Shoshi Parks

Picture yourself with a martini in hand, gazing out over a beautiful bay with boats making their way over to the Golden Gate, pelicans cruising above the water… not only are you having a beautiful San Francisco day, you’re also honoring the cocktail that some say was invented here. Legend says that the martini was created for a Gold Rusher on his way to Martinez (hence the name) across the bay who asked for something special in exchange for the gold nugget he placed on the bar. San Francisco gets credit for birthing some other cocktails, too. Whatever the truth is, this city is a great place to toss one back—or to delicately sip your artisanal showpiece—or to choose a mocktail instead. Choose from rooftop bars, cellar dives and waterfront vista points, and enjoy the heady buzz of this great city. RECOMMENDED: These are the best bars to meet someone.

The start of a new year is a huge landmark in our lives. Whether we’re closing down a hard year or looking back with elation, our earnest hope is that the next year will be even better: filled with plenty of get-togethers with friends and family, good meals, clubbing or sitting down for an intimate drink, and maybe adding in reconnecting with nature by taking a hike each week (it's New Year’s resolution material!). We have to celebrate that chance to start a new year fresh, and these parties provide great palate cleansers. With fireworks reflected in the bay, San Francisco is one of the prettiest cities to ring in the new year.  

Christmas only comes once a year and before we know it, it has vanished—so it’s important to get out there and experience the magic of San Francisco in December. Whether it’s Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Christmas you’re celebrating, you’ll find plenty to give you starry eyes and a warm feeling. From a light show playing on the face of the Ferry Building to ice skating at Union Square, from choirs singing their hearts out to pub crawls and extraordinary gingerbread displays: it's all happening now.

While there are plenty of amazing hotels in San Francisco for all kinds of budgets and needs—from hotels for romance to pet-friendly stays—true aesthetes will want a chic boutique hotel in San Francisco, as beautiful as it is comfortable. The boutique hotels that sit throughout every corner of the city capture the true spirit and essence of San Francisco, giving you the true San Fran experience from day to night. Make your trip that touch more interesting and stay somewhere cool and unique. Whether you’re trying to tap into the rocker vibe of old or the gorgeous vineyards of nearby Napa Valley, we’ve got you covered with our pick of the best boutique hotels in San Francisco.  Think Renaissance architecture, five-star luxury, games rooms, and on-site taprooms with outdoor lounges...  RECOMMENDED: The best luxury hotels in San FranciscoThe best Airbnbs in San Francisco This guide was written by U.S.-based writer Clara Hogan. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The Mission is the heart of the mural movement in San Francisco. Murals express culture, help a community share its history and values, and add vibrant colors to otherwise drab walls and alleyways. Sometimes they’re so breathtaking you must stop and contemplate for a while—like the five-story one adorning the Women’s Building on 18th Street, full of magic and power, with an equally gorgeous array on the Lapidge Street façade—while others provide smaller surprises, like those found on a car repair shop’s walls or tucked into alleyways.  We’ve picked out some of our favorites below, but if you’re looking for event more, we’d suggest SF Mural Arts, which maintains pages devoted to each neighborhood in the city; the Mission’s lists a whopping 504 murals (by contrast, the next most muralized neighborhood is SoMa, with only 139 murals). It also identifies whether a mural is still available, since oftentimes they are painted over or lost to time and weather—and archives those that are not longer viewable. Another wonderful source is Precita Eyes Muralists, which organizes walking tours and classes. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in San Francisco

Eating is probably one of our favorite things to do in San Jose. The South Bay city has a huge diversity of stellar restaurants, but the Mexican food in San Jose is definitely a standout. In fact, there are so many quality taquerias in town that some nights it’s nearly impossible to make a decision on where to get your post-bar snack. You can get flavorful tacos and burritos in almost every neighborhood – especially in Downtown San Jose, an area that is bustling with shops, galleries, and bars — but a handful of Mexican restaurants in San Jose really go beyond the pale. From no-frills hole-in-the-wall joints to upscale dining complete with cocktails and farm-to-table ingredients, these are our picks for the ten restaurants making the best Mexican food in San Jose. So good, you'll be booking your next visit the capital of Silicon Valley as soon as possible (check out the multiple ways to get to San Jose from San Francisco.) Enjoy!  RECOMMENDED: 🍕The best restaurants in San Jose🏨The best hotels in San Jose

