Discover our locals' 156 hidden gems in San Francisco
Let's uncover San Francisco’s hidden gems with Spotted by Locals! From local coffee shops to secret viewpoints, our Spotters bring you the city's best-kept secrets. Discover San Francisco through the eyes of true locals.
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Check out our latest hidden gems in San Francisco
Things to do in San Francisco
Free Gold Watch
Honest old school pinball palace
When I can hear the sound of spare coins jingling, I get an itch for a real pinball fix and head to the Haight and Free Gold Watch in San Francisco...
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Byron
Beach
View Deck at UCSF
Best view in Western SF
When I want to know if the fog is coming in under the GG bridge in SF, I walk over to the public deck at UCSF's Helen Diller Medical Center...
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Byron
Beach
6th Ave Skate Park
Daily free roller skate party
When I am in Golden Gate Park in SF, I almost always stop for a few minutes at the 6th avenue skate park to watch the skaters dance to the music...
by
Byron
Beach
GG Park Golf Course
A 9-hole gem
I love coming to the Golden Gate Parks Golf Course in SF in the morning, where it's almost 100% guaranteed to be foggy...
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Byron
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Columbarium
History, heritage and dioramas
The SF Columbarium is one of the only cemeteries within San Francisco city limits. Pair a diorama with a dash of biography & you have me hooked...
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Byron
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Green Apple Books
Get lost in a real book store
"Green Apple Books" in San Francisco is one of my favorite places to get lost for an afternoon. Unmatched levels of discovery await...
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Byron
Beach
Zazie
A bit of French dining all day long
"Zazie" in SF is my perfect local French bistro, whether I'm up at 8 am, peckish at lunch or in the mood for the greatest pork chop in town...
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Byron
Beach
The Turrell Skyspace
A hidden meditation
"The Turrell Skyspace" in San Francisco is a hidden oculus buried underground that provides a moment of either meditation or social overload...
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Byron
Beach
Ushi Taro
Ramen with beef bone marrow
"Ushi Taro" is a tiny ramen house that specializes in beef ramen. A personal favorite is their spicy tomato beef ramen that never fails to warm my core...
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Byron
Beach
InoVino
Italian wine bar
"InoVino" in San Francisco is a lovely Italian bar with amazing food! The arancini are my go-to bites with either a Verdicchio or a Barolo...
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Byron
Beach
Corbin Steps
Fantasy garden stairway
The "Corbin Steps" represent everything delightful & quirky about San Francisco. It's an art project composed of fantasy creatures built of found objects!
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Byron
Beach
Ferry Plaza Wine
Wine by the bottle
"Ferry Plaza Wine" in the San Francisco Ferry building is, perhaps surprisingly, one of the best wine bars in the Bay Area...
by
Byron
Beach
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What to do in San Francisco?
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156 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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Our local Spotters share personal tips and secrets about their city. Nothing sponsored! These unique insights can’t be found in traditional guidebooks. Discover the city through the eyes of a local!
Go off the Beaten Path Gems
We focus on hidden gems and unique places that aren’t crowded with tourists. Our Spotters’ tips help you avoid the crowds and have truly special experiences, far from the tourist masses.
Responsible Travel
Hi! Nice to meet you.
We are Spotted by Locals. An online travel community publishing city guides in 80+ cities. Our hand-picked local writers and photographers create all the content.
Our 488 Spotters (and counting) live in the cities they write about, speak the local language, and regularly update their tips. Their insights help around 1.4 million travelers each year discover the hidden gems of cities.
With insider advice from locals, we offer a unique, sustainable travel experience, allowing travelers to slow down and immerse themselves in the local culture, beyond the tourist hotspots.
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