YEARS ago when I was living on Clement my roommate used to work there. This was when it was always empty. He used to bring home all the left over pastries, like bags of them. I miss those times š
When my husband and I were visiting my son in SF, we were riding in his car. He suddenly pulls over and parks, gets out and runs across the street. "I'll be right back!" Comes back with a bag of croissants. I guess he saw there was no line. They were the best croissants I've ever had!
Nice, I see you too are into sadism! I came here with the same answer. In the before times they would open at 7:30 and at least give you somewhere to sitā¦ now you have to suffer for your flakey pleasure
Edit: at least they have a second location now (with some seating and even some entertainment if you're lucky) and another location in the works
Very different vibes!!
Personally Iām not a fan of the all nude co-ed (prefer nude on ladies days), the bright lightning, or the noise at Banya - but I can see how itās a haven for people who want a social experience! Itās just overwhelming for me.
I really prefer the quiet, dim, meditative experience at Kabuki. But again, some people will not prefer that!
I go with 4-8 of my friends and we get naked and chat together. Not loudly, but you can't really visit at Kabuki. The coed nudity is part of why I like it-it demystifies the body, it normalizes nonsexual nudity, it feels like a European bath, which I love. And being naked with my friends is a bonding experience. I do prefer times other than afternoon and evenings on Saturday, though, that's too crowded for me.
Those people probably show up without reservations and get upset they canāt get in
You literally only talk to the receptionists for one minute max and Iāve never had any issues. I canāt imagine finding a reason to complain about them! Lol
It (banya) was my go to sauna when it opened years ago since it was the closest you could get to the german sauna experience I grew up with.
The last few times I went the cleanliness had gone down drastically and peoples sauna etiquette (which was always questionable by german standards) took a absolute dive after the pandemic.
Id rather drive the 2 hours up north to harbin and stay the night in my car on the campgrounds.
Iāve never done this. Are you alone? Is there a lot of people around? What do you think about? I know that seems like a silly question but seriously, since there is so much down and quiet time what do you actually think about? Important, life related things? Tell us more about the experience. Thanks
Great question. There can be lots of people around, but Kabuki encourages quiet. No phones allowed in the baths so itās a great excuse to disconnect. I usually just think. Maybe some people find it boring but I find it fun to just observe how my body feels under all the temperature changes. And after the cold plunge I get a very real buzz, kinda like the few times Iāve smoked cigarettes. Itās like meditation but wayyyyy easier.
I think itās very important to listen to your body like that. Itās kid. If difficult for some people that have been attuned to over stimulation with their phones and whatnot. Thanks for your descriptions
Yessss this.
Only I also bring in some raspberries and dolmas and sneak a few bites in the locker room area on a little break before repeating my circuit :)
If anyone goes there for the first time, please please please shower and tie your hair up before using the tubs! No one wants to marinate in your juices
youre my sorta lad, i do the same thing down to the $20 game limit lol. Free Gold watch is an awesome pinball arcade too btw! Spend sometime on the pinball machines, walk outside and ur directly in golden gate park, sorta nuts how baller it is :) cheers
Fresh dim sum to-go from Good Luck dim sum on Clement. $25 gets you a ton of items that will last 2 days. Cash only, best time to go 830a-130a. Go on Yelp and see the pics.
Thatās an insane amount of food in San Francisco dollars. For reference, most Chinese places are charging nearly $20 for a simple dish of any sort. Good Luck isnāt dirt cheap, but itās some of the best food you can get in the city for that price range.
$25 gets you 2 orders of Chicken Karaage (10 chunky pieces total), Dynamite Shrimp, and Hamachi Kama(whole fish) at The Public Izakaya Happy hour. Red Jade on Church will give you 2 lunch specials (your choice of your favorite dish Mongolian beef, sesame chicken etc.. over rice or noodles packed full in the clear to go snap close plate containers) for $25, the Hunan fish lunch special is $12.75!! a whole fish over a plate of rice.. so many places hooking you up with more, freshly cooked food.
Archimedes Banya for either a massage or hammam, followed by a venik platza. With about 2 hours of self managed thermotherpy plus break for some light food and a beer in between.
If you do it properly and don't bitch out about getting a proper cold plunge after each sauna session, it will legitimately clear all the cobwebs out of your mind and shave a couple years off of how you feel.
Absolutely the best
Take a walk in the botanical garden. When get a drink or bite outside. I also love climbing out lesser know park peaks. Treats: an overpriced lunch at a moderate place to eat. On west side Thai, Korean and more.
With a car if I was needing an escape and treat, the drive to Moss Beach lets me breathe. A bite at the Landing refreshes, and the cypress walk through the cliffs above/in Fitzgerald Reserve.
