IFLY tips San Francisco
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View Lounge Marriott Marquis Hotel (1-2 hrs)
The iconic View Lounge, at the rooftop of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown San Francisco offers the best views of the city and the San Francisco Bay.
Go to this lovely bar for handcrafted cocktails and locally inspired plates while enjoying the stunning views. At the menu you will find small plates and large plates for sharing, offering local artisan cheeses and charcuterie as well as sandwiches, salads and seasonal entrees.
From the hotel lobby you can take the high-rise elevators to The View Lounge at the top floor. The opening hours are Sunday to Wednesday from 4 pm to 1 am and on Thursday to Saturday from 4 pm to 1:30 am. It is located just off Market Street at 780 Mission Street.
Enjoy at Supperclub (2½ hrs)
Supperclub is an international chain of special restaurants with several locations around the globe with its origin in Amsterdam. You don’t eat a la carte. Just relax at your bed while enjoying entertainment, wonderful food and great wines. And every evening is different. It is an experimental creative platform.
The club opens at 7 pm. You can have a lovely drink in the bar and at 7.30 pm the dinner experience will start. And in their terms of conditions they tell you this is military time. So you have to be on time. Supperclub is located at 657 Harrison Street. Telephone: +1-41-5348090. For more information, click here.
The Cheesecake Factory at Macy’s (1 hr)
If you like to eat something really American, at a wonderful location, go to Union Square in the heart of San Francisco. On the 8th floor of the Macy’s Building at Union Square (251 Geary Street) is a Cheesecake Factory. They have lots and lots of cheesecake, but many other dishes as well. Eating there is an absolute feast, both for your eyes and your stomach.
This is a very popular spot and it can be very busy. But if you have some patience, the food will make you very happy. It is worth waiting for. And during a wonderful summer day, you should try to have your lunch outside at the rooftop terrace. The restaurant is open from 11 am to 11 pm.
Japantown / Japan Center (1-2 hrs)
Japantown is a section located in the Western Addition neighbourhood of San Francisco. Bush or Pine Street borders the neighbourhood on the north and Geary Boulevard on the south. Its focal point is the Japan Center, the site of three Japanese-oriented shopping centres and the Peace Pagoda.
Japan Center, opened in 1968 is the best place in town to have Japanese food and buy Japanese goods. There are many eateries and shops including the Japanese bookstore Kinokuniya. For a directory and more information visit the Japantown website.
The stinking Rose (1-2 hrs)
For sure one of the smelliest restaurants in San Francisco is The Stinking Rose. The theme of this restaurant is garlic and the smelly garlic cloves are used in all dishes. They even serve garlic ice cream.
The restaurant is located at 325 Columbus (near Broadway) and is open daily at 11.30 am to 10 pm. Call them to make a reservation at 415 781 7673 or visit their website.
Little Italy of the west / North Beach (2-3 hrs)
North Beach, tucked between Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, is a favourite gathering spot for visitors and locals alike. Waves of immigrants have created a diverse ethnic mix in this neighbourhood. Today, the area is predominantly Italian and known as ‘Little Italy of the West’.
It’s mainly the restaurants that draw the crowds to North Beach, and you won’t be disappointed with any selection that you make. Traditional cafes, Italian delicatessens selling homemade pasta and bakeries offering tempting pastries line Columbus Avenue.
If you are looking for ‘Little Italy’, Washington Square is the heart and in many streets around this square you will find numerous lovely Italian places.
Haight Ashbury (1-2 hrs)
The history of ‘the Haight’ is as colourful as the Victorian architecture that lines the streets of this neighbourhood.
The Haight Ashbury community is universally recognized for its creativity and diversity expressed by the hybrid mixture of shops, residents and its landmark place in history. The style and ingenuity that started in the sixties still rings true today.
Haight Street is a wonderful street to stroll through and obviously you should visit one of the lovely small bars, restaurants, vintage boutiques or one of the other alternative shops.
Cow Hollow (1-2 hrs)
Cow Hollow is a generally affluent neighbourhood located between Russian Hill and The Presidio, bordering the Marina District on one side and Pacific Heights on the other. As its name would imply, in the old days the land was used for cow grazing and a settlement for fishermen (the coast line was much closer to this area than it is now).
Union Street, between Steiner and Ovtavia, is well known for its restaurants, boutique shopping, health spas and wellness centers.
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Language of the world
Of course you like to speak a few words of the local language onboard the plane or at your destination. Here you find some simple basics of the main language spoken in San Francisco.