Stefan Mühle

Stefan Muhle

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

That the very best weather months for visiting San Francisco are September and October.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

At the eastern edge of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area there’s a tiny spit of land that juts into the bay. Take a walk out to the end and enjoy San Francisco’s skyline on one side and the Golden Gate Bridge on the other. It’s also the home of a San Francisco wonder, the Wave Organ, a piece of environmental art created by Peter Richards and George Gonzales in 1986.

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

Strolling Macondray Lane — a wooded path on Russian Hill made famous by author Armistead Maupin as Barbary Lane in Tales of the City. Macondray Lane extends two blocks east-west between Leavenworth and Taylor Streets, paralleling Union and Green. Amazing views from the lane include Alcatraz Island and the San Francisco Bay.

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

Duboce Triangle. It offers a lively dog park (my hound Moxie’s fave), Harvey Milk Center, cozy cafes, and is close to the Haight, Castro, Cole Valley neighborhoods. I love taking in the eclectic mix of people and beautiful architecture on Duboce Street leading up to Buena Vista Park – the perfect spot for a picnic.

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

•  Eat: Roots and Daffodil
•  Shop: Union Square
•  Celebrate: Rooftop of the Orchard Garden Hotel
•  Take in the view: Twin Peaks
•  People-watch: On a park bench along Crissy Field
•  Lose yourself: Golden Gate Park on a Sunday
•  Rejuvenate: Walking the hills and valleys between neighborhoods
•  Sleep: Orchard Hotels

Linda Palermo

Linda Palermo

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

There are many but I’d say one is Stern Grove – being able to sit outside on a nice day in the summer and listen to great music or watch a performance and being able to dance, sing, picnic or just hang out with friends. Golden Gate Park – Kennedy Drive on a nice day – where the roller skating and swing dancing are, is also a treat.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

Ride a cable car, walk the hills, go to Golden Gate Park and walk through the neighborhoods (ie: Fillmore, Hayes St, etc) .

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

Probably the Kid City and the Mission experience.

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

I love them all-Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill, Hayes Valley, Pac Heights are at top of my list.

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

•  Eat: Belden Lane
•  Shop: Fillmore Street
•  Celebrate: Boulevard
•  Take in the view: Top of the Mark
•  People-watch: Americano
•  Lose yourself: The Mission
•  Rejuvenate: Nob Hill Spa
•  Sleep: Vitale

Andrew Freeman

Andrew Freeman

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

There is no better day to see Golden Gate Park than on a Sunday because no cars are allowed in the park during this one day per week. Without cars zooming through and around it, the park becomes a thoroughfare of sights and people. You can literally get lost in the park for a full day, treating yourself to an incredible array of fun activities including roller-skating and swing dancing. Even though the view of the ocean is not exactly a secret, it’s nevertheless spectacular and not enjoyed nearly enough by the locals.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

San Francisco features so many fascinating cultures and beautiful neighborhoods. Visitors rarely see so many of San Francisco’s communities, especially those that are heavily residential or don’t feature famous landmarks. However, all visitors should take advantage of visiting as many parts of San Francisco as possible by taking one of the double-decker open-top bus tours. These tours are usually quite comprehensive and allow visitors to experience neighborhoods they wouldn’t have otherwise known about. Visitors can leave the tour at any time, allowing them to find and experience local neighborhood gems, which they may end up liking more than the more popular venues listed in guidebooks.

Visitors should also try to take a ferry ride, especially to Sausalito. Not only is Sausalito beautiful rich in culture (amazing restaurants!), but the short ferry ride itself allows riders to witness some of the nation’s most spectacular views.

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

1. Paula West: West is a jazz singer who appears one time a year at the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nico. Incredible performer. Not to be missed.
2. Beach Blanket Babylon: Everyone must go at least once a year to see this hilarious cabaret as the material is updated so often.

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

Dolores Park. This is the perfect spot to tan, play with your dog or picnic with friends while enjoying some of the most breathtaking views of San Francisco.

