San Francisco/The Avenues

The Richmond is a neighborhood bordered on the north by Lincoln Park and the Presidio, Arguello Boulevard on the east, Golden Gate Park on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The Richmond is divided into the eastern Inner Richmond and western Outer Richmond by CA Highway 1 (Park Presidio/13th Avenue), which runs north-south.
San Francisco's Sunset District covers a large, mostly residential area on the west side of San Francisco. It is bordered on the west by Ocean Beach, on the north by Golden Gate Park, on the south by Sloat Boulevard, and on the east by a vague boundary roughly around 7th Avenue. It was built on a grid pattern and the vast majority of the housing in the area was constructed between 1920 and 1950. Sunset is divided into the eastern Inner Sunset and the western Outer Sunset by CA Highway 1 (19th Avenue).
The Sunset's majority population is Asian-American, and this increases west of 19th Avenue in the Outer Sunset, where Chinese and Chinese-Americans make up a little bit less than 40% of residents. A sizeable Irish and Irish-American population also exists in the Sunset.
On clear days you will see many locals and tourists watching the sunset at Ocean Beach; still, the name "Sunset" is a bit of a misnomer as the area is often covered in fog due to its proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean. However, whether or not the sun is shining, it is a charming neighborhood to visit.

By Muni

Richmond's central east-west artery is Geary Boulevard. Frequent bus service from downtown via Union Square is provided by the 38-Geary and the 38R-Geary Rapid buses. Even though the district only spans eight blocks from north to south, there are also parallel bus lines 1-California and 2-Clement north of Geary and lines 31-Balboa, 5-Fulton and 5R-Fulton Rapid south of Geary Boulevard.
Much of the Sunset neighborhood is accessible via the N-Judah and L-Taraval Muni Metro light rail lines. East-west bus lines through Sunset include the 23-Monterey, 48-Quintara/24th St, 66-Quintara and 7-Haight/Noreiga.
North-south bus lines which connect Richmond and Sunset through Golden Gate Park include 18-46th Ave, 28-19th Ave and 29-Sunset. Additionally, the 44-O'Shaughnessy runs up from Twin Peaks to the southeast and through Golden Gate Park past the de Young Museum, continuing up 6th Avenue into the Richmond neighborhood.

By car

Running north/south through the area and serving as the major traffic artery is Highway 1 (19th Avenue). In Sunset is another major road called Sunset Boulevard, located between 36th and 37th Avenues and running north/south from Lincoln Way to Sloat Boulevard. On the western edge of the district is The Great Highway, which runs north/south along Ocean Beach. Geary Street is the central east/west artery through Richmond. Fulton Street runs east-west, marking the northern edge of Golden Gate Park while Lincoln Way runs east/west along the southern edge of Golden Gate Park. The southern border is marked by Sloat Boulevard which runs east/west.

• Grand View Park

  address: surrounded by 14th and 15th Avenues along Noriega Street in the Sunset district
  Worth visiting because of the stupendous views it offers over downtown San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, the Pacific Ocean, Marin headlands, and across to the Sutro Tower.

• Moraga Street StairsStair risers comprise a colorful mosaic added during a 2005 renovation of the stairs. Climb to the top then go left or right to find a way into Grand View Park.

Sigmund Stern Grove

address: along Sloat Boulevard between 19th and 34th Avenues

Home to many concerts and performances during the summer months which are free to the public, including the Stern Grove Festival.

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate ParkOnce an area of sand dunes, Golden Gate Park is an urban oasis, roughly half a mile wide and four miles long, with windmills, bison, museums, lakes and a carousel hidden among its charms. At 1,017 acres, it is 174 acres larger than New York's Central Park, so unless you have a bike, you'll want to plan which area you want to visit, especially along the east (Stanyan Street) to west (the Ocean) axis. During the summer to October, a free shuttle bus circulates. On Sundays and holidays, JFK Drive between Transverse and Kezar is closed to vehicular traffic; this car-free zone is popular with walkers, cyclists, and runners. The number 5 trolleybus runs along the park's north boundary (Fulton Street), and offers the most frequent service across the park and to downtown. The N streetcar runs two blocks south of the park's southern boundary with similar service as the 5 bus.

