[GreatTallNorth2]

Hi everyone. I am travelling to California for business and I will have one free day to spend in San Francisco. I was wondering if any locals have suggestions how I should spend the day. I have been reading reviews of "Mr. Toad's Tours" and it looks pretty good. Do you have any other suggestions of what I should see in S.F. if I have 4-5 hours?

[CityKid]

I've never done one of the tours so I can't speak for them, but I personally think the city is best appreciated when walking around it. If you only have 4-5 hours, I would take a walk through downtown. Maybe start in Union Square, walking north through Nob hill to Grace Cathedral. After enjoying the views and the beautiful scenery, hang a right down Sacramento and walk north along Stockton or Grant St. through Chinatown to North Beach. There you will find a few local Italian eateries. Then take Montgomery down to the Transamerica Pyramid and take a stroll down to Market St through the Financial District. I'm a walking person though.

With all that said, you should do what you would enjoy the most. My father hates walking and would kill me if I had him do what I just told you. I also think a cable car ride is worth the time if you can avoid the long lines. I've lived in the city for two years now and still get giddy when I get on a cable car when friends visit. I would also suggest going to one of the many rooftop bars/restaurants that are in the city. In the downtown area there are quite a few depending on your tastes and budget: View Lounge at the Marriott (4th & Mission), the Top of the Mark at Mark Hopkins (California & Powell), the Carnelian Room at 555 California (California and Kearny), the Grand Hyatt (Stockton & Powell).

I personally, would not go to Fisherman's Wharf. I avoid that place like the plague. It's a bit of a tourist trap with no ascertainable value. There are great views of the bay there, but you can get those all over the city.

I hope this helps, and I hope you enjoy your stay in my fair city.

[twoNeurons]

I have a similar situation. We have our connecting flight in San francisco and have from 5:30am to 10am in San fran. I was thinking of jumping on the Bart and getting breakfast. Any suggestions with some decent food and atmosphere.
Maybe. Nice view would be nice too. Yes I want everything.

[BTinSF]

I have a similar situation. We have our connecting flight in San francisco and have from 5:30am to 10am in San fran. I was thinking of jumping on the Bart and getting breakfast. Any suggestions with some decent food and atmosphere.
Maybe. Nice view would be nice too. Yes I want everything.

Well, you could take BART to Powell St. Station and walk 4 blocks up Powell past Union Square to Sears Fine Foods for breakfast: http://www.searsfinefood.com/

There are several other breakfast places, some possibly even better, also in the vicinity of Union Square. Some say the best requires a 3-block hike (or cab ride) into the Tenderloin (from Powell & O'Farrell, 5 blocks total from the BART Station) to Dottie's True Blue Cafe: http://www.yelp.com/biz/dotties-true-blue-cafe-san-francisco

A longer cab ride (or a ride on the 30 Stockton bus that might be more than most out-of-towners could handle) could get you to Mama's in North Beach: http://www.yelp.com/biz/mamas-san-francisco

If you just have to have a view with your breakfast, it's going to cost you. There's the Top of the Mark (literally, top of the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel): http://www.topofthemark.com/menus.html . You'd have to take a cab (or the very crowded Powell St. cable car) up the hill from either Powell or Civic Center Stations.

Much less expensive would be to take BART all the way to Embarcadero Station, walk a block to the Ferry Building ( http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/merchant_list.php ) and either buy yourself some breakfast foods (pastries, coffee etc) at the shops there and have a little breakfast picnic by the Bay (go straight through the building) or perhaps eat an early lunch at Taylor's Refresher: http://taylorsautomaticrefresher.com/

Across the Embarcadero in the Embarcadero Center mall (by the ugly fountain--Justin Herman Plaza) are quite a few places that also serve lunch to huge numbers of office workers and also outdoor tables where you can eat.

The ugly fountain
http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/y9B18R_DOV6CAbMI3BWWjw/l
Source: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/4BEynSrSp_7TkTmicqb8ew?select=y9B18R_DOV6CAbMI3BWWjw

[twoNeurons]

Cool! Lots of great information. Sounds like if it's a nice day a walk down to the ferry building would be nice.

Top of the Mark is quite pricey, isn't it?

[nequidnimis]

Best croissant in San Francisco (by far) is at Tartine Bakeryhttp://www.tartinebakery.com/
They are at Guerrero and 18th St., near BART 16th St. Mission, but they do not open until 7:30 am. Mission Beach Cafe at 14th and Guerrero opens at 7am. Very good, but Tartine is out of this world good.

[plinko]

If you prefer crepes: Ti Couz (http://www.inetours.com/Pages/Dining_Archive/Ti-Couz.html)

16th and Valancia about 1 block up from BART (16th/Mission). Not the best neighborhood, but incredible crepes.

[nequidnimis]

If you prefer crepes: Ti Couz (http://www.inetours.com/Pages/Dining_Archive/Ti-Couz.html)

16th and Valancia about 1 block up from BART (16th/Mission). Not the best neighborhood, but incredible crepes.

Excellent suggestion - I love crepes - but they are closed for breakfast. Anyway, the Mission is San Francisco's most diverse neighborhood.