San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide - 2025 VPG

The Mission District is the heart of San Francisco’s Latin community. Nearby Dogpatch, once a bustling shipyard, is a neighborhood on the rise.

SEE & DO

Built in 1791, Mission Dolores is the oldest building in San Francisco. Attend a church service or reflect in the rose garden to soak up the history of this landmark. Pick up treats at Tartine Bakery en route to lively Dolores Park for a picnic with breathtaking views. The striking murals of Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley are also worth a look. If you love hunting for local treasures, Mission and Valencia streets are teeming with unique shops. In Dogpatch, Crane Cove Park offers 7 acres of nature with bay access for kayakers.

EAT & DRINK

No visit would be complete without a Mission-style burrito. Choose from local favorites like La Taqueria, La Cumbre and El Farolito. Feast on Jaliscan-Californian cuisine at Lolo and savory stuffed pastries at Venga Empanadas. Find MICHELIN-recommended eats at Ernest and San Ho Won. Prepare to be delighted by Foreign Cinema, whose Cali-Mediterranean cuisine is enhanced by alfresco movie screenings. And don’t skip Humphry Slocombe’s famed ice cream flavors for dessert. The Mission is also home to some of the city’s trendiest bars, including Trick Dog and True Laurel — both ideal for a drink before a concert at The Chapel, a mortuary turned music venue.

WHERE TO STAY

Step back in time at the Inn San Francisco or find sanctuary at 1906 Mission, steps from charming coffee shops and restaurants.

Neighborhood Voice

“Without the Mission, San Francisco would not have its heart,” says second-generation restaurant owner Amparo Vigil. “It would lose its color. It would lose its life.” Get a taste of the Mission — in more ways than one — at her family restaurant, Puerto Alegre, located on the busy and buzzy Valencia Street. Find Your Heart