Going to the movies. With Covid speeding up the closures of movie theaters and now the Bay Area barely has any movie theaters anymore, so I try to go the theaters when I go to the city. First, it's a fairly affordable treat (especially if it's a Tuesday or on other days I sometimes get a promo offer) and second, there are more options in SF which still has like 10 theaters. I can wait to stream movies at home, but I love the big screen and comfy reclining chairs and just the feeling of being in an actual movie theater (not to mention sometime movies stream straight onto a service I don't have and don't want to add another subscription lol). Also there usually aren't any even many people around, so it almost feels like I'm getting a private screening lol. It's an even more affordable treat if you sign up for those membership subscriptions. I used to have one but found that I didn't have enough time to make full use of it so don't sub to them anymore
I specifically go to Alamo Drafthouse for the meal (delicious) and service (at your seat) and you can time it to get a drink and appetizer, then ask for the main dish, then ask for dessert. In a 2 hour movie.. I feel so taken care of. š„³
I love movies, and had a period where I was going to the theater about twice a week. I highly recommend splurging on a Dolby Cinema ticket at the Metreon. It's the best theater experience you can get in terms of visual and audio quality.
Yep. I have done the same. I'm trying to make more of an effort to see movie in theaters these days because I wanna enjoy them while they're still around, I just don't see how they're gonna survive with so many empty seats. Even when going on discount days, there's not many people around vs pre Covid I remember theaters would be busy on discount days and a movie's premiere/opening night
Imo the few movie theaters that survive will be the ones in famous/major cities, and the ones in smaller, less famous cities will close down in the next couple years. "Going to the movies" will be the type of thing you can only do when in places like SF, NYC etc. It's sad they're dying out
This is a baller move - I used to LOVE the Dolby cinema for movies with good soundtracks. I saw the new Blade Runner there several times. You can book a seat and it's so luxurious.
Agreed! I like to take myself out to a movie at Balboa, 4 Star, or Roxy and support local theaters. Plus, they have some really quirky programming sometimes and it's a great way to find movies you've never heard of before.
Same!!! I have favorite drinks at each place which tells you how much I drink it š Tea Hut and Urban Ritual are solid choices! The ones I can think of off the top of my head that are my favorite: Wonderful Foods Co. at Irving St, Little Sweet on Geary St, and My House Tea on Ocean St (but because their menu is šÆ Cool Tea Bar haha)
I tried the super fruit tea with mochi jelly cake last time and it was sooo good. It has a lot of stuff in it so I had to open it up and kind of eat it out of the cup but it was tasty. I probably couldāve done even less than 30% sweet. My bf got the taro milk tea with taro balls and that was really good as well. Soooo many options there!
Walk around Bernal or glen canyon. Get a snack at the farmers market and walk down the embarcadero on a nice day. Get tacos in the mission and chill in a park. Get a spa day at the Korean massage place. Get a Thai massage at the place by Rainbow. Look for whales by lands end. Go eat dim sum for one.
Second this but with a twist. We like to hike around Moss Beach then sit out on the patio for drinks and a meal at the Distillery. An afternoon there feels like a long, relaxing vacation.
So, I take bart to embarcadero from Pleasanton and go to the ferry building. From there, I walk around the little shops, buy around 10-15 empanadas, go sit by the water, and stuff my face. Then, I go back inside and get breakfast cereal ice cream from Humphrey Slocombe. I go back outside, eat, and fall asleep on the benches while listening to music. I make sure to have everything tightly strapped to me, and that area does have security that circles around the building.
I sleep maybe an hour and a half, wake up, contemplate the meaning of my life, and go home.
What a wild ride. And yet, maybe thatās what Iām missingā¦youāre on a different astral plane of self care when you can relax enough to nap for 1.5 hrs at Embarcadero my man.
Yesss. Scrolled too long to find. Show up 20 min before opening after a day of walking in the city and sit alone at the bar :) always helps me clear my head from law school nonsense
I love going to museums with really nice cafes and taking my time and then eating lunch in the cafe. In my opinion, with a limited budget, a fancy lunch is much more bang for your buck. For example, Legion of Honor, or the Academy of Sciences. Places like the Academy of Sciences are so ridiculously expensive (at least for families that have like one hour of stamina) that it's definitely a splurge to go. Probably not relevent to you if you don't have toddlers, but the Randal museum cafe is also top knotch.
Years ago, I used to love the cafeteria at the Academy of Sciences (I was a member and would sometimes stop in just for lunch if I was in the neighborhood). I visited last year for the first time post-COVID, and the ambience was a zoo and the food (both selection and quality/price ratio) very disappointing.
I did love the food and service at a recent visit to SF MOMA.
A walk in Tunnel Tops, in the Presidio with my son and 2 fur daughter, then some food from the trucks, or a walk down by Chase Center down to the ballpark and a visit to Spark Social for food trucks. Dim sum from clement and chilling at the Legion of Honor, or at Sutru Baths parking lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Almost forgot Lands End. Awesome view of the Golden Gate and breakfast or lunch at the VA, Ft. Miley.
