San Francisco has one of the highest cost of living in the world and visitors may be taken aback by the food prices in the city. However, there are ways to enjoy the best food San Francisco has to offer without breaking the bank. From dimsum to wings to pizza, check out SF’s most affordable restaurants below. You can check out all the place on this Google Map.

Bob’s Donuts | Nob Hill

Located in the Embarcadero, the San Francisco Ferry Building has a lot to offer besides just being a port for incoming ferries from around the Bay Area. Read on below for the other different things you can do and eat at the SF Ferry Building. You can find directions to get to the Ferry Building here.

Browse the Latest Page-Turners at Book Passage

Try Unique Ice Cream Flavors at Humphrey Slocombe

Grow Your Own Mushrooms at Far West Fungi

Discover Interesting Knick-Knacks at The Gardener

Enjoy a Wine Tasting at Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant

Check Out Handmade Pottery at Heath Ceramics

Sip Tea at Imperial Tea Court

When in San Francisco, don’t miss out on its museums. The city features world-class museums in art and science – from the Exploratorium at Pier 15 to the Legion of Honor, a replica of the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris. Take a look at the various museums all around the city, some of which are free!

Cable Car Museum

Located in Nob Hill, the Cable Car Museum is a small but mighty museum that houses a collection of historic cable cars, photographs, displays and a gift shop. You can also directly see the cables and engines running inside the museum, which also houses a car barn and power house. You probably won’t spend more than 20 minutes inside the museum, but it’s a quick, fun, and free museum about San Francisco’s most famous transportation – cable cars. There’s also a cute café (Cable Car Café) directly across the museum where you can grab a quick bite or coffee. You can also grab fun little cable car trinkets at the museum store.

As of July 2021, the Cable Car Museum is currently closed to the public. Cable Cars are scheduled to start running at their regular operational hours in August and the museum will probably resume operations at this time as well.

• Website: http://www.cablecarmuseum.org/
• Location: 1201 Mason St. San Francisco, CA 94108 (Nob Hill)
• Hours:
  • Mon: Closed
  • Tue – Thu: 10 AM – 4 PM
  • Fri – Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM

• Admission: Free
• Reservations: Not Needed
• Face Coverings: Required

Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is a fun and educational, hands-on museum that is entertaining for both children and adults. Located on Pier 15, the museum offers a variety of exhibitions centered around science and art/design. You can check out the full list of exhibitions here. The museum also offers free admission to California public school teachers, EBT card holders, and MediCal/CalFresh recipients. Learn more about it here.

During the daytime, the museum is usually busy with families and their children and can get pretty loud and lively. On Thursday evenings (6-10 PM), the museum offers an adult only (ages 18+) admission time where adults can enjoy the exhibitions while sipping cocktails. The After Dark admission for adults is a popular date spot and Thursday nights can be quite busy with couples everywhere!

There are 2 food options inside the museum – the Seaglass Restaurant and Seismic Joint Café. There are also plenty of food options near-by with Coqueta, The Waterfront, and La Mar Cebicheria. You can also walk a little further over to Pier 39 for more restaurants.

• Website: https://www.exploratorium.edu/
• Location: Pier 15 (Embarcadero @ Green St.) San Francisco, CA 94111 (Embarcadero)
• Hours:
  • Mon + Tue: Closed
  • Wed – Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM
  • Thu (Ages 18+): 6 – 10 PM
  • Sun (Daytime Members/Donors Only): 10 AM – Noon
  • Sunday: Noon – 5 PM

• Admission:
  • Adults (18-64): $29.95
  • Seniors, People with Disabilities, Teachers, Students, Youths (13-17): $24.95
  • Youth (4-12): $19.95
  • Children (3 and under): Free
  • California Public School Teachers, EBT Card Holders, MediCal/CalFresh recipients: Free (Learn more about free admission here)

• Reservations: Required – Reserve here
• Face Coverings: Required

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MoMA)

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museum of modern and contemporary art in the United States. Exhibitions include paintings, sculptures, photography, design and media arts – spread across seven gallery floors in 45,000 square feet. While admission is free for young children, I’d recommend SF MoMA for adults since the quiet environment of the museum may be stifling for kids. You can take a look at the latest MoMA exhibitions here.

