Summer weekend in San Francisco
How locals do summer in San Francisco — patios, beaches, festivals and the long-evening rituals that only happen in July and August.
Top spots in San Francisco
Golden Gate Bridge Walk
OutdoorsPresidio
Walk or bike the 1.7-mile span — best from Crissy Field side.
Golden Gate Park
OutdoorsSunset
1,000+ acres with bison, windmills, the de Young and free Sunday roads.
Lands End Trail
OutdoorsOuter Richmond
Cliffside coastal walk past Sutro Baths ruins to the Bridge view.
Ferry Building Marketplace
Food & DrinkEmbarcadero
Saturday farmers market with the bay's best oysters and bread.
Where to eat
Swan Oyster Depot
$$Seafood · Polk Gulch
18 counter stools, Dungeness crab and clam chowder since 1912.
Zuni Café
$$$California / Mediterranean · Hayes Valley
The famous brick-oven roast chicken for two — a 1-hour ritual.
La Taqueria
$Mexican · Mission
James Beard winner — order the carnitas burrito 'dorado'.
State Bird Provisions
$$$Dim sum-style new American · Fillmore
Stuart Brioza's dim-sum carts of inventive small plates.
Tartine Bakery
$$Bakery · Mission
Country bread + morning buns that started a city-wide craze.
Live & on stage
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Golden Gate Park · Oct 3–5 · Bluegrass / Free
Outside Lands
Golden Gate Park · Aug 8–10 · Indie / Mixed
SF Jazz Festival
SFJAZZ Center · Jun 12–22 · Jazz
Stern Grove Festival
Stern Grove · Jun – Aug · Free / Mixed
Frequently asked
- Standouts right now: Golden Gate Bridge Walk, Golden Gate Park, Ferry Building Marketplace. The shortlist is curated by people who live in San Francisco and refreshed regularly so it reflects what's actually open and worth your time.