clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A thick slice of prime rib on a plate with creamed spinach, a baked potato, and a martini. Lauren Saria

17 Actually Worthwhile Tourist Traps in San Francisco

Take off your fanny pack and tie on a crab bib. Here’s where to bring friends and family for the full San Francisco experience.

View as Map

When family and friends come to visit San Francisco, they want both the tourist and the authentic experience. They want to ride cable cars and bike the Golden Gate Bridge, and they want to try some of the food that the city by the bay is so famous for. Believe it or not, it's possible to do both.

Just because a restaurant, bar, or bakery in this city attracts visitors doesn't also mean it's not good — on the contrary, everything on this list has food, drink, and pastry that's at the peak of what San Francisco has to offer. Here, you'll find storied sourdough, garlicky cioppino, pioneering steam beer, and fog-cutting coffee cocktails, as well as incredible views, spots dating back more than one hundred years, and roast chicken with a reputation around the world.

So next time you have visitors, consult this list because everyone is guaranteed to be happy at these 17 restaurants perfect for tourists and locals alike. For a fuller litany of recommendations, check our Eater’s Guide to San Francisco.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Scoma's Restaurant

Copy Link

For a taste of the charms that, for better or worse, lead out-of-towners to San Francisco’s notoriously touristy Fisherman’s Wharf, Scoma’s is where it’s at. The very 1960s bar is a trip, and dishes like a “Lazy Man’s Cioppino” and classic crab Louie hit the spot. The views onto the water don’t hurt, either — the restaurant is located on its own small pier. You’ll even catch a glimpse of Scoma’s own custom-built fishing boat: The restaurant is committed to sourcing sustainable, and mostly local, seafood.

A plate of Dungeness crab Scoma’s

Boudin Bakery Cafe

Copy Link

For new school artisan sourdough that’s dramatically dark and craggy, please see Tartine Bakery or any of these excellent San Francisco specimens. But for an old-school heavyweight, Boudin is an original. They claim their mother starter dates back to the Gold Rush, and they’re still making dense, tangy, tourist-friendly sourdough, which, admittedly, does make the best bread bowl for serving creamy clam chowder.

Clam chowder bread bowl from Boudin Bakery Boudin Bakery

Buena Vista Cafe

Copy Link

You come to Buena Vista for one thing and one thing only: exceptional Irish coffee. When you're in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, head here for whiskey-spiked sweet coffee topped with a thick, luscious layer of whipped cream.

Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe Lauren Saria

The Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop

Copy Link

In a city with a rich chocolate history, Ghirardelli is the oldest continuously run chocolate factory in the United States. Lindt now owns it, so the chocolate is milky sweet, very smooth, and mass-produced. But a glossy hot fudge sundae is still a delight, and, even after its recent makeover, the Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop is a classic San Francisco treat, billowing chocolate aroma onto historic brick-lined Ghirardelli Square.

The Ghirardelli Chocolate Pick and Mix station. Albert Law

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

Copy Link

World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani bakes every kind of pizza imaginable: New York, Roman, Sicilian, and many more. His Neapolitan is an award-winner and his on-site pizza school attracts students from across the country. Bonus points for a bustling, friendly atmosphere, including a bar for date nights and booths for grandpa. And if you're feeling peckish but not in for a big meal, stop by the Slice House next door for a quick slice.

Original Joe's

Copy Link

Introduce family and friends to old North Beach here, with red leather booths, white tablecloths, and walls covered in framed photographs that set the scene for ample portions of Italian-American fare. From steak with a side of raviolo to piccata and lasagna, the classics are all here, plus a secretly great burger and fries, for lunch, dinner, and brunch. And, the bar is always lively fun for dining and drinking Manhattans in a clubby atmosphere.

Lasagna from Original Joe’s Original Joe’s

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

Copy Link

The sweet smell of vanilla, sesame, and butter lures tourists to this small alley in Chinatown to watch workers make 10,000 fortune cookies a day (and pass out hot samples). You can customize your own fortunes, making a great souvenir for tourists and non-toursits alike, and you might learn a thing or two about history while you’re at it. Fortune cookies were essentially invented in San Francisco, made to be served at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate park in 1918, but later picked up by San Francisco’s Chinese restaurants.

