Love Letters To SF 💌

Disclaimer: these are places on my list that I want to try, I haven’t been to most of these yet! I am currently trying to limit eating out and opt for healthier/prioritize high-protein options before my wedding, so I have decided to track some of the spots I hope to check out soon (next year). There have been a handful of new restaurant, bakery, and coffee shop openings recently that are tempting me, so instead I am compiling a hit list of spots to try when I'm off my diet.

There are so many vantage points and unique angles to see the famous Golden Gate Bridge or Miss Goldie as I sometimes call her. Sharing my favorite locations and the exact places of ones you've probably seen in photos of the bridge. If you're unsure of the conditions/or visiting from far (honestly for locals too), check the Golden Gate Bridge webcams to see how the conditions are because there may be a good chance Karl the fog is around/covering the bridge (especially in the summer months)! https://www.oursausalito.com/golden-gate-bridge/webcams-golden-gate-bridge.html

There’s a lot of ways to celebrate a birthday in SF, whether it’s a chill dinner or a lowkey picnic to a party bus, escape room or karaoke! Sharing some fun ideas, many of which I’ve used for my own or my partner’s birthday! Some of these are also just fun activities that you can do on a regular day too lol

We’ve all probably heard of the popular spots like sweet maple and kitchen story but there are so many other brunch spots worth trying! Yes, sf loves a good brunch so many of these do have long waits on the weekends but there’s also more casual breakfast burrito to go spots or lesser known spots to check out!

While this list includes some of the city's popular bakeries with lines worth waiting in, there are also neighborhood gems and underrated spots for carb and sweet treat lovers. These bakeries are all local businesses that you can mostly only find in the city, and they all have so much heart and, of course, buttery goodness. I still have so many more to try (The French Spot, Day Moon I'm coming for you!)

There are always lots of fun tings happening in the city but these annual events usually only happen once or twice a year (or during a specific month/season) so they are worth knowing about and putting into your calendar so you don't miss them! From music festivals like Stern Grove and everyone's favorite Outside Lands to SF-specific community events like neighborhood street festivals and BYOW, this is a roundup of events I look forward to attending or popular ones that many of us would enjoy! **Disclaimer: Please double-check event dates/times/details as they may vary slightly year to year.**

I’m trying not to buy anything new this year and focus on shopping sustainably (secondhand only) so I put together a list of solid secondhand and vintage spots around San Francisco. It includes shops from curated boutiques to classic thrift stores and community markets (I didn’t include consignment spots, let me know if I should add). Perfect for anyone who loves the thrill of the thrift and digging for gems! I’m personally more of a fan of secondhand markets or 2nd st/Crossroads/Out of the Closet as I’ve had more luck there recently but it’s always fun to window shop and check out the selection at other spots. For a comprehensive list of Bay Area thrift shopping, check out this substack: https://branciaga.substack.com/p/thrift-and-vintage-shops-in-the-san

San Francisco serves up skyline magic on the daily and these parks are some of the best places to take it all in. ✨ No shade to Twin Peaks but it does get crowded. From postcard-perfect spots like Alamo Square to the hill we all love to lounge on at Dolores Park, these cityscape views hit every time. 📸 All photos (except Treasure Island) are my own.