A Guide to San Francisco
We’re so thrilled to have you join us in San Francisco as we celebrate Nest’s 20th Anniversary. Below, you’ll find a thoughtfully curated list of the city’s most coveted places to see, explore, stay, and dine. We’re incredibly grateful you’ll be part of this special moment and can’t wait to hear the highlights from your time in San Francisco.
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Places to Stay
02
Things to Do
03
Restaurants to Try
01
Places to Stay
1 Hotel via Condé Nast Traveler
1 Hotel , Embarcadero
For the best design hotel $$$
The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco , Nob Hill
The best for luxury and location $$$
The Fairmont San Francisco , Nob Hill
The best for classic luxury and location $$
The Four Seasons San Francisco , Embarcadero
The best luxury for Embarcadero $$$
Kimpton Alton , Fisherman’s Wharf
For the best newer hotel to open $$
Hotel G ,Downtown
For the best boutique hotel $
Hotel Drisco , Pacific Heights
For the best boutique hotel $$$
Hotel Kabuki , Japan Town
For the best boutique and design hotel $$
Hotel Kabuki via Condé Nast Traveler
02
Things to Do
San Francisco Classics
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Golden Gate Bridge
The city’s most famous landmark with incredible views by foot, bike, or car. -
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Alcatraz Island
Former prison turned museum; one of the most popular attractions (book early). -
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Cable Cars
Historic rides through the city’s steep hills since the 1800s. -
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Painted Ladies
Classic Victorian homes in Alamo Square with skyline views.
The Presidio
Japanese Tea Garden
For the Nature Lover
Lombard Street
One of a Kind
Lombard Street – “Crookedest street” with iconic curves and gardens.
Coit Tower – Murals + panoramic views from the top.
Bay Cruise – See the skyline, bridges, and Alcatraz from the water.
Ghirardelli Square – Historic chocolate factory turned shopping/dining spot.
Point Reyes
Day Trips
Point Reyes — coastal town, great for fresh seafood, hikes, and scenery.
Yosemite National Park — the most popular day trip from San Francisco, it’s around 3.5 hours drive each way and totally doable (we did this all the time).
Napa Valley — incredible wine tasting and scenery.
Stinson Beach + Mount Tamalpais + Muir Woods — a really popular area for hiking and seeing the redwoods. *Reservations required for Muir Woods
Legion of Honor
Museums
SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) – One of the largest modern and contemporary art museums in the U.S., with major works by Warhol, Rothko, and a strong photography and design collection.
de Young Museum – Located in Golden Gate Park, known for American art, textiles, African art, and its iconic observation tower views over the city.
Legion of Honor – A stunning Beaux-Arts museum overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, featuring European paintings, sculpture, and ancient art.
Asian Art Museum – One of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world, spanning over 6,000 years of history.
ICA SF – The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco is guided by a bold ambition: to activate San Francisco’s most significant public and architectural spaces with experimental, boundary-pushing, museum-scale contemporary art.
Fog City Flea
Local Artists + Makers
SF Open Studios organizes the city's artists to open their creative spaces to the public over a month-long period in the fall. This San Francisco tradition since 1975, invites you to connect directly with the hundreds of local artists of our time. From emerging talent to established names, SF Open Studios is the ultimate art adventure across San Francisco’s neighborhoods.
A cornerstone in the historic San Francisco Ferry Building since 2022, Fog City Flea Trading Post, provides a warm atmosphere for browsing a diverse array of products. Shoppers can discover unique handmade goods, including beautifully crafted jewelry, housewares, stationary, and modern souvenirs. Vintage clothing satiates those looking for one-of-a-kind sustainability, while locally made apparel and accessories reflects the creative spirit and originality of the Bay Area.
03
Restaurants to Try
Top Picks by Team Nest
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Fiorella
Enjoy wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta, and seasonal dishes. Serving dinner daily, plus brunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Your go-to spot for neighborhood Italian. -
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Shizen
A fully vegan sushi bar and izakaya. Shizen combines classic shojin and sushi techniques with local, seasonal ingredients to create healthy and flavorful dishes with a light footprint. -
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Tacolicious
Mexico City–inspired tacos and margaritas across the San Francisco Bay Area. Fresh flavors, local vibes, and good times. -
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The Laundromat SF
An all-day restaurant bringing hand-rolled bagels and locally roasted coffee to the neighborhood by day, plus pizzas and natural wine by night. Does not take reservations.
La Taqueria via The Infatuation
Angler via Eater SF
Iconic SF Classics
Mission Burrito: Wrapped with rice, beans, meat, and cheese, famously served "dorado-style" (crisped on the tortilla press) at spots like La Taqueria.
Sourdough & Clam Chowder: Tangy, crusty bread bowls filled with creamy soup, found near Fisherman's Wharf via Boudin Bakery.
Zuni Roast Chicken: A legendary, wood-fired chicken served over bread salad at Zuni Cafe.
Seafood: Counter-service fresh crab, oysters, and shrimp salad at historic Swan Oyster Depot.
Arsicault Bakery via Trip Advisor
Baked Goods + Sweets
Morning Bun: A flaky, buttery pastry rolled in cinnamon from Tartine Bakery.
Croissants: Flaky, buttery almond or ham-and-cheese pastries from Arsicault Bakery.
Salted Caramel Ice Cream: Rich, locally loved scoops from Bi-Rite Creamery near Dolores Park.
Dan Tat (Egg Tarts): Warm, flaky Cantonese egg custard tarts from bakeries in Chinatown.
Burma Superstar via Burma Superstar
Global Flavors
Burmese Tea Leaf Salad: A crunchy, savory, and tangy signature dish found at Burma Superstar or Mandalay.
Dim Sum: Steamed pork buns, har gow, and soup dumplings at Dragon Beaux or Dumpling Home.
Roman-style Square Pizza: Crispy-crusted slices loaded with toppings from Golden Boy Pizza in North Beach.
Little Shucker via Little Shucker