In terms of food, you can grab coffee and light bites at the café located on the 5th floor. There is also a fine dining restaurant called In Situ on the first floor, which is currently closed for the time being. You can also grab food at any of the restaurants downtown in Yerba Buena and there is a food court located across the street at the Metreon.

• Website: https://www.sfmoma.org/
• Location: 151 Third St. San Francisco, CA 94103 (Downtown – Yerba Buena)
• Hours:
  • Mon: 10 AM – 5 PM
  • Tue + Wed: Closed
  • Thu: 1 PM – 8 PM
  • Fri – Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM

• Admission:
  • Adult (25+): $25
  • Young Adult (19 – 24): $19
  • Senior (65+): $22
  • Teen (13-18): Free
  • Child (12 and under): Free
• Reservations: Required – Reserve here
• Face Coverings: Required

Legion of Honor

The Legion of Honor is a fine arts museum that boasts an impressive collection of European art and sculptures. It is a three-quarter scaled replica of the 18th century Parisian original, the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris. You can take a look at current collections and exhibitions here. Besides the impressive art collection, the museum also boasts a scenic view right outside it.

There is a café inside the museum that you can grab food from. There aren’t any restaurants in the museum’s vicinity (none in walking distance) and you would have to go down south around Balboa Street in the Outer Richmond to find any sit-down restaurants outside of the museum. Outside food is currently not allowed at the Legion of Honor.

The Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum are part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), the largest public arts institution in SF. As such, all Legion of Honor tickets include same-day general admission to the de Young in Golden Gate Park. If you want to see any special exhibitions, a surcharge may apply.

• Website: https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/
• Location:  Lincoln Park, 100 34th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121 (Outer Richmond)
• Hours: Tuesdays – Sundays, 9:30 AM – 5:15 PM

• Admission:
  • Adult: $15
  • Seniors (65+): $12
  • Students (w/ Valid ID): $6
  • Youth (17 and under): Free
  • Learn more about free and reduced admissions here.

• Reservations: Required – Reserve here
• Face Coverings: Required

de Young Museum

The de Young Museum is a fine arts museum located in Golden Gate Park, directly across the Cal Academy of Arts. The museum features a wide variety of art, ranging from American to African. You can check the full collection here.

The Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum are part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), the largest public arts institution in SF. As such, all Legion of Honor tickets include same-day general admission to the de Young in Golden Gate Park. If you want to see any special exhibitions, a surcharge may apply.

While there are no restaurants in walking distance, there is a café inside the museum. There is a grassy sitting area outside to enjoy your food and drinks. You can either walk north to restaurants in the Richmond or walk south to the Inner Sunset.

• Website: https://deyoung.famsf.org/
• Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118 (Golden Gate Park)
• Hours: Tuesdays – Sundays, 9:30 AM – 5:15 PM

• Admission:
  • Adult: $15
  • Seniors (65+): $12
  • Students (w/ Valid ID): $6
  • Youth (17 and under): Free
  • Learn more about free and reduced admissions here.

• Reservations: Required – Reserve here
• Face Coverings: Required

California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a research institute and natural history museum in Golden Gate Park and is one of the largest museums of natural history in the world with over 46 million specimen. There is an aquarium, planetarium, and “rainforest” inside the museum. Similar to the Exploratorium, the Cal Academy of Sciences offers 21+ only nights on select Thursdays and it’s a popular date night spot for young adults.

The museum also offers an overnight sleepover for families with children. It is unfortunately unavailable during this time due to Covid-19. You can learn more about the Penguins + Pajamas Sleepovers here and check back to see when it’s available again.

• Website: https://www.calacademy.org/
• Location: 55 Music Concourse Drive San Francisco, CA 94118 (Golden Gate Park)
• Hours:
  • Mon – Sat: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
  • Sun: 11 AM – 5 PM
  • Thu (Ages 21+): 6 – 10 PM

• Admission: Ticket prices vary depending on time
• Reservations: Required – Reserve here
• Face Coverings: Required

Asian Art Museum

The Asian Art Museum boasts more than 18,000 Asian artworks, ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. The museum provides special exhibitions, cultural celebrations, and public programs. The museum is located in Civic Center, which can be a bit sketchy and grimy. It’s recommended that you take an Uber/Lyft here if you’re coming here with kids.