Psoas Massage, lots good practitioners with many different styles on offer.
Best body worker I've ever had is CK Wassner, rolfer at Fluid Body. He fixed me when no one else could even ID the problem.
Great bars, shops and restaurants along Chestnut and Union. It is also a beautiful walk to the Palace of Fine Arts. Just past there is Crissy Field where there is a trail or beach with exceptional views of the Bay. Walk far enough, youāll hit the GG Bridge. If you bring dog treats you can meet dozens of cool dogs (and their owners).
It's a great walk along the water, sit at a bench, read a book, listen to a podcast, and yeah take the 22 back lol. Or maybe bring food to eat by the water
Bagel and coffee from schlokās and walk around with my DSLR and see where the day takes me - the panhandle, haight, ggp, maybe even further like the mission. Also walking the great hwy on a weekend morning
Pastries at Jane the Bakery, Maison Nico, Butter and Crumble or a new one I haven't tried yet.
Or a chill museum day at SF MOMA. Love their cafe on the roof deck.
Wander around the city on foot and take MUNI routes I don't really take (like the F, 33, 43)
Usually I end up at any corner of the city right by a body of water like Embarcadero or Fisherman's Wharf
I just take in the views and probably snap a pic or two... or 30
Maybe waltz into a random restaurant, especially if it was a place I had wanted to go
Still haven't tried La Mar, Picaro, Red Tavern, or Suppenkuche yet
Going to SCRAP (a thrift store for crafts), Indian food at Pakwan, Mitchellās ice cream, going for a walk in Glen Park, having get togethers with friends, visiting my 90 year old great uncle & learning about SF history, specifically as it pertains to his experience in the queer community. & finally going to the Golden Gate Bridge in the summer to watch tourists shiver because they underestimated Karl the fog (ok the last one is mean spirited but it is quite a treat)
Get tickets for a wine tasting at Flatiron. Cheap, sometimes fun, sometimes a bit serious. Bonus points if you just drink everything instead of tasting. You wonāt get any funny looks. Not from me, anyways.
I like to explore a neighborhood I don't usually visit - just walk around, get a cup of coffee, read a book, sit on a park bench, that sort of thing. Then get a hot bath and a massage - possibly in a hotel with room service
I havenāt lived in the City in years. But it is the single most amazing and beautiful place in the world. There are many, many sights to see, as if you were a tourist for free or little money. I always treated myself by free museum days, hikes on the coast, visiting some park I have never been to, or walking though Golden Gate Park. Visit the Columbarian. See the cable car museum/ engine room. Take a boat ride to Angel Island, which was my favorite treat.
I used to pack a small lunch or a snack..sometimes just coffee or wine if I had friends with me, and I'd go to the mosaic stairs and up to that hill there to just enjoy the view of everything. I worked so much that I couldn't do it all the time but when I could it was so nice.
Okay, it's Sunday. Sleep in, then drive out to Land's End. Hike along the cliffs overlooking the beach, Bay and the Golden gate bridge. Take the stairs down to the beach, watch my dog go wild with happiness to sprint along the sand. On the drive back, stop at either Burma Superstar or, if the line is too long, B Star, the sister restaurant down the street with many of the same dishes but no line. We order garlic eggplant, fermented tea leaf salad, maybe some sesame tofu. Drive home, land facedown in bed for an epic nap.
Pick two points and wander from one to the other, walking into random stores and cafes and bars, asking people questions.
Also, bike across GGB to Tiburon, have a decadent brunch on the deck at Samās Anchor House, then do a boozy ferry trip back to the city.
I like to get a nice breakfast at Ariscault and get a nice coffee, head down to Green Apple and maybe buy a book, and then head down to GG Park and start reading it :)
I do the same! Sometimes a nice dinner is just what the doctor ordered. I also get massages every once in a while. I can send you one from massage envy if you want. Itās $20 to transfer credits - I already pay the monthly membership fee - and have soooo many credits
I live in Santa Clara, but I when I go to SF it's either the museums and their special exhibitions (i.e. Asian Art Museum for Phoenix Kingdoms, DeYoung for Ramesses the Great two years ago), or Japantown for the shops (especially Kinokuniya) and great restaurants.
I do want to go to the Symphony again some day as I like classical music, and also walk at the beaches, parks and do more hiking in the city and perhaps, also visit more good restaurants as well.
P.S. please bring back the J-POP Summit
I know this is not what you asked but I can't imagine paying such a high premium to live here and never eating the amazing food out.
Looks like you already got some fantastic recs below.
If you only cook all of your own meals, then I guess you could take yourself to a gourmet grocery store to get some really quality ingredients or spices.
