It may be tempting to hit all of San Francisco’s traditional haunts—Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Alcatraz—but the city’s true gems lie in its culture-rich neighborhoods. Set up camp at
Crescent, a Union Square boutique hotel. After a bite at
Stable Cafe in the Mission District, spend the morning perusing shops such as
The Bell Jar and
The Curiosity Shoppe. Then head to Tyler Florence’s
Wayfare Tavern for dinner and ask where you can find one of the city’s many speakeasies for a stiff cocktail. Recover the next morning with the city’s best Bloody Mary—and an eclectic crowd—at
Zeitgeist. After a few hours spent bumping elbows with leather-clad bikers, Mission slackers and bike messengers, you’ll feel right at home.—
Elizabeth Doyle