Guidebook for San Francisco
Food Scene
French-themed coffee shop that serves paninis, beer, and French-style baked goods. I consider this to be the most "yuppie" of the three Lower Haight coffee shops.
95 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe du Soleil
400 Fillmore StFrench-themed coffee shop that serves paninis, beer, and French-style baked goods. I consider this to be the most "yuppie" of the three Lower Haight coffee shops.
The "hipster" coffee shop in the area, with lots of outdoor seating.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bean There
201 Steiner StThe "hipster" coffee shop in the area, with lots of outdoor seating.
The "hippy" coffee shop, serving some of the best ice coffee in the City (the key: the ice cubes are made from frozen cofee). The owner is super friendly, but I find the music too loud at times.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe International
508 Haight StThe "hippy" coffee shop, serving some of the best ice coffee in the City (the key: the ice cubes are made from frozen cofee). The owner is super friendly, but I find the music too loud at times.
Some of the more interesting cocktails in the City can be found here, along with some delicious small plates (e.g. duck sliders!).
90 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Maven
598 Haight StSome of the more interesting cocktails in the City can be found here, along with some delicious small plates (e.g. duck sliders!).
Higher end Mexican food, but still pretty affordable. One of my favorite restaurants in SF -- the ceviche, carnitas. and chocolate-cinnamon popsicles are recommended.
99 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Page
298 Divisadero StHigher end Mexican food, but still pretty affordable. One of my favorite restaurants in SF -- the ceviche, carnitas. and chocolate-cinnamon popsicles are recommended.
Popular and crowded German restaurant with a good selection of German beers on tap. Arrive early to avoid waiting to be sat.
158 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Suppenküche
525 Laguna StPopular and crowded German restaurant with a good selection of German beers on tap. Arrive early to avoid waiting to be sat.
Nicely priced quality restaurant. I've liked the desserts I've tried here.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Alamo Square Seafood Grill
803 Fillmore StNicely priced quality restaurant. I've liked the desserts I've tried here.
Coffee shop by day, wine bar by night. Has tasteful decor and a pub quiz on Tuesday nights.
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Vinyl Coffee and Wine Bar
359 Divisadero StCoffee shop by day, wine bar by night. Has tasteful decor and a pub quiz on Tuesday nights.
Little Baobab SF
2243 19th StAfrican restaurant that turns into a club.
Cha Cha Cha
1801 Haight StPopular Caribbean tapas & sangria restaurant.
The restaurant for beer lovers -- all dishes have a recommended (fancy) beer pairing. Often has long waiting times.
177 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Monk's Kettle
3141 16th StreetThe restaurant for beer lovers -- all dishes have a recommended (fancy) beer pairing. Often has long waiting times.
Reasonably-priced restaurant with good pasta, comfort food, and salads.
96 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chow Food Bar
215 Church StReasonably-priced restaurant with good pasta, comfort food, and salads.
Bar Jules
609 Hayes StreetOrganic, Waters-esque slow food kind of place.
Good quality Indian restaurant - one of the better places for Indian in the City.
33 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Indian Oven Restaurant
233 Fillmore StGood quality Indian restaurant - one of the better places for Indian in the City.
Axum Cafe
698 Haight StGood Ethiopian food.
Syrian-owned place with delicious rotisserie chicken (and garlic sauce). I recommend carry out rather than eating here, however.
32 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Palmyra
700 Haight StSyrian-owned place with delicious rotisserie chicken (and garlic sauce). I recommend carry out rather than eating here, however.
Kate's Kitchen
471 Haight StreetTop breakfast place in the neighborhood.
The Grind
783 Haight StGood option for coffee and breakfast food.
Finally, a Chinese restaurant in the Lower Haight! Above average food and friendly staff.
34 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wonderland Restaurant
500 Haight StFinally, a Chinese restaurant in the Lower Haight! Above average food and friendly staff.
Best pizza in SF, according to me. I love the corn meal crust. Go with the deep dish.
360 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Little Star Pizza
846 Divisadero StBest pizza in SF, according to me. I love the corn meal crust. Go with the deep dish.
Herbivore
531 Divisadero StreetBelieve it or not, this is a vegetarian restaurant.
Stacks
501 Hayes StA good breakfast place (though it's no Kate's Kitchen!).
Best burrito place in the area, though also a bit more chi chi than most. Also has good brunch on the weekends.
187 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Little Chihuahua
292 Divisadero StBest burrito place in the area, though also a bit more chi chi than most. Also has good brunch on the weekends.
L'Ardoise
151 Noe StCozy and romantic French bistro.
I'm not sold on this place, but they do make deep fried Thanksgiving balls. Which is awesome.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Greenburger's
518 Haight StreetI'm not sold on this place, but they do make deep fried Thanksgiving balls. Which is awesome.
Carnival-themed place with lots of fried and comfort food, and also some cajun for some reason. The signature dish is a fried chicken and waffle monte cristo.
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Straw
203 Octavia BoulevardCarnival-themed place with lots of fried and comfort food, and also some cajun for some reason. The signature dish is a fried chicken and waffle monte cristo.
Uva Enoteca
568 Haight StThe neighborhood wine bar.
One of my favorite restaurants -- quality Mexican for a good price. I recommend the ceviche, carnitas, and the Mexican chocolate popsicle desert.
306 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nopalito
306 Broderick StOne of my favorite restaurants -- quality Mexican for a good price. I recommend the ceviche, carnitas, and the Mexican chocolate popsicle desert.
Drinks & Nightlife
The best beer bar in the City, with dozens of craft beers on tap. It can get crowded, even on weeknights, and stinky too.
185 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Toronado
547 Haight StThe best beer bar in the City, with dozens of craft beers on tap. It can get crowded, even on weeknights, and stinky too.
Dark, atmospheric "cavern" bar with friendly bar tenders and a good beer selection (including gluten-free). Does not serve liquor.
46 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Noc Noc
557 Haight StDark, atmospheric "cavern" bar with friendly bar tenders and a good beer selection (including gluten-free). Does not serve liquor.
Fairly standard Irish pub/sports bar, but it's one of my favorites because it's clean, has friendly staff, and decent food for a pub. Hosts a pub quiz on Monday nights.
22 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nickies
466 Haight StFairly standard Irish pub/sports bar, but it's one of my favorites because it's clean, has friendly staff, and decent food for a pub. Hosts a pub quiz on Monday nights.
Primary sports bar in the neighborhood and a top soccer bar in the City. However, the food is iffy, staff is sometimes surly, and liquor is not served. Hosts pub quizzes on Tues and Thurs nights.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mad Dog in the Fog
1568 Haight StPrimary sports bar in the neighborhood and a top soccer bar in the City. However, the food is iffy, staff is sometimes surly, and liquor is not served. Hosts pub quizzes on Tues and Thurs nights.
The "punk" dive bar in the neighborhood featuring tattoos, piercing, and pinball. On weekends the Tamale Lady usually stops by.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Molotov's
582 Haight StThe "punk" dive bar in the neighborhood featuring tattoos, piercing, and pinball. On weekends the Tamale Lady usually stops by.
Standard Irish pub, allows outside food. Hosts a pub quiz on Wednesday nights.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Danny Coyle's
668 Haight StStandard Irish pub, allows outside food. Hosts a pub quiz on Wednesday nights.
One of my favorite bars in the area. Most nights feature either live music or good DJs, and the menu includes good beer and interesting cocktails. Gets packed on weekend nights.
131 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Madrone Art Bar
500 Divisadero StOne of my favorite bars in the area. Most nights feature either live music or good DJs, and the menu includes good beer and interesting cocktails. Gets packed on weekend nights.
Fairly clean bar with good cocktails and beers served in mason jars.
89 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Churchill
198 Church StFairly clean bar with good cocktails and beers served in mason jars.
Rather undercover bar with ample couch space and a good selection of cocktails.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Residence
718 14th StreetRather undercover bar with ample couch space and a good selection of cocktails.
The Homestead
2301 Folsom StGreat neighborhood bar. With peanuts!
Amnesia
853 Valencia StNo hard liquor here, but lots of live music.
The 500 Club
500 Guerrero StNeighborhood dive bar.
Elixir
3200 16th StCozy neighborhood bar, not as divey as the 500 Club.
Casanova Lounge
527 Valencia StMy favorite hipster dive bar.
The best bar in SF, according to me. One of the only places with significant outdoor space, has a good selection of beer and decent grilled food.
222 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Zeitgeist
199 Valencia StThe best bar in SF, according to me. One of the only places with significant outdoor space, has a good selection of beer and decent grilled food.
The "porn bar" owned by the Armory studios across the street. Actually a pretty classy place, aside from the occasional digital porn shots on the wall (nothing too graphic, from what I've seen).
38 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Armory Club
1799 Mission StThe "porn bar" owned by the Armory studios across the street. Actually a pretty classy place, aside from the occasional digital porn shots on the wall (nothing too graphic, from what I've seen).
One of the hotter, newer spots in the mission. It can be difficult to get a lane during peak hours, but still a good place to have a drink.
127 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mission Bowling Club
3176 17th StOne of the hotter, newer spots in the mission. It can be difficult to get a lane during peak hours, but still a good place to have a drink.
Not always friendly to outsiders, but a good dive. If you're lucky you'll catch the guy playing punk covers on the piano.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rite Spot Cafe
2099 Folsom StNot always friendly to outsiders, but a good dive. If you're lucky you'll catch the guy playing punk covers on the piano.
The best new music venue in SF, built in a former church. You can also check out the bar's quality cocktail selection without paying a cover for the music.
135 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Chapel
777 Valencia StreetThe best new music venue in SF, built in a former church. You can also check out the bar's quality cocktail selection without paying a cover for the music.
One of my favorite bars/gastropubs, due in part to the outrageously delicious lamb sliders they serve. Good selection of Belgian-style beers.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Sycamore
2140 Mission StOne of my favorite bars/gastropubs, due in part to the outrageously delicious lamb sliders they serve. Good selection of Belgian-style beers.
Dive bar with a good beer selection and lots of quality punk on the jukebox.
58 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lucky 13
1301 Park StDive bar with a good beer selection and lots of quality punk on the jukebox.
Listing this as a bar. If you want to eat Ethiopian food, try Axum on Haight.
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Club Waziema
543 Divisadero StListing this as a bar. If you want to eat Ethiopian food, try Axum on Haight.
Arts & Culture
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell StLive music venue.
Cafe Du Nord
2174 Market StLive music venue.
The Independent
628 Divisadero StLive music venue.
Such a great place to see a movie -- classic theater with live organ player to entertain you before the show.
332 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Castro Theatre
429 Castro StSuch a great place to see a movie -- classic theater with live organ player to entertain you before the show.
One of SF's finer live music venues, with lots of Edwardian details.
56 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Great American Music Hall
859 O'Farrell StOne of SF's finer live music venues, with lots of Edwardian details.
My favorite SF music venue, due to it's swing era vibe and sound acoustics.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bimbo's
1025 Columbus AveMy favorite SF music venue, due to it's swing era vibe and sound acoustics.