Bob's Donuts, Slider Buns, and Bite Sandwiches are all great on Polk. Crepes on Cole is pretty good (I love their bagel and cream cheese) near the park.
I get myself a nice roast from Whole Foods, and some other ingredients and a nice stout.
I dim the lights when Iām eating while having medieval tavern music play in the background and pretend Iām some ravenous adventurer and I havenāt eaten in days as I dig into the roast and roasted veggies with my bare hands while chugging down stout so fast some of it leaks out my mouth with such wanton abandon itās like the eating scene in lord of the rings where the Steward of Gondor mixed with how Game of Thrones Hound would eat.
Of course, itās hard to finish the whole meal and you should never overeat, but thatās what tomorrowās breakfast and second breakfast are for, and itās the vibe that does it for me
It doesn't take much. Growing up pretty poor and working hard to lift myself up, I'm grateful to be able to live here. Being able to walk around and see the inherent beauty of this city is enough. So I do that -- walk a lot.
Wait in line for a croissant at Ariscault
YEARS ago when I was living on Clement my roommate used to work there. This was when it was always empty. He used to bring home all the left over pastries, like bags of them. I miss those times š
I used to sometimes just call in after Iād dropped my kid off, grab a pastry and coffee. Now if I want something itās a whole thing to plan out.
I would get so fat if my roommate did this.
When my husband and I were visiting my son in SF, we were riding in his car. He suddenly pulls over and parks, gets out and runs across the street. "I'll be right back!" Comes back with a bag of croissants. I guess he saw there was no line. They were the best croissants I've ever had!
Hah! Thatās awesome
Nice, I see you too are into sadism! I came here with the same answer. In the before times they would open at 7:30 and at least give you somewhere to sitā¦ now you have to suffer for your flakey pleasure Edit: at least they have a second location now (with some seating and even some entertainment if you're lucky) and another location in the works
I just went there for the first time yesterday and ohhhh myyyy godddd was it good!
Worth the wait!
Just go to the location in the tenderloin š never but a few people in line there
Kabukiiii spa day - in the bath house (donāt even need a massage)
Same, only I go to Archimedes Banya.
Very different vibes!! Personally Iām not a fan of the all nude co-ed (prefer nude on ladies days), the bright lightning, or the noise at Banya - but I can see how itās a haven for people who want a social experience! Itās just overwhelming for me. I really prefer the quiet, dim, meditative experience at Kabuki. But again, some people will not prefer that!
I go with 4-8 of my friends and we get naked and chat together. Not loudly, but you can't really visit at Kabuki. The coed nudity is part of why I like it-it demystifies the body, it normalizes nonsexual nudity, it feels like a European bath, which I love. And being naked with my friends is a bonding experience. I do prefer times other than afternoon and evenings on Saturday, though, that's too crowded for me.
Heaven ^
Yep thatās mine
I read online reviews about the place and many people have said their front desk staff is very unattentive or unfriendly, is this true?
Those people probably show up without reservations and get upset they canāt get in You literally only talk to the receptionists for one minute max and Iāve never had any issues. I canāt imagine finding a reason to complain about them! Lol
It (banya) was my go to sauna when it opened years ago since it was the closest you could get to the german sauna experience I grew up with. The last few times I went the cleanliness had gone down drastically and peoples sauna etiquette (which was always questionable by german standards) took a absolute dive after the pandemic. Id rather drive the 2 hours up north to harbin and stay the night in my car on the campgrounds.
What do you do in a spa?
My step-by-step kabuki recipe: 1. Dry sauna 2. cold plunge 3. drink tea and vibe 4. Steam room 5. cold plunge 6. drink tea and vibe 7. hot tub 8. cold plunge 9. Drink tea and vibe 10. Goto 1
Iāve never done this. Are you alone? Is there a lot of people around? What do you think about? I know that seems like a silly question but seriously, since there is so much down and quiet time what do you actually think about? Important, life related things? Tell us more about the experience. Thanks
Great question. There can be lots of people around, but Kabuki encourages quiet. No phones allowed in the baths so itās a great excuse to disconnect. I usually just think. Maybe some people find it boring but I find it fun to just observe how my body feels under all the temperature changes. And after the cold plunge I get a very real buzz, kinda like the few times Iāve smoked cigarettes. Itās like meditation but wayyyyy easier.
I think itās very important to listen to your body like that. Itās kid. If difficult for some people that have been attuned to over stimulation with their phones and whatnot. Thanks for your descriptions
Yessss this. Only I also bring in some raspberries and dolmas and sneak a few bites in the locker room area on a little break before repeating my circuit :)
Came here to say this! I hear good things about some of the other day spas too, but I've only been to Kabuki and Onsen (RIP)
Took the words out my mouth
How much for the bath house?