The best things to do in San Jose deserve a spot on your Bay Area bucket list. No longer the mousy step-sister to San Francisco, San Jose is finally moving into a spotlight of its own as the unofficial capital of Silicon Valley. Just like its diverse population whose roots stretch from Latin America to Asia, San Jose is a diverse collection of historic places, outdoor adventures, scientific innovation, great restaurants (the Mexican restaurants in San Jose are especially great) and oddball institutions. Downtown San Jose and the South of First (SoFa) districts are the fastest growing neighborhoods for eateries, bars and breweries and also the center of San Jose’s arts scene. Elsewhere in town you’ll find can’t miss gems like the famous Winchester Mystery House, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and the NASA Ames Research Center. Staying for awhile? Book a room in one of these San Jose hotels.  Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. RECOMMENDED:🏨Check out the best hotels in San Jose Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.

San Francisco’s such an iconic city that images of it are instantly recognizable: our beautiful Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars winding their way up steep streets, the hilltop Coit Tower, the cityscape crowned with the Transamerica Pyramid, the tie-dyed remembrances of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, the red lanterns of Chinatown… alright, you get the point. Everywhere you look, neighborhoods bustle with their own identity and history. Add in the blue waters that form a picturesque border around three sides of the city, atmospheric fog that drenches photos in a moody blur, elaborately painted Victorian row houses and an incredible food scene, and you have just a sliver of an idea of how bountiful and rich the City by the Bay is. So get out there (always make sure to pay attention to your surroundings, of course) and enjoy these top things to do in San Francisco for colorful moments you won’t find elsewhere. RECOMMENDED: 🎨 The best museums in San Francisco🛏️ The best Airbnbs in San Francisco🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco

When you live in one of the best cities on earth, it’s hard to think about leaving, even if just for a day trip. But San Francisco is excitingly close to some incredible destinations that also draw visitors from all over the world, from the wine country of Napa and Sonoma to national parks, giant redwood forests and that long beautiful stretch of coastline. Aim your car any direction except west to find yourself somewhere awesome within just an hour or two. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🌮 The best restaurants in San Francisco🚗 The best day trips from San Francisco🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco

A spooky city with great Halloween vibes? That’s San Francisco, which offers a ton of fun things to do this October—and they run the gamut from hardcore haunted houses with creatures leaping out at you to lightly eerie candlelit concerts. Get your beverage on with a pub crawl or take a haunted walking tour with paranormal equipment so you can track down your own ghosts. Enter an immersive haunted dollhouse or just have some fun dressing your dog up to trick or treat for dog treats. It’s all here and waiting for you to participate in your most creative costume! RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🥑 The best restaurants in San Francisco🍸 The best rooftop bars in San Francisco

A haunted house frightens us because home is supposed to be the place where we find refuge from the rest of the world... and so to hear that floorboard creak when no one’s there or to sense a shape out of the corner of your eye, feels like a betrayal. The idea that we’re not alone and that we’re being watched—maybe even malevolently—is a truly scary idea. Here in the U.S., there are plenty of haunted houses we can visit or even spend the night (shudder), and often, they’re places where horrific murders took place. From the LaLaurie House in New Orleans, where enslaved people were tortured, to the Massachusetts home where Lizzie Borden may have taken an ax to family members—and everything in between—you can definitely indulge in paranormal tourism if that is your jam. And the next time you walk past a certain kind of a house, its lights out and leaves rattling across its lawn, you’ll get that little shiver thinking that someone’s still inside, caught between two worlds: a ghost that can’t leave. RECOMMENDED: The most haunted Airbnbs in AmericaAmerica's most haunted hotels

There is no shortage of ghost towns and abandoned settlements across America—especially in the West, which, back in the day, boasted a slew of mining towns. What’s more, a visit to one of these abandoned locales truly does feel like a (very eerie) step back in time. As you wander through the desolate buildings and streets, you can get a glimpse of what life was like for locals here centuries earlier. And, if you’re lucky—or unlucky, depending on how you look at it—you may even spot a ghost or two (or more!) of a former townsfolk. Halloween season or not, these creepy ghost towns in America are worth a visit—if you dare. RECOMMENDED: The most haunted places in America 

The team behind the Michelin-starred Mr. Jiu’s opened this upstairs lounge dripping with mid-century elegance, so you can snuggle into a red-velvet booth under lotus-shaped brass lamps. The extensive cocktail list includes seasonal offerings and signature drinks based on the Chinese lunar calendar and spiked with black garlic, plum, oolong and other Eastern ingredients.

