48 Hrs | San Francisco
48 hrs is a 2-day itinerary designed to not only take you by the main attractions but also to conveniently locate the best food & drink options along the way. Cheers!
{A Google embedded map is included in the itinerary below. On the map, click the Share Icon located at the top right corner, send to your email, tap the link once received, and now you have a map to follow along with.}
Let’s get to it.
San Francisco
Day 1
Along your walking route, chances are you won’t be far from a third-wave coffee shop that excels in what they do. Why seek these out? San Francisco sits squarely in the top tier of espresso cities in the US, and you won’t want to miss an opportunity to see how these espresso shops are pushing the boundaries of style and technique. A couple of my favorites are Four Barrel Coffee and Sightglass.
The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic American landmark. If a bike ride across the bridge sounds like something you’ll want to do, get to Golden Gate Bridge Park early and rent a bike from one of the many bike shops lined up. The later you wait, the more crowded it gets. If you’re thinking of going a bit further than just down and back, plan a route that will take you to a sea-side restaurant in Sausalito. A perfect spot for brunch.
The walk from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Ferry Building along the shore offers plenty to do and see. Ghiradelli Square is a perfect place to start with some chocolate desserts. About a twenty-minute walk will bring you to Pier 39 all plenty of delicious restaurants to choose from.
One of these restaurants has an extended history with San Francisco and continues to stay true to its beginnings: The Slanted Door. Believe it or not, this established award-winning restaurant used to be a neighborhood mom-and-pop shot of Vietnamese food. Popularity sky-rocketed and soon a new home was found. Still churning out the same great dishes as before with a more refined feel, and now your meal comes with a great view!
Chinatown is the next stop. This Chinatown is the largest in the world outside of China and also the oldest Chinatown in America. Any restaurants or stands along the way would be an adventure to try. House of Nanking might be one of, if not the most popular destination. Just don’t expect anything in the way of good service. People are lined up out the door, they want you down, fed, and out!
For a more pleasant experience, head to R&G Lounge. An established Cantonese restaurant just around the corner of Chinatown, and still serves some of the most flavorful seafood in town.
For a night out, consider the SF symphony. World-class and a beautiful way to end a San Francisco day.
Day 2
Start the day with the SF modern museum of art, SFMoMa (espresso: Contraband). Make sure not to miss the largest public living wall.
A Giants baseball game might be calling your name, and there’s a good reason why - AT&T Park is one of the most sought after baseball parks in the US. You can grab an acai bowl, a plant-based burger, clam chowder, and I’m sure they even have a hot dog stand somewhere, and enjoy them while watching baseball’s fly into McCovey Cove
When you’re ready, hop into the infamous Mission District. Home to a large Latino population, the Mission District offers so much in such a tiny space. From delicious burritos (think Mexican street food) to book stores, vintage clothing, fine dining, and theater, the Mission has it all. If you have time, catch some rays and relax at Delores Park.
Plenty of options for nightlife ventures, but nothing may compare to seeing a live show at the historic FIllmore. Open since 1912, the Fillmore has hosted acts such as Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Any performance is worth seeing here.
Food Extras
San Francisco is the type of town that seems to continuously give. When I step back and look at the San Francisco food scene, I am blown away by the plethora of options available. The diversity pushes the limits with talent and flavor riding the culinary San Fran wave. The restaurant concepts you’ll see are creative and unique. If you can survive opening a restaurant in San Francisco, you can survive anywhere.
Recommendations
It wasn’t that long ago my then employer sent me and two other chefs to San Fran on a week-long culinary adventure. For a week straight, we ate and drank everything we could. Here, are some of my favorites:
Rich Table, Bar Crudo, Nopa, SPQR, Tartine Bakery (Formerly Bar Tartine), State Bird Provisions), Swan Oyster Depot, Flour and Water, Tadich Grill, R&G Lounge
Trick Dog - Cocktails
Toronado - Beer