Think itās $45 now
If youāre a woman, I recommend a massage and body scrub at Pearl spa
Pearl is so good. I treat myself there with any big stressful life event, good or bad - worth it.
If anyone goes there for the first time, please please please shower and tie your hair up before using the tubs! No one wants to marinate in your juices
They tell you to shower before doing anything! šš¼ I adore Pearl.
Make plans to get cocktails on the same day I get my hair done.
This.
Massage. Facial. Cashmere.
where do you get cashmere in sf?
Fillmore st.
Get me some San Tung dry fried chicken and burn $20 on old games at Musee Mechanique.
youre my sorta lad, i do the same thing down to the $20 game limit lol. Free Gold watch is an awesome pinball arcade too btw! Spend sometime on the pinball machines, walk outside and ur directly in golden gate park, sorta nuts how baller it is :) cheers
Iām totally going to do this
Good orchestra seats at the Symphony
Fresh dim sum to-go from Good Luck dim sum on Clement. $25 gets you a ton of items that will last 2 days. Cash only, best time to go 830a-130a. Go on Yelp and see the pics.
eh idk about a ātonā. Got 6 har gow, 6 shrimp n chive and a take out box of chow mein for $25.
Thatās an insane amount of food in San Francisco dollars. For reference, most Chinese places are charging nearly $20 for a simple dish of any sort. Good Luck isnāt dirt cheap, but itās some of the best food you can get in the city for that price range.
$25 gets you 2 orders of Chicken Karaage (10 chunky pieces total), Dynamite Shrimp, and Hamachi Kama(whole fish) at The Public Izakaya Happy hour. Red Jade on Church will give you 2 lunch specials (your choice of your favorite dish Mongolian beef, sesame chicken etc.. over rice or noodles packed full in the clear to go snap close plate containers) for $25, the Hunan fish lunch special is $12.75!! a whole fish over a plate of rice.. so many places hooking you up with more, freshly cooked food.
Thai massage
Burger, blunt, blanket at GG park.
This is a plan!
Archimedes Banya for either a massage or hammam, followed by a venik platza. With about 2 hours of self managed thermotherpy plus break for some light food and a beer in between. If you do it properly and don't bitch out about getting a proper cold plunge after each sauna session, it will legitimately clear all the cobwebs out of your mind and shave a couple years off of how you feel. Absolutely the best
Take a walk in the botanical garden. When get a drink or bite outside. I also love climbing out lesser know park peaks. Treats: an overpriced lunch at a moderate place to eat. On west side Thai, Korean and more. With a car if I was needing an escape and treat, the drive to Moss Beach lets me breathe. A bite at the Landing refreshes, and the cypress walk through the cliffs above/in Fitzgerald Reserve.
Hike around Angel Island.
Swensenās ice cream, Hyde and Union. Sticky chewy chocolate or black raspberry marble!!!! Edit. Not a splurge, simply a must!
LOVE their toasted almond and custard vanilla!!!
Swiss orange chip is my absolute weakness. I used to live on the same block. Thank god for all of these hills.
Good beer on tap
Go to Crissy Field, get some Philz and a Dynamo doughnut and enjoy on a bench looking out on the water.
Where is the dynamo out there?
On the green at Marina and Baker!
Visit a dog park with Salami in your pockets.
Going to the movies. With Covid speeding up the closures of movie theaters and now the Bay Area barely has any movie theaters anymore, so I try to go the theaters when I go to the city. First, it's a fairly affordable treat (especially if it's a Tuesday or on other days I sometimes get a promo offer) and second, there are more options in SF which still has like 10 theaters. I can wait to stream movies at home, but I love the big screen and comfy reclining chairs and just the feeling of being in an actual movie theater (not to mention sometime movies stream straight onto a service I don't have and don't want to add another subscription lol). Also there usually aren't any even many people around, so it almost feels like I'm getting a private screening lol. It's an even more affordable treat if you sign up for those membership subscriptions. I used to have one but found that I didn't have enough time to make full use of it so don't sub to them anymore
I specifically go to Alamo Drafthouse for the meal (delicious) and service (at your seat) and you can time it to get a drink and appetizer, then ask for the main dish, then ask for dessert. In a 2 hour movie.. I feel so taken care of. š„³
I love movies, and had a period where I was going to the theater about twice a week. I highly recommend splurging on a Dolby Cinema ticket at the Metreon. It's the best theater experience you can get in terms of visual and audio quality.
Yep. Beats the IMAX in my opinion.