Once owned by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, the benefactress of San Francisco's Coit Tower, Frank Family Vineyards has the distinction of being the oldest, continually operated sparkling wine producer in Napa Valley. Now under the the direction of Rich Frank, the former president of Disney Studios, the winery produces 75,000 cases a year of hand-riddled blanc de blanc, rouge and brut rose, along with cab, pinot noir, zinfandel, chardonnay and sangiovese. Tastings (by appointment only) take place in the historic butter yellow farm house whose rooms have been stylishly renovated, each with a different theme. A comfortable patio overlooking the vineyards is open in nice weather.

In October 2018, Clos du Val upped their tasting game with a brand new tasting room, the Hirondelle House. The modern interior, with a dark paneled wood ceiling and floor to ceiling windows, warm orange accents and sculptural elements is bested only by the outdoor patio, a wide open space overlooking the vineyards. It's a fitting addition to this almost 50 year old award-winning winery producing ruby pinots, toasty oak chardonnays and voluptuous cabs. Tastings range from sips of current vintages to a picnic in the winery's olive grove.

The newest addition to the LGBTQ+ bar scene, Jolene's is a stylish, modern venue in the 16th Street no-man's-land between the Mission and Potrero. The expansive space has plenty of room for all with a pool table up front and a red-lit dance floor wallpapered in tasteful portraits of black-and-white breasts. On Thursday and Friday evenings, the kitchen serves tasty bites and sandwiches including avocado egg rolls, Impossible burger sliders and popcorn chicken. At weekend brunch, mimosas come bottomless for $28.

It seems Chef Dominique Crenn can do no wrong. Not only does her flagship Atelier Crenn boast three Michelin stars, her second eatery Petit Crenn regularly appears on lists of the city's best of the best. And now, at just over a year old, Crenn's third project has earned itself a Michelin star, too. Really, it's not like it's a surprise. This wine bar reminiscent of the library of a storied French estate than is luxurious and warmly lit. The wine list features largely French winemakers using biodynamic, environmentally responsible and traditional methods while the dinner menu is rich and sensual. Classic French dishes like pate en croute (pork shoulder, pistachio and cornichon) and Coquille St. Jaques (pink scallops with Muscadet butter) get the Crenn treatment: Organic, seasonal and, frankly, spectacular.

The appropriately named a Mano ("by hand" in Italian) has a thoughtful, ground-up perspective on food. Influenced by seasonal, California flavors, the restaurant's Italian food remains nonetheless approachable—both in flavor and cost. In the light, bright dining room accented by a playful geometric bar, you'll find a range of handmade pastas like ravioli with nettles, chard, walnuts and ricotta, pizzas like the spicy salsiccia, tomato, provolone piccante, olive and red onion, and a meaty nightly special (ranging from Sunday's ossobuco to Tuesday's short ribs). The drink menu is rooted in Italian classics including Amari and wines from the Old Country.

From the outside, Wayu doesn't obviously stand out from the succession of Clement Street Asian restaurants which makes the food at this Michelin starred sushi restaurant all the more fantastic. In the wood paneled minimalist dining room, there's nothing to compete with the magic being created by the sushi chefs behind the square bar—dishes like squid with shiso and meyer lemon, Japanese-imported uni wrapped in seaweed, and poached monkfish liver. Two omakase menus are on offer each night (#1 for $95/person and #2 for $135/person) along with a list of carefully selected Japanese beer and sake.

