San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide - 2025 VPG

From the posh plateau of Pacific Heights to the bayside Marina Green, these neighborhoods offer views, upscale experiences and a restored “palace” from 1915.

SEE & DO

Enjoy a sunny afternoon stroll down Union Street past many boutiques, spas and restaurants housed in beautifully restored 19th-century buildings. Marina Green, ringed by bobbing boats and serenaded by foghorns, is a picturesque place to relax. Nearby Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, a converted military base, is home to art galleries and food truck gatherings. An Instagram favorite is the Palace of Fine Arts. Its grand Greco-Roman-style rotunda and majestic colonnades never fail to impress visitors. For some of the city’s best vistas, climb the steps on Fillmore or Lyon streets to Pacific Heights, which rests atop a ridge south of the Marina.

EAT & DRINK

Reserve a table at the three MICHELIN-starred Atelier Crenn for a superb prix fixe menu that changes with the seasons. Another musteat is B. Patisserie, whose sweet viennoiserie and savory tartines have earned raves. For Mediterranean fare, Terzo is a neighborhood favorite. On bustling Chestnut Street, you’ll find everything from rustic Italian at Delarosa to modern Mexican at Tacolicious to one of the city’s finest burgers at Causwells.

WHERE TO STAY

The local lodging options are as quaint as the neighborhood itself. The sophisticated Hotel Drisco sits atop Pacific Heights and offers stunning views from virtually every window. Laurel Inn, a boutique hotel, has well-appointed guest rooms designed to feel like apartments.