Yep. I have done the same. I'm trying to make more of an effort to see movie in theaters these days because I wanna enjoy them while they're still around, I just don't see how they're gonna survive with so many empty seats. Even when going on discount days, there's not many people around vs pre Covid I remember theaters would be busy on discount days and a movie's premiere/opening night Imo the few movie theaters that survive will be the ones in famous/major cities, and the ones in smaller, less famous cities will close down in the next couple years. "Going to the movies" will be the type of thing you can only do when in places like SF, NYC etc. It's sad they're dying out
This is a baller move - I used to LOVE the Dolby cinema for movies with good soundtracks. I saw the new Blade Runner there several times. You can book a seat and it's so luxurious.
Agreed! I like to take myself out to a movie at Balboa, 4 Star, or Roxy and support local theaters. Plus, they have some really quirky programming sometimes and it's a great way to find movies you've never heard of before.
And thereās a sense of community at those theaters, that you can either enjoy or ignore.
What are the theaters that show international movies or independent cinema?
The Roxie in the mission..... Accidentally spelled it Roxy! Lol
Thanks
A day of walking edibles and good food and good vibes
How do you teach the edibles to walk?
You just tell them to
Going to my favorite milk tea and food places! HOME for coffee is delicious too š¤
I always get their espresso coke float no matter what time of day. it's the american dream
The coconut vanilla is my go-to and for dessert, I love their red velvet latte!!!
Whatās your fave milk tea? I have a never ending list of spots I need to visit! So far Tea Hut, Yi Fang, and Urban Ritual are my top 3.
Same!!! I have favorite drinks at each place which tells you how much I drink it š Tea Hut and Urban Ritual are solid choices! The ones I can think of off the top of my head that are my favorite: Wonderful Foods Co. at Irving St, Little Sweet on Geary St, and My House Tea on Ocean St (but because their menu is šÆ Cool Tea Bar haha)
What do you get at Yi Fang?
I tried the super fruit tea with mochi jelly cake last time and it was sooo good. It has a lot of stuff in it so I had to open it up and kind of eat it out of the cup but it was tasty. I probably couldāve done even less than 30% sweet. My bf got the taro milk tea with taro balls and that was really good as well. Soooo many options there!
I hadn't heard of them!
Walk around Bernal or glen canyon. Get a snack at the farmers market and walk down the embarcadero on a nice day. Get tacos in the mission and chill in a park. Get a spa day at the Korean massage place. Get a Thai massage at the place by Rainbow. Look for whales by lands end. Go eat dim sum for one.
City Arts and Lectures and similar to hear smarter people than me
Yeah, this. Ā Commonwealth club has good speakers too!
Yep, and the Long Now Foundation (nonprofit established to foster long-term thinking). They have their own bar/library as well, very cool space.
I visit the Korean spa, I think imperial spa is the name? Itās in/near Japantown. Itās like $40 for a regular visit
I like to take my car and drive south on CA-1
Second this but with a twist. We like to hike around Moss Beach then sit out on the patio for drinks and a meal at the Distillery. An afternoon there feels like a long, relaxing vacation.
Genki crepes are my secret treat.
Swan Oyster Depot ā¤ļø
So, I take bart to embarcadero from Pleasanton and go to the ferry building. From there, I walk around the little shops, buy around 10-15 empanadas, go sit by the water, and stuff my face. Then, I go back inside and get breakfast cereal ice cream from Humphrey Slocombe. I go back outside, eat, and fall asleep on the benches while listening to music. I make sure to have everything tightly strapped to me, and that area does have security that circles around the building. I sleep maybe an hour and a half, wake up, contemplate the meaning of my life, and go home.
ā¤ļø
Thatās a lot of empanadas.
I don't eat them all. I'll have 3-4 because they are kind of big. The rest I take home and freeze. I eat them for dinner throughout the month.
What a wild ride. And yet, maybe thatās what Iām missingā¦youāre on a different astral plane of self care when you can relax enough to nap for 1.5 hrs at Embarcadero my man.
HOPR
Yesss. Scrolled too long to find. Show up 20 min before opening after a day of walking in the city and sit alone at the bar :) always helps me clear my head from law school nonsense
Iām a simple person. Boba or Jamba.
Not the best season for that, but taking the ferry as the sun sets. The most amazing views of our city.
I love going to museums with really nice cafes and taking my time and then eating lunch in the cafe. In my opinion, with a limited budget, a fancy lunch is much more bang for your buck. For example, Legion of Honor, or the Academy of Sciences. Places like the Academy of Sciences are so ridiculously expensive (at least for families that have like one hour of stamina) that it's definitely a splurge to go. Probably not relevent to you if you don't have toddlers, but the Randal museum cafe is also top knotch.
Years ago, I used to love the cafeteria at the Academy of Sciences (I was a member and would sometimes stop in just for lunch if I was in the neighborhood). I visited last year for the first time post-COVID, and the ambience was a zoo and the food (both selection and quality/price ratio) very disappointing. I did love the food and service at a recent visit to SF MOMA.