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

• Eat: As a restaurant consultant, it’s impossible to decide on a favorite restaurant. It feels like I have to decide on a favorite child! However, I do love the universal acceptance that most San Francisco restaurants offer – patrons can feel comfortable in both black tie or blue jeans! I also love the local neighborhood spots, such as the Liberty Café in Bernal Heights.
• Shop: At Neiman Marcus you can find incredible deals on gorgeous clothes. I also enjoy the shopping opportunities on Castro street, such as Citizen.
• Celebrate: I enjoy starting and ending my night with a cocktail. There are so many fabulous bars, from Fifth Floor to Burbon & Branch, that must be taken advantage of. I also enjoy celebrating the arts by attending the symphony, festivals around town, and the theater (Wicked!).
• Take in the view: KOIT Tower and Twin Peaks
• People-watch: There are so many fascinating personalities in Union Square that you can’t possibly be bored by people watching via an outside table at one of the many cafes and restaurants.
• Lose yourself: The Kabuki Cinema is the best movie theater in San Francisco, featuring the finest films, reserved seats, a lounge, and a bar. There’s nothing better to do on a rainy day than see a movie here.
• Rejuvenate: Nickel Spa or a yoga class @ Yoga Tree with Rusty Wells. Wells is hands-down the best Yoga teacher in the Bay Area.
• Sleep: One of the best reasons to visit San Francisco is the personalized experience the boutique hotels provide. Kimpton Hotels, Personality Hotels, and Larkspur Hotels truly cater to each and every one of their guests, allowing them to get the most out of their stay in San Francisco.

Teal Wicks

Teal Wicks

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

Couldn’t tell you! Everyday I discover something new and find out it’s well known to all local San Franciscans.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

Walk and Explore! My favorite: start at Crissy Field, cross under the Golden Gate Bridge, and follow the coastline south as far as you want. Check out all the military ruins overgrown with lush greenery.

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

The Cable cars- there’s nothing like standing on the back and charging up the huge hills just to glide down them again with the views and the SF air blowing through the car. It’s so quintessential San Francisco.

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

Either the Marina- shopping and restaurants on Chestnut, proximity to the water, Palace of Fine Arts, and Crissy Field. Or Haight-Ashbury- vintage shopping, the people, the history of the area, and close proximity to Golden Gate park.

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

•  Eat: Mercedes
•  Shop: Haight-Ashbury
•  Take in the view: The top of any hill throughout the city
•  Lose yourself: Any and all parks and green spaces in the city
•  Rejuvenate: Nob Hill Spa
•  Sleep: Westin St Francis

David Katznelson

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

David Katznelson

There are so many!! How can I choose just one, but I guess I will:
The Main Branch of the Public Library: I do not think that ANYONE really understands how great our main public library is. They put on several shows/displays monthly that are truly inspirational…especially the historical San Francisco shows that grace the area near the SF reading room. They have great speakers, a wonderful collection of the world’s magazines and newspapers (like most libraries) and an amazing complete collection amassing the history of San Francisco journals. Everyone I know KNOWS the library is there, but so few people that I meet ever take the time to check out (no pun intended) the true treasures that are within its walls. I live to have a reason during a busy week to do some research at the Main Public Library…and their on-line DVD request system is a free netflicks for those who are patient.

Another BEST KEPT secret:
Saturdays at 3pm-6pm, The Savoy Tivoli: the Mal Sharpe Old-Tyme Jazz Band. I am not sure if that is the actual band name, but man o man does this old prankster put on a show, with a fantastic group of musicians and a great sense of comic style.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

Bike the city. First of all, it will be the best work out known to mankind: no matter where you go, your legs will be stretched. The city shows its beauty to the cyclist, may it be biking the coast on the cement path between Noriega and Rivera towards the zoo (where you can get a free gander at our zebras and giraffes), or up Lincoln Blvd for another grand Bay View that leads to the Golden Gate Bridge (and ride the bridge as well!) down to Crissy Fields, where the flat ride relaxes while Alcatraz comes into your sights. You can follow the coastline to the Embarcadero…the Ferry Building….SBC Park (watch an inning of Giants Baseball from the free area in Right Field)…and around McCovey Cove to China Basin. For those who want more, keep hugging the coast and you will eventually come to the edge of Hunters Point near where Dago Mary’s once served amazing Meat Balls. It is near there that you will see Hunter’s Point Springs-Albion Brewery. The Brewery is no longer working, but the multi-storied stone castle is still there and is an amazing sight. Have no fear, this area is not the dangerous section of the Point.

