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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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. 

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.

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.