The Perfect Weekend Guide to Visiting the Bay Area

72 hours is never enough time in the Bay, but I am one for moving fast. I stepped off the plane at SFO and got started exploring all that the Bay has to offer. From the beautiful fog at the Golden Gate to dim sum, mosaic stairs, and boba I definitely maximized my time.

Known for the Golden Gate Bridge, too many Michelin-starred restaurants, and chilly weather, earthquakes, and extremely steep streets, I landed at the SFO airport in South San Francisco with 55 hours to spare. It was time to make my way through the Bay Area. It would involve a lot of eating, a heavy jacket (considering it was summertime), and a really good time.

First Stop Coffee

Starting off my day with coffee is important for me, and there is no better way to do it than with rainbow coffee at Home Cafe. This is not only instagrammable, but also comes in amazing flavors like the Cookie Monster latte, or the Birthday Cake latte.

Check the Golden Gate Bridge from Every Angle

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic symbol, and rightfully so. For many years after it was first built in 1937, the Golden gate was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. It became known as a symbol of the power and progress of the United States and set a tone for suspension-bridge designs around the world. 

No trip is complete to the Bay Area without seeing this iconic bridge, and although it was chilly, I was lucky with a few blue skies peaking out. There are a few perfect picture-taking spots with the bridge, some well known, others lesser-known.

A Trip to Fisherman’s Wharf

There are a few classic places to visit on Pier 39. Boudin was one of my stops. I had to get warm clam chowder in a bread bowl to warm my soul after standing outside. I also grabbed some warm crab. After my late lunch, I walked it off while walking past the adorable Sea Lions seemingly screaming into the void of the ocean.

Get Dim Sum and Have a Picnic

Chinese settlers came to California in the mid-1800s to mine for gold. Now San Francisco’s Chinatown offers incredible food, but it has spread outside the perimeter of the gates as well. Every time I visit San Francisco I have to get some form of dim sum. 

My must-try Dim Sum spots in the bay:

• Shanghai House: Get the pan-fried buns
• Dumpling time: Vegetarian options available, but also the best Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) around. They offer an extra-large XLB that you can drink with a straw!

Although going to get Dim Sum is fun on its own, there are a variety of parks in San Francisco. I love to grab dim sum and take it to one of the many parks. It can be hard to choose where to go, but I decided on Mission Dolores Park. There is a good variety of people watching, and known to have better weather than Golden Gate Park. 

So, I grabbed some to go food at Dumpling Time and had a picnic.

Get Sugar High Vibes

There are many places where you can raise your blood sugar in the bay. This may not be great for my waistline, but I can’t help but indulge. 

U-Desert Story

The perfect afternoon rush is at U-Desert Story. There are two locations, one is in the Mission and is an all-desert cafe. The other is in Berkley and offers desert, but also Japanese brunch, like omurice. You can’t go wrong with either choice. 

Must try dessert items: 

• Seasonal crepe cake: I had Pandan (young coconut) flavor, but they also offered Thai Tea!
• Beer bingsoo: This is beer with a shaved ice ball inside
• Milk bread with pandan dip
• Other flavored bingsoo: This is basically Korean shaved ice with different flavors such as chocolate pistachio, or lychee, and strawberry

Ice-Cream

One of the most well-known things to do in the Bay Area is getting ice cream. Not sure how this trend became one because it is always 65 degrees, but there are some amazing choices such as:

• CREAM: All that is offered here are freshly baked cookies and creamy ice cream sandwiched between them
• Bi-Rite creamery and bakeshop: Grab a cone or cup from the window serving station
• Fenton’s: Get a sundae…you’re welcome
• Ghiradelli: Known all over the world, the original location is located in San Francisco
• Humphry Slocombe: Exciting and new flavors are found at this local ice cream shop

I decided to go with an ice cream sandwich at CREAM!

Boba Tea

Known as bubble tea in other locations, this Taiwanese tea drink made with tapioca balls is famous in the bay. I always try to order some variation of brown sugar boba with a cream top or a creme brulee top. Some other good choices are taro milk tea or Thai tea. I went to Boba Guys and got a Thai Tea Boba.

Other good boba stops in the bay include:

• Truedan Westlake: Daly City
• Sweet Moment: San Mateo
• Tea Top: Milpitas
• Boba Bliss: Dublin

Get a Treasure Box

Sushi is amazing in the bay area. My favorite to go sushi in the bay is, the “treasure box” from Yubu by the Shota SF. 

The treasure box includes sea urchin, toro, unagi, crab, marinated salmon roe, and sushi rice. It comes complete with seaweed to create hand rolls, it is the perfect picnic option. You can also add caviar if you want to be fancy, or grab a donburi box which is a little less pricy, but still a lot of flavors.

Ride the Cable Car

The San Francisco cable car system is unique and is a way to head back in time. The cable car originally climbed the hills of San Francisco in the 1870s. It is easy to find the cable car, and it costs $8, so bring cash unless you buy it ahead of time. 

There are three cable car lines. Two are located at Powell and Market, then continue to the Fisherman’s Wharf area. Another starts at California and Market and continues to Van Ness Avenue. 

You can board at the cable car turntables which is the beginning or end of each route, or you can look out for the brown-and-white cable car signpost.

Take in Classic Landmarks

Painted Ladies

Love the show Full House? Me too! This is why I had to visit the iconic houses where the Tanner family “lived”. There is a park nearby, but I pretty much just took a walk alongside them.

Mission Murals 

Next, I headed to find the Mission Murals. These are located all over the MIssion district which is a Latino neighborhood. It is not fully gentrified, so there are still lots of great restaurants. I was pretty full (after eating all day) by the time I got to the Mission, but the pupusas smelled really good.

16th Avenue Steps

Finally, to end my day, right as the sun began setting, I made it to the 16th avenue steps. These steps are covered in mosaics and are just beautiful. Although there was a good amount of people there, I was able to get a shot on the steps by waiting a few minutes. It was really a perfect end to a perfect weekend.

The Final Bunch

Before heading out I had to have one final brunch in the bay area. I headed to Son & Garden for a Korean-inspired meal. They have one location in San Francisco, and another in San Mateo. 

I ordered the fried chicken bibimbap, as well as the ricotta lemon pancakes, a mocha, and smokey Chinese tea. Not only is this an adorable restaurant, but the food was amazing! It was the perfect end to a perfect weekend in the bay.