• AIDS Memorial Grove

  phone: +1-415-765-0497
  address: at the intersection of Bowling Green and Middle Drive East
  A national memorial to AIDS victims.

• Beach Chalet and Park Chalet

  phone: +1-415-386-8439
  address: 1000 Great Hwy
  A beautiful 1930s building, the Beach Chalet is open for lunch, drinks, or dinner overlooking Ocean Beach and its brave surfers. Inside the Park Chalet are some exhibits with artifacts related to the history of the Golden Gate Park and San Francisco.

• Buffalo Paddock

  address: John F Kennedy Drive
  An unusual attraction is the herd of buffalo which have been here for over a century.

• California Academy of Sciences

  phone: +1-415-379-8000
  address: 55 Music Concourse Dr.
  An absolutely stunning museum and an excellent place to take the children. Among the many highlights of this museum is the building itself; ride the elevator to the top to see the Living Roof, a literal green roof and marvel of architecture with soft hills covered in grass and flowers. On the ground floor are numerous interactive science exhibits, outdoor gardens, an aviary, and towering over the massive exhibit halls is the sphere-like Planetarium on one side of the building, while the other side is overshadowed by the domed Rainforests of the World exhibit, a massive transparent dome which contains a winding pathway that takes you to the top, past towering trees and animal displays. As if all that wasn't enough, the building also contains a fantastic aquarium on the bottom floor, which showcases the more unusual sea life such as octopus, jellyfish, sea dragons, and sea stars among its displays of coral reefs, kelp forests, and tidepools. It's a big museum; be sure to give yourself at least a few hours to see it all.

• Children's Playground

  phone: +1-415-831-2700
  A large and unique kid's play area. Next door is a historic Carousel, which runs 10AM-4:30PM daily from Memorial Day-Labor Day and Saturdays and Sundays the rest of the year.

• Conservatory of Flowers

  phone: +1-415-666-7001
  address: 100 John F Kennedy Dr
  This antique palatial greenhouse, one of the first structures of its kind in the county, is filled with a huge variety of beautiful and exotic plant species.

• de Young Museum

  phone: +1-415-750-3600
  address: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr
  A modern and ethnic art focused museum, with three levels of fascinating exhibits with contemporary and historical pieces from America as well as art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas in a uniquely-designed building with courtyards and sculpture gardens. One corner of the building has a large tower which offers a lovely 360-degree view of the park and surroundings.

• Dutch WindmillOnce used for park irrigation in the past, now a scenic oddity at the western end of the park. A lesser-known windmill, the Murphy Windmill, is located at the southwestern corner of the park, but is under restoration. Near the windmills is the lovely Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden.

• Japanese Tea Garden

  phone: +1-415-752-4227
  The oldest public Japanese garden in the country, with beautiful plants, ponds, bridges, and Japanese-style structures including a tea house. Tours are available every Wednesday and Sunday at 1PM starting at the main gate.

• Rose GardenA wide variety of roses on display.

• San Francisco Botanical Garden

  phone: +1-415-564-3239
  address: main entrance on 9th Avenue just north of Lincoln Way, secondary entrance at the Friend Gate at MLK Drive and Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
  One of the largest botanical gardens on the west coast, the Botanical Gardens cover 55 acres with thousands of varieties of plants from around the world and multiple specialized gardens and miles of trails (seriously, the place is huge). One of the most unique attractions is the Redwood Trail, which runs through a naturalistic redwood forest reminiscent of the ones north of San Francisco along the Californian coast. There is also a bookstore and library on the premises, near the main entrance. Free guided tours of the gardens depart from the bookstore daily at 1:30PM with an extra tour on the weekends at 10:30AM. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays another free tour departs from the Friend Gate at 2PM.