There is also great biking westerly, from ocean beach through golden gate park to the panhandle, the Haight and finally a drink of Scotch at Absinthe. While biking the park on weekends, keep an ear out for the wonderful jazz played under the bridge near the Conservatory Of Flowers and ALWAYS make sure to relax on Hippy Hill, where the drum jamming is completely under-appreciated and ALWAYS a great groove (especially when the horn player(s) show up–right out of the Sun Ra handbook).

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

Seeing a show at the Fillmore Auditorium. The best place to see an indoor live concert in the world, as far as I am concerned. Meanwhile, the best outdoor live concert experience is hands down on the Stern Grove stage during ten Sundays a summer.

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

Northbeach seems the obvious answer, but I am loving my time spent in the Outer Sunset. It is near the best Asian Restaurants in the city (Yummy Yummy, Marnee Thai, Shangri-La, Happy Bakery), near arguably the best produce market in the city (22nd and Irving), the best bakery in the city (Arizmendi) the best vet in the city (Park Animal Hospital), best film rental place in the city (Le Video), a fantastic co-op market (Other Avenues), fantastic coffee places (Trouble, Java Beach), great Raw Food (Judahlicious, Gratitude), fantastic pizza (The Pizza Place), a great bar/restaurant (Durty Nelly’s) and a great new eatery (Outerland). Add to that easy access to Golden Gate Park (near the Bison, the De Young, and the main stage for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass), Ocean Beach, Stern Grove, and the Sunset Reservoir (with its amazing views) this part of town has just about everything except a good nightly music club/venue (please help). Don’t tell a soul, but it is also where the best San Francisco weather can be found.

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

• Eat: Italian: Gaspares; Dim Sum: Yank Sing; Hofbrau: Tommy’s Joint; Vietnamese: Yummy Yummy; Korean: Brothers; Burmese: Burma Superstar; Burger: Balboa Cafe (until Original Joes reopens)…more later…
• Shop: Amoeba Records, Aquarius Records, Green Apple Books, City Lights Books, Demas (for my girlfriend!)
• Celebrate: House Of Prime Rib, Aub Zam Zam, Aquarius Records
• Take in the view:Land’s End, Ocean Beach Sand Dunes, Sunset Reservoir, Coit Tower
• People-watch:Northbeach–Cafe Trieste
• Lose yourself: Golden Gate Park
• Rejuvenate: Palace of the Legion Of Honor, Crissy Field (where the tall grassy area is), on the bike in the middle of Golden Gate Bridge looking west. And to REALLY rejuvenate, the spa at the JCC and the Kabuki Hot Springs are both fantastic, cheap soaking heavens.
• Sleep:My bed…second: Washington Square Park

Peter Gamez – Boutique Hotelier

Peter Gamez

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

North of the Panhandle. Great food, cafes and music concert hall- The Independent.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

Go to the top of Twin Peaks at night with a bottle of wine to gaze at the view.

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

Go to a SF Giants game and eat garlic fries with views of the Bay and San Francisco skyline. On a good day witness a homerun and watch the ball land in the bay. The best time to go is against the Dodgers , just one more reason not to like LA.

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

Cole Valley

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

• Eat: Boulevard
• Shop: Saks Mens Store
• Celebrate: Zuni Cafe
• Take in the view: Tower of the DeYoung Museum
• People-watch: anywhere and anytime MUNI bus stops.
• Lose yourself: Ferry Building
• Rejuvenate: Golden Gate Park or Glide Memorial Church
• Sleep: ANY boutique Hotel- Joie de Vivre, Personality and Kimpton- they all celebrate  unique lodging experience.

Marcia “the tablehopper” Gagliardi

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?  

