What do you do with 24 hours in San Francisco? Eat! That’s what you do!
Jon and I had a short getaway to The City by the Bay recently. Way too short, really, as it was just an overnight that we tacked on to one of his business trips to Cupertino.
We drove up from the South Bay in time for lunch and left before noon the following day. Was it worth it? You betcha.
I don’t know San Francisco very well but new cities are always fun for me to explore. And even better by foot. Our mission? In addition to finding a lovely hotel to rest our heads and eating some fine meals, we wanted to visit as many chocolate shops as possible for a soon-to-be published assignment for the Expedia Viewfinder blog. Rough life, eh?
We dropped off our bags at the Palace Hotel and started our tour by heading down Market Street to sample treats from vendors in the Ferry Building. Chocolates, cheeses, coffee, bread. Here, you’ll find small shops selling all sorts of goodies as well as sit down restaurants and cafes.
It was a sunny December day so we continued our walk along the waterfront to The Plant, an organic cafe, where we had lunch under a covered, outdoor patio. A light meal (pictured above) of soup and salad was all I wanted as I was saving space for dinner…
Arguably one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the country, we had dinner at Greens. It is certainly the best veg restaurant I’ve ever experienced in all of my travels (so sorry to even say that as we have a number of fantastic vegetarian eateries in Seattle).
So, what was so great? The interesting pairing of ingredients (I had a mushroom shepherd’s pie that included at least three types of mushrooms) and the unique dishes (everything from pupusas to stuffed poblano chilies to a portobello sandwich).
Prices are reasonable for a San Francisco restaurant, too.
It was a little hard for us to find Greens as the location is a bit hidden within Fort Mason. But it’s worth finding. And making a reservation. It can be busy. It was full at peak dining time though it did clear out a bit later. And though we arrived after dark, we heard the views are spectacular.
Next morning, we stumbled upon a French cafe not too far from our hotel. Cafe de la Presse is unique in that it’s a combination cafe and magazine shop. For just a moment, I felt lost, like I was in Europe. This little places forces you to slow down and enjoy yourself (while also getting you amped up on coffee). With a cafe filled with literature, it’s a good reminder of the importance of reading. Printed material. Not just an iPhone :-).
Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head back to the airport. But before we left town, we made two more stops. We drove up Marine Drive for the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and then went to the Candy Store. Do you know I’m a sugar addict? So that adage that I’m like a kid in a candy store was so true. But I managed to escape with just a couple of items including black licorice (my fave) and some chocolate covered coconut (Jon’s fave). But this small store is packed with candy sourced from around the world. Items are available in both bulk and packages.
Before all was said and done, we visited:
Three chocolate shops
One candy store
Greens for an amazing vegetarian dinner
The Plant for a vegetarian lunch
Cafe de la Presse (how to pass up scrambled egg stuffed croissants?) for breakfast
Who says you can’t get much done in 24 hours?
I also shot a little video with my new(ish) GoPro…
I’ve been playing around with it for the past few months and shot this video while we were at the Palace Hotel. Nothing fancy, but it was fun to put together…
Yup, we just scratched the surface of San Francisco. And I’ve vowed to spend more time there.
What are your favorite things to do in San Francisco?
Travel Well,
Michele says
Next time make sure you hit Tcho chocolates, just down from the ferry bldg and for fine vegetarian, Millenium. Then if you want to find the”really good food” come up to Marin County!
Beth Whitman says
Thanks for the tips, Michele! I’ll definitely put these on my list for next time.
Jennifer says
Ooh, I love to eat in San Francisco too! Such good seafood available.