In San Francisco for a weekend getaway, a soccer match, or quick layover and find yourself with 10 hours to spare? That’s more than enough time to keep the fun going and cover a whole lot of San Francisco.
That was the mandate for the San Francisco “Extra Time” team. Their specific goals: Get some exercise, enjoy some local food and drink, and enjoy a close-up cultural experience.
See how these travelers made the most of a day in the City by the Bay, from the iconic bridge to Chinatown and more.
Hike the Batteries to Bluffs Trail for dramatic coastal views
For one of the best short San Francisco hikes with a big payoff, head to the Batteries to Bluffs Trail in the Presidio. The scenic coastal path winds along the rocky bluffs above Baker Beach, offering views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city skyline. Along the trail, you’ll also encounter historic military batteries in the cliffs, and wildflowers and birds.
Sip espresso at Equator Coffees with a Golden Gate Bridge backdrop
Does a better coffee shop view exist? The Equator Coffees Round House Cafe sits at the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, just steps from the pedestrian path. Originally opened in 1937, the Art Deco building offers nearly 360-degree views of the surrounding Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Keep it simple with an espresso drink or pour-over, or try one of Equator’s specialties, like the Black Cherry Matcha Cloud, topped with housemade black cherry cold foam.
Climb up the colorful, tiled Hidden Garden Steps
Located in the Inner Sunset on 16th Avenue, the Hidden Garden Steps are a neighborhood gem and one of San Francisco’s historic stairways. The mosaic-covered steps feature a garden-inspired design with plants, animals, and insects. Designed by artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher, who also created the nearby Avenue Tiled Steps, the staircase dates back to around 1927.
Enjoy a classic taste of Chinatown at Good Mong Kok Bakery
Take your dim sum to go at Good Mong Kok Bakery, a beloved counter-service spot in San Francisco’s Chinatown that’s known for both its Cantonese dumplings and steamed buns. Beyond the popular char siu bao (BBQ pork buns) and siu mei (shrimp and pork dumplings), other go-to orders include pineapple buns and turnip cakes. This affordable spot requires a little bit of patience (and preferably cash): There’s often a line but it tends to move fast.
Raise a glass to philosophical thought at The Interval
Check out a 10,000-year-clock with an elaborate set of gears, then discuss it over a cocktail at The Interval Long Now Tea Bar. The bar and community space—which also has a small library and artwork by musician Brian Eno—is sponsored by the Long Now, a group that encourages visitors to see themselves as part of the long arc of history.
Consider sipping an Atypical Paradigm (Averna, pineapple, lemon, and cayenne) or the Golden Gate Bridge–inspired International Orange (aged gins, vermouth, and bitters).
Bask in opera, ballet, and history at War Memorial Opera House
Near City Hall, the War Memorial Opera House opened in 1932 as both the home to the San Francisco Opera and a memorial to San Francisco soldiers lost in World War I. Befitting its historic grandeur, it also hosted the group drafting the charter to the United Nations in 1945.
Today you can see performances by either the San Francisco Opera or the San Francisco Ballet, including the annual production of The Nutcracker, and take the Ballet’s tours of the Opera House on select dates each season.