While San Francisco may be known for its fog — named Karl by locals — its temperate weather and blooming flowers make it inarguably prettiest in the springtime. So, just like me, you might find yourself tempted to drive up north and explore! Of course, with its 36 neighborhoods, SF can be overwhelming to tackle on your own. Lucky for you, however, I practically live there, so in the following article I’ll guide you around my three favorite SF streets.
Valencia Street, The Mission
The Mission is home to Valencia Street, one of the most vibrant streets in the Bay Area. The street is not only colored by its infamous Graffiti Alley and murals but also by its endless shops, galleries and eateries stationed along its length. While merely window-shopping through Valencia can be entertaining on its own, you can also purchase oddities (i.e. crystals, animal bones, calcified insects) from Paxton Gate, doodle at The Drawing Room SF and snack on Venga empanadas or gourmet treats from Foodhall. Don’t miss Bernal Cutlery, a one-stop wonder for culinary enthusiasts, or the Community Thrift Store, a playground for secondhand shoppers.
When you’ve had enough shopping, grab ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery or a coffee from Craftsman and Wolves and soak in sunshine and serotonin at Dolores Park. Then, if you still somehow have time to spare, you can catch a feature film at the Roxie Theater, a non-profit historic cinema that screens movies from their original 35mm film print, before dining at Good Good Culture Club or Souvla.
Clement Street, Inner Richmond
The Inner Richmond’s Clement Street is perfect for those with a laid-back attitude. Armed with a signature Dopo Panno Latte from Pixlcat Coffee or a refreshing iced Song Tea from Mamahuhu, you can peruse extensive shelves of preloved literature upstairs at Green Apple Books. Amidst the large selection of dim sum joints on Clement, I’d suggest bringing cash (or you won’t be able to pay) and a big appetite to Good Luck Dim Sum — the must-tries are shrimp and chive dumplings, crystal shrimp dumplings, sesame balls and shu mai. You can enjoy your takeout at Mountain Lake Park for a popular yet-peaceful ambiance, an experience worth the ten-minute walk. Afterwards, work off the rest of your dim sum calories by heading back to Clement and indulging in a cookie from Toy Boat by Jane (a funky, nostalgic dessert spot returning this spring after a “seismic retrofitting”).
Balboa Street, Outer Richmond
Balboa Street in the Outer Richmond is, quite plainly, a good time. From breakfast at Devils Teeth Baking Company to lunch at Iggy’s Place to dinner at The Laundromat SF, the street offers a delicious experience regardless of the time of day. After feasting, I like to skip down Balboa street towards the Pacific Ocean and to the nature preserve at Balboa Natural Area for an idyllic, breezy lookout of the beach. Afterwards, you can experience some of the Bay Area’s finest trails by hiking through Sutro Heights Park until you end up by the shore at the Camera Obscura & Holograph Gallery, a whimsical yellow-and-baby-blue structure that is quite literally a giant camera.
If you’ve exhausted this guide, here are some rapid-fire recommendations to appreciate the city elsewhere: meander through charming Chestnut Street in the Marina, Young Museum and flock to Fillmore Street for all the flavor you can fathom. No matter where you end up, San Francisco has tons to discover, and there’s no better time to experience the city than in the springtime.
