Afternoon in San Francisco
August 31, 2015 9:38 AM Subscribe
I have a business trip to San Francisco coming up soon. I will be more or less booked up with work stuff while I'm there, with the exception of one weekday afternoon. Any recommendations for the best way to spend 4-5 hours on my own?
I'm staying in Union Square and won't have a car. It's my first time in the city (and the entire state of California, actually!). I love art museums and history and outdoorsy stuff but I'm really open to anything. I'm willing to walk a lot but would rather not deal with cabs unless I have to.
Two related questions:
1. I'll be there with my boss for a few days and will most likely be responsible for our dinner plans. Where should I plan to take him? Our meal budget is sort of nebulous but basically boils down to "nice but not, like, TOO nice."
2. Are there any particularly nice running paths/routes in the Union Square area? Something in the 3-6 mile range would be good. I have a terrible sense of direction and don't like to just run blindly around unfamiliar cities, but hotel gyms make me want to cry.
I'm staying in Union Square and won't have a car. It's my first time in the city (and the entire state of California, actually!). I love art museums and history and outdoorsy stuff but I'm really open to anything. I'm willing to walk a lot but would rather not deal with cabs unless I have to.
Two related questions:
1. I'll be there with my boss for a few days and will most likely be responsible for our dinner plans. Where should I plan to take him? Our meal budget is sort of nebulous but basically boils down to "nice but not, like, TOO nice."
2. Are there any particularly nice running paths/routes in the Union Square area? Something in the 3-6 mile range would be good. I have a terrible sense of direction and don't like to just run blindly around unfamiliar cities, but hotel gyms make me want to cry.
I live in SF, and here are my thoughts:
1) Install the Lyft app. I'm not sure where you are from, but if you are from NY/BOS, you'll find that mass transit is limited in SF. (Also, there are people drinking, doing meth DURING THE DAY on the buses - and not just in bad areas.)
2) There's a lot of touristy stuff and shopping in Union Square. Since you're cool with walking, walk down Market street to the Ferry Building - and then consider walking from there Ghiradelli Square -
On the way back, you can take a cable car back. Or jog back. Jogging along the embarcadero (along the waterfront) is a common thing to do.
This will take a while as there's a lot to see along the way - including some museums.
Warning: Places NOT to go - do not go too far east from Union Square. Be careful if you enter this area known as the Tenderloin:
Ever see photos of Manhattan's Lower East side from the 1980's? Open air drug deals, prostitution, stabbings, people vomiting on the street? It's like that.
As for places to go eat, SF excels in that. There's really too many to list. Just do a search on Yelp, and target 4 stars.
I love Farallon in Union Square - but that might be a little on the nice side. I also really like Hops and Hominy - but this might be a bit casual.
posted by bluelava at 9:54 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
1) Install the Lyft app. I'm not sure where you are from, but if you are from NY/BOS, you'll find that mass transit is limited in SF. (Also, there are people drinking, doing meth DURING THE DAY on the buses - and not just in bad areas.)
2) There's a lot of touristy stuff and shopping in Union Square. Since you're cool with walking, walk down Market street to the Ferry Building - and then consider walking from there Ghiradelli Square -
On the way back, you can take a cable car back. Or jog back. Jogging along the embarcadero (along the waterfront) is a common thing to do.
This will take a while as there's a lot to see along the way - including some museums.
Warning: Places NOT to go - do not go too far east from Union Square. Be careful if you enter this area known as the Tenderloin:
Ever see photos of Manhattan's Lower East side from the 1980's? Open air drug deals, prostitution, stabbings, people vomiting on the street? It's like that.
As for places to go eat, SF excels in that. There's really too many to list. Just do a search on Yelp, and target 4 stars.
I love Farallon in Union Square - but that might be a little on the nice side. I also really like Hops and Hominy - but this might be a bit casual.
posted by bluelava at 9:54 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not a runner, but the only place I notice a huge number of runners is the Embarcadero (which is the closest to Union Square) and Golden Gate Park, because everywhere else has driveways and streetlights or stop signs, not to mention the famous hills. However, I see a lot of people running in pretty much every neighborhood, at least in the morning. Just use a topo map when planning your route, since north and West of Union Square it's pretty hilly. South and east from there is the infill portion of the city, which is much flatter.
posted by wnissen at 9:56 AM on August 31, 2015
posted by wnissen at 9:56 AM on August 31, 2015
I had a lot of fun (some 9 years ago) renting a bike and riding across the Golden Gate bridge down into Sausalito and then catching a ferry back across the bay. I think these are the folks I rented from.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:17 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:17 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
In addition to others i would ask that you narrow your dinner request somewhat - put a semi-firm price (and be sure to indicate if you mean it to include drinks/tip etc or not) and maybe specify somewhat what each of you like to eat?
