one of San Francisco’s best attractions.
But we don’t recommend you stay in the Sunset! Why? Because it’s SO. FAR. AWAY.
Look, I know San Francisco is a teeny tiny city and only 7×7 square miles. But for whatever reason, getting in and out of the Sunset via any form of public transit takes HOURS. It makes no sense, but trust us on this one.
Also, during all but about 2 hours of the day, this whole area is completely covered in a thick, heavy, wet, freezing cold layer of fog. The locals are used to it; you’re not. If you don’t want to be soaked to your skin walking to your accommodation after 6pm, stay somewhere warmer instead!
- Where to Stay Instead: Haight-Ashbury also borders Golden Gate Park, but on the inland side, which means you’ll escape the freezing cold fog.
San Francisco Travel Tips
Before you hop on a plane and head to San Francisco, here are a few quick tips that you’ll need to know:
- Don’t rent a car. Don’t do it! You do NOT want the hassle or expense of parking a car during your trip to San Francisco. It is awful. I NEVER drive in San Francisco if I can help it, and I highly encourage you to do the same. Anything you want to access outside of the city can be arranged via tour or at most, a one-day car rental.
- Don’t call it “San Fran” or “Frisco.” There are 2 acceptable affectionate nicknames for San Francisco: “SF” and “The City.” That’s it. Those are the 2. Allowing “San Fran” or “Frisco” to pass your lips is a great way to out yourself as an out-of-towner, which has the added benefit of causing everyone near you to take a few steps back and internally seethe.
- Pack good walking shoes. San Francisco is a city best explored on foot. Yes, you can take transit to get around, but you’ll miss quite a bit of the quirks and charm that make up San Francisco! Spend at least a day wandering through the city and walk as much as you can. To help, we’ve got a self-guided San Francisco walking tour – and we’ve also got suggestions for the best walking shoes for travel. Here are our favorite travel shoes for men and for women.
- Bring layers. San Francisco is not a warm city. And it’s especially not warm in the summer, which is actually the coldest season of the year. Bring a jacket, a scarf, and maybe even a hat, and pack them all with you. It will be freezing cold until 10am, then you’ll have a few glorious hours of warm and possibly even sunny weather, before 6pm hits and it will be immediately freezing again. Throw your layers in a day bag and you’ll be good to go!
- San Francisco has a LOT of homeless residents. This can definitely be a bit of a culture shock. Please keep in mind that the folks experiencing homelessness are our neighbors, and not a blight or an eyesore. Many of the folks that you will see are also struggling with mental illnesses, and you may see people who appear to be talking to themselves or to thin air. Although this can be startling, remember that these people are in far more danger than you are, and are unlikely to harm you in any way. Homelessness is traumatic, particularly for the mentally ill, whose conditions can be exacerbated by the stress of homelessness. Also, because there are too few public restrooms in San Francisco, you will smell some unpleasant things during your stay. Hold your breath and remember: you get to go home and use a bathroom or take a shower whenever you want. They don’t. Have compassion. There’s a fantastic resource for how to respond to the homeless in San Francisco on SF Gate.
- You won’t find many short term rental listings. Despite Airbnb being headquartered in the city, short term rentals in San Francisco have historically contributed to the housing crisis, which in turn affects homelessness. Over the years, strict laws have been established, limiting the number and type of AirBnBs found in the city. While you can still find a few private rooms for rent in SF, in order to be a more responsible traveler, we recommend that you choose to stay in hotels instead.
We’ve got some more helpful – and only mildly helpful – tips for visiting San Francisco in our guide to things nobody tells you about San Francisco!
If your check-in and check-out times don’t sync up with your need to roam the streets and you need a place to store your bags check out LuggageHero, a service that helps you find a safe place to keep your luggage while you’re running around! Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
Hey, looking for help planning your trip to San Francisco? Sign up below and we’ll send you a printable version of our self-guided walking tour, plus our favorite tips for visiting!
Psst: Planning to visit the Bay Area? We’ve got a ton of blog posts about our home! Here are a few of our favorites to help you prepare for your trip, or click here to browse them all.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of San Francisco
- 30 Things Nobody Tells You About San Francisco
- 26 Awesome Things to Do in Oakland, California (Oakland is just 5 minutes from San Francisco across the bridge!)