This postage stamp-sized sushi bar in Noe Valley serves fresh, stellar-quality sushi and sashimi with an intimate, neighborhood vibe. The dining room, all blonde wood, golden hues and black accents is dominated by an L-shaped bar behind which the sushi chefs make their magic. Despite showcasing seasonal fish from Japan and around the globe, the menu offers a reasonably priced selection of sushi bar comforts from seared hamachi with truffle oil to fresh saba, walu and shiro maguro.

This small-batch, independent winery in the Alexander Valley produces impressive cabs and merlots from family-owned vineyards at Wernecke Ranch. Sutro Wine's Alice Sutro hosts vineyard hikes on Chalk Hill the estate and tastings at the rustic-chic Jimtown Store's artistic tasting room down the road.

This neighborhood brewery combines an industrial-chic aesthetic with a friendly, slightly-nerdy atmosphere thanks to its library theme where books, like the beer, are on tap (er...shelf). Novel Brewing has styles to suit every taste, including a wide variety of IPAs, from the hazy Dust Jacket to the juicy Book Thief. Regular events including book swaps and game nights round out this community fixture worth traveling for.

Hotel G's lofty new restaurant, Ayala, is racking up rave reviews for executive chef Melissa Perfit's take on coastal California seafood. The space has something of a timeless, unadorned quality with an open floor plan separated with a glass-block wall from the bar area. On the menu is a mix of raw and cooked dishes like kampachi crudo with chickpea crisp, mint, red grape and sorghum and nori spaghettini with dungeness crab, white miso, Buddha's hand and furikake. The cocktail menu is heavy on revamped classics including three types of martinis (we're partial to the casteveltrano version).

Oakland's Mad Oak is a laid-back bar spread across two floors of indoor-outdoor space. The upstairs-downstairs rooftop has plenty of seating, heat lamps and a bar on each level - not to mention T.V.'s for game viewing al fresco. Inside video games and a photo booth amp up the fun; outdoors cornhole is the name of the game. For eats, Mad Oak hosts chefs in six month pop-up stints.

Not so long ago, home entertaining was the gold standard for an evening out—a drinking and dining experience where guests were made to feel simultaneously special and comfortable. It’s this old-school vibe that co-owners Seth and Jenni Bregman have tried to replicate at Bardo Lounge and Supper Club, where 60s-inspired furniture, cocktails and dishes reign once again.   Photograph: Courtesy Bardo     To achieve a home-dining feel, the husband-and-wife team scoured vintage furniture stores from the Bay Area to Washington for Bardo's mid-century modern decor, transforming the former Michel Bistro on Oakland’s Lakeshore Ave into an impassioned ode to the 1960s dinner party. Downstairs, the cocktail lounge is carved into intimate living room-style nooks fashioned with minimalist leather couches, pendant lamps, and sculptural wood credenzas, tables and shelving. Upstairs, the dining room has room for thirty at a central communal table nestled up close to the balcony overlooking the bar below.     Sea urchin fondue Photograph: Courtesy Bardo     For the menu, Michelin Bib Gourmand alums Anthony Salguero and Brian Starkey (formerly of Michel Bistro) have mined the country's best-loved 1960s-era cookbooks to create a menu of dinner party classics with a modern twist. In the downstairs lounge, small bites include porcupine meatballs made with pork and fried rice and deviled duck eggs with red wine jus and fried duck skins. Upstairs, there's a three-course menu for $59, featuring

Most visitors to the de Young are there to see the museum’s greatest hits—the O’Keefes, the Kahlos, the Rothkos, the Monets—gliding by the New Guinean yam masks and the mythological parables painted by 19th century American masters sight unseen. That is, until Museumhack stepped in. Museumhack fucking loves museums (according to their slogan), and their passion isn’t reserved just for the masterpieces. Their art renegade tours, like the Un-highlights Tour and the Bad Ass Bitches Tour, give small groups a different perspective on beloved institutions in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. And then there’s the Harry Potter Tour. It’s a little off-beat since the de Young doesn’t exactly feature Hogwarts-themed artworks. Instead, tour guides take small groups of wizard wannabes through the museum, highlighting artifacts reminiscent of magical worlds such as wands and owls as pets. Next is an explanation of the houses of Hogwarts, using the stories behind each family tree to showcase paintings and sculptures that could represent the house. Once visitors are sorted into houses, the tour moves on to a set of Harry Potter-themed challenges in O.W.L. subjects like Charms and Herbology before ending in a fast-paced Quidditch match. “We love Harry Potter and knew that there are other adults who would also be excited to spend some time celebrating the wizarding world that J.K. Rowling created,” says tour guide Casey Selden, who wrote the 90-minute tour with