• Hippie HillNear the district's western border is the entrance to Golden Gate Park. Walking into the park and through a small tunnel beneath the Alvord Lake Bridge, the first large field and adjacent hill are known as Hippie Hill. In dry weather, Hippie Hill is a popular destination for locals and offers a glimpse at the Haight's hippie culture. There visitors will find a large and popular drum circle, amateur performers of many types from jugglers to musicians, frisbee enthusiasts, picnickers, and psychedelic drug users, all mingling happily. Don't be surprised to find locals lighting up a joint of marijuana at Hippie Hill. Though marijuana use is still illegal in the US, California has decriminalized medical marijuana. A note from your doctor suffices to obtain a card enabling one to reliably check quantity and quality and purchase in a civilized manner over a counter. Hippie Hill is a relatively safe place to purchase marijuana, but law enforcement patrols Haight Street at the urging of merchants in order to maintain a teen- and tourist-friendly environment.

• Shakespeare Garden

  address: at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Middle Drive East
  With roses and other flowers mentioned in his plays.

• Spreckels LakeAs the home of the San Francisco Model Yacht Club, one is likely to see model yachts sailing on the lake.

• Stow Lake

  phone: +1-415-752-0347
  This pleasant lake surrounding Strawberry Hill, a scenic island with excellent views and great picnic spots, is an excellent place to relax. Boating (several types for rent) is available from a boathouse, which is open daily from 10AM-4PM.

Lands End

A component of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Lands End defines the extreme northwestern corner of San Francisco, with majestic views of the Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge from the ocean side, and the Pacific Ocean itself. A portion of the Coastal Trail runs along the steep, rocky coastline of the area, from the Cliff House north to the Golden Gate, providing a spectacular hike with views of shipwrecks and jagged coastline. Atop the hill overlooking the coast is the famed Legion of Honor art museum, surrounded by the spacious lawns and the golf course of Lincoln Park, so named because it was the end point of the transcontinental Lincoln Highway.
The #18 Muni bus terminates at the Legion of Honor museum at the center of the park, traveling south through Richmond and past Golden Gate Park, while frequent service to downtown is offered by the #38R Geary Rapid buses, which terminate at Point Lobos Avenue and 48th, next to Sutro Heights Park and right around the corner from the Lands End Lookout and the Cliff House. Drivers will want to take the El Camino del Mar Drive through the small Seacliff area on the northwest side to view some fancy mansions between Lincoln Park and the Presidio.

• Lands End Lookout

  phone: +1-415-426-5240
  address: 680 Point Lobos Ave
  Overlooking the Cliff House and the Sutro Baths is this new visitor center, where you can find information about the Land Ends area as well as a pretty decent gift shop and cafe.

• Cliff House

  phone: +1-415-386-3330
  address: 1090 Point Lobos Ave
  The Cliff House, a well known landmark at the extreme western end of San Francisco, provides both a semi-casual and a formal eating and drinking place (see below under Eat). In addition to the fantastic views of the coastline and the jagged Seal Rocks just off-shore, the Cliff House also contains the Camera Obscura, a fascinating room-sized device which projects an image of the surrounding scenery inside.

• Sutro BathsWedged in a small beach inlet between the Cliff House and Point Lobos, these stone ruins were once a massive 19th century-era public bath house that held multiple swimming pools, which fell into disrepair before being destroyed by fire in 1966, leaving only the concrete foundations and a pool flooded with seawater. The crumbling ruins make for some fun exploration, with a long tunnel into the cliff that leads to a view of a cove. Mind your step: the trails that descend to the site are steep and the ruins themselves pose hazards if you're careless.

• Sutro Heights ParkOn the hill above the Cliff House is the former grounds of the estate of Adolph Sutro, the wealthy landowner who built the Cliff House and Sutro Baths. Today the mansion is gone, but the beautifully landscaped grounds remain as a public park, with Romanesque statuary and splendid views over the coastline and down to Golden Gate Park.