Museum admission is free every first Sunday of the month. You do have to pay an additional $10 if you’re looking to check out one of the special exhibitions. You can also enter for free if you work at any of the companies listed on their corporate sponsors page.

• Website: https://about.asianart.org/
• Location: 200 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 (Civic Center)
• Hours:
  • Thu: 1 – 8 PM
  • Fri – Mon: 10 AM – 5 PM
  • Tue – Wed: Closed

• Admission: Ticket prices vary – see full list here
• Reservations: Required – Reserve here
• Face Coverings: Required

For those coming to visit San Francisco, reports of rampant smash-and-grab thefts and increasing anti-Asian hate crimes may ring some alarm bells. However, as someone who currently lives in San Francisco, the city can be perfectly safe if you take the right precautions and know which neighborhoods to avoid. Here are some tips on how you can stay safe during your trip in San Francisco.

Avoid Walking Through These Neighborhoods

Whenever possible, avoid walking through the Tenderloin, Civic Center, and parts of SoMa/Downtown. These areas have a high concentration of crime, drug deals, and homelessness. Even the few blocks around these areas can seem a bit gritty, but you will be fine as long as you stay:

• East of Powell St.
• North of Post St.
• East of 5th St.

That isn’t to say that you should completely avoid the Tenderloin and Civic Center area. There are a lot of great restaurants and bars in the Tenderloin, as well as the Asian Art Museum and concert venues/theaters in the Civic Center. I would highly recommend that you take an Uber to these destinations. If you’re leaving the Civic Center area after a concert, the larger crowds coming out of the theater make it safe enough for you to walk to a BART station (Civic or Powell) or to walk a few blocks northeast up Market Street to call an Uber where it’s less crowded.

Besides the Tenderloin, Civic Center, and Soma, parts of the Mission can also be somewhat gritty and can drastically differ block by block. If you’re easily unsettled or uncomfortable with grittiness and homelessness, I recommend that you take an Uber/Lyft to the Mission, versus taking BART and walking around the neighborhood.

Don’t Bring a Car

If possible, don’t bring your car to San Francisco. Besides the difficult driving situation (crazy hills and one-way streets) and parking, one of the most common petty crimes to happen in the city are car break-ins. Car break-ins are up 735% (May 2021 vs. May 2020) as tourism picks back up in SF. These criminals specifically target tourist-heavy areas like Pier 39, Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Park, and Dolores Park because tourists are more likely to leave valuables in their cars. Tourist cars are also easily found in other neighborhoods because rental cars are easily identifiable and out-of-state license plates make them stand out.

If your car ends up being broken into, it’s highly unlikely that you will be able to get your belongings back even if you report it to the police. These break-ins and theft are so common that police often don’t make the effort to investigate. Unless a good Samaritan ends up finding your discarded belongings in the street and brings them to the police, you probably won’t be able to get them back.

If you drove to San Francisco…

Leave your car at your hotel’s parking garage during the duration of your trip and utilize other methods of transport to get around the city. It will give you a peace of mind, knowing that your car won’t be broken into and you can enjoy your stay in SF stress-free. The only time I’d recommend driving is if you’re visiting other parts of the Bay Area outside of San Francisco – such as Napa, Muir Woods, or the Marin Headlands.

If You Have to Bring a Car, Don’t Leave Anything Inside

If you do bring your car to San Francisco and prefer to drive around the city, make sure you leave absolutely nothing inside your car. A lot of tourists leave their luggage in their cars and often end up losing their passports and other valuables. Leave all valuables in your hotel room or carry them with you. Never, ever leave anything in your car.

If you have luggage, but already checked out of your hotel or haven’t checked in yet, you can store your luggage using any of the following storage services:

• Bounce
• Luggage Hero
• Radical Storage
• Vertoe

Practice Common Sense

Like any popular tourist destination, practice common sense:

• Stay aware of your surroundings. Don’t be absorbed in your phone.
• Don’t put your phone or wallet in your back pocket.
• If you see someone who is mentally unwell and violent, cross the street and avoid confrontation.
• Ignore people who try to sell you anything on the street (e.g. bracelets) or try to talk to you about their religion (e.g. Falun Gong followers, fake Buddhist monks).

Follow the above tips and you’ll be sure to have a safe, enjoyable getaway in San Francisco!