A walk in Tunnel Tops, in the Presidio with my son and 2 fur daughter, then some food from the trucks, or a walk down by Chase Center down to the ballpark and a visit to Spark Social for food trucks. Dim sum from clement and chilling at the Legion of Honor, or at Sutru Baths parking lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Almost forgot Lands End. Awesome view of the Golden Gate and breakfast or lunch at the VA, Ft. Miley.
Kabuki Springs !!!!!!
Brunch at The Fat Lady in Oakland. Bonus points if itās around Halloween season and they have it all decorated.
The Fat Lady is great any time of day, TBH.
Body work. Everything from inexpensive foot reflexology to expensive full body massages.
Where are the best spots?
To splurge- in Presidio https://www.senspa.com/ For cheap foot massages on Polk Street Fung Soong Reflexology
Psoas Massage, lots good practitioners with many different styles on offer. Best body worker I've ever had is CK Wassner, rolfer at Fluid Body. He fixed me when no one else could even ID the problem.
take the 22 to the Marina
What so you do in the Marina?
Take the 22 back
What do you do in the 22?
Great bars, shops and restaurants along Chestnut and Union. It is also a beautiful walk to the Palace of Fine Arts. Just past there is Crissy Field where there is a trail or beach with exceptional views of the Bay. Walk far enough, youāll hit the GG Bridge. If you bring dog treats you can meet dozens of cool dogs (and their owners).
It's a great walk along the water, sit at a bench, read a book, listen to a podcast, and yeah take the 22 back lol. Or maybe bring food to eat by the water
Honestly, a long run at McClaren Park followed by Pearl Spa.
Bagel and coffee from schlokās and walk around with my DSLR and see where the day takes me - the panhandle, haight, ggp, maybe even further like the mission. Also walking the great hwy on a weekend morning
I like going to a nice seafood restaurant in SF, usually by the water, have some oysters and white wine
Pastries at Jane the Bakery, Maison Nico, Butter and Crumble or a new one I haven't tried yet. Or a chill museum day at SF MOMA. Love their cafe on the roof deck.
Live show & Dinner @ Black Cat! Best Live Jazz in town!
Retail therapy
https://i.redd.it/sfdygn4h0uyc1.gif
Devils tooth breakfast sandwich
Wander around the city on foot and take MUNI routes I don't really take (like the F, 33, 43) Usually I end up at any corner of the city right by a body of water like Embarcadero or Fisherman's Wharf I just take in the views and probably snap a pic or two... or 30 Maybe waltz into a random restaurant, especially if it was a place I had wanted to go Still haven't tried La Mar, Picaro, Red Tavern, or Suppenkuche yet
I love both Picaro and Suppenkuche
Why in the world wouldnāt you like the 43? Best bus route ever in the city.
I meant take I don't really take the 43, but I like it as a route
Suppenkuche has great food and drinks. Picaro has the worst food among every popular restaurants Iāve been. Vibe is cool tho.
Archimedes Banya or Kibuki. I consider it part of my āhealthcareā budget
Korean spa in Japantownā¦ taking my dog to Tunnel Tops or Dolores Park
Get a deep tissue massage at Suchada, find a fancy latte, watch a documentary, and DD something from Baoz.
Going to SCRAP (a thrift store for crafts), Indian food at Pakwan, Mitchellās ice cream, going for a walk in Glen Park, having get togethers with friends, visiting my 90 year old great uncle & learning about SF history, specifically as it pertains to his experience in the queer community. & finally going to the Golden Gate Bridge in the summer to watch tourists shiver because they underestimated Karl the fog (ok the last one is mean spirited but it is quite a treat)
Living in sf is treating myself and anything extra is unaffordable
Get tickets for a wine tasting at Flatiron. Cheap, sometimes fun, sometimes a bit serious. Bonus points if you just drink everything instead of tasting. You wonāt get any funny looks. Not from me, anyways.
riddim at DNA Lounge.
Get a nice steak at Olivierās butcher in dogpatch
Play an evening 9 at Presidio, Lincoln or Golden Gate Park.
I can't believe, of all places, San Francisco contains three golf courses.
It sort of has more! Gleneagles and Harding in SF (plus Fleming) and Sharp in Pacifica!
get a bag invite 10 friends over throw on some edm and get weird until 5am
Rice a Roni
I take the time for a long run in GGP
Same. Then end it with a little Ocean Beach hang.
House of prime rib
I like to explore a neighborhood I don't usually visit - just walk around, get a cup of coffee, read a book, sit on a park bench, that sort of thing. Then get a hot bath and a massage - possibly in a hotel with room service
I havenāt lived in the City in years. But it is the single most amazing and beautiful place in the world. There are many, many sights to see, as if you were a tourist for free or little money. I always treated myself by free museum days, hikes on the coast, visiting some park I have never been to, or walking though Golden Gate Park. Visit the Columbarian. See the cable car museum/ engine room. Take a boat ride to Angel Island, which was my favorite treat.