I grew up in SF and am back often, and have just finished planning an upcoming trip. Newer (not necessarily like the last 3 months new) places im excited to check out include Cockscomb which is a meat-heavy nose-to-tail but in a very california way from Chris Cosentino (a sometimes-on-tv chef) and Rich Table. both are close-ish to union square downtown - we ate at rich table a couple years ago and its amazing.
for your afternoon off id really recommend a walking tour of the mission checking out public art/murals and enjoying some delicious neighborhood treats (a burrito or some tacos along 24th and mission, a pastry on valencia, and make your way to Dolores park for an hour or so of just sitting and enjoying the view/scene. its a very SF experience).
As for running, my wife is a runner and id second the recommendation of the embarcadero - from Union Square its easy to get down to the ferry building and id just pick a direction (personally id take a right towards the ballpark vs the left towards the Wharf) go out for a while and turn around. guaranteed flat since its right at the waters edge.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:17 AM on August 31, 2015
I grew up in SF and am back often, and have just finished planning an upcoming trip. Newer (not necessarily like the last 3 months new) places im excited to check out include Cockscomb which is a meat-heavy nose-to-tail but in a very california way from Chris Cosentino (a sometimes-on-tv chef) and Rich Table. both are close-ish to union square downtown - we ate at rich table a couple years ago and its amazing.
for your afternoon off id really recommend a walking tour of the mission checking out public art/murals and enjoying some delicious neighborhood treats (a burrito or some tacos along 24th and mission, a pastry on valencia, and make your way to Dolores park for an hour or so of just sitting and enjoying the view/scene. its a very SF experience).
As for running, my wife is a runner and id second the recommendation of the embarcadero - from Union Square its easy to get down to the ferry building and id just pick a direction (personally id take a right towards the ballpark vs the left towards the Wharf) go out for a while and turn around. guaranteed flat since its right at the waters edge.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:17 AM on August 31, 2015
San Francisco branch of Hash House Harriers
My favorite restaurant (or, let's say, one of my favorites) Pesce. SO GOOD
posted by janey47 at 10:37 AM on August 31, 2015
My favorite restaurant (or, let's say, one of my favorites) Pesce. SO GOOD
posted by janey47 at 10:37 AM on August 31, 2015
If the weather is pleasant and you're staying in Union Square, I'd probably just walk through China Town to North Beach, poke around there a bit, then walk through the old Barbary Coast area down to the Embarcadero and Ferry building, then through SoMa back to your hotel.
If the weather is less nice (it can be gray and cold and windy at any time - though if you're coming out between now and mid-October, you're likely to get good weather), I'd probably suggest taking the Muni bus out to Golden Gate Park and going to the DeYoung and/or the Academy of Sciences. You'll get a little flavor of the park, but can also spend time indoors.
In either case, I would really invest in a guidebook. Even if you only use it just for that afternoon.
For running, I agree with the others who suggested Embarcadero running - you can go north or south (toward the ballpark) or both.
posted by vunder at 11:14 AM on August 31, 2015
If the weather is less nice (it can be gray and cold and windy at any time - though if you're coming out between now and mid-October, you're likely to get good weather), I'd probably suggest taking the Muni bus out to Golden Gate Park and going to the DeYoung and/or the Academy of Sciences. You'll get a little flavor of the park, but can also spend time indoors.
In either case, I would really invest in a guidebook. Even if you only use it just for that afternoon.
For running, I agree with the others who suggested Embarcadero running - you can go north or south (toward the ballpark) or both.
posted by vunder at 11:14 AM on August 31, 2015
Response by poster: Yeah, sorry to be so vague about dinner pricing. I only travel with this particular guy occasionally and I always overthink it (small family business, he's my direct boss's boss, whatever, I should probably just chill out about it).