- What to Pack for San Francisco
We also have a Podcast episode about San Francisco! Find out what to eat, where to drink, & the best things to do, plus answers to questions you never knew you had… like whether there is weed everywhere (yes) and if you’ll accidentally see nudity (double yes). We’re also spilling the fair-trade, organic, ethically sourced tea on our lesser-known life of crime.
What questions do you have about where to stay in San Francisco? Drop us a comment below!
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knowledge786 says
Nice to read
Marlene Mocarski says
Now this is quality content. You can tell that plenty of thought when into this post. Keep it up.
Lia Garcia says
Thank you so much!
Betsy says
The animals on the docks at Pier 39 are sea lions, not seals.
Lia Garcia says
OMG duh, I always mix them up! Thank you!
Valerie Feria-Isacks says
Native San Franciscan here … Good list … but if you want to know what SF was like pre-Tech booms I highly recommend finding a Bed & Breakfast in Noe Valley or Glen Park or Excelsior as additional options. They’re hard to find and book in advance but it’s a great way to compare how it’s changed over time.
Keith Levene says
So happy to find this guide. Our family of 4 will be traveling to SF in June for approx 4 nights. The kids are 9 and 13. Any further guidance on activities or neighborhoods to consider with kids on mind? Thanks in advance.
Lia Garcia says
I’m sure the kiddos would enjoy seeing the seals at Pier 39, the Exploratorium on the Embarcadero, and taking the trolley – I recommend taking it downhill from Ghiradelli Square (in front of the Buena Vista cafe) b/c you feel like you’re flying and get GREAT views of the city. If you don’t mind heading wayyyyy out west to an area that’s a little hard to get to by public transit, consider checking out the 16th Street stairs and, nearby, the Seward Street Slides if you can!
Beth D says
We will be staying in SF for 2 nights in the middle of a 12 day west coast road trip; we will have a car. I see all the comments about not having a car, parking is so expensive, etc. We plan to walk/use public transportation while in the city; any tips on where we could park our car for the 2 days we are there that would be a more economical option?
Lia Garcia says
Hey Beth, I’d plan to park your car as far out of SF as you can. The closer to downtown SF you get, the more expensive parking gets. That said, if you don’t mind paying $75 a day or so, you can ask your accommodation where they recommend parking nearby. There are plenty of parking garages in downtown SF, they’re just pricey as hell! For a budget option, if you feel comfortable finding street parking (take ALL of your belongings OUT of your car – leave NOTHING in it) I’d look for a spot on the street near South San Francisco or Oakland. Be careful not to leave your car parked anywhere that there are signs for street cleaning.
Now for a juicy tip. My secret spot is right where we used to live, in Oakland, on Locksley Avenue right by where it intersects with Cavour. There’s a strip of street there that usually has a spot and (at least when we lived there a few years ago) no street cleaning! It’s a 10 minute walk from there to Rockridge Bart Station in Oakland, and from there you can get into SF in about 15-20 minutes. That’s a good spot to leave a car, but it’s definitely a lil out of the way. While you’re in our old neighborhood stop by Market Hall (across from the BART station) and get a cup of coffee and a pastry for us – literally anything, everything there is SO good. We miss it so much!
Myra Vaught says
Washington Square Inn
When we were there had parking.We road the streetcar as it stops in front.It was lovely and worked for us.
Laura says
Researching my trip to SF in November and this was such a helpful post. I so appreciate the detail and recommendations for each neighbourhood, but mostly the senstive and empathetic approach to homelessness. As you’ve said, the general discomfort people express towards the homeless is narrow-minded at best. It’s difficult to see but as you’ve kindly reminded us, these are just neighbours who are struggling.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and kind heart!
