The Ultimate San Francisco Weekend Travel Guide
/“I left my heart in San Francisco
High on a hill, it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
The morning fog may chill the air, I don’t care”
I totally get why Tony Bennett wrote this song about San Francisco, and I’m convinced that I left a piece of my heart there! I had the best time exploring the city and I’m counting down the months and days until I can visit again. I didn’t have time to explore everything during my trip, but here are some highlights of fun things you can do for a weekend visit.
Where to Stay: Hilton Union Square
The Hilton Union Square is AMAZING! This hotel is within walking distance to lots of great restaurants, shopping, and fun things to do. I loved the location near Union Square and the city views are fabulous. My friends and I walked to many attractions including Union Square, Westfield San Francisco Centre, and the Museum of Ice Cream. I was blown away by the view from our city view balcony room.
The hotel has multiple dining outlets, a coffee shop, and market onsite. Plus, there’s a FedEx Office on the first floor just in case you need to print out any documents or do some work. This was a lifesaver when I needed to print, sign, and send a last minute document to a client. The hotel also does a wonderful job at serving its guests. There’s a tablet in each room, where you can easily make requests and I even received text messages regarding my stay! The hotel also sent a sweet welcome gift to my room.
The hotel has a great breakfast buffet at Poached. You can get made-to-order eggs, omelettes, and choose from many delicious items on the buffet. The buffet features quite a few Asian options. Although it might sound weird, I loved starting my day off with a bowl of Miso soup and dumplings! The Asian buffet items were a nice touch in addition to traditional American breakfast items.
Fun Things to Do: Lombard Street, Golden Gate Bridge, Cityscape, Museum of Ice Cream, & Fisherman’s Wharf & Painted Ladies
The list of fun things to do in San Francisco is endless. Since my travel buddies and I were in town for the Winter Fancy Food Show, our time was limited. I knew I couldn’t leave San Fran without knocking a few iconic and Instagrammable places off my San Fran Bucket List.
Lombard Street- there was no way I was leaving #SanFran without visiting this iconic curvy street. You can take the Powell-Hyde cable car line (from Ghiardelli Square) and get off at Lombard Street for pics, or simply Uber to the corner of Lombard and Hyde Street.
Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach
You probably already know that a visit to San Francisco isn’t complete without a stop at the Golden Gate Bridge. These shots were taken at Baker Beach which is the perfect for retreat for amazing views of the bridge and relaxing beach time.
Cityscape- Located on the 46th Floor of the Hilton Union Square
If you’re looking for a great spot to relax, sip on some bubbly, and dine on small bites while enjoying panoramic views of San Fran then Cityscape Lounge is the spot for you. It’s located on the 46th floor of the Hilton Union Square and the 360-degree panoramic views are UNBELIEVABLE! This is the perfect spot to unwind, sip some wine, and grab a bite, after a long day of sightseeing. I highly recommend ordering the charcuterie board and a side of their homemade kettle chips. Both items are delicious!
Museum of Ice Cream
The Museum of Ice Cream is INSTAGRAM GOALS! I’ve always wanted to visit and I’m so happy that I finally had the opportunity to go. I won’t spill all the beans on what you can expect, but the rooms are sweet and so are the treats! Be sure to reserve your tickets in advance as spots fill up fast. If possible, go during the week to avoid crowds. We booked a 9am tour on a Sunday morning and it was fairly crowded.
Explore Fisherman’s Wharf
I’d seen photos of Fisherman’s Wharf online and I always wanted to visit. Fisherman’s Wharf is a fun spot to grab fresh seafood, walk along the promenade, and even take tours of the Bay. I plan on grabbing a bowl of hot, fresh, clam chowder from one of the bayside vendors on my next visit.
Visit the Iconic Painted Ladies
You can’t visit San Francisco without touring this famous street! Alamo Square Park is directly across the street, and is the best spot to pose for photos in front of the Painted Ladies.
Explore Union Square
I didn’t get a chance to snap a pic but there’s so many fun things to do at Union Square. There’s lot of shopping, great restaurants, and even an ice skating rink (seasonal)!
Where to Eat- Urban Tavern, Mezcalito, Brenda’s French Soul Food, and Dumpling House
This list doesn’t even skim the surface of great restaurants in the city. I think I’d probably need a week to eat my way through San Fran’s best restaurants and I’m not 100% sure that would be enough time! Here’s a few restaurants I enjoyed during my trip.
Urban Tavern- Inside the Hilton Union Square
The food at Urban Tavern knocked my socks off! The food, presentation, and ambiance is out of this world. I love that this restaurant is inside the Hilton Union Square, so its a delicious convenient option if you don’t want to leave the hotel for dinner. Don’t leave without ordering House Specialties like the Pork Belly & Waffle and Peking Chicken. Both dishes are out of this world. Special thanks to KJ who’s was the best server a girl could ask for!
Mezcalito
There are so many yummy brunch spots to choose from in San Fran and Mezcalito didn’t disappoint. I ordered the Carnitas omelette and loved it!
Brenda’s French Soul Food
If crawfish stuffed beignets don’t excite you, then I don’t know what else to say about Brenda’s French Soul Food. This popular gem serves Creole classics that taste straight out of NOLA. Be prepared for a wait, but it’s more than worth it!
Dumpling Time
Photo credit: @dumplingtime_sf Instagram page
Soup dumplings are one of my favorite foods and Dumpling Time is home to some of the best dumplings I’ve ever ate. The Maine Lobster Siu Mai and the Tom Yum Goong were two of my favorite dishes. Don’t let the wait intimidate you as the line moves pretty fast.
I hope you enjoyed reading my San Francisco Weekend Travel Guide! Special thanks to the Hilton Union Square for hosting my stay and to San Francisco Travel for their wonderful assistance. Want more ideas on what do on your next San Francisco trip? Then click here to check out some of San Francisco Travel’s awesome suggestions.
What are some of your favorite things to do in San Francisco? Feel free to drop them below in the comments and I’ll add them to my list for my next visit!
