I've also lived near Portland, OR most of my life and have been in or around Seattle, WA a lot of times if you're traveling elsewhere on the west coast as well.

cheers spirit

Restricting it just to the city and things that SpiritoftheRadio did not mention.

I strongly recommend Lefty O'Doul's in Union Square for a lunch. Yes it is cafeteria style, but the atmosphere and history is great, even better if you are a baseball fan.

Taking a cable car ride is an iconic thing to do in SF. But there are three routes so choose wisely.

The Top of the Mark (restaurant/bar at the top of the Mark Hopkins hotel, stunning views) is a great place to get a late night cocktail or a Sunday Brunch. Bear in mind that the Sunday Buffet is not particularly cheap.

North Beach (Little Italy) and Chinatown are adjacent. Chinatown is really something else if you have never been to a Chinatown before.

If you are in reasonably good shape, wear walking shoes. Most of the best parts of San Francisco are relatively close geographically (in the northeast quadrant of the city), but it is very hilly so a half mile walk feels a lot longer, and is harder on the body, than a half mile elsewhere.

My favorite church is Grace Cathedral, so I always recommend that to people if looking at churches is your thing.

Are you going to have a car and a few days to get out of SF? The most iconic sights are a drive away.

How long will you be here? How mobile will you be (car or no)? What is your budget?

Yosemite is probably worth a weekend if you'll be here a while. Stinson Beach, drive down Highway 1 to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Drive/Walk Lombard Street in SF. Bonfire on Ocean Beach. Walk across GG Bridge and back. Hike Mt Tamalpais. Ocean/Bay kayaking. See Beach Blanket Babylon. Work your accent on SF chicks.

Lot of options.

I vote for "Tadich Grill" if you want a classic SF restaurant experience.

the place has gone to hell ever since Diane Feinstein left as mayor to be a Senator

Yeah, ignore the ignoramus from San Diego.

I would say, don't just stay in SF. If you're in good shape, the headlands, Muir Woods, the coastal trail and especially Mt. Tam State Park (Ridgecrest Blvd and the trails around it are among the most beautiful places on earth for my money. East Peak is nice too. For a taste of coastal Marin, Mt. Tam, Bolinas, and the Coastal trail heading south from Muir Beach are my picks. (I'm a Marin native, so I'm biased. Also, if you're here on the right day, the Pancake Breakfast at West POint inn (hike in only, built in 1905, so very old Marin) are worth it.)

In SF, yes, Chinatown, although for ambiance and dining, I'd be inclined to head to the Mission. It's a cool mix between old school SF (mostly on MIssion. and you absolutely MUST check out 826 Valencia. A fun little shop that benefits Dave Eggers' writing program for local youth! Also, breakfast at Tartine might be worth the wait, and Revolution Cafe has a taste of old Mission. For evening dancing and dinner, Baobab. ) and new hipster techy stuff (Ritual coffee, excellent!, Regalito is a fave of mine.) Also, there's a lovely little cafe right by the corner of Dolores Park that's delightful for breakfast. Of course, you should check out Mission Dolores itself, where it all began. The other original buildings of San Francisco are in the Officer's club also in the Presidio, which I believe is the very fist building in SF, dating to 1776.)

Taditch's is a worth while old school experience. (I think I'd skip the Pier 39, 41 stuff, except maybe for Musee Mechanique. Instead, if you want a sense of the intellectual style of SF, go for the Exploratorium, which is an amazing science museum which has had a number of big name local artists, cutting edge science and great education all in one place.

I'd also spend a little time in Golden Gate Park. It's an significant part of the city that's older than the neighborhoods around it. The De Young was recently redone by Herzog de Meuron. and the Conservatory, and the Academy of Sciences.

I would also consider the Presidio Social Club for a classic brunch (across the street from ILM where the star wars movies are made!)

More ideas coming

If you want to connect with the local FTF hobby, the Bay Area Diplomacy Association has a minor tournament September 16-17 and I'm sure they'd be thrilled to have you drop in for a round.

Other than that? Spend time outdoors! Walk the Filbert steps from Coit Tower to the Embarcadero, especially on a clear day. Great views of the bay, really nice gardens, sometimes feral flocks of parrots, and costs you nothing (maybe a little sweat). Walk Divisadero from Geary to Castro to see neat Victorian architecture and a range of neighborhoods. Go to the Mission district and check out the street art in Clarion Alley. On the weekend go people-watching in Dolores Park.

If you go to SF Chinatown, try to find the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie factory, which is the last factory that makes them by hand. It's a neat 5-minute stop to pop in to watch them work and find out how good a hot fortune cookie tastes.

Lefty O'Doul's is cafeteria-style because, along with Tommy's Joynt, it's one of the city's last "hofbrau" carveries--casual German-derived eateries that used to be the most common type of restaurant in the Bay Area. But treat yourself to some upscale food also. San Francisco has some of the best modern cuisine in the world.

cheers my dudes
i have no idea what we are doing (i have not organised it)
will hopefully be able to go to some of these places that you guys have suggested

Sept 16? I may have to stop by

what sept 16 who said anything bout that
error

oh there i see
do they have a website ibadibam?

well drat i'll be around for at least the 18-20th

https://www.meetup.com/SF-Bay-Area-Diplomacy-Association/events/242744981/

grr blocked
anyway will have a look later and see if i can come

It seems like most tourists stay around Pier 39 (not 41, Spirit) or Union Square. If I were visiting SF, I would stay at the Hilton Financial District across from Portsmouth Square for good walking/transit access to most places you would want to go. The rates are probably better than Pier 39 or Union Square, too.

Here are some geographic clusters of things to do:

- SF Ferry Building, walk along Embarcadero, SF Giants baseball game at AT&T Park
- Dim sum brunch in Chinatown, walk into North Beach (Italian historic district), Coit Tower
- Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, ferry to Angel Island, tour Alcatraz, rent bikes and ride across Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods
- Golden Gate Park, possibly including DeYoung art museum, Japanese Tea Garden, Arboretum, Conservatory of Flowers
- Ocean Beach, Sutro Baths, SF Zoo
- Mission District for restaurants, nightlife
- Live music at any of many small venues, including the Fillmore, Warfield, Regency Ballroom, Great American Music Hall

i've been told i am staying near ghirardelli square
anything good to do round there?

apart from going to the square and getting some dece choccies of course

Download Lyft and expect to use it a lot.

i left my wallet in Saaan-Fraaaan--Ciso!!

For Chinese pastries, especially egg tarts, golden gate bakery in Chinatown is unbeatable. They do tend to be closed randomly a lot. There's a helpful website http://www.is-the-golden-gate-bakery-open-today.com.

The other place I really like is Brenda's French Soul Food in the tenderloin. Get the crawfish beignets.

Ghiradelli Square itself is not very exciting, but you are in close walking distance to the Marina District (lots of nightlife and restaurants) and Fisherman's Wharf. Also close to Fort Mason, Palace of Fine Arts, the Presidio, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

I agree re Brenda's in the Tenderloin, great place but not much else around for a tourist to do. Neighborhood is seedy at night, but I am comfortable walking there alone (stay alert!).

Be sure to wear a flower in your hair. As in the good old song.

Good music venues/night clubs: The Fillmore, Slim's, DNA Lounge (OddSalon), Make Out Room. And if you want an only in SF experience: AsiaSF.