• USS San Francisco MemorialPerched above the Coastal Trail is this longtime WWII memorial crafted out of pieces of the USS San Francisco, a heavy cruiser that sustained heavy damage in the Battle of Guadalcanal and was scrapped after the war. The memorial contains a section of the ship's shell-ridden hull.

• Legion of Honor Museum

  phone: +1-415-750-3600
  address: 34th Avenue and El Camino del Mar
  Inside this building, a model of the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur in Paris, is an incredible collection of mainly European art, with works of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Impressionist periods, with art from some of the fundamental artists of their times, as well as some works from the 20th century from the likes of Picasso. One of the highlights of the collection is a collection of sculptures by Rodin, including The Thinker at the front entrance.

• Ocean Beach

  address: along Great Highway between Point Lobos Avenue and Sloat Boulevard
  A good place to walk, surf (or watch surfers), or just look at the ocean. If you're expecting a warm California beach like you saw on Baywatch, you'll be in for a surprise. The water will be chilly all year round. You won't be able to stay in the water long without a wetsuit. But if you do brave the water, be careful of riptides: the beach has an unusual riptide which claims several lives (usually tourists) each year. If you want to ocean swim, head to China Beach. Bonfires often line Ocean Beach on warmer days. Permits are legally required for bonfires (so be forewarned), but often spur of the moment bonfires happen on weekends. Local grocery stores usually sell cords of wood for this very purpose. Please remember to clean up after yourself, and don't leave any broken glass on the beach!

• China Beach

  address: at the end of Sea Cliff Avenue just off El Camino del Mar
  A small, secluded beach at the bottom of a steep slope, with beautiful views to the north towards the Golden Gate Bridge. You can swim here, but the water is quite brisk.

• Golden Gate Park Segway Tours

  phone: +1-415-474-1944
  address: 70 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr
  A narrated 2.5 hour segway tour through the park. Advance reservations suggested. Ages 12 and up.

Movie theaters

• 4 Star Theatre

  phone: +1-415-666-3488
  address: 2200 Clement St
  Independently-owned theatre showing Hong Kong and alternative world cinema.

• Balboa Theatre

  phone: +1-415-221-8184
  address: 3630 Balboa St
  Catch a feature at this historic independent movie house.

• 6th Avenue Aquarium

  phone: +1-415-668-7190
  address: 425 Clement St
  Small store selling aquarium supplies and fishes, but its small scale beats many public exhibits for fun and colorful fish.

• Amazing Fantasy

  phone: +1-415-681-4344
  address: 650 Irving St
  A comic book store, owned by a guy named Frank. Friendly staff. They have a small collection of back issues, and will order anything for you by request.

• Green Apple Books & Music

  phone: +1-415-387-2272
  address: 506 Clement St
  Renowned independent book and record store dating back to before the Beat Era. Both used and new books.

• Mollusk Surf Shop

  phone: +1 415 564-6300
  address: 4500 Irving St
  Cheery local shop with easy to wear California clothes, colorful surf boards and surf gear, and an art gallery. Sometimes they host fun music shows and art opening parties. Medium pricing.

A thriving restaurant area is to be found in the Inner Sunset around 9th Avenue and Irving Street. There is also a major Asian shopping district in the Outer Sunset on Irving from 19th to 27th Avenues with restaurants, supermarkets, a Taiwanese bakery, and tapioca drink places. Another small restaurant and shopping district in the Outer Sunset is located along Noreiga Street.
In the Richmond district there is a major Asian shopping district on Clement Street from 2nd to 12th Avenues with restaurants, markets, a number of dim sum (Cantonese snacks, literally `touch-the-heart') vendors, Hong Kong style bakeries, as well as Japanese, Thai, Burmese, and Korean restaurants, and tapioca drink places. Most other ethnic cuisines are represented as well. Not many tourists here.

Budget

• ABC Bakery Cafe

  phone: +1-415-681-8800
  address: 2500 Noriega St
  Hong Kong style restaurant and bakery.