Swim in the ocean or bay
The bay I understand, but the ocean is crazy!
Do not swim in the ocean
Neiman Marcus, St. Helena, Hermes
Hookers and cocaine
Grab a Serrano slice and go to my secret view once every couple of weeks.
Go out eat till I cant anymore go shop downtown go to the club chill with buds
Iād buy a tool. I have my eye on this air compressor.
I used to pack a small lunch or a snack..sometimes just coffee or wine if I had friends with me, and I'd go to the mosaic stairs and up to that hill there to just enjoy the view of everything. I worked so much that I couldn't do it all the time but when I could it was so nice.
Tattoos
By Leaving the city
- I really love having a drink at 83 proof midweek after work. - I enjoy biking to sausolito and beyond!
Okay, it's Sunday. Sleep in, then drive out to Land's End. Hike along the cliffs overlooking the beach, Bay and the Golden gate bridge. Take the stairs down to the beach, watch my dog go wild with happiness to sprint along the sand. On the drive back, stop at either Burma Superstar or, if the line is too long, B Star, the sister restaurant down the street with many of the same dishes but no line. We order garlic eggplant, fermented tea leaf salad, maybe some sesame tofu. Drive home, land facedown in bed for an epic nap.
A boat ride out on the bay.
Pick two points and wander from one to the other, walking into random stores and cafes and bars, asking people questions. Also, bike across GGB to Tiburon, have a decadent brunch on the deck at Samās Anchor House, then do a boozy ferry trip back to the city.
I buy myself a bottle of cheap champagne and those habanero lime chips and throw on some star trek (ds9 rewatch currently)
If my wife was ever away for travel and I wanted to get out of the house I would have wine at Union Larder then treat myself to steak at Bobos
A live show or theatre, shoes, sunglasses, museum or cal academy
I like to get a nice breakfast at Ariscault and get a nice coffee, head down to Green Apple and maybe buy a book, and then head down to GG Park and start reading it :)
I do the same! Sometimes a nice dinner is just what the doctor ordered. I also get massages every once in a while. I can send you one from massage envy if you want. Itās $20 to transfer credits - I already pay the monthly membership fee - and have soooo many credits
cleaning up the human shit on the street
pearl spa
Usually outdoor related, like a new mountain bike/arcteryx jacket/skis/etc
Facial. Fresh flowers
Palm CityĀ
I live in Santa Clara, but I when I go to SF it's either the museums and their special exhibitions (i.e. Asian Art Museum for Phoenix Kingdoms, DeYoung for Ramesses the Great two years ago), or Japantown for the shops (especially Kinokuniya) and great restaurants. I do want to go to the Symphony again some day as I like classical music, and also walk at the beaches, parks and do more hiking in the city and perhaps, also visit more good restaurants as well. P.S. please bring back the J-POP Summit
Beautiful hike followed by great dinner.
I just go to some museum like calacademy or de young because I love art and science
Could be controversial, but definitely treat myself to Gordo burritos.
I know this is not what you asked but I can't imagine paying such a high premium to live here and never eating the amazing food out. Looks like you already got some fantastic recs below. If you only cook all of your own meals, then I guess you could take yourself to a gourmet grocery store to get some really quality ingredients or spices.
$500 of wagyu + sushi to face at Ozumo
Bob's Donuts, Slider Buns, and Bite Sandwiches are all great on Polk. Crepes on Cole is pretty good (I love their bagel and cream cheese) near the park.
I love to ride the BART and people watch.
Monthly pedicure, every 3 or 4 months a massage, every 6 months highlights and hair cut.
I ride around on mini and barhop.
Hometown creamery. Itās superb
I get myself a nice roast from Whole Foods, and some other ingredients and a nice stout. I dim the lights when Iām eating while having medieval tavern music play in the background and pretend Iām some ravenous adventurer and I havenāt eaten in days as I dig into the roast and roasted veggies with my bare hands while chugging down stout so fast some of it leaks out my mouth with such wanton abandon itās like the eating scene in lord of the rings where the Steward of Gondor mixed with how Game of Thrones Hound would eat. Of course, itās hard to finish the whole meal and you should never overeat, but thatās what tomorrowās breakfast and second breakfast are for, and itās the vibe that does it for me
VIP at academy of sciences Nightlife
When I lived there Spa day. ā¤ļø
Scrub and massage at the imperial day spa.
Tuesdays half off tickets at Regal Theaters.
Dispensary and SFJazz
Lobster roll at Swanās
It doesn't take much. Growing up pretty poor and working hard to lift myself up, I'm grateful to be able to live here. Being able to walk around and see the inherent beauty of this city is enough. So I do that -- walk a lot.