Trying to wow that special someone? We’ve got you covered, with swoonworthy itineraries for every kind of couple. Take me back to San Francisco where the weather is warm and the sushi is vegan 🌱🍱 #vegan #veganfood #veganfoodshare #veganeats #veganfoodie #vegansushi #shizen #vegansanfrancisco #vegancalifornia #whatveganseat #plantbased #foodstagram #sushi #crueltyfree #govegan A post shared by Erica 🌱👑 (@vegan_kween) on Jan 26, 2018 at 9:01am PST THE PROOF-YOU'RE-IN-THE-KNOW DATE Dinner: Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar and Izakaya Drop some Michelin Guide knowledge on your beau with a meal at this gourmet eatery. Belly up to the polished-wood sushi bar for izakaya-style skewers, vegan ramen and Shizen shiitake (mushrooms stuffed with shredded tofu and tapioca) while you explain what a soy-milk egg is to your significant other. Show: The Roxie Wanna flex your cultural prowess? Head to the oldest and coziest theater in San Francisco for a screening of not just any regular Hollywood blockbuster but an obscure foreign film like the Japanese comedy-horror Hausu. Bonus points if you don’t need to read the subtitles. Drinks: The Hideout at Dalva Venture past the noisy crowds at Dalva to the back of the bar, where you’ll find the Hideout, a small, dimly lit lounge serving memorable cocktails like the gin and celery tonic. Feel free to make out in a dark corner. If things go well: Bissap Baobab Burn off a little energy at this little-known Senegalese institution with a bright

If you enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer with your meal, you don’t need us to tell you that alcohol can be the most expensive part of going out to eat. But if you squint hard enough at the SF restaurant scene, you’ll find a few spots with no corkage fees or fees under $10. These eight restaurants prove that the phrase “delicious affordable meal” is not an oxymoron. Piccolo Forno At this small, modern joint the focus is on hearty, authentic Italian food. Russian Hill neighbors know it as the go-to spot for delectable crab ravioli in salsa rosa and Neopolitan-style pizza. Dishes here are affordable and though they have no liquor license, guests are welcome to bring their own beer and wine with no corkage fee.  Shalimar Restaurant What Shalimar lacks in ambiance—the dining room is about as simple as you can get—it makes up for in bold Indian flavors. A good place to fortify yourself with chicken tikka masala and garlic naan before heading to the bars on Polk. They offer free chai along with your meal but if you want something a little more alcoholic, Shalimar won’t charge a fee to BYOB. Shanghai Dumpling King This no-frills, hole-in-the-wall Shanghai dumpling house has a wide selection of dumplings and pan-fried goodies alongside more mainstream Chinese favorites. The xiao long bao—both the traditional pork style and the off-the-menu crab option—are solid and so are the pan fried pork buns and scallion pancakes. With no corkage fee, you won’t find anywhere else in the neigh

As temperatures continue to drop, there’s no better evening destination than a bar with a fireplace. Warm your tootsies by the fire as the cocktails and craft beer help you thaw from the inside out.  Summer Place Cocktail Lounge Don’t be fooled by the name: the Summer Place is meant for fog-swept evenings and cold nights. Cozy up to the stone fireplace in a leather chair at this old-school Union Square dive, one of the few places left in the city where smoking is permitted indoors.  The Riptide This beachy mainstay with a roaring fireplace is one of the best refuges from the cold ocean air. If you're looking for entertainment with your cocktail, they host open mic nights on Mondays, karaoke on Tuesdays, and on the weekends a hodgepodge of DJs, bands, bingo and occasional visits from restaurants like Memphis Minnie’s BBQ roll through.  Fireside Bar At this aptly named neighborhood bar you’ll find an oversized brick fireplace bordered by comfy couches with enough room for multiple chilly patrons at once. The Fireside is friendly and laid back and canines are always welcome.  Chambers Chambers has found a way to turn the hip, rockstar vibe of adjacent Phoenix Hotel into a stylish bar. Chambers literally glows with mood lighting and a warm, eye-catching fireplace keeps patrons cozy as they sip cocktails at the bar.  Comstock Saloon This Victorian-inspired saloon evokes the San Francisco of days gone by with its damask wallpaper, tiled floors and vintage lighting. The second floo