Roughly though... probably up to $150 or so (including drinks and tip) for two people would be fine. Think three dollars signs on Yelp but probably not four.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far!
posted by catoclock at 11:23 AM on August 31, 2015
Roughly though... probably up to $150 or so (including drinks and tip) for two people would be fine. Think three dollars signs on Yelp but probably not four.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far!
posted by catoclock at 11:23 AM on August 31, 2015
Nthing jogging along the Embarcadero. From Union Square it's about a 5-10 minute jog away (or 20-minute walk). The Ferry Building is also on the Embarcadero. A few good restaurants there, though being a very popular area, you might need reservations.
Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf are good choices, though they're both very touristy. I don't know about dinner in those areas though.
For museums, there's the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Asian Art Museum, all just within 20 minutes from Union Square. The first two can be explored within a couple of hours each, the Asian Art Museum pretty much a whole afternoon.
I liked Bluestem Brasserie (though I've only been for lunch). It's a short walk from Union Square, on Market Street.
posted by curagea at 11:43 AM on August 31, 2015
Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf are good choices, though they're both very touristy. I don't know about dinner in those areas though.
For museums, there's the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Asian Art Museum, all just within 20 minutes from Union Square. The first two can be explored within a couple of hours each, the Asian Art Museum pretty much a whole afternoon.
I liked Bluestem Brasserie (though I've only been for lunch). It's a short walk from Union Square, on Market Street.
posted by curagea at 11:43 AM on August 31, 2015
Yeah, the Embarcadero is close to where you'll be staying and more likely than Golden Gate Park to be sunny, as a fringe benefit. I used to bike along it when I lived closer. Even though it's a bit hillier and more crowded I'd actually recommend going north. After you pass through Fisherman's Wharf, you will eventually get to Fort Mason, and while there's one serious hill (I usually walk my bike up at least part of it) the views are great up there. It's around 3 miles each way from the Embarcadero Muni stop and is a very nice way to hit exercise and seeing the city with one activity. You can definitely run south along the Embarcadero if you prefer; it's still beautiful and will be much less crowded, but is also less picturesque (it gets very fancy-condo-y, and then very warehouse-y, and then, well, kind of Bayview-y if you keep going for a long time) and it's also less of a canonical "San Francisco" experience since you won't see, for example, the Golden Gate Bridge.
posted by en forme de poire at 12:21 PM on August 31, 2015
posted by en forme de poire at 12:21 PM on August 31, 2015
The Barbary Coast Walking Trail is AMAZING. You buy a little booklet for like $5 (or a bigger full-sized book) and follow the bronze markers around the city to see all the amazing history of SF. I did it last September in two days, taking my time to stop for beers and food here and there. So much fun. Also, this is pretty much the best time of year to be there. Have fun!
posted by Brittanie at 12:35 PM on August 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Brittanie at 12:35 PM on August 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
I always encourage folks to dine at Gracias Madre. It's easy to get to, given its proximity to the 16th St. Mission BART station.
The deYoung has an awesome Turner exhibit running. It's also in the middle of Golden Gate Park, which is about as fantastic for running as it gets.
Enjoy your visit! It;s a very nice time of year for it!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:52 PM on August 31, 2015
The deYoung has an awesome Turner exhibit running. It's also in the middle of Golden Gate Park, which is about as fantastic for running as it gets.
Enjoy your visit! It;s a very nice time of year for it!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 1:52 PM on August 31, 2015
If you enjoy walking, I think thats what you should do. SF is a great walking city. I agree with walking north from the Embarcadero and just following the bay and sea. But you can walk there too from Union Square.
From Union Square, walk over to Grant Avenue and then walk North through Chinatown. It is touristy but Chinatown is also a historic part of San Francisco.
After you pass Pacific, turn right into Jack Kerouac Alley and you've reached City Lights bookstore. Another piece of history and a great bookstore.
To the north is Little Italy. But I'd head East from here and walk through what used to be the Antiques district but is rapidly changing until you wend your way down to the Embarcadero (where Market St. ends)
Follow the edge of the city. Lots of museums, restaurants, tourist activity. Keep going to the Maritime Museum and along the cliffs to Fort Mason. Down to Marina green. Out to Fort Point where you can almost touch the bottom of the Golden Gate bridge.
Follow the battery trail to see old batteries in the Presidio along the cliffs, go through the neighborhood of Sea Cliff and then hike through Lands End. The Legion of Honor is a really cool museum.