• Arizmendi Bakery

  phone: +1-415-566-3117
  address: 1331 9th Ave
  This is a great, popular co-op bakery and pizzeria. One kind of pizza per day, which is almost always delicious. The bakery includes traditional items like muffins, scones, and crumb cake (in a home-made style) as well as off-beat items like "chocolate things."

• Art's Cafe

  phone: +1-415-665-7440
  address: 747 Irving St
  Tiny traditional diner with some Korean specials.

• Bashful Bull Too

  phone: +1-415-759-8112
  address: 3600 Taraval St
  Chicken-fried steak with country gravy and American breakfast standards: It's the last full breakfast before the Pacific.

• Chabaa Thai Cuisine

  phone: +1-415-753-3347
  address: 2123 Irving St

• Cheung Hing Chinese Restaurant

  phone: +1-415-665-3271
  address: 2339 Noriega St
  Cantonese BBQ classics and the best roast duck in the city.

• Gordo'sCheap, reliable, rapid burritos and tacos.

• Gordo's

  phone: +1-415-387-4484
  address: 2252 Clement St

• Gordo's

  phone: +1-415-668-8226
  address: 5450 Geary Blvd

• Gordo's

  phone: +1-415-566-6011
  address: 1239 9th Ave

Howard's

phone: +1-415-564-4723

address: 1309 9th Ave

Awesome breakfasts.

Joe's Ice Cream

phone: +1-415-751-1950

address: 5420 Geary Blvd

A classic American ice cream parlor with an Asian twist.

Kawika's Ocean Beach Deli

phone: +1-415-221-2031

address: 734 La Playa St

A small, friendly full-service deli with sandwiches and desserts and drinks from around the world. Veggie-friendly.

Khan Toke Thai House

phone: +1-415-668-6654

address: 5937 Geary Blvd

An excellent and reasonably priced Thai restaurant with much better ambiance than your average Thai place.

King of Thai Noodle HouseCheap and consistently good.

• King of Thai Noodle House

  phone: +1-415-752-5198
  address: 639 Clement St

• King of Thai Noodle House

  phone: +1-415-831-9953
  address: 346 Clement St

Le Soleil

phone: +1-415-668-4848

address: 133 Clement St

Gourmet Vietnamese cuisine. Try the soft shell crabs and the appetizer platter - yum!

Ming Tai Wun-Tun Noodle

phone: +1-415-681-0430

address: 2455 Noriega St

Huge shrimp wontons/shui gow/shrimp dumplings.

Pho Hoa Hiep

phone: +1-415-379-9008

address: 239 Clement St

Super-cheap Vietnamese pho and sandwiches.

Pho Phu Quoc

phone: +1-415-661-8869

address: 1816 Irving St

Recently renovated neighborhood favorite. Savory and affordable Vietnamese dishes in a crowded, bustling atmosphere. Excellent rice and noodle dishes.

Polly Ann Ice Cream

phone: +1-415-664-2472

address: 3138 Noriega St

Boasts a collection of over FIVE HUNDRED homemade flavors. Fifty-four flavors are available daily.

Quan Ngon

phone: +1-415-566-3275

address: 2511 Noriega St

Northern Vietnamese.

Sunrise Deli and Cafe

phone: +1-415-664-8210

address: 2115 Irving St

Awesome falafel.

Taiwan Restaurant

phone: +1-415-387-1789

address: 445 Clement St

Famous for their dumplings.

Toy Boat Dessert Cafe

phone: +1-415-751-7505

address: 401 Clement St

Filled with vintage toys and a lively atmosphere, this fun restaurant serves ice cream, cakes, tortes, muffins and more. You can grab a breakfast or lunch there, but really just come for the treats.

Underdog

phone: +1-415-665-8881

address: 1634 Irving St

Great menu with several varieties of both meat- and veggie-based hot dogs, with an emphasis on local, organic ingredients. Super-friendly staff and a great atmosphere. In a very tiny space, with only a couple tables.

Mid-range

• Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant

  phone: +1-415-386-8439
  address: 1000 Great Hwy
  Brewery and restaurant featuring live music, American bistro cuisine, hand crafted ales, and a panoramic view of the ocean.