Ferry Building Marketplace

Copy Link

When's the last time you wandered through the Ferry Building? The vendors have only gotten even better, and the best time to go is on Saturday mornings to fully enjoy the farmers market. Prep yourself with patience for the inevitable crowds, but if you go with the right expectations, the outing can turn into a fun, all-day way to rediscover what you love so much about this city and make visitors love it as much as you.

Scenes From Silicon Valley’s Cautious Return To Office

City View Restaurant

Copy Link

If you’re going to San Francisco, you have to visit the oldest and largest Chinatown in the country, and as long as you’re wandering Chinatown, why not get dumplings. Many storefronts will load up a box for a few bucks, but for the full dim sum experience and steaming racks dropped on white table cloths, City View is a classic destination. Load up on steamed shrimp har gow and crispy honey walnut shrimp, and save room for egg tarts.

City View Stefanie Tuder

House of Prime Rib

Copy Link

This San Francisco classic is a total trip back in time to when plating with tweezers was not yet a thing. The restaurant's apropos name says it all — it serves one thing and one thing only, and it does that roast beef very, very well. The only choices you need to make are: meat temperature, cut thickness, mashed or loaded baked potatoes, and martini or Manhattan. Each plate comes with a salad prepared tableside, creamed spinach, Yorkshire pudding, and potatoes — and of course a hulking piece of beef cut from roving meat carts.

Sears Fine Food

Copy Link

A block above Union Square, with the trolley car clanging and clattering by, Sears is a pancake institution. Established in 1938, they’re known for 18 varieties of Swedish pancakes delicately arranged in small stacks, with butter and jam for schmearing.

The Rotunda

Copy Link

During the holiday season, you’ll often find this restaurant packed with out-of-towners toting big shopping bags. It’s easy to understand why: Perched atop the store’s fourth floor, the Rotunda offers great views of Union Square and that towering Christmas tree installed every winter. Train your eyes upward to take in the equally stunning stained glass dome. For a quicker visit opt for afternoon tea, an elegant affair, or just a glass of bubbles and a plate of the famous popovers served with strawberry butter. But if you’re really hungry, there’s also a full menu available for lunch, which is served from 11 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. depending on the day.

Rotunda at Neiman Marcus
Rotunda at Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus

Zuni Cafe

Copy Link

Besides "the" chicken, Zuni's burger, Caesar salad, and bloody Mary have all been called the best in the city. The two-storied, triangular space is enchanting any time of day: good for brunch, for late-night dining, for oysters and a cocktail at the bar, or for a lovely sit-down meal with a date. And did we mention that chicken?

Bill Addison

Park Chalet

Copy Link

If you’re out in the foggy Outer Sunset, taking in the smell of the sea at Ocean Beach or the views of the Sutro Baths and Land’s End, it’s a logical next step to seek the shelter of this oceanfront restaurant and brewery, located just off the Great Highway. The food is pretty straightforward – think soup, salads, burgers, and the like – but the beer is fresh, brewed on-site at the Chalet Ales & Lagers Brewery tucked behind the bar. Though it’s now closed Monday through Thursday, this remains a popular spot to take visitors when touring the Avenues. 

Anchor Public Taps

Copy Link

Anchor may be owned by Sapporo these days, but it’s still a big deal in beer history — it’s the oldest brewery in San Francisco, going back 125 years, and it’s a pioneer of steam beer, also known as California common beer. Tours of their art deco factory back by reservation, and, of course, there’s always Anchor Public Taps, the big taproom across the street where you can get a frothy pour of that signature steam lager.

Beer from Anchor Brewing Anchor Brewing

Tartine Bakery

Copy Link

The Mission bakery is the original location for the award-winning bakery, which has added locations and struggled with worker issues in the past couple of years, though there’s still a line out the door. First timers usually go for the morning bun, a knot of croissant laced with cinnamon and orange zest. But the sourdough is a big deal, ushering in a new wave of natural bread baking in San Francisco, and now imitated across the world. Bread, tarts, cookies, cakes, and more fill the rest of the saliva-inducing display, all of which make the perfect pairing with people-watching in the outdoor seating area.

