The San Francisco skyline heralds adventure
LITTE ITALY: PASSIONATE ABOUT PASTA
Very relaxed and perfect for strolling through its colorful and extravagant buildings of the Arts&Crafts or the Transamerica Pyramid, Little Italy (part of North Beach) is the neighborhood where you can taste endless Made in Italy dishes and get lost in bookstores that close at midnight like City Lights . In Columbus Avenue , you will find a trio of essential restaurants: Calzone's Restaurant, Stinking Rose (decorated with a huge amount of garlic) and Franchino that looks like something out of a movie gangsters . And on Broadway, snack on some delicious Naked Lunch sandwiches.
FISHERMAN´S WHARF: TO GO WITH CHILDREN
This is the area to go with the whole family, especially with the little ones. They will have a great time watching the seals at Pier 39 , visiting the aquarium of the bay , getting on the Pier carousel, entering the submarine USS Pampanito or with the vintage arcade games at the Mechanical Museum. Meanwhile, you can enjoy shopping at all kinds of stores, from t-shirts of your favorite basketball or baseball player to socks with the face of Frida Kahlo at SockMarket. Also don't miss the great Boudin bakery with huge loaves in the shape of turtles and teddy bears. And to eat a good scallop or lobster rissotto go to Alioto's or have a delicious clam chowder at Tarantino's.
FERRY BUILDING: FOR GOURMETS
Nothing better to do while waiting for your ferry to visit the pretty fishing village of Sausalito than gobble up a culinary feast in Ferry Building . A good option would be to buy dinner and bring it home or to the hotel. Some salami from Boccalone , some tasty cheeses from creamy paradise from Cowgirl creamery , olive rolls from Acme Bread and some delicious gluten free desserts of butterfly. In Mariposa, you can also buy all kinds of pizzas, baguettes, pasta or bread for coeliacs . And all this while you wait not so impatiently for your ferry.
The Pier 39 Sea Lions at Fisherman's Wharf
RUSSIAN HILL: TO LINK
In the morning, the most optimal thing will be to stroll through Ghirardelli Square, in a world full of chocolate. A very social square with lots of possibilities in terms of shops and food always with live music . The century-old chocolate shop Ghirardelli now it is surrounded by cute shops like Gigi+Rose, a shop where everything is fantasy in pink with accessories for women and children or Helpers Bazzar in vintage clothes. At lunchtime, go to one of the restaurants in the square such as The Pub BBQ or the famous McCormick and Kuleto's with succulent meat and seafood dishes. For dessert, don't miss the sweet tooth Rocky Road Sundae from Ghiradelli or the cupcakes from Kara's Cupcake.
After the feast, you will need to rest for a while. A great option is to lie down in the sun in the park opposite, watching the golden-gate and the little boats that set sail from the bay, in case you get off the plan of seeing the city without the bridge. And all this before going up the steep Hyde Street until you reach the wonderful street lombard street . During the climb, turn around and admire Alcatraz. At night, the place to flirt, especially on Tuesdays, is Rouge Nick's Crispy Tacos. Savor their legendary fish tacos and mingle with the crowd of people that fill Nick's. If it's not what you're looking for, at least you'll have enjoyed the atmosphere, the tasty tacos and a basketball game on the plasma TVs . And in the store next door, Yoppi, they sell a frozen yoghurt to the weight to put a thousand and one more ingredients.
CASTRO: GAY PARADISE
In the most heterofriendly neighborhood in all of San Francisco you can breathe history as in the Harvey Milk Plaza but above all a lot of fun. Pride flags, meaningful and impactful street murals about AIDS and the GLBT community, and a massive amount of pastry shops, cafes and the most charming shops . For one of the most appetizing brunches in the entire city, go to the charming Café Flore, where it will be essential to have some Hawaiian French Toast with banana and macadamia nuts.
But if what you want is to go to the coolest pastry shop in the city, don't hesitate to check in at Hot Cookie. Not only do they offer extraordinary quality in terms of cookies and pastries, but you can also gobble up some chocolate and coconut cakes with the most suggestive body parts. To acquire fun decoration gadgets from flamingos for the garden, Colored lights, feather boa costumes , even hammers and black & deckers ; go to Cliff's Variety. And if you love vegan food and fruit, you can't miss Buffalo Whole Food. For a delicious dinner in a very pleasant and romantic patio, go into Starbelly and dine on pizzas, foie gras terrines, goat cheese or avocado salads or a delicious gazpacho.
Castro, the neighborhood of the colors of the rainbow
UNION SQUARE: FOR SHOPPING ADDICTS
The Shopaholics they will feel in the glory with the endless plethora of luxury stores that surround the entire square: Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, NeimanMarcus, Westfield, Macy's, Barney's ... And other more youthful and low-cost stores along Powell Street such as Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Victoria's Secret or Uniqlo. And what about the eternal sales of BCBG Max Azria that last all year. That is a success. Those with a sweet tooth will have a more than obligatory visit to the top floor of the department stores in Macy's where you can savor wonderful desserts from the Cheesecake Factory and the spectacular view of the square. We highly recommend the magnificent Key Lime Cheesecake . After shopping, you can rest in this smoke-free square and even buy some discounted tickets to see the new play that is being talked about so much.
CHINATOWN: IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT JACKET
Perfect to feel the oriental culture with all the senses, either eating some noodles in one of the typical little restaurants , shopping for cute souvenirs at Asian Renaissance or admiring street art with graffiti of dragons.
DOWNTOWN: TASTE IS IN THE MIX
Where the Financial District and the trendy neighborhood of SOMA It is an area that fuses men in suits and ultramodern hipsters who in their spare time are DJ's. bank buildings, contemporary museums , very cool nightclubs and hidden art galleries that only the trendiest know about like 49 Geary . The bad, the famous SFMOMA will remain closed until 2016, but you can find his works in different parts of the city, such as the great sculptures of Mark DiSuvero in Crissy Field right in front of the beach. A great, very trendy option will be to snack on something at the wonderful Zuni Market, where the foccaccia and desserts are a delight. And fans of sporting events should approach the stadium AT&T Park and watch a match giants , a very entertaining experience.
Chinatown, the Orient in its purest form
MARINA: PASSIONATE ABOUT FISHING VILLAGES
No doubt Marine It is a small town in itself that could remind Hyannis Port near Boston. Great little shops like Paper Source or the fashionista Brandy Melville, the cinema Marina Theater or the library Marine Library full of comics where you can check your mail. And at lunchtime, delicious bagels from Noah's New York Bagels, cupcakes from Suzie Cakes and for a Spanish-style feast, Alegrías. Its owners are Argentinean but tortillas and chorizos are their specialty.
GOLDEN GATE PARK: FOR LOVERS OF CULTURE
Those who wish to stroll through one of the most beautiful and gigantic urban parks in the city (4.12 km2) should go to Golden Gate Park . Not only is it majestically beautiful, but the number of cultural and sports activities that can be practiced never ends: a visit to the architecturally surprising MH of Young Memorial Museum , a route through Japanese Tea Garden , a little golf at its club, a bike ride through its interior or a little party on the nights that are organized for young people and adults at the California Academy of Science Museum . Where you can admire a huge aquarium glass in hand.
HAIGHT ASHBURY: FOR HIPPIES AND TATTOOED
The most hippie and carefree corner of the city where markets, skateboarders, vintage and tattoo shops take over the neighborhood. Ideal to discover the accessories and vintage dresses of Decades of Fashion or La Rosa Vintage. And what about the external decoration of PiedmontBoutique with huge woman's legs with fishnet stockings and high heels.
Farmer's Market at The Ferry Plaza
OTHER CORNERS OR GETAWAYS NOT TO BE MISSED
-Alamo Square: to feel like a Victorian architect for a day and admire the colorful buildings that always appear on the big screen.
-Mission: one of the youngest and trendiest neighborhoods this year with its historic murals of Diego Rivera , its splendid Mission Dolores cathedral and its enormous park where to do picnics.
- Telegraph Hill: for a visit to the Coit Tower and view the great bay.
-Japantown: one of sushi, please!
- Yerba Buena Gardens: or how to surround yourself with nature.
-Jackson Square: savor the steaks at 5A5 Steak Lounge. A very cosmopolitan restaurant that offers the most delicious meats from all over the Bay. And if your pocket allows it, don't hesitate to gobble up a the 5A4 Experience (350 €), Wagyu meat massaged daily and with a most gourmet diet.
- Levi's Plaza: It is essential to have some exquisite pennoni alla vodka at Il Fornaio.
- Tenderloin: where banksy graffiti.
- Muir Woods: where James Franco rubs shoulders with the monkeys.
-Napa Valley: a visit to the vineyards Chandon in the wine country and a tasting of dishes at the French Laundry.
- Vallejo: the Six Flags amusement park.
-Mountain View: Google works too!
- Santa Cruz: a very surfing amusement park.
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- The great American route, fifth stage: San Francisco
- San Francisco Guide
Frisco sunset, best from a streetcar