San Francisco is the city that knows how, so it's no surprise that there's a DIY class for every kind of at-home production. Want to grow an edible garden? Garden for the Environment will help you decipher the best formula of soil, water, seeds and sun for your backyard plot. Eager to produce your own sourdough bread? Sour Flour will teach you to care for a wild yeast "mother" and produce bakery-worthy loaves. Stay busy all year with offerings from these local workshops.   Workshop At this DIY mecca, students learn everything from mixology to embroidery. The brainchild of co-founders Kelly Malone and David Knight, the adults-only space wrangles local designers and creators to teach a wide variety of classes. Perennial favorites include a sewing bootcamp for beginners (where students create their own tote bag), DIY mounted staghorn ferns (create a living piece of wall art) and macrame projects (you know you need a macrame plant hanger). Plus, their Emeryville location offers some options, like a letterpress class, that the smaller SF studio can’t. 1798 McAllister St (415-874-9186, workshopsf.org).  You've been asking, we've been planning, and we're proud to say it's finally here! Reserve your spot in our new death's head moth pinning class, its the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit. Sign up online on the "events" page, or in store with any associate. 📍💀👻🎃 . . . #halloween #deathsheadmoth #silenceofthelambs #buffalobill #spooky #moth #entomology #horror #horr

With seven million people and counting, it’s hard to believe there’s space left for wildlife in the Bay Area. But thanks to the conservationists and urban planners of the 1970s, our little corner of Northern California is one of the most wildlife-friendly urban areas in the country. Skip the zoos and aquariums and see spectacular creatures in their native habitat (in the air, on land and in the sea) at these seven Bay Area locations. Happy Sunday! Tag a friend as sassy as this sea lion! Photo by: @0vanvan0 ⠀ . ⠀ . ⠀ . ⠀ . ⠀ . #pier39 #sanfrancisco #sealions #sass #sassy #bff #sundaymorning #sunday A post shared by PIER 39 (@pier39) on Aug 20, 2017 at 10:57am PDT Pier 39 It wasn’t until after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that playful, barking California sea lions began “hauling out” on K dock at Pier 39. Why they chose this location is a mystery, but the protected bay, teeming with the fish and squid pinnipeds prefer, has kept them coming back for 30 delightful years. Watch the group, which is mostly made up of younger males, frolic all year long from the wooden walkway behind Pier 39. A naturalist provides commentary and answers questions daily between 11am and 4pm, weather permitting.   The Marine Mammal Center San Francisco is a way point on the migration trail for marine mammals, including seals and whales, heading for warmer waters in the winter and cooler oceans in the summer. Unfortunately, the Pacific migration route is also an important shipping route and

Noe, we hope you're hungry. From the same owner-chef that brought you Gialina and Ragazza comes Mediterranean newcomer, Ardiana. The new restaurant, located at 1781 Church Street, will feature classic Mediterranean dishes and flavors alongside the seasonal, thin-crust, Neapolitan-style pizzas that made chef Sharon Ardiana famous.  "The menu will be very shareable," says the chef. A menu section called 'For the table' will feature dips and schmears served with homemade crackers and breads while ordering 'The whole shebang' will give you access to an antipasti buffet. Large Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired plates meant to feed two people and an expansive list of salads will round out the menu. "It’s a choose-your-own-adventure menu. You can just do so many things with it!” added Ardiana.  Photograph: Courtesy of Ardiana   The owners of La Nebbia, which previously occupied the space on Church Street, chose Chef Ardiana to take over the spot. In honor of the former restaurant, changes to the space will be relatively minor: mid-century modern furniture will be added, as well as enlarged family photos on the walls. The enormous pizza oven Ardiana inherited from La Nebbia will, no doubt, be put to good use. “I want this to be a fun place that people want to come to once a week or once every couple of weeks when you don’t feel like cooking,” says Ardiana.  

