Ocean Aquarium San Francisco
Hidden fish store
You never know what you'll find on the most unsuspecting side alleyways. My friend and I decided to walk down Cedar Street as a shortcut. What we found was a typical SF back alley--nondescript, sleepy, and frankly more than a little dirty. But, by chance, we happened upon one of the nicer fish stores in the city. I got into tropical aquariums years ago and had never even known of this store's existence. Even if you're not into maintaining fish tanks, the ones on display here are truly works of art. How such a nice store found itself on such an overlooked back alley is beyond me, but I'm glad we were able to stop in. The people working here, most likely a family, were totally cool with us just walking around admiring their fish.
The moral of this story is that even in the most mundane places, there are often hidden gems like this. Side street shortcuts are everywhere in SF, and while it's true that some may be best avoided, every now and then one will hide something worth the detour. Be smart about it, but sometimes venturing off the beaten path isn't a bad thing.
Find your way with 156 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in San Francisco
Cornell Hotel de France
Beautiful hotel
"Cornell Hotel de France" in San Francisco is Jean D'Arc-themed and the building's over 100 years old. It's like a taste of France in the city...
by
Kathleen
Messmer
Queen Anne Hotel
A haunted beauty
The "Queen Anne Hotel" in San Francisco exhibits the timeless romance and grand style that the Gold Rush brought to the city in the 1800s...
by
Kathleen
Messmer
Biscoff Coffee Corner
Best coffee stop
"Biscoff Coffee Corner" in San Francisco offers speculoos biscuits with its coffee, using the original Belgian 'airline cookie' recipe dating back to 1932!
by
Kathleen
Messmer
Eagle Cafe
Best hangover spot for breakfast
Besides being a great place for breakfast or lunch, "Eagle Café" in San Francisco is a historic waterfront café where every single seat has a view!
by
Kathleen
Messmer
The Crab House
So much food!
"The Crab House" in San Francisco makes some of the best seafood around - and presented beautifully. It's like Fantasia, but for food!
by
Kathleen
Messmer
Graffiti Murals
Unbelievable
The Graffiti Murals in San Francisco, close to the Steiner end of Haight street, have been created by artists that are talented beyond imagination...
by
Kathleen
Messmer
Ingleside Terraces Sundial
Largest in the US
The "Ingleside Terraces Sundial" in San Francisco is the largest sundial in the US. It's more than 100 years old & still tells the time very accurately...
by
Kathleen
Messmer
Church of 8 Wheels
Holy rollers unite!
This San Francisco church has a rich history... today, the "Church of 8 Wheels", created by the Godfather of Skating, is the epicenter of the SF scene...
by
Nadine
Johnson
Talk About Stairs!
Neighborhood steps up
You might notice that each brick on this staircase at San Francisco's Coit Tower has a name written on it. Here's the forgotten story behind those names.
by
Kathleen
Messmer
CA Coastal Trail
Walk along the Pacific
"CA Coastal Trail" in Francisco is a calm, easy and beautiful hike that includes quite a few Bay Area landmarks - and all next to the ocean...
by
Kathleen
Messmer
Critical Mass
Better together
"Critical Mass" San Francisco is lots of fun and serious for some. Everyone is invited! No one is in charge! Body paint, optional.
by
Nadine
Johnson
Cinderella Russian Bakery and Cafe
Hits the spot!
Thanks to "Cinderella Russian Bakery and Cafe" in San Francisco, I can now find some of my favorite comfort food including the piroshki any time I want!
by
Nadine
Johnson
Heading to San Francisco?
156 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
Heading to San Francisco?
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 156 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite San Francisco
Our team loves San Francisco
Get to know our other Spotters from San Francisco
As featured on:
