For our four year anniversary, Schyler and I decided to visit San Francisco to celebrate. My sister Rocio came along for the ride. We road tripped all the way from Portland, OR and spent 3 days in San Francisco. We had such a great time! This was my third time visiting San Francisco so I knew exactly what I wanted to do. We were able to hit all of the spots on my list and visit some great restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops. I’ve rounded them all up in this guide for you!

What To Do

Golden Gate Bridge

One of the first things I picture when I think of San Francisco is the Golden Gate bridge! There are so many great spots for capturing the bridge but my favorite spot is from the view point off of Alexander Ave. This viewpoint is on the northwest side of the bridge. Drive uphill until you find a parking lot on your left. There are several different views along this road if the first few are packed. The views are absolutely gorgeous!

Painted Ladies

*Cue the Full House theme song*. The Painted Ladies are a San Francisco icon! Fun fact: A lot of people think the “Full House” house is supposed to be one of the Painted Ladies but the actual house they shot for the show is in a different neighborhood. The Painted Ladies are located in front of beautiful Alamo Square. This park is the perfect spot for soaking up some sun or enjoying a picnic. Rocio and I visited the Painted Ladies when we were little so it was so fun to see them again!

Twin Peaks Viewpoint

I love city views and the views of San Francisco from this hilltop park are amazing! There are several different view points and even trails that you can walk for higher views. We visited just as the sun was setting and it was magical. You can easily drive to the park or take an Uber. Trust me, it’s worth it!

Chinatown

San Francisco’s Chinatown is actually one of the oldest and most established in the country. I have fond memories of Chinatown because my parents took us here when I was little and bought me my own kimono! Fun fact: I was obsessed with the movie the Parent Trap and Lindsay Lohan’s pink kimono so I was thrilled to have one of my own. I loved strolling through the lantern strewn streets and admiring beautiful asian murals around every corner. Don’t miss the magnificent Dragon’s Gate at the official entrance!

Lombard St.

Lombard St. is famous for it’s steep, one block section with eight sharp turns. It’s a residential block with beautiul homes and an amazing view of the city. We visited in March, but during the summer the hedges are in bloom so the block looks especially beautiful. My mother had a lovely photo taken of her there during her youth that we absolutely love. You wouldn’t think so from this photo, but it’s generally packed! We waited for just the right moment to snap this shot. The things we do for the photo right?!

Ina Coolbrith Park

Ina Coolbrith Park is a .8 acre park located on the Russian Hill between Vallejo and Taylor. The hike up to the viewpoint is totally worth the amazing views of downtown and the bay. It’s definitely a hidden gem! There were only a handful of people there when we visited. I only found out about this spot through Instagram.

Palace of Fine Arts

This monumental structure was originally created for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. The palace was used as a magnificent space to exhibit art in. The Palace is now used as a venue for weddings and other events. The dramatic palace makes for an awesome photo backdrop. We walked around the pond in front of the palace then circled back to admire the structure up close.

Tip: It’s close to the Golden Gate bridge so this would be a good stop to make on your way to or from the Golden Gate.

Haight-Ashbury

Haight-Ashbury is historically known as a hippie neighborhood because it was the birthplace of the 1960’s counter culture movement. The neighborhood as stayed true to its roots with an eclectic assortment of vintage boutiques, record stores, book shops, and funky restaurants. This colorful neighborhood also features beautiful Victorian homes. We enjoyed popping in and out of shops and admiring the houses.

Mission District

The Mission District is San Francisco’s eclectic latino neighborhood. If you love mexican food as much as I do, then this neighborhood needs to be at the top of your list of things to do in San Francisco! There are old school taquerias, panaderias, and mexican restaurants to be found in any given direction. There are also plenty of hipster coffee shops, tattoo parlors, and funky shops to explore. We loved perusing through Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley to admire the beautiful murals depicting the neighborhood’s latino roots.

Baker Beach

I love the view of the Golden Gate bridge from Baker Beach. Just so you guys are aware- this is a nude beach! We had no idea when we arrived which is hilarious! I’m not going to lie, it was really tricking getting photos of Rocio and I at this spot because of the naked people walking by. At least it made for some really funny memories.

Where To Eat

Roam Burgers

After stopping by the Golden Gate Gate bridge, we headed to Union St. for some burgers and fries at Roam Burgers. Rocio and I had The Classic burger with turkey and Schyler had the Pacific Blue. The burgers were amazing but the Truffle Fries were out of this world! My mouth is watering just thinking about them. Roam Burgers has several tables inside and out as well as a beautiful bar! I loved the decor and red accents of the interior. Besides the Union St. location, Roam Burgers has another San Francisco location on Fillmore St.

Tip: Roam Burgers is really close to Lombard St. You can walk or driver there from this location.

American Grilled Cheese

We visited the Battery St. Location of American Grilled Cheese, close to the waterfront and the Ferry Building Marketplace. As soon as we saw Mac n Cheese Grilled Cheese on the menu, we had to have it! The cheesiness was so satisfying and I’ve never had anything like it before! American Grilled Cheese is a fast, casual restaurant. The service is quick so you can sit down and enjoy your meal right away. I loved the colorful murals in the restaurant! They made me think of an old school diner. So fun!

Fiorella

I love the chic interiors of Fiorella! This modern Italian bistro had amazing wallpaper, beautiful hardwood floors, and the color scheme of black, white, and blue was perfect.  For starters we shared the Chitarra Pomodoro pasta. For our main course, we ordered the Salsiccia and Margherita pizzas, both of which were amazing. But my favorite course had to be the dessert- Guittard Chocolate Budino. It’s a chocolate mousse with hazelnuts and sea salt. It’s a must have, trust me!

RT Rotisserie

RT Rotisserie is the sister restaurant of the popular restaurant, Rich Table. RT Rotisserie serves amazing roasted meats and delicious American slides. We showed up hungry and RT did not disappoint! For appetizers we had the Seared Broccoli, Roasted Cauliflower, Rotisserie Fat Rice, Umami Fries, and Charred Cabbage & Almond. For our main courses we had the Chicken Sandwich, the Lamb Sandwich, and the Roasted Chicken. Everything we tasted was absolutely mouth watering! I loved every dish and I highly reccomend this restaurant. I also really loved the farmhouse style interiors that were very fitting for this American restaurant.

Sight Glass Coffee

All five of the Sight Glass Coffee locations are insanely cool, but we loved the large, industrial space of the 7th St. location. It’s also their flagship and production location. We had a delicious mocha, a latte, and an espresso with some delicious pastries. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the coffee at Sight Glass Coffee is grown in Southern Colombia. My mom is Colombian so I thought that was pretty cool!

Mazarine Coffee

We got to this popular coffee spot early to beat the crowds- a smart move on our part because we were able to snag the best seats in the space, right next to the windows. We were able to admire city views and admire the beautiful space from that spot. I loved the patterned mosaics on the wall behind the coffee bar! They really made the space unique. We ordered the Beet Hummus & Avocado toast, the Eggs & Avocado toast, and the Tomato, Ricotta and Basil Toast. We also split the delicious Chicken Avocado Club sandwich. Believe me when I say these were the best toasts I’ve ever had! The quality was amazing and the ingredient combinations were perfect. For coffee Rocio and I shared a mocha and a matcha latte and Schyler had a cappuccino. We loved this spot!

Tip: After our satisfying meal at Mazarine, we walked to Union Square and Chinatown, both of which are about a ten minute walk from the coffee shop.

Where To Stay

Hotel Zoe

Hotel Zoe is a boutique hotel located in the popular Fisherman’s Wharf area of San Francisco. Upon arriving, I was immediately impressed by the elegant yet modern lobby and lounge area. After we checked in, they presented us with tickets for a complimentary cocktail at their bar which I thought was fun. Our room was adorable and I loved it but I especially loved the beautiful courtyard area with outdoor seating, fire pits, and an amazing statue. The weather was lovely when we visited so we soaked it in while lounging. I also really liked the location of the hotel because we were within walking distance of Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghiradelli square. They also had valet parking for our car which was really convenient.

Clift Hotel

The Clift Hotel is a luxury hotel located near many of San Francisco’s gems like Union Square, Chinatown, and Nob Hill. The hotel is the perfect mix of old world glamour and modern design. I was impressed by the eclectic furniture collection in their lobby which included chairs from Ray and Charles Eames, a coffee table by Salvador Dali, and a stool by Roberto Matta. Our hotel room was spacious and bright with plenty of natural light coming in from the large windows which I really appreciated. I also appreciated the lounge area with a couch, coffee table and tv.

InterContinental Mark Hopkins

The glamorous InterContinental Mark Hopkins hotel is located on Nob Hill and offers beautiful views of the city from the rooms. The grand hotel entrance is even more grand once you step. The luxurious lobby boasts crystal chandeliers, marble tile floors, and velvet armchairs. We loved the view from our room on the 15th floor! We had Club access during our stay which was amazing because we were able to stop by the Club InterContinental Lounge for food and drinks throughout the day. The breakfast spread was amazing and fueled us for the rest of our day. There is rooftop lounge as well which is perfect for admiring views of the city and winding down with a cocktail.

Don’t miss my San Francisco Travel Guide on YouTube!

Have any of you visited San Francisco? What are your favorite spots? I’d love to know!

XOXO