Explore San Francisco's top parks and beaches on a treasure hunt for these quirky gems hidden in plain sight.      Presidio pet Cemetery Photograph: Flickr/Karen           Pet Cemetery at Crissy Field, Presidio Surrounded by a quaint white picket fence, the Presidio’s Pet Cemetery is as touching as it is unsettling. Nestled under the new Presidio Parkway overpass next to Crissy Field, dozens of mostly homemade grave markers stand sentinel over the remains of beloved military family pets who frolicked San Francisco as far back as the 1950s. Keep an eye out for Willie, the beloved pet hamster, Heidi the Collie and Mr. Iguana, some of the cemetery’s first residents.     Spire by Andy Goldsworthy Photograph: Flickr/Noel           Andy Goldsworthy sculptures in the Presidio Artist Andy Goldsworthy is known for his ephemeral, ecological sculptures constructed to continually change with the passage of time and the elements. The Presidio has the largest collection of Goldsworthy works in North America but you’ll only see all three if you are willing to explore on foot. Both “Spire” (near the Presidio Golf Club) and “Wood Line” (parallel to Lover’s Lane) are located along a 3 mile loop on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. His third piece, “Earth Wall,” can be found in the Hardie Courtyard at the historic Presidio Officer’s Club.     Mount Davidson cross Photograph: Flickr/GPS           Cross at Mount Davidson The 103-foot cross at the top of Mount Davidson has a storied history. First e

Airbnb isn't just for out-of-town vacations. While hotels here can run you several hundred dollars a night for little more than a standard bed and bath, these local Airbnb rentals offer gardens, roof decks, and gallery-worthy decorative details at a much more affordable rate. Go on, try on someone else’s life for a weekend.  Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb Mission: The artist’s residence Immerse yourself in creativity in this loft overlooking a working sculpture studio. Ogle the installations in progress and get to know the artists over tea, try making something of your own, or simply relax in front of the fireplace in your private sitting room. See full listing here.   Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb   Cole Valley: The Victorian minimalist This beautifully restored Victorian is like a B&B with more privacy. With rich wood and neutral colors inside and a cozy garden family room outside, this place is the very definition of minimalist luxury. See full listing here.    Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb    Mission Bay: The sail boat A 30-foot sailboat in the Mission Bay marina is the perfect spot for two types of people: lovers of the sea and diehard Giants fans looking to get as close as possible to AT&T Park. The boat comes equipped with a partial kitchen, full bath and enough room to comfortably sleep two guests. See full listing here.   Photograph: Courtesy Airbnb    North Beach: The curator’s dream Spending a night in this one bedroom apartment just steps from Fisherman’s Wharf i

Whether you’re a native San Franciscan or new to the city, it can be overwhelming to navigate the cornucopia of restaurants, bars and experiences this city has to offer. So, we did the work for you. These seven perfect nights on the town—complete with dinner, drinks and a show—will show you the best of what San Francisco has to offer after dark.    This is the really good kind of surreal 😍Today at 1:30pm @framelinefest @promking2010 A post shared by Christopher Schaap (@christopherschaap) on Jun 19, 2017 at 8:19am PDT CASTRO  Dinner: Starbelly  Starbelly serves seasonal California comfort food with a fine selection of gourmet pizzas—we like the housemade chorizo with sunny eggs and cilantro. Enjoy your meal in their bright, airy dining room or outside on the sunny back patio. Show: Castro Theater The Castro Theater needs no introduction. The most iconic venue in the city offers an ever-changing selection of old Hollywood films, off-beat gems and fun events like Disney movie sing-alongs. Get there early to enjoy the live organ music that famously kicks off every show. Drinks: Blackbird Dark and stylish but with none of the pretentious attitude (what other cocktail lounge has a pool table and photo booth in the back?), Blackbird is the perfect place for a lively drink or two after a show at the Castro. Though Blackbird can get rather crowded on weekend nights, their rotating list of artisan cocktails are worth a wait at the bar.   Creative #vegan dishes including tomat