This Inner Sunset neighborhood co-op, affiliated with Berkeley's Cheese Board, just may ruin you for any other bakery. They bake a wide range of breads, with a whole list of specials every day. They turn out specialty scones and muffins all baked with tender loving care. Kids love the crispy and cheesy bread sticks. If it's more than just a snack you're looking for, join the throngs filing in from the far reaches of the city for a slice or four of Arizmendi's famous pizza. They top each one with the freshest of locally raised veggies and the creamiest of specialty cheeses. Have a good meal! ...more

Get close to your favorite sea creatures and also some of the deadliest snakes. This aquarium in the revamped Academy of Sciences showcases piranhas, pythons, pipefish, penguins, moray eels and snakes. The Philippine Coral Reef Exhibit will have you marveling at the rainbow of tropical fish. At the Touch Tide Pool you can touch sea stars and hermit crabs. The newest addition includes the Snake Alley, which displays anacondas, African rock pythons, California king snakes and the Ball python. If you are studying biology, this is a good place to meet the aquatic biologists who look after and feed the animals. ...more

In the late 1800s, a Scotsman named John McLaren transformed more than 1000 acres (405 hectares) of sand dunes into a wondrous haven in the midst of busy city life. Stretching from Stanyan Street to the Pacific Ocean, the lush landscaping features ever-changing settings at every turn. There are trails for walking, jogging, biking, horseback riding, as well as a golf course, lawn bowling greens, soccer fields and a baseball diamond. For those seeking less strenuous diversion, check out the California Academy of Sciences and an authentic Japanese Tea Garden. For families with children, there are playgrounds, a live buffalo reserve and a carousel.You could also find the Shakespeare Garden going down a hidden lane in The Golden Gate Park. ...more

Peru's cuisine is probably the best kept food secret in South America. A bounty of Pacific seafood, a fiendish enthusiasm for chilies and a confluence of Latino, Native American and even Japanese and Chinese influences make for a remarkable virtuosity" ... Food & Wine Magazine. San Francisco Gorgeous appetizers set the tone for meat-centric, down-home, but nuanced entrees. Try the Empanada Don Walter made with tender chunks of beef, eggs and raisins in a blistery-crunchy crust with whole perfectly-steamed shrimp in a romesco sauce. The Lomo Saltado has lean slices of beef, onions and tomatoes, expertly seasoned and served aside a mound of fluffy rice to soak up the savory juices. There is an exceptionally hearty pork chop on an earthy bed of mushrooms, cabbage, bacon and chopped potatoes. Desserts include a truly-sublime fruit ice cream, flown in from Peru. Chosen by Michael Bauer as one of the five rising-star chefs of San Francisco, Martin Castillo has defined Limon's menu. ...more

This building is the site of some of San Francisco's finest moments. In 1954 Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were married here. In the early 21st century, over 100 same-sex couples were married by Mayor Gavin Newsom in the foyer. The Renaissance architecture rivals some of the country's most historical structures. Two Parisian architects designed and constructed the building from 1913-1915. The dome is based on the one crowning St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Visitors can pick up brochures and take a self-guided tour between 8a-5p, Monday through Friday. A small store, open during normal business hours, sells traditional San Francisco souvenirs including T-shirts, posters and postcards. ...more

Using fresh seasonal ingredients from California, Campton Place takes the best elements of French cuisine and puts an American spin on them to create a truly spectacular and unique menu.

Saha, in Arabic means 'a toast to good health'. Saha in the Carlton Hotel takes you on a culinary excursion to the Middle East with Yemenese cuisine with subtle French hints. The dishes are innovatively presented, and embrace the delicacies from various Middle Eastern countries. Only the freshest and best ingredients are used to give you the best and really live up to the name "Saha". So relax and explore places you've always dreamed of visiting. ...more

If you want to know how a cable car works, Cable Car Museum is the place to learn. The world's first cable car rests here and with it a concise explanation of how those little cable cars go halfway to the stars. In an underground viewing area, you can look at the system's enormous cable wheels, which pull 11 miles (18 kilometers) of cable at 9.5 miles (15 kilometers) per hour. The cable cars move by clamping onto it. Examine closely the steel cables, gears, and pulleys that bring this city's most famous transportation to life. Don't miss the gift shop, where you can purchase your very own length of used cable! ...more

The Good Luck Cafe and Deli is a great place to try if you're looking for good food at reasonable prices. Popular dishes here include their sandwiches and some salads.

