San Francisco Trip Thread

[Brandon White]

I littered last week's ride report with discussion about SF. This is a better area to ask.

I'll be there from Saturday (9/27) evening to Thursday (10/2) night. Most of my days I'll be in a hotel convention center with a bunch of geeks geeking out over technology. When I'm out of the conference, where should I go, what should I do, where should I eat and drink? I'm staying in the Lower Pacific Heights area - around Bush and Fillmore. I'll be traveling with 2 really good friends/co-workers who have similar interests to me (good food, good drinks, etc).

Bike riding is doubtful, but I'm still considering it. I'll likely be running through the streets towards the presidio trail in the wee hours of the morning to stay sane.

I haven't been to SF in over 7 years, but saw all the tourist sights while I was there, so I'm looking for "fun like a local" suggestions. No streaking through the streets recommendations please.

Should we have a VSalon Meetup? I'll pass on the Conference sponsored Macklemore and Aerosmith concerts to meet-up with some awesome folks. Matt S will be there for a night or two while I'm there so SoFla will be well represented.

- Brandon

[zetroc]

Caution: I like dive bars.

Bush/Fillmore isn't really my kind of area but if you walk down Fillmore past Geary you'll hit the Fat Angel which has good beer and decent food. State Bird Provisions is nearby and insanely popular - I haven't eaten there, but it gets rave reviews and is tough to get into. Elite Cafe on Fillmore is as Fillmore as bars come these days - decent drinks at OK prices in a classier atmosphere than the clientele. I dont even know what that means, and I wrote it.

Downtown, check out House of Shields, Dave's, Rickhouse (gets crowded), the Pied Piper (inside the Palace Hotel, and named for the huge Maxfield Parrish painting above the bar) or walk up Kearny to North Beach and head to Mario's for a beer and a sandwich or 15 Romolo or Specs or Mr Bing's or Vesuvio. Forget Tosca, it's a classic but they got sold and it's not the same. Don't eat the food at Rogue Brewing but they do have Dead Guy on draft so it's OK. Park Tavern is good too, and so is Tony's Pizza, but get it to go and eat it in the park down the block.

Chinatown - Li Po and Buddha are the best spots. Also Grasslands on Kearny on the way to North Beach.

Check out Emperor Norton's Boozeland on Larkin, or the Hemlock on Polk. Lots of good stuff around there too. Get a pile of meat on a plate at Tommy's Joynt until 1am or so and it'll soak up the booze. They also have a decent beer list. Edinburgh Castle is down the street and has the best selection of Scotch whisky in the city, and the most knowledgeable bartenders, and after 11 or so the waitress from the fish and chips joint down the street comes in and takes orders.

Mission - go to Kilowatt, Delirium, the Phoenix, Giordano Bros. Go to Bender's and eat tater tots and swill PBR with messengers and wannabes (indoor bike parking and a punk rock jukebox a plus.) Get a California Burrito at Taqueria Los Coyotes (carne asada, avocado, french fries) and cram the whole thing in your face in five seconds. Four Barrel Coffee.

Rapha Cycle Club is cool and is waaaay up Fillmore in the Marina, but all the bars up there suck.

I don't expect you to end up in the Richmond but if you do, let me know and I'll shower you with recommendations.

[Lionel]

Food and drink is fine but I am waiting for the riding piece of this ;-)

[Matthew Strongin]

Food and drink is fine but I am waiting for the riding piece of this ;-)

Seriously. I'm going to hijack velobran's thread so I don't have to start my own. I'll be there with bike. Other than two days in Santa Clara for work (and thrill rides at Great America), I'll be splitting my time between San Francisco and Napa Valley with my wife. Where's the best place to stay in the city to make it easy to get out and ride? Easy is key so I can maximize my time while my wife is sleeping.

[Brandon White]

Seriously. I'm going to hijack velobran's thread so I don't have to start my own. I'll be there with bike. Other than two days in Santa Clara for work (and thrill rides at Great America), I'll be splitting my time between San Francisco and Napa Valley with my wife. Where's the best place to stay in the city to make it easy to get out and ride? Easy is key so I can maximize my time while my wife is sleeping.

This was intended as a multi-purpose "florida guys in SF" thread. 2 guys 1 thread....

Also - weather. When it says it's "65 degrees", it feels more like 50, right?

[Hindmost]

Also - weather. When it says it's "65 degrees", it feels more like 50, right?

This time of year can be some of the best weather; clear and mild to warm temps. There is an ocean nearby, and an inland estuary so down near the water can be coolish.