• Burma Superstar

  phone: +1-415-387-2147
  address: 309 Clement St
  Outstanding Burmese restaurant that draws people from all over the city. Get there early; it will be crowdedthe line will be huge.

• Clement Street Bar & Grill

  phone: +1-415-386-2200
  address: 708 Clement St
  Traditional American food in a casual environment. A popular spot for weekend brunch.

• Crepevine

  phone: +1-415-681-5858
  address: 624 Irving St
  A laid back California-style eatery with a largely Brazilian staff. Scrambles, omelettes, sandwiches, soups, and, of course, crêpes, fill the chalkboard menu. The chicken vegetable soup is a favorite. Free refills on coffee. No reservations necessary.

• Ebisu

  phone: +1-415-566-1770
  address: 1283 9th Ave
  Often cited as the best sushi on the West Coast of the United States.

• Giorgio's Pizza

  phone: +1-415-668-1266
  address: 151 Clement St
  Fun Family style pizza and Italian restaurant. Great authentic Italian pizza and pasta dishes in a warm and cozy environment. Can get busy during peak dinner hours, also has pizza by the slice for fast take-out.

• Golden Gate Pizza

  phone: +1-415-564-5514
  address: 1388 46th Ave
  Italian and Indian favorites, delivery available.

• Hong Kong Seafood Restaurant

  phone: +1-415-665-8338
  address: 2578 Noriega St
  Sit-down dim sum.

• Mandalay Restaurant

  phone: +1-415-386-3895
  address: 4348 California St
  Burmese/Chinese, a friendly, local favorite.

• Marnee Thai

• Marnee Thai

  phone: +1-415-731-9999
  address: 1243 9th Ave

• Marnee Thai

  phone: +1-415-665-9500
  address: 2225 Irving St

New Eritrea

phone: +1-415-681-1288

address: 907 Irving St

Huge platters of Eritrean (Ethiopian) food are served up here, along with native beers and lots of Injera bread. Portions are not for the timid. The staff is very friendly. Don't miss the sauteed mushrooms.

Nizario's Pizza

phone: +1-415-752-7777

address: 3840 Geary Blvd

Pizza by the slice.

Park Chow

phone: +1-415-665-9912

address: 1240 9th Ave

Eclectic menu, all delicious; busy on any given night. Whether in the mood for a hamburger, thai noodles, or a portobello sandwich, this place has it, which is good for when friends cannot decide on what to eat. Heated outdoor seating when it's not raining. Bar seating also. Has a sister restaurant in the Castro District.

San Tung

phone: +1-415-242-0828

address: 1031 Irving St

Lines form down the block to eat at this dumpling house.

Schubert's Bakery

phone: +1-415-752-1580

address: 521 Clement St

Cakes, pastries, cookies, and more; first opened in 1911 by a German immigrant.

Spices

phone: +1-415-752-8884

address: 294 8th Ave

One of the best and most popular Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood. Try one of the many varieties of "stinky tofu", a popular street food in Taiwan. The name identifies the dominant flavor.

Tay Giang Restaurant

phone: +1-415-682-8886

address: 2543 Noriega St

A great Vietnamese restaurant with an extensive menu.

Ton Kiang

phone: +1-415-752-4440

address: 5821 Geary Blvd

Arguably the best dim sum outside of Chinatown, this restaurant serves moderately priced Hakka cuisine, but make sure to go there between the hours of 10AM and 4PM where they serve a traditional dim sum with servers that walk around and proffer dishes and tea. Make sure to come early on the weekends, as many locals and tourists line up to have a dim sum lunch.

Troya

phone: +1-415-379-6000

address: 349 Clement St

Turkish/Mediterranean cafe with occasional live music and some outdoor seating.

Splurge

• Aziza

  phone: +1-415-752-2222
  address: 5800 Geary Blvd
  Unique Moroccan cuisine made with local organic ingredients. Reservations recommended.

