Julia Tinstin

Where I'd take a friend for a really good drink, skipping the hotel lobbies. Neighborhood bars in North Beach, the Mission, Bernal and the Lower Haight, a couple of downtown standouts and one great tiki bar. Picks drawn from Eater SF's cocktail bar map (updated July 2026) and The Infatuation's 2026 cocktail guides.

Where I go for a croissant, a morning bun or a cake worth celebrating with. A mix of French-style pastry shops and neighborhood classics, from Hong Kong pineapple buns to German Berliners. Picks drawn from Tasting Table's 2026 guide to SF pastries and SFGATE's September 2026 review of Butter & Crumble.

My favorite ways to get outside without leaving the city: coastal trails, hidden beaches and a few hills with the whole city below you. Most of these link up along the new Golden Gate Dozen trail. Sources: 7x7's Golden Gate Dozen guide, the Parks Conservancy's Golden Gate Bridge trails and the SF Chronicle on the Twin Peaks Marview Trail.

The cafes I actually go out of my way for, from the beach to the Excelsior. Mostly neighborhood spots with great espresso, plus a couple of late-night options. Picks are drawn from The Infatuation's 2026 SF coffee guide.

I love a date that gives you something to talk about. These are my go-to SF date nights: a few activities that beat another dinner reservation, a couple of sunset spots, and the restaurants I pick when I want the night to feel special.

Neighborhood spots I would send a friend to. All picks are from the SF Chronicle Top 100 for 2026.

Low-key ways to spend a Saturday and Sunday in San Francisco, the way people who live here do it.