The extensive Sunset District spans the entire lower western half of our seven mile circumference, bordering the length of both Golden Gate Park and the Pacific with Ocean Beach. With its expanse, you can guarantee that this sunny neighborhood will be filled with a multitude of great food and activities.
Aside from the tempting sand dunes and beach bonfires, you can easily spend a whole day in this coastal district just through exploring all its bustling blocks. Listed below are our recommendations for a perfect itinerary here.
See also: The Ultimate Guide To A Day In The Vibrant Mission District
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3876 Noriega St / Website
Having also made our list for Best Breakfast Sandwiches, the hearty handmade menu here truly remains a standout winner in our book. Nothing will make your morning in this neighborhood better than grabbing a fresh breakfast sandwich stuffed with melty cheese and soft scrambled eggs and then taking it to the serene waterfront.
We also encourage you to also wash your meal down with a creamy Snowy Plover from nearby Andytown Coffee Roasters on Taraval Street!
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1231 9th Ave / Website
After properly fueling up, we highly urge you to peruse the wonderfully cute and replete Green Apple Books. This location sits just off Golden Gate Park, making it ideal to find your next favorite read (how about a San Francisco classic?) to then enjoy right across the street in our magical park. You might even be lucky enough to catch one of their many famous authors occasionally guest speaking inside!
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3906 Judah St / Website
In channeling the light seaside breeziness, Judahlicious is our lunch pick for all things also fresh and holistically healthy. Their entirely vegan and raw meals will revitalize you with their generous portions, like their large burrito bowls and refreshing smoothies, while their chill, inviting atmosphere will remind you to relax and take things slow.
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16th Ave / Website
After a bright lunch comes an even brighter set of stairs! The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are a secluded local favorite, and one that are a must to view while here. This hidden gem is a great way to get a small workout in going up or down, revealing a gorgeously adorned mosaic mural that radiates with the sunlight.
This is the perfect tucked-away Instagram moment, with another bonus site if you wish to conquer the rewardingly panoramic summit of nearby Grand View Park!
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1915 Irving St / Website
To reenergize after that exhilarating sightseeing, warm pillowy pineapple buns are the deliciously novel choice. While a bit of a misnomer, as the Chinese pastries are called pineapple buns for the texture and appearance of their outer crunchy sugar crust, these buns are still delightful with their buttery filling of either sweet or savory options. We recommend ordering a sampler of a few, such as their black sesame custard, guava, and barbecue pork.
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807 Lincoln Way / Website
This authentic tavern just off of Haight Ashbury is a must as one of San Francisco's oldest bars. Open since the 1890's and having survived the 1906 earthquake, walking in their cozy atmosphere is truly a step back in time, which you can appreciate with their many classic drink options.
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1031 Irving St / Website
For dinner, San Tung is a no-brainer. This extremely popular restaurant is consistently sought-after for their absolutely crisp and divine dry-fried chicken wings. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, or if planning to go spontaneously, just be ready to have a bit of wait time, which you can kill at the surrounding spots on Irving.
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3639 Taraval St / Website
Lastly, a fantastic way to end your night with a bang is at The Riptide. Enjoy a live musical performance ranging from jazz to bluegrass, classical, and rock with their many drink options in this landmark lodge that has been operating since 1941. See the calendar of their genuinely entertaining shows and other community events of bingo and themed nights here.
While not a complete list of everything fabulous in this exceptional neighborhood, this list of ideas will truly set you for a long and fulfilling day of diverse sights, sounds, and tastes that is uniquely Sunset District!
See also: Our Ultimate Tourist Route For Optimally Sightseeing All Of San Francisco
Photography by: Nicolas Backal/Unsplash