• Cliff House

  phone: +1-415-386-3330
  address: 1090 Point Lobos
  At the far end of the Outer Richmond, overlooking the ocean, with a great restaurant (Sutro's) and a more informal bistro. Ideal to watch a sunset or a fogbank over the Pacific Ocean. Reservations strongly recommended for Sutro's.

• Thanh Long

  phone: +1-415-665-1146
  address: 4101 Judah St
  Vietnamese restaurant featuring roasted crab. Dinner only.

Food Markets

• 4th and Geary Farmer's Market

  phone: +1-415-831-1067
  address: 3931 Geary Blvd
  Inexpensive fresh fruits and vegetables, and a decent selection of your basic grocery needs which might not be covered as well by the local Asian groceries. Only takes cash and check.

• New May Wah Supermarket

  phone: +1-415-221-9826
  address: 707 Clement St
  Huge (compared to others in the area) authentic Chinese supermarket. They have just about everything.

• SafewayA large chain grocery store with a decent selection. The one on Noriega Street has a parking lot on top. The one on La Playa Street is one of the largest Safeway stores in San Francisco proper -- Don't go there on a Sunday evening, as they only get deliveries on weekdays, and often the beach crowds will deplete inventory until restocking on Monday morning. A nice tip is to get to Ocean Beach, and get a picnic of your choice at the Safeway, then go enjoy it at the beach.

• Safeway

  phone: +1-415-752-4073
  address: 735 7th Ave

• Safeway

  phone: +1-415-665-4565
  address: 2350 Noriega St

• Safeway

  phone: +1-415-387-4664
  address: 850 La Playa St

• Village Market

  phone: +1-415-221-0445
  address: 4555 California St
  Small, inviting food market featuring organic produce, wine, beer, and coffee to-go.

Bars

• 540 Club

  phone: +1-415-752-7276
  address: 540 Clement St
  Friendly bar with cool art, above-average beer selection, free wi-fi, and a great Sunday trivia night.

• The Bitter End

  phone: +1-415-221-9538
  address: 441 Clement St
  Two-level Irish bar with billiards, darts, pub food, and Tuesday night trivia.

• Durty Nelly's

  phone: +1-415-664-2555
  address: 2328 Irving St
  One of the last authentic Irish pubs in the city, from the fantastic bar food to the Irish laborers that drink there every night.

• Eagle's Drift In Lounge

  phone: +1-415-661-0166
  address: 1232 Noriega St
  A real dive bar. Stiff drinks, dartboards, and one pool table.

• The Little Shamrock

  phone: +1-415-661-0060
  address: 807 Lincoln Way
  The oldest Irish pub in San Francisco. Here you will find free popcorn for patrons, a few TVs tuned into all manner of sports, eclectic but cozy furniture, a shelf full of games at the back, and a fireplace. With very kind bartenders (and regulars), the Little Shamrock feels like a safe cozy den on any weeknight.

• Park Chalet

  phone: +1-415-386-8439
  address: 1000 Great Hwy
  A pleasant bar with outdoor seating next to Golden Gate park and offering delicious appetizers. Adjacent to the Beach Chalet restaurant.

• Pizza Orgasmica & Brewing Company

  phone: +1-415-386-6000
  address: 823 Clement St
  Popular microbrewery serving California-style pizza.

• The Plough & Stars

  phone: +1-415-751-1122
  address: 116 Clement St
  One of the best Irish bars in San Francisco. Traditional live music almost every night.

• Tommy's Mexican Restaurant

  phone: +1-415-387-4747
  address: 5929 Geary Blvd
  Self-proclaimed "Premier Tequila Bar on Earth". A must-visit for tequila and margarita enthusiasts. Arrive early to avoid the (drunken) crowd.

• Trad'r Sam

  phone: +1-415-221-0773
  address: 6150 Geary Blvd
  Popular tiki bar featuring specialty blender drinks. Gets loud and crowded on weekends.