John Flanagan says
Hi! Loving the content y’all have out there. I’ve come across some articles before and excited to see this one in San Francisco. My wife and I are celebrating our 10-year anniversary and are planning to spend a few nights in SF and then head up to Napa for a few nights as well. We are Hyatt members and I’ve got points to burn- any chance you have recommendations on the best Hyatt hotels to stay at in the SF area? We love walking around cities and plan to do a lot here as well and are looking at either the Hyatt Regency SF or the Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf (only due to location, we did read your article!!) as there are not many Hyatt options west of the Nob Hill area it doesn’t seem. There is one in Japantown called Hotel Kabuki as well. Also while at it figured I’d ask if you had any recommendations on how to approach wine country/Napa as far as how to approach a 3-4 day period – stay in the same hotel the whole time or move through the area and go to a few different? Any recommendations specifically on the hotels to stay? Thanks again!!
Richie Goff says
Hey there John!
I’d stay at the one in the Embarcadero by the financial district. You have the most transportation options from there – you can take the BART to other parts of the city and the historic streetcar to fisherman’s wharf. The city is only 7×7 square miles too, so it’s easy to walk as much as you like! And we have a free self-guided walking tour if you want to use that: https://practicalwanderlust.com/the-ultimate-san-francisco-walking-tour/
Also Napa is only about 30-miles long, so it’s pretty easy to drive to a few wineries in a day. I’d look at which wineries you really want to visit and base yourself by there. I would think moving less during your trip would be more relaxing and let you enjoy your anniversary more though :)! We have winery recommendations here, and if you look at the bottom of the post there are some places to stay and a map! https://practicalwanderlust.com/wineries-napa/
Hope that helps, enjoy!
Rachel says
Great posts and blog- really useful as we plan our trip. My question – what would your comments be about staying at the comfort inn By the Bay, Van Ness ace , Marina area? It’s only 2 star but I like that it LOOKs like we could get to Fisherman’s wharf, do the Golden Gate Bridge cycle out to Sausalito , a visit to Alcatraz and visit a few city sites from there. Any thoughts/ feedback welcomed?
Richie Goff says
Totally! Honestly, the transportation is so good in San Fransisco you’ll be able to get around easily. But you will be close to all those activities for sure!
Richie Goff says
Totally! The transportation is so good in San Fransisco you’ll be able to get around easily. But you’ll be close to all those places for sure!
Brenda Hostetler says
Coming to “The City” in a few weeks, I am nervous with certain areas to be careful about. We are booked at the Marriott Marquis in Union Square and we are not renting a car. Should we reconsider location and stay elsewhere? It appears on a map, the hotel is somewhat close to the Tenderloin district. It is nerve wracking when you are unfamiliar with an area and I don’t want to feel nervous at any point of our vacation.
Thank you for any information.
Lia Garcia says
Hey Brenda, that hotel is a few blocks away from the Tenderloin. If the TL makes you nervous, just stay east of Sixth Street and you’ll be fine! I do want to make you aware that you will absolutely see some unhoused folks during your stay, and that’s true no matter where you are in SF, but especially around the Powell Bart Station right by Union Square, where a lot of folks do choose to sleep b/c its warm and clean and bright. Remember that unhoused folks are our neighbors and that this is their home, that many of them are experiencing mental health crises, and that they are in far more danger and discomfort than you are. You may want to walk up to the Montgomery Street Bart Station instead of using Powell if that’s bothersome, or just skip Bart and take MUNI (or Lyft, or rent a scooter/bike/e-bike) instead – lots of options for transit in this area! You’re definitely making the right decision by not renting a car, parking in that area will run you around $75 a day and is a HUGE hassle, and it’s absolutely not necessary with our public transit systems! Hope that’s helpful 🙂
Gerald Hajny says
What is your opinion on the Pacific Heights area? Specifically the Queen Anne Hotel? Thank you for sharing all your information. We are currently on a road trip on the PCH from LA to Seattle.
Lia Garcia says
Pac Heights is gorgeous, and a cute (and very posh) area to walk around in! The main downsides are that it’s not super close to BART and to get to other parts of the city you’ll be walking on some steep hills. That said, if you’re comfortable getting around the city by Muni (or bike/scooter/LYFT/rental car) that’s probably no big deal. By the way, during your road trip make sure to check out our posts about the PCH, like this one about all the best stops on Highway One in CA! https://practicalwanderlust.com/best-pacific-coast-highway-stops/
Susan says
Great post on San Francisco and as a very frequent visitor I agree on most of what you wrote. However, I disagree with your info about the Tenderloin. I live in Portland, Oregon where we also have a huge homeless population. I don’t think being homeless is the problem with the Tenderloin. I’m female and accidentally found myself in the Tenderloin and between the drug deals and the unwanted attention I received, I couldn’t wait to get out of the area. My boyfriend didn’t even feel safe venturing in on another trip. I’ve traveled the world and been to some sketchy areas, and the Tenderloin ranks right up there.
