Under the Golden Gate
Mercedes Maguire has canny tips for seeing San Francisco
You might come to visit the island prison, Alcatraz, or want to ride up the steep streets on one of its famed cable cars. But San Francisco is about a lot more than its landmarks. With more restaurants per capita than any other city in America and a blend of multicultural neighbourhoods, a visit to the City by the Bay is a unique experience.
Convention time
While with most cities we gauge the best time to visit based on the weather, in San Francisco it’s recommended to avoid periods when major conventions are on in town. This applies especially to the area around the Moscone Center, which takes up three blocks in downtown San Francisco.
Attendees will be busy during the day, which won’t affect tours and attractions, but you could find it harder to secure hotel rooms and evening restaurant bookings, particularly in the SoMa (South of Market district) and Union Square areas. For example, the Dreamforce sales convention takes place on September 12-14 and at its peak fills around half the city’s hotel rooms.
Go to jail
The former prison island Alcatraz is San Francisco’s most-popular attraction, and tours there can sell out during peak periods. “If stepping on the Rock is not crucial, a great excursion that passes close by Alcatraz is a Blue and Gold or Red and White Bay Cruise,” says Hubertus Funke of San Francisco Travel. “These cruises take you near Alcatraz and right up under the Golden Gate Bridge.”
It’s free!
Many of the city’s most popular attractions are free and can be enjoyed without a guide, allowing you to balance out the budget with a free day following a more expensive one. You can view the Golden Gate Bridge from the Presidio park district, see the Painted Ladies Victorian houses at Alamo Square Park, walk up (or down) Lombard Street – the crookedest street in the world – and wander through neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Eat up
San Francisco has more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in America and is home to the most Michelin-starred restaurants in California (28 out of 89), so having a food experience is a must. And the budget-conscious can do it for less, says Funke. He says the city has 18 Michelin Bib Gourmands, which are restaurants where diners can order two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for under $49. Or, you can follow the locals to Off the Grid at Fort Mason on Friday nights (from April to mid-November) to enjoy local fare served up by food trucks.
What about tipping?
Nothing makes Australian travellers more nervous than when it comes time to tip. Since the pandemic began, the bill at the end of a meal may look a little more confusing than usual in San Francisco. You may see a 20 per cent service charge automatically added, or a “dine-in” fee or a “fair wage charge”. Leaving an additional tip is up to you.