Tired yet? Walk down to Geary St. and catch a Geary bus. The express is FAST and will have you back in Union Square in 20 minutes.
Not tired? Walk down to the west-ward facing ocean past the Sutro Baths. Head toward the windmill at the end of Golden Gate Park. Meander eastwards through all of Golden Gate Park. Great museums at the eastern end. Arrive into Haight St. and call it a day. (Catch any Haight st. bus to take you back down Market St.)
posted by vacapinta at 2:43 PM on August 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
From Union Square, walk over to Grant Avenue and then walk North through Chinatown. It is touristy but Chinatown is also a historic part of San Francisco.
After you pass Pacific, turn right into Jack Kerouac Alley and you've reached City Lights bookstore. Another piece of history and a great bookstore.
To the north is Little Italy. But I'd head East from here and walk through what used to be the Antiques district but is rapidly changing until you wend your way down to the Embarcadero (where Market St. ends)
Follow the edge of the city. Lots of museums, restaurants, tourist activity. Keep going to the Maritime Museum and along the cliffs to Fort Mason. Down to Marina green. Out to Fort Point where you can almost touch the bottom of the Golden Gate bridge.
Follow the battery trail to see old batteries in the Presidio along the cliffs, go through the neighborhood of Sea Cliff and then hike through Lands End. The Legion of Honor is a really cool museum.
Tired yet? Walk down to Geary St. and catch a Geary bus. The express is FAST and will have you back in Union Square in 20 minutes.
Not tired? Walk down to the west-ward facing ocean past the Sutro Baths. Head toward the windmill at the end of Golden Gate Park. Meander eastwards through all of Golden Gate Park. Great museums at the eastern end. Arrive into Haight St. and call it a day. (Catch any Haight st. bus to take you back down Market St.)
posted by vacapinta at 2:43 PM on August 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
For restaurants with your bosses' boss, I'd say stick with classics. In that area:
Tadich Grill is an old San Francisco restaurant. Boulevard is just classic, good food. Perbacco does Northern Italian quite well.
Further afield, I'd also recommend Nopa and Zuni and Kokkari. Reserve in Advance. People I know like Cotogna but I thought was just ok.
posted by vacapinta at 2:55 PM on August 31, 2015
Tadich Grill is an old San Francisco restaurant. Boulevard is just classic, good food. Perbacco does Northern Italian quite well.
Further afield, I'd also recommend Nopa and Zuni and Kokkari. Reserve in Advance. People I know like Cotogna but I thought was just ok.
posted by vacapinta at 2:55 PM on August 31, 2015
The reviews on it are mixed for whatever reason, but I'm going to recommend the Slanted Door in the Ferry Building for dinner. You can eat there just about at your budget. You'll need to make reservations a few weeks in advance. Specifically, I recommend the branzino. I am NOT a fish person. Not even a little bit. But the branzino there was just outstanding. Lots of other good stuff on the menu, and it can be tough to get Vietnamese food (or really, Vietnamese influenced food, as this is) in other parts of the country.
Seconding everyone who says to run on the Embarcardero. It's actually pretty hazardous traffic-wise to try to run most other places besides Golden Gate Park or the Presidio.
I like the walking idea through China Town and into North Beach. I'd also recommend taking a look at the free San Francisco City Guides tours. Also, go up to Top of the Mark for a drink one night. It's right up the hill from Union Square, and has lovely views!
Stay away from Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. There's nothing worth seeing there.
posted by cnc at 3:03 PM on August 31, 2015
Seconding everyone who says to run on the Embarcardero. It's actually pretty hazardous traffic-wise to try to run most other places besides Golden Gate Park or the Presidio.
I like the walking idea through China Town and into North Beach. I'd also recommend taking a look at the free San Francisco City Guides tours. Also, go up to Top of the Mark for a drink one night. It's right up the hill from Union Square, and has lovely views!
Stay away from Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. There's nothing worth seeing there.
posted by cnc at 3:03 PM on August 31, 2015
If you're in the mood for Italian food, North Beach isn't far from Union Square. Just walk straight up Grant through Chinatown. One of my favorites is Ristorante Ideale on Grant, just up from Vallejo. Good food, reasonable prices, very excellent service.
Tony's at Union and Stockton is also quite good, and they're a big deal in the Neopolitan pizza wars. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations, so you register at the door and give them your cell number. They'll give you a time estimate and you can wander around the neighborhood or the park, get a beer at Rogue, whatever, and they'll call you.