Brenda Hostetler says
Hi Susan,
This is extremely helpful. I am nervous about this area, we area staying in union square in a few weeks at the Marriot Marquis, should I reconsider location and hotel?
Ken says
I’m at the Westin right in Union Square and IT’S TERRIBLE! If you can rebook somewhere else, do it. If you can not come to San Francisco, definitely change your plans! Everything smells like urine. I’m not uncomfortable with “homeless” people but crazy people pooping in the street in mid-day? I grew up in NYC and I’ve never felt this unsafe while the sun is up. We always wanted to come here, but next to new Orleans in August, this is the worst, filthiest, ugliest city I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to Tulsa! Lol). We’re leaving early. It’s very disappointing. Oh, also half the city is still closed because of covid.
Lia Garcia says
Hey Ken, we do our best to prepare our readers for what they’lle experience in San Francisco, and unfortunately one of the realities of our city is that we have a LOT of unhoused neighbors and unfortunately, many of them are suffering from unmedicated mental health problems. It dates back to the 70’s when mental health facilities were closed and their residents were just let out with no resources to help them – those people are still here suffering. Many other cities, such as Las Vegas, have also been caught sending folks who need medication and mental health support to San Francisco with a one-way bus ticket. Although it is uncomfortable to see people talking to themselves or thin air, and to see people using the streets as a bathroom, it is far more uncomfortable and dehumanizing to be one of those people. Please have empathy for them. Being homeless is traumatic and makes existing mental health problems worse, but medication and housing stability is simply not available in our country to those who desperately need it but do not have the means to pay for it. Also, San Francisco does not have enough public restrooms available, and many businesses have made the difficult choice to only allow paying customers to use their facilities, which leaves no choice but for our unhoused neighbors to go on the street. It’s very sad, but again, it is much more difficult to be a person living on the streets than it is for you on your vacation to witness their struggles.
Also, the city is not closed b/c of Covid, but all restaurants/bars/etc are requiring proof of vaccination in order to enter. Our numbers are very low and this is how we are continuing to keep our community safe!
Karmen says
Hi Susan I was going to book a trip to San Francisco and stay at the Marriott Marquis. Did you stay there if so how was your stay? Is it a good area? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
Karmen says
Sorry I meant Brenda but if anyone can help I would appreciate it.
Jack Roche says
Hello! I am planning a trip up the coast from OC to SF, and your travel guides are so helpful! You go very in depth on everything there is to do in a place, and now I know am so much more prepared for my trip. I have 2 questions about San Francisco though. First, is the Financial District a good place to stay? I was considering a hotel here and I didn’t know if that was a good place to stay or if there were any problems with it. Second, if you don’t recommend using a car, how would you get around SF? Should I get a Muni pass, or is there another way that is better for getting around? Can’t wait to do your SF walking tour & visit many cool spots along the coast! Thanks again for the great travel guides!
Lia Garcia says
Hey Jack, great questions! So there’s nothing *wrong* with the FiDi persay. It’s very centrally located with great transit, in walking distance of the waterfront/Chinatown/Union Square and the whole northeast quadrant of the city. But the MAJOR downside, and the reason I don’t recommend it for visitors, is that the FiDi is a complete wasteland after 6pm and on weekends. Everything closes and there are no people. The area is designed to support the many office buildings in the area, so you’ll have a really hard time finding a good place to get dinner or drinks, and at night and on weekends it just has sort of like an empty, sad vibe which is not the way I want visitors to experience SF! The rest of the city is much more lively and vibrant. That said if location is your main priority and you found a place with a good deal, it’s definitely not the worst place in the city to stay!