[zetroc]

Seriously. I'm going to hijack velobran's thread so I don't have to start my own. I'll be there with bike. Other than two days in Santa Clara for work (and thrill rides at Great America), I'll be splitting my time between San Francisco and Napa Valley with my wife. Where's the best place to stay in the city to make it easy to get out and ride? Easy is key so I can maximize my time while my wife is sleeping.

Look for a place in the Richmond (try for something near Arguello, which takes you right through the Presidio to the bridge) or somewhere in the Marina so you can zip over the Golden Gate and be in Marin. Anywhere near upper Fillmore or Divisadero makes it pretty easy to get there.

[joosttx]

I suggest we meet up for a ride on the Saturday morning (9/27).

-Brandon just fly in on Friday night. I would be happly to let you crash at my place. We will find you a bike. I will drop you off in SF on Saturday. We will find you a bike.
-Matt if you are around. Then maybe have your wife go to a spa (if she is into that) while you go ride.
-Lionel we will go up to Mt Tam if you like too. We can do the classic fairfax to Bolinas-Fairfax to Ridgecrest to either HWY 1 or straight to Milly Valley ride. The more the merrier.

if that does not work then I am up of a few beers Sunday night.

[Brandon White]

Caution: I like dive bars.
snip for ease of reading.

Thanks for this. Lower Pac Heights was kind of process of elimination. Something close enough to the conference and had 3 beds. We had to go with a vacation rental since hotel prices were more than what my company wanted to pay. We can duck down to Mission pretty easily from the conference too so that's convenient.

[theflashunc]

I'm up for whatever, just a short hop across the bay for me these days.

[bcm119]

I'm up for whatever, just a short hop across the bay for me these days.

hey, welcome. Didn't notice your location changed.

[spopepro]

Steve covered most of the important stuff. Here's a few additions of stuff I think is good and unique enough to our area:
COCO500 and Bar Agricole have fantastic food and a killer bar program. I haven't managed to get out to the Presidio Social Club, but hear it's great, and it's in the general direction of your hotel.
You can participate in the hipster-activity-du-jour at mission bowl (great cocktails, good beer selection, good enough food), or urban putt (haven't been yet).
If your group has beer people, near the convention center is thirsty bear, Magnolia is on haight (an easy trip from the hood you're staying in).
If you have some time mid day on Tuesday or Thursday, find your lunch at the farmers market at the ferry building.
I'll probably think of a couple of other things once I hit post...

[See]

[QUOTE=velobran;626573]I'm staying in the Lower Pacific Heights area - around Bush and Fillmore.

You might want to check out Woodhouse for seafood on Fillmore just north of Bush.

[sbornia]

I was thinking ride through town left on Bolinas Fairfax left on Ridgecrest to Pantoll down to Stinson Beach onto HWY 1 to Muir and out.

I'd be up for this, too. Will try to join you guys.

[Artie]

I had a blast at TORONADO on Haight. Nice, local divey beer bar. Not sure of the hipster factor but I meet some great people and drank a lot of good beer.


link

[bcm119]

For the beer lovers my suggestions would be:

Divey and/or stinky places:
Toronado (lower Haight). The oldest craft beer bar in the city and while it isn't what it used to be, it is still a pretty great place to have a few pints. They almost always have a few Russian Rivers on.
Zeitgeist. Best in the afternoon outside, or even Sunday morning for bloody marys. Avoid if you don't like the smell of weed. Now with real bathrooms.
Bender's (mission). Decent beer selection, lots of fixies.
City Beer Store (soma). Excellent selection plus a large bottle shop available for take out or drinking on site.
Rosamunde (mission). The infamous sausage place's own bar, convenient to 24th st Bart.
Lucky 13 (market&church). Divey and stinks but fun as a last stop.
Church Key (north beach). Quirky little dive with good beer, not worth a special trip but if you're nearby check it out.

Nicer places with food:

Mikkeler Bar (mid market area), as Zetroc said this is a new place and a very nice addition. It's near Huckleberry bike shop too.
Magnolia (upper Haight). They got rid of the hippie murals, but it's still worth a stop if you like English style beer, they usually have a few casks.
Monks Kettle (Mission). Very nice place but tiny and usually packed.
Bar Agricole (mission). Very good food, kinda pricey.
La Trappe (north beach). Only go there if you're really into Belgian beer; a little odd.

[Matthew Strongin]

I head home tomorrow and I haven't been this bummed to end a trip in a while. 9 full days on the ground, 8 rides, 7 of them awesome. It was great to meet the forumites and turn some online friends to IRL friends. Thanks for all the tips and hospitality. This place is amazing; you guys are lucky.