36 Hours in San Francisco
How to have a 10/10 weekend in the city.
San Francisco, even in the briefest of visits, has a way of making a lasting impression. Last weekend, we embarked on a swift yet well-orchestrated 36-hour stay to visit my sister and her partner, with the added mission of introducing my boyfriend, Dylan, to the city for the first time. The challenge? Ensuring he saw enough to justify another five-hour flight for a similarly fleeting—but fulfilling—escape in the future. By the time we boarded our return flight, he had awarded both the city and the itinerary a resounding 10/10—a promising indicator that a repeat visit is on the horizon.
Here’s how we made the most of our 36 hours:
Friday
A late arrival on Thursday ensured we could hit the ground running on Friday morning. We began with a leisurely drive through Pacific Heights, admiring its stately architecture before making our way to the Presidio. From there, we stopped at the Palace of Fine Arts—one of San Francisco’s most elegant landmarks and a personal favorite. A few years ago, we spent an afternoon picnicking on its greens, and it remains one of my fondest memories of the city.
Next came an obligatory—but always breathtaking—drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. No matter how many times you take in the view, it never loses its impact.
Just across the strait, Sausalito awaited with its charming waterfront, lined with bobbing boats, cozy cafés, and independent shops. A quick stop at Equator Coffees provided a much-needed caffeine boost before we pressed on, with a promise to Dylan that we’d return for a more leisurely visit next time. The reason for our haste? Lunch at Hook Fish Co. in Mill Valley—an absolute must. Set in a relaxed beer garden, it serves up impeccably fresh fish and chips, fish tacos, and other coastal staples. A perfect place to while away an afternoon.
Before leaving, a quick browse through the adjacent shop—stocked with Patagonia essentials and other outdoor gear—resulted in a small but satisfying haul: a fresh supply of Le Bon Shoppe socks. A necessary indulgence.
From there, we made our way to Chinatown—both the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in North America. A cultural cornerstone of San Francisco, it’s a sensory feast of color, history, and, most importantly, exceptional food. Despite still being full from lunch, we couldn’t resist stopping at House of Dim Sum for sesame balls and turnip cakes—a spot I’d highly recommend for a full dim sum spread.
Beyond the food, the neighborhood is home to some fascinating shops, including On Waverly, a beautifully curated space celebrating AAPI voices, stories, and creativity. I left with a single-serve tea mug with a built-in strainer, but I could have easily stocked up on books, kitchenware, and accessories. No visit to Chinatown would be complete without a quick detour to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, where you can watch fortune cookies being made from scratch and, more importantly, taste them fresh—warm, crisp, and a far cry from their mass-produced counterparts.
Just around the corner is North Beach, San Francisco’s storied Italian quarter, where checked-tablecloth trattorias, old-school cafés, and retro-tinged bars set the scene. Time is best spent lingering at City Lights, the legendary bookstore that remains a beacon for literary minds. Next door, Vesuvio Café offers the perfect spot for a post-browse drink, steeped in history and creative energy. For a deeper dive into the neighborhood’s Beat Generation roots, The Beat Museum—small but thoughtfully curated—is worth a visit, offering a glimpse into the bohemian spirit that shaped this corner of the city in the 1950s and beyond.
A short stroll takes you to Jackson Square, San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood, once the heart of the city’s Gold Rush-era commerce and now a rejuvenated hub for boutique businesses. Among its architectural gems is William Stout Architectural Books, one of only three bookstores in the United States dedicated solely to architecture and design, a rare gem since 1974. Nearby, Postscript serves as a delightful stop—part café, part roastery, part juicery, and part market—offering everything you need for a rejuvenating break before continuing your window-shopping along Jackson Street.
For dinner, we made our way to Besharam, a standout Indian restaurant serving up regional Gujarati cuisine with a fully vegetarian menu crafted by chef-owner Heena Patel. The flavors were vibrant, the dishes inventive—a tasty highlight of the trip.
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