In terms of getting around, I definitely recommend using public transit. We have a lot of options: BART, Muni, bike shares, scooters, e-bikes, and of course, LYFT/Uber are alllll over the city. And even if you take LYFT every day, it’ll probably still be cheaper than the rental car + parking at your hotel (the last time we stayed in a hotel in SF, parking was $75 … PER DAY) + parking fees everywhere you go, not to mention the amount of time it will take you to find parking (it usually takes us 30 mins minimum, but that’s including pre-pandemic before thousands of parking spaces were turned into parklets and outdoor dining!). Meanwhile, Muni will get you everywhere you need to go within SF (I use Google Maps to figure out which stop to take and where to get off, and its estimates on timing are usually very accurate). But sometimes it’ll be faster to take BART instead of Muni, so so it might make sense to buy a Clipper card. Clipper cards can be used on either BART or MUNI. You can pick one up at a staffed MUNI or BART station, or at Walgreens in SF. https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/
I hope that’s helpful!
Kat says
Hi guys,
I’m from NYC. I took your advice and booked my min vacation to SF. I will be staying at The Grove Inn. I love your blog and podcast. Has been so helpful to book this trip. It’s my first time visiting California. What’s the best way to get from the airport to my hotel?
Lia Garcia says
Hey Kat, you can either take BART & Muni (there are a few combinations of stops that will work) or you can take a LYFT which will be pricier but faster. I recommend using Google Maps transit directions to figure out the best transit option once you arrive! BART connects from both SFO and OAK so it is fairly easy if you’re familiar with public transit!
Jules says
My last to San Francisco was 13 years ago, during my wedding honeymoon. The only memories or memory (just 1) i have are in Lombard Street. Me and my poor memory! haha .You showed me that there is so much more to San Francisco, than the standard touristy places. I like Haight-Ashbury, i probably choose to stay there if i were to visit again.
Lia Garcia says
Aww, time to come back and visit! 🙂
Lara says
I loved reading your post. It is so helpful and informative! We are planning a visit to San Francisco from South Africa and have NO clue ourselves about the city. Out of interest, do you have any post or recommendations on child-friendly things to do in San Francisco?
Lia Garcia says
We try not to give child-friendly advice because we are sorely inexperienced in what is, actually, child-friendly. But if I had to guess, I’d say the Seward Slides would be a lot of fun for older kids (probably too dangerous for younger kids!) and the seals at pier 39 would be fun for kids who like animals! There is also a rad playground at Dolores Park with a beautiful view, if you don’t mind being surrounded by adults who are probably day drinking and smoking weed. Also for older kids, I’d highly recommend a game called Jericho by a company called Fox Hound which is like a laser tag game through the streets of San Francisco. It is SO MUCH FUN – we’ve played it several times and it’s one of my absolute favorite ways to experience San Francisco! More info here: https://foxhoundua.com/what-is-jericho/
Clara says
Hi Lia and Jeremy, thanks for this great post. I am visiting SF with my husband in May, and we will be driving. What do you recommend we should do with the car? Are any affordable parking lots to leave it during our stay in SF?
Lia Garcia says
There honestly aren’t – most parking lots will cost around $40 or so per day. I would discourage you from having a car in San Francisco if you can help it! If you don’t have a choice, I’d recommend parking it far away from San Francisco and taking BART into the city, such as near the airport or in Oakland or perhaps somewhere in the Richmond or Sunset district on the street – just make sure you don’t leave anything on the seats or in view from the windows to discourage break-ins, and make sure you aren’t parked in a street parking or limited time parking zone (this can be pretty tough to find). You might also try to find a hotel that offers free parking, but I don’t know of any! I really try to avoid having a car in San Francisco 😛
Jessica van Jaarsveld says
I’ve been doing a LOT of blog reading in preparation for a three week roadtrip around California and Utah in April and yours has – hands down – been the best one I’ve read yet. Your writing style is so informative but entertaining, and offers what seems to be a thorough, useful and sensitive perspective! Will be taking your advice and looking for accommodation in your suggested areas, thanks! From a grateful traveller from Johannesburg, South Africa
Danielle says
Thank you for this guide as I was looking for a locals view and recommendations as to where to stay for a comfortable but true SF experience. That being said, would you recommend staying at The Red Victorian in Haight-Ashbury?
Lia Garcia says
Hey Danielle, I’d never heard of The Red Victorian before but I just checked it out and it looks awesome! Totally the Haight-Ashbury vibe and very much a true SF experience.
Kristen says
Thank you for this post. I definitely laughed at warning people not to call it by San Fran, barf!
I really appreciated your words and compassion about the culture of the city. Many could learn from your kind words. I love this city and enjoy bringing my boys to gain some culture and compassion.
Adrienne says
Hi Lia, we spent a week in San Fransisco in April and yes we did your walking tour…which was brilliant, and we took your advise on pretty much everything so thanks so much. Our favorite day was hiring bikes down at the wharf and push biking out and across the bridge to San Sausalito then on the ferry back across to the city. I highly recommend it. For those worried about the hills there is basically only 2 spots where you need get off and push up and that where you from under the bridge up to the visitor centre. Our friend with us is 73 and hadn’t been on a bike for over 30 years and she managed it. I highly recommend the Hotel Beresford for budget concours travellers it is close to union square. My BIG tip is when you arrive go to Walgreens and buy a Muni pass. It will save you soooo much money and we used ours on the trollies, trams and buses and we went all over the city ! We loved San Fransisco…thanks again for the tips.
Lia Garcia says
Such great tips! Thank you, Adrienne!
Anna says
As an SF local I can say that this list is very accurate. Great job on this one!
Lia Garcia says
Thank you, Anna!
J says
As an SF resident, thank you for your thoughtful words on homelessness and gentrification. It breaks my heart when people say that San Francisco’s been “ruined” by garbage, human waste, and homelessness. A lot of people have unrealistic expectations of what the city is today and it’s important that we have these conversations about inequality and power with visitors as well as residents of this (still!) lovely city.
I did chuckle when I saw that you have Z&Y listed under North Beach Italian restaurants though — I’m gonna assume that’s a typo. And as someone who lives in the Sunset: the fog isn’t THAT bad! Really! I’m amazed by the number of people I’ve met who live downtown or in SOMA and have never even bothered to visit Golden Gate Park because it’s “too far away.”
Sarah says
Great post. Shame I didn’t see this before booking my recent trip to SF.
Whilst we absolutely enjoyed exploring San Francisco (it was our first time there) and the hotel was good, the area it was located in wasn’t quite what we hoped for. Not knowing the city before booking the trip, we opted for something fairly central, yet not bang in the middle. So instead of Union Square we ended in Tenderloin. And it came as a bit of a culture shock, seeing all the homeless (and frequent drug use) at every corner. No one was violent or abusive towards us, yet it left us feel a little uncomfortable. So venturing out in the middle of the night or going for an early morning run (as I’d done in New York numerous times) wasn’t something I fancied doing.
Emily Hines says
Loved reading this being reminded of different places I love around the city! Brunch at Brenda’s is still one of the best recs I’ve ever gotten. This post is so helpful and glad you talked about gentrification in the area. I’m sure I’ll visit SF again one day and hope to stay in some of these other neighborhoods.
Lia Garcia says
Yayyy come back and visit again! 🙂
Erica Christine Barnett says
I’m a writer in Seattle who covers homelessness (and visits SF fairly regularly), and I just wanted to say that I REALLY, REALLY appreciate the sensitive way you talk about your neighbors experiencing homelessness in this post. I travel a lot and read a lot of travel sites, and I’m often put off by “avoid this sketch neighborhood” vibes from people who assume their readers are full of fear. Keep up the great work!
Lia Garcia says
Thank you so much for your supportive words, Erica! Homelessness is an issue that touches all of us here in the Bay Area in some way and it’s also the first thing people who visit San Francisco mention, particularly when they haven’t been given a heads up – it can be quite startling to see so much suffering. Part of our responsibility not just as locals but particularly as Travel Bloggers is to educate travelers in order to both assist with their trip but also protect and preserve the local community, and setting realistic expectations and hopefully providing a compassionate framework for that experience can help. We want there to be harmony between local communities and tourists <3