Photo by Rick Camargo Photography

A dinner at Bix may not be a secret per se, but this spiffy restaurant tucked away on an alley near Jackson Square certainly offers some mystique. Perfectly executed cocktails, my favorite steak tartare (and burger!), snappy service, and fantastic ingredients across the board. Top it off with some swank supperclub atmosphere—and well, I know where I left my heart in San Francisco.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

Pack good walking shoes—for some classic SF ambiance, explore Chinatown (I adore the architecture) and snag some custard tarts and baked BBQ pork buns from Golden Gate Bakery, stroll around North Beach, and hang out in Washington Square and people watch while munching on focaccia from Liguria Bakery. A cocktail at Tosca is a must.

I think Valencia Street has so much to offer. A perfect macchiato at Four Barrel Coffee to an alfresco lunch at Pizzeria Delfina to a Bi-Rite Creamery ice cream while sitting in Dolores Park—options galore. Oh yeah, and don’t miss a Mission burrito. Rent a bike if you can! It’s a great neighborhood to pedal around.

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

Riding my bike through Golden Gate Park to the ocean… it’s stunning.

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

The Mission has it all—warmer weather, eclectic scene, great hi-lo eats, fun bars, fantastic coffee, and it’s bike friendly.

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

• Eat: I crave the food at Aziza the most
• Shop: Hayes Valley boutiques
• Celebrate: Bix, Jardiniere
• Take in the view: Alamo Square (cute dog watching too!)
• People-watch: The Mission—especially Dolores Park
• Lose yourself: Walking along Ocean Beach
• Rejuvenate: Yoga class at The Yoga Loft, a run through Golden Gate Park, and a stroll along  the Embarcadero
• Sleep: Hotel Vitale

Heklina

Heklina

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

Forbes Island at Fisherman’s Wharf. A floating restaurant,with the dining room downstairs (watch the fish swim by as you eat). You need to take a ferry boat to get there, it’s fantastic.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

Experience everything you’ve always heard about San Francisco-visit Alcatraz, go to the top of Coit Tower, walk down Lombard St., soak in all this incredible City has to offer!

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

The Folsom St. Fair……let your Freak Flag fly!

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

The Mission. From the food to the thrift stores, from the great theaters (the Victoria , the Roxie) to the nightclubs (El Rio, Esta Noche), there’s something for everyone.

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

• Eat: Tommy’s Joint
• Shop: Clothes Contact
• Celebrate: The Regency Center
• Take in the view: Dolores Park
• People-watch: The Castro
• Lose yourself: Golden Gate Park
• Rejuvenate: Refresh Day Spa
• Sleep: My apartment

David Perry, David Perry & Associates, Inc.

David Perry

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

Hyde Street Pier / National Maritime Museum

What’s something that every visitor should do?

See the view on a clear night from the top of Twin Peaks.

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

A “mental health” lunch, hot-dog, and bloody mary in hand, taking a round-trip ferry from the Ferry  Building to Sausalito and back.

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

• Eat: Overlooking Yerba Buena Gardens
• Shop: Castro
• Celebrate: Harry Denton’s “Starlight Room”
• Take in the view: Twin Peaks
• People-watch: Pier 39
• Lose yourself: Angel Island / Marin Headlands
• Rejuvenate: Golden Gate Park / Ocean Beach / Land’s End
• Sleep: On my deck overlooking Twin Peaks

Tallulah Rose, a San Francisco dog

Tallulah

What’s San Francisco’s best-kept secret?

All of the stores that allow dogs & have water bowls out for me to drink from. San Francisco loves them some canines.

What’s something that every visitor should do?

Take your dog to Fort Funston!

What’s your favorite “Only in San Francisco” experience?

Going to the Dog Days Giants game at the most beautiful baseball stadium in the country- AT&T Park on the water.

What’s your favorite neighborhood?

The Marina. No hills and lots of dogs- just my scene

What’s your favorite spot in San Francisco to:

• Eat: Market Bar on the Embarcadero @ Market- lots of dogs walking by for me to bark at!
• Shop: Cheeko B
• Celebrate: Yappy Hour @ Bella & Daisy’s on Union.
• Take in the view: Buena Vista Park with views of the famous Golden Gate.
• People-watch: Huntington Square on the weekend or from 5-6PM weeknights
• Lose yourself: Crissy Field
• Rejuvenate: Bow Wow Meow Grooming on Polk
• Sleep: Personality Hotels- they’re pet friendly!