Ferry Building Marketplace is a must-see for San Francisco visitors. This multi-million dollar development has an abundance of activities for the entire family. Take a tour of the historical Ferry Building, browse through antique shops (Culinaire), enjoy a view by the bay and a bowl of chowder at Ferry Plaza Seafood, or buy organic produce at the Farmer's Market. Enjoy the sights and sounds of what makes the Ferry Building one of the Bay's most popular destinations for entertainment, food, and fun. Ferry Building Marketplace has a near year-round schedule of interesting activities like their annual October Harvest Festival and a Holiday Lights Celebration. Visit the website for full details on their calendar of events. ...more

Beach Blanket Babylon started 30 years ago, springing from the creative mind of impresario Steve Silver, as a rag-tag collection of bizarrely costumed street theater performers. It is a fairy tale for adults, wherein Snow White takes a fast-paced musical journey in search of her Prince Charming. Along the way, Snow White encounters a star-studded, always changing, always contemporary line up of hilarious pop culture characters like Rush Limbaugh, Oprah Winfrey, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jackson, Martha Stewart, George W. Bush, Britney Spears and the gang from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, just for good measure! This preposterous romp is music, mayhem, madness and altogether an amazing night of nut-cake cabaret and razor sharp satirical wit. Beach Blanket Babylon is a must see for San Francisco tourists and locals.Club Fugazi is a permanent home for them as all their shows are performed here. ...more

In the heart of the Theater District, The Grand Cafe enjoys a bit of theatrics itself. The interior is pure drama with soaring ceilings, arched doorways, wall-size murals and antique furnishings that evoke the Paris in 1900. Food is chopped and roasted in a performance that you can watch from your table as the kitchen is open and in full-view. First acts include Herb-Crusted Soft Shell Crab and Smoked Salmon Terrine. Next, try a Stellar Filet Mignon or Duck in Confit. The "Grand" Banana Cream Pie is the perfect grand finale. Wines are also stellar. The service is excellent. ...more

This little place lends an undeniable taste of the French countryside to a bustling Mission District intersection. Though sweet items (cakes, pies, buns, cookies and pastries) may be Tartine's "bread and butter," the decidedly savory heartiest-and-most-Béchamel-drenched open-faced croque monsieurs you will ever have the pleasure of devouring keeps neighborhood folk lining up for more. And speaking of bread, if you arrive early enough, you just might score yourself a loaf of the divine rustic country bread served (and constantly raved about) at sister bistro Bar Tartine. Can't shake that sweet tooth? Opt for one of their beloved Morning Buns (marbled with cinnamon and orange) or the decadent Bread Pudding. Whatever you order, enjoy it at the big communal table gazing through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the energy of the 18th Street corridor. ...more

This impressive neo-Gothic structure crowning Nob Hill was built on the site of the Crocker Mansion after the 1906 earthquake and fire. The interior features stained glass windows in celestial blues and vibrant reds and yellows. There are also frescoes depicting the history of San Francisco and scenes from the life of San Francisco's patron saint, St. Francis of Asissi. The gilded bas-reliefs that adorn the doors of the main entrance are cast from Ghiberti's original molds for the Gates of Paradise that adorn the Baptistry in Florence. This facility also boasts an indoor and an outdoor labyrinth.It has the outdoor labyrinyth made up of Tezzaro stone and the indoor one made up of limestone. ...more

A popular breakfast and brunch spot located in the Tenderloin district that serves up large portions of breakfast favorites and a signature spicy corn bread.

Once the most popular from of public transportation for early San Franciscans, the cable cars have become a major tourist attraction. It's still a reliable and scenic way to travel around parts of the city. There are three lines : Powell- Hyde (Powell-Market, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Hyde and Beach), Powell-Mason (Powell-Market, Nob Hill, North Beach, Bay and Taylor) and California Street (California and Market, Embarcadero BART/MUNI, Financial District, Chinatown, Nob Hill to Van Ness).





Fare is $5 one -way. Tickets or a MUNI passport can be bought from the conductor or from booths at Powell and Market or Hyde and Beach near Fisherman's Wharf. ...more

This proves that fadism is not a recent phenomenon. The design of this oddity built in 1861 is based on a popular theory of the mid-1800s, namely that people inhabiting a space of this shape would live healthier, happier lives. The building now houses a museum of American Colonial and Federal Era decorative arts and historical documents. Another octagon house, not open to the public, can be seen on the 1000 block of Green Street. Admission is free and reservations are only required for groups. ...more

And who, you might well ask, are those four referred to in the name of this award-winning restaurant? Those would be C.P. Huntington, Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford and Mark Hopkins, whose mansions made Nob Hill the literal and figurative pinnacle of San Francisco style in the days before the 1906 earthquake and fire. Amid the leather banquettes and potted palms that add a cachet of old money, award-winning Executive Chef Gloria Ciccarone-Nehls creates a menu that includes such eclectic offerings as Venison and Black Bean Chili with Crisp Honey-Spiced Onions, as well as nightly low-fat and vegetarian specials. The Flourless Chocolate-Expresso Gateau with Spun Sugar and Rasberries is a work of art on the plate and the palate. The Wine Spectator has singled out the wine list here as one of the best in the world. ...more