Tartine

La Taqueria

Copy Link

It wouldn’t be San Francisco without the Mission’s squadron of gut-busting taquerias. La Taqueria is a leading choice, and once won FiveThirtyEight's America's Best Burrito, cementing it as not only a local favorite, but a nationally recognized one, too. That's reflected in lines out the door, but fear not — they move quickly. Pro tip: make sure you order your burrito "dorado," or griddled, making it nice and crispy on the outside.

Scoma's Restaurant

For a taste of the charms that, for better or worse, lead out-of-towners to San Francisco’s notoriously touristy Fisherman’s Wharf, Scoma’s is where it’s at. The very 1960s bar is a trip, and dishes like a “Lazy Man’s Cioppino” and classic crab Louie hit the spot. The views onto the water don’t hurt, either — the restaurant is located on its own small pier. You’ll even catch a glimpse of Scoma’s own custom-built fishing boat: The restaurant is committed to sourcing sustainable, and mostly local, seafood.

A plate of Dungeness crab Scoma’s

Boudin Bakery Cafe

For new school artisan sourdough that’s dramatically dark and craggy, please see Tartine Bakery or any of these excellent San Francisco specimens. But for an old-school heavyweight, Boudin is an original. They claim their mother starter dates back to the Gold Rush, and they’re still making dense, tangy, tourist-friendly sourdough, which, admittedly, does make the best bread bowl for serving creamy clam chowder.

Clam chowder bread bowl from Boudin Bakery Boudin Bakery

Buena Vista Cafe

You come to Buena Vista for one thing and one thing only: exceptional Irish coffee. When you're in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, head here for whiskey-spiked sweet coffee topped with a thick, luscious layer of whipped cream.

Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe Lauren Saria

The Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop

In a city with a rich chocolate history, Ghirardelli is the oldest continuously run chocolate factory in the United States. Lindt now owns it, so the chocolate is milky sweet, very smooth, and mass-produced. But a glossy hot fudge sundae is still a delight, and, even after its recent makeover, the Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop is a classic San Francisco treat, billowing chocolate aroma onto historic brick-lined Ghirardelli Square.

The Ghirardelli Chocolate Pick and Mix station. Albert Law

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani bakes every kind of pizza imaginable: New York, Roman, Sicilian, and many more. His Neapolitan is an award-winner and his on-site pizza school attracts students from across the country. Bonus points for a bustling, friendly atmosphere, including a bar for date nights and booths for grandpa. And if you're feeling peckish but not in for a big meal, stop by the Slice House next door for a quick slice.

Original Joe's

Introduce family and friends to old North Beach here, with red leather booths, white tablecloths, and walls covered in framed photographs that set the scene for ample portions of Italian-American fare. From steak with a side of raviolo to piccata and lasagna, the classics are all here, plus a secretly great burger and fries, for lunch, dinner, and brunch. And, the bar is always lively fun for dining and drinking Manhattans in a clubby atmosphere.

Lasagna from Original Joe’s Original Joe’s

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

The sweet smell of vanilla, sesame, and butter lures tourists to this small alley in Chinatown to watch workers make 10,000 fortune cookies a day (and pass out hot samples). You can customize your own fortunes, making a great souvenir for tourists and non-toursits alike, and you might learn a thing or two about history while you’re at it. Fortune cookies were essentially invented in San Francisco, made to be served at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate park in 1918, but later picked up by San Francisco’s Chinese restaurants.

Ferry Building Marketplace

When's the last time you wandered through the Ferry Building? The vendors have only gotten even better, and the best time to go is on Saturday mornings to fully enjoy the farmers market. Prep yourself with patience for the inevitable crowds, but if you go with the right expectations, the outing can turn into a fun, all-day way to rediscover what you love so much about this city and make visitors love it as much as you.

Scenes From Silicon Valley’s Cautious Return To Office

City View Restaurant

If you’re going to San Francisco, you have to visit the oldest and largest Chinatown in the country, and as long as you’re wandering Chinatown, why not get dumplings. Many storefronts will load up a box for a few bucks, but for the full dim sum experience and steaming racks dropped on white table cloths, City View is a classic destination. Load up on steamed shrimp har gow and crispy honey walnut shrimp, and save room for egg tarts.

City View Stefanie Tuder

House of Prime Rib

This San Francisco classic is a total trip back in time to when plating with tweezers was not yet a thing. The restaurant's apropos name says it all — it serves one thing and one thing only, and it does that roast beef very, very well. The only choices you need to make are: meat temperature, cut thickness, mashed or loaded baked potatoes, and martini or Manhattan. Each plate comes with a salad prepared tableside, creamed spinach, Yorkshire pudding, and potatoes — and of course a hulking piece of beef cut from roving meat carts.

Sears Fine Food

A block above Union Square, with the trolley car clanging and clattering by, Sears is a pancake institution. Established in 1938, they’re known for 18 varieties of Swedish pancakes delicately arranged in small stacks, with butter and jam for schmearing.

The Rotunda

During the holiday season, you’ll often find this restaurant packed with out-of-towners toting big shopping bags. It’s easy to understand why: Perched atop the store’s fourth floor, the Rotunda offers great views of Union Square and that towering Christmas tree installed every winter. Train your eyes upward to take in the equally stunning stained glass dome. For a quicker visit opt for afternoon tea, an elegant affair, or just a glass of bubbles and a plate of the famous popovers served with strawberry butter. But if you’re really hungry, there’s also a full menu available for lunch, which is served from 11 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. depending on the day.

Rotunda at Neiman Marcus
Rotunda at Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus

Zuni Cafe

Besides "the" chicken, Zuni's burger, Caesar salad, and bloody Mary have all been called the best in the city. The two-storied, triangular space is enchanting any time of day: good for brunch, for late-night dining, for oysters and a cocktail at the bar, or for a lovely sit-down meal with a date. And did we mention that chicken?

Bill Addison

Park Chalet

If you’re out in the foggy Outer Sunset, taking in the smell of the sea at Ocean Beach or the views of the Sutro Baths and Land’s End, it’s a logical next step to seek the shelter of this oceanfront restaurant and brewery, located just off the Great Highway. The food is pretty straightforward – think soup, salads, burgers, and the like – but the beer is fresh, brewed on-site at the Chalet Ales & Lagers Brewery tucked behind the bar. Though it’s now closed Monday through Thursday, this remains a popular spot to take visitors when touring the Avenues. 

Anchor Public Taps

Anchor may be owned by Sapporo these days, but it’s still a big deal in beer history — it’s the oldest brewery in San Francisco, going back 125 years, and it’s a pioneer of steam beer, also known as California common beer. Tours of their art deco factory back by reservation, and, of course, there’s always Anchor Public Taps, the big taproom across the street where you can get a frothy pour of that signature steam lager.

Beer from Anchor Brewing Anchor Brewing

Related Maps

Tartine Bakery

The Mission bakery is the original location for the award-winning bakery, which has added locations and struggled with worker issues in the past couple of years, though there’s still a line out the door. First timers usually go for the morning bun, a knot of croissant laced with cinnamon and orange zest. But the sourdough is a big deal, ushering in a new wave of natural bread baking in San Francisco, and now imitated across the world. Bread, tarts, cookies, cakes, and more fill the rest of the saliva-inducing display, all of which make the perfect pairing with people-watching in the outdoor seating area.

Tartine

La Taqueria

It wouldn’t be San Francisco without the Mission’s squadron of gut-busting taquerias. La Taqueria is a leading choice, and once won FiveThirtyEight's America's Best Burrito, cementing it as not only a local favorite, but a nationally recognized one, too. That's reflected in lines out the door, but fear not — they move quickly. Pro tip: make sure you order your burrito "dorado," or griddled, making it nice and crispy on the outside.

Related Maps