The Weekend Itinerary That Will Make You Leave Your Heart in San Francisco

How to get the most out of three days in San Francisco

The beating heart of Northern California, San Francisco is known not just for its countless hills, sourdough bread, and charming cable cars, but for the unwavering devotion it has garnered from its inhabitants. It’s the type of city that leaves its mark on anyone who passes through, a place that inspires ballads. 

There’s undoubtedly a reason for this eclectic city’s enduring appeal, whether it’s the transformative history, the remarkable amalgam of decades of architecture, or the seemingly never-ending selection of mouthwatering eateries. With this weekend itinerary, which takes you up winding streets, through diverse neighborhoods, and across soaring bridges, just three days will be enough to sway your affections in the same direction. 

Start your morning at woman-owned Butter & Crumble, located in Telegraph Hill, for perfectly flaky pastries with a creative twist. Here, visitors can expect a vibrant assortment of fillings and toppings ranging anywhere from tangy fruit compotes and rich chocolate fudge to herby tomatoes and tender short rib. The bakery takes pride in its tedious lamination process, where high-quality French butter is incorporated into the dough, resulting in the most perfect texture. The menu changes monthly, and can occasionally vary day-to-day, so check in on Instagram for updates. 

From Butter & Crumble, Fisherman’s Wharf is a quick walk away. Traipse along the water’s edge, soak in the ocean breeze, and be sure to pay the sea lions a visit at Pier 39, where they blissfully laze in the sun. Nearby, the Musée Mécanique hosts one of the largest collections of antique arcade machines in the world and is an eccentric addition to your itinerary. If you want to make the trip across the bay to Alcatraz, take this morning to do so, as going earlier in the day will ensure you beat the crowds. Ferries operate out of Pier 33 and take about 15 minutes one-way.  

In the afternoon, check out the Palace of Fine Arts, a masterful composition of ornate columns and embellished archways, crowned by a towering open-air rotunda and surrounded by a duck-filled lagoon. Perched right on the edge of the Presidio of San Francisco, its archaic design has a potent transportive effect. The Presidio also functions as a gateway to the Golden Gate Bridge. A popular choice is to rent bikes and ride your way across, but if you’re feeling ambitious, the walk is just over four miles and a great way to get your steps in. Taking the ferry back is always an option and will deliver you to the Ferry Building.  

For dinner, Chinatown’s Four Kings flawlessly captures the lively yet intimate ambience of an authentic Hong Kong yakitori bar. Make your way through the thoughtfully curated menu featuring sauce-doused noodles, claypot rice dishes, and perfectly charred skewers. A fan favorite is the escargot which is served with a side of airy milk bread. Make sure to book a table in advance, as reservations fill up rapidly. 

The emblematic Ferry Building will be where you begin your second day in San Francisco. If it happens to be a Saturday, you’ll be lucky enough to catch the sprawling farmer’s market, which surrounds the building in an expansive tangle of seasonal produce, hand-crafted pastries, and international cuisines. Inside the Ferry Building is yet another selection of eateries, so breakfast can be a mélange of bites and tidbits from all over. Take your pick of the many options, but I would be remiss not to recommend an empanada from El Porteño Empanadas. 

A straight shot from the Ferry Building is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, a lovely collection of modern and contemporary pieces from artists all over the world. From SFMOMA, make your way through Chinatown, stopping for a matcha-vanilla swirl soft serve from Matcha Cafe Maiko. Continue meandering to the adjacent North Beach neighborhood, where classic Italian delis and trattorias line the streets. Stop for a sandwich from Molinari Delicatessen and – if the weather permits – enjoy it in Washington Square, a favorite picnic spot among locals. Also in North Beach is the historic City Lights Bookstore, which boasts as much fascinating lore as it does pieces of literature. 

If you stroll just a bit further down Columbus Avenue, you will eventually be able to turn left on Lombard Street, crowned the “crookedest street in the world” and one of San Francisco’s many quintessential landmarks. Nearby is Russian Hill, a historic, upscale neighborhood filled with beautiful Victorian and Edwardian style residences. The Powell-Hyde cable car line goes right through Russian Hill, with a stop at the peak of Lombard Street, so consider hitching a quick ride through town. 

Dinner will bring you back to Fisherman’s Wharf for some classic seafood fare from Scoma’s Restaurant. A San Francisco staple since 1965, this old-school joint dishes up fresh-caught fish right on the water; enjoy a hearty serving of their “Lazy Man’s” Cioppino, tucked into the cozy wood-paneled interior or sit at the bar and sip on one of their famous Bloody Marys. After dinner, finish the night with an Irish coffee from The Buena Vista, a longstanding institution credited with bringing the drink over to the United States from Ireland in 1952. 

First thing in the morning, head over to Arsicault Bakery on Arguello Boulevard for some of the best pastries in San Francisco. Odds are there will be a line, but the wait is well-worth it. When I visited, we opted for the chocolate almond croissant – delicious, but quite rich. However, the kouign-amann is a non-negotiable and the chocolate chip cookie is the perfect balance between chewy and crispy without being too sweet. On Sundays there’s also a farmers market right around the corner on Clement Street.

After getting your pastry fix, walk down Arguello Boulevard and you will end up at Golden Gate Park. Dahlia season peaks during August and September, so if timing aligns, check out Dahlia Dell to see hundreds of variants of the vibrant flower. Golden Gate Park also houses a large botanical garden, a Japanese tea garden, and the de Young Museum, another great stop for art-lovers. Right off the park is Haight-Ashbury, the cradle of the 1960s counterculture movement and a hot spot for vintage shopping and vinyl record stores. To learn more about the revolutionary decade that brought the neighborhood to fame, visit the Counterculture Museum for a detailed look into the political and social upheaval of the time. 

Fillmore Street is another great spot for shopping and strolling, offering more name-brand stores and chic eateries. If you’re looking for a bite, Dumpling Story is a great option. Perfect for sharing, their menu supplies almost every dumpling you could dream of, whether you’re craving pan-fried or Xiao Long Bao. After, if you feel like a pick-me-up, Compton’s Coffee House is right down the block and has a divine vanilla matcha latte – not too milky and not too sweet. 

For your final dinner, book a table at Dalida – located in the Presidio – for some exquisite Eastern Mediterranean food. Incorporating specifically Turkish, Persian, Greek, Jewish, Armenian, and Arabic flavors, every dish is guaranteed to be fresh, colorful, and aromatic. Start with the Breaking Bread plate, which includes creamy hummus, red pepper dip, and a smoky yogurt sauce alongside pickled vegetables and the most perfect pillow of warm pita bread. After that, you can’t go wrong with anything else on the menu but if you have a sweet tooth, finish with the baklava or the California Kunefe – classic flavors with a modern twist. A high note to end your perfect weekend in San Francisco.