10+ San Francisco Spots To Frequent if You Want To Be a True Local

Locals don’t ride cable cars around San Francisco and spend their days at Fisherman’s Wharf looking at the sea lions. Actually, we only do those things when out–of–towners visit. Here are 10 places locals actually spend time, so if you want to experience true SF life, make these stops.

Editor’s note: These spots are all taken directly from travelstoke®, a new app from Matador that connects you with fellow travelers and locals, and helps you build trip itineraries with spots that integrate seamlessly into Google Maps and Uber. Download the app to add any of the spots below directly to your future trips.

Mission and Valencia Streets

 Mission CheeseSan Francisco, United StatesThe Mission has the most street art of any neighborhood in the country. Enjoy walking between murals with burrito stops at La Taqueria, a beer and cheese flight break at Mission Cheese, thrift shopping on Mission Street, and perusing hip boutiques on Valencia Street. Check out how the Mexican influences have meshed with recent gentrification and watch out for resident hipsters on bikes flying down the street.

The Mission has the most street art of any neighborhood in the country. Enjoy walking between murals with burrito stops at La Taqueria, a beer and cheese flight break at Mission Cheese, thrift shopping on Mission Street, and perusing hip boutiques on Valencia Street. Check out how the Mexican influences have meshed with recent gentrification and watch out for resident hipsters on bikes flying down the street.

Golden Gate Park Disc Golf Course

 Golden Gate Park Disc Golf CourseSan Francisco, United StatesYou’re not going to see locals posing for pictures at Alamo Square. Instead, head to Golden Gate Park, SF’s Massive green space. You’ll see lots of other tourists on bikes, but you’ll find locals playing disc golf (rent frisbees at Golden Gate Park and Skate) and picnicking in Hellman’s Hollow. Bring some competitive friends along and make a day of it.

You’re not going to see locals posing for pictures at Alamo Square. Instead, head to Golden Gate Park, SF’s Massive green space. You’ll see lots of other tourists on bikes, but you’ll find locals playing disc golf (rent frisbees at Golden Gate Park and Skate) and picnicking in Hellman’s Hollow. Bring some competitive friends along and make a day of it.

Ocean Beach in the Outer Sunset

This neighborhood is a little far and quiet out for most tourists to visit, but if you trek over, there are a lot of great spots. Eat some of the city’s best dumplings at Kingdom of Dumpling, brunch at Outerlands or Judahlicious, visit SF’s surf shops like Aqua, and browse shops like General Store, which is out of place in a mostly residential area. Lots of locals walk their dogs on the beach and surfers are always out, despite the cold water.

 JudahliciousSan Francisco, United StatesThis neighborhood is a little far and quiet out for most tourists to visit, but if you trek over, there are a lot of great spots. Eat some of the city’s best dumplings at Kingdom of Dumpling, brunch at Outerlands or Judahlicious, visit SF’s surf shops like Aqua, and browse shops like General Store, which is out of place in a mostly residential area. Lots of locals walk their dogs on the beach and surfers are always out, despite the cold water.

 OuterlandsSan Francisco, United StatesThis neighborhood is a little far and quiet out for most tourists to visit, but if you trek over, there are a lot of great spots. Eat some of the city’s best dumplings at Kingdom of Dumpling, brunch at Outerlands or Judahlicious, visit SF’s surf shops like Aqua, and browse shops like General Store, which is out of place in a mostly residential area. Lots of locals walk their dogs on the beach and surfers are always out, despite the cold water.

Kabuki Spa

 Kabuki Springs & SpaSan Francisco, United StatesMost visitors to Japantown eat ramen or sushi, roam the shops, and leave. Locals know that Kabuki Spa, right next door, is one of the greatest deals in town. Relax your muscles after days of climbing SF hills with a day pass to the steam room, sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge for $25. Go with some friends who don’t mind quiet and calm, or fly solo.

Most visitors to Japantown eat ramen or sushi, roam the shops, and leave. Locals know that Kabuki Spa, right next door, is one of the greatest deals in town. Relax your muscles after days of climbing SF hills with a day pass to the steam room, sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge for $25. Go with some friends who don’t mind quiet and calm, or fly solo.

Green Apple Books

 Green Apple BooksSan Francisco, United StatesThe Richmond District is the original Green Apple Books location. Roam thousands of used and new treasures and then go two doors down to another annex store. Take a book break and read over dim sum at one of many dim sum shops on Clement Street or Burmese food at neighboring Burma Superstar. Green Apple is also a great place to kill time when you’re on the waitlist for Burma Superstar.

You’ll lose track of time in the Richmond District’s original Green Apple Books location. Roam thousands of used and new treasures and then go two doors down to another annex store. Take a book break and read over dim sum at one of many dim sum shops on Clement Street or Burmese food at neighboring Burma Superstar. Green Apple is also a great place to kill time when you’re on the waitlist for Burma Superstar.

A 16

 A 16San Francisco, United StatesPricey but delicious Italian food, pizza and amazing wine selection. An SF favorite located on chestnut in the Marina.

Treasure Island

 Treasure islandSan Francisco, United StatesStuck right between SF and the East Bay, Treasure Island isn’t a destination most tourists (or even locals!) visit. But it hosts great art festival monthly, and music festivals annually. There’s also a lot of room to bike and a few wineries that are worth a visit. Visit before all the spooky former government buildings are knocked down to make room for commercial development. Take a bus over from the Embarcadero or drive. There’s no ferry, yet.

Stuck right between SF and the East Bay, Treasure Island isn’t a destination most tourists (or even locals!) visit. But it hosts great art festival monthly and music festivals annually. There’s also a lot of room to bike and a few wineries that are worth a visit. Visit before all the spooky former government buildings are knocked down to make room for commercial development. Take a bus over from the Embarcadero or drive. There’s no ferry, yet.

The Ferry Building Farmer’s Market

 San Francisco Ferry BuildingSan Francisco, United StatesEach Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, some of SF’s best produce, cheese, bread, and seafood purveyors set up shop at the Ferry Building. Locals pick up weekly produce, and wait way-too-long in line for really good rotisserie chicken. Dining with a view of the Bay is expensive at neighboring restaurants, but cheap when you grab picnic supplies from local farms and walk out back.
#cheap-eats

Each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, some of SF’s best produce, cheese, bread, and seafood purveyors set up shop at the