Also if the idea of old style, classic Italian appeals to you, Original Joe's in North Beach is a fun time.
posted by jasper411 at 4:47 PM on August 31, 2015
Tony's at Union and Stockton is also quite good, and they're a big deal in the Neopolitan pizza wars. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations, so you register at the door and give them your cell number. They'll give you a time estimate and you can wander around the neighborhood or the park, get a beer at Rogue, whatever, and they'll call you.
Also if the idea of old style, classic Italian appeals to you, Original Joe's in North Beach is a fun time.
posted by jasper411 at 4:47 PM on August 31, 2015
"Warning: Places NOT to go - do not go too far east from Union Square. Be careful if you enter this area known as the Tenderloin"
The Tenderloin is west of Union Square. You should be ok if you go east.
posted by Borborygmus at 4:59 PM on August 31, 2015
The Tenderloin is west of Union Square. You should be ok if you go east.
posted by Borborygmus at 4:59 PM on August 31, 2015
Actually the Tenderloin is South of Union Square. If this is your first time to SF, I second not hanging out there. Jogging the Embarcadero and heading towards the Golden Gate Bridge or jogging Golden Gate park and heading out to Sutro Baths are both great ideas. It's all beautiful.
posted by gt2 at 5:19 PM on August 31, 2015
posted by gt2 at 5:19 PM on August 31, 2015
The Tenderloin is definitely west and not south of Union Square -- maybe you're thinking of somewhere else, gt2?
posted by en forme de poire at 6:11 PM on August 31, 2015
posted by en forme de poire at 6:11 PM on August 31, 2015
I'm in SF once or twice a year and there's nothing I like better than going to the Ferry Terminal Building, getting something really delicious to eat and a good cup of coffee, and sitting out by the water watching the boats come in and out.
If you love art museums, you should go to the Asian Art Museum. It's right near you. And unless you live in New York or DC you don't have local access to anything like it. On your way there from Union Square you can stop at Saigon Sandwich, if, like me, you live in a banh-mi-poor city.
(The walk from Union Square to Asian Art Museum goes through the Tenderloin but I have really not found this to be in any way a problem in the daytime. Haven't been through at night.)
That's 4-5 hours right there!
posted by escabeche at 7:57 PM on August 31, 2015
If you love art museums, you should go to the Asian Art Museum. It's right near you. And unless you live in New York or DC you don't have local access to anything like it. On your way there from Union Square you can stop at Saigon Sandwich, if, like me, you live in a banh-mi-poor city.
(The walk from Union Square to Asian Art Museum goes through the Tenderloin but I have really not found this to be in any way a problem in the daytime. Haven't been through at night.)
That's 4-5 hours right there!
posted by escabeche at 7:57 PM on August 31, 2015
The Tenderloin is southwest of Union Square and itself has different regions. There's the really grungy part near where Turk and McCallister meet Market. But the northern part has some of the most beautiful Gothic and Art Deco buildings in San Francisco. Last time I was there my wife and I followed an architectural walking tour (linked from this page) but it is something perhaps to save for another time.
(Note: I used to live in SF, still visit it 3 times a year and am friends with SF historians and architects.)
posted by vacapinta at 2:14 AM on September 1, 2015
(Note: I used to live in SF, still visit it 3 times a year and am friends with SF historians and architects.)
posted by vacapinta at 2:14 AM on September 1, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
> 1. I'll be there with my boss for a few days and will most likely be responsible for our dinner plans. Where should I plan to take him? Our meal budget is sort of nebulous but basically boils down to "nice but not, like, TOO nice."
"Nice" is subjective. What is the price you want your bill to look like when you walk out? I adore Zuni Cafe on Market and highly recommend it - that would fall into my "nice but not too nice" category - you can get away with $30-50 pp for lunch.
> Are there any particularly nice running paths/routes in the Union Square area?
Union Square is dead set downtown with throngs of tourists and traffic with skyscrapers surrounding you on all sides. There are definitely runners, but it's not my idea of a "particularly nice running path". However, if you go up Market Street a mile and a half to Embarcadero you'll have more room to run along some decent scenery around Rincon Park and the San Francisco Bay Trail.
posted by Karaage at 9:47 AM on August 31, 2015