• Yancy's Saloon

  phone: +1-415-665-6551
  address: 734 Irving St
  Lots of seating (wooden tables & chairs), with darts at the back, and also several large screen TVs. They have a nice happy hour (which many grad students from UCSF take advantage of).

Coffee

• Blue Danube

  phone: +1-415-221-9041
  address: 306 Clement St
  Small coffee shop with good sandwiches and a few sidewalk tables. Computers and paid wi-fi available. Cash only.

• Henry's House of Coffee

  phone: +1-415-681-9363
  address: 1618 Noriega St
  A good local coffee shop.

• Java Beach Cafe

  phone: +1-415-665-5282
  address: 1396 La Playa St
  Offers coffee, beer and wine, pastries, sandwiches, and the like. Outdoor seating, as well as tables, chairs and couches inside. You will find both locals and tourists filling the chairs on any given night.

• Royal Ground CoffeeLocal chain serving good coffee and sandwiches.

• Royal Ground Coffee

  phone: +1-415-751-5282
  address: 5301 Geary Blvd

• Royal Ground Coffee

  phone: +1-415-387-5282
  address: 2342 Clement St

Simple Pleasures

phone: +1-415-387-4022

address: 3434 Balboa St

Small, crowded cafe with very rich coffee and decent snacks, but the reason to go here are the plethora of San Francisco locals who come to hang out and chat. It's a great place to strike up a conversation with someone who you just met, and on weekend evenings they have free live jazz to boot, call them for dates/times.

Andytown Coffee Roasters

phone: +1 415 753-9775

address: 3655 Lawton St, 94122

Andytown is a hipster coffee shop with great coffee, tea, and irish pastries and soda bread. Their signature drink is the sand piper, which is espresso, soda water, and whipped cream. There is always a long line, but it's worth the wait.

• The Moffatt House

  phone: +1-415-661-6210
  address: 1401 7th Ave
  Reasonably inexpensive B&B lodging.

• Great Highway Inn

  phone: +1-415-731-6644
  address: 1234 Great Hwy
  A no-frills motel across the street from the beach.

• Geary Parkway Motel

  phone: +1-415-752-4406
  address: 4750 Geary Blvd
  This former dive has been completely remodeled with clean rooms, nice televisions, microwaves, blowdryers, irons, and mini fridges. Reasonable prices, safe and neat - the owners have put a lot of effort into making this motel quiet and nice.

• Seal Rock Inn

  phone: +1-415-752-8000
  address: 545 Point Lobos Ave
  Nestled at the westernmost edge of the city overlooking The Cliff House and The Sutro Baths' ruins, this hotel has a small pool, volleyball court, and restaurant. You're a bit out of the way from downtown (about a 30 minute drive/bus), but a great location for someone who enjoys San Francisco's nature, or who will be heading to Marin or down to the peninsula, as you are on the other side of most of the clogged commuting routes.

• Days Inn at the Beach

  phone: +1-415-665-9000
  address: 2600 Sloat Blvd
  Your typical Days Inn; across the street from the zoo.

• Ocean Park Motel

  phone: +1-415-566-7020
  address: 2690 46th Ave
  1930s 'Art Deco' motel. Just a short stroll to the beach and San Francisco Zoo.

• Robert's-at-the-Beach-Motel

  phone: +1-415-564-2610
  address: 2828 Sloat Blvd
  A dive motel, but if you're desperate for a cheap place to stay, it's across the street from the zoo and right next to the MUNI Metro line.

• San Francisco Public Library - Sunset Branch

  phone: +1-415-355-2808
  address: 1305 18th Ave

• San Francisco Public Library - Richmond Branch

  phone: +1-415-355-5600
  address: 351 9th Ave

• San Francisco Public Library - Anza Branch

  phone: +1-415-355-5717
  address: 550 37th Ave

• San Francisco Public Library - Ortega Branch

  phone: +1-415-355-5700
  address: 3223 Ortega St

• San Francisco Public Library - Parkside Branch

  phone: +1-415-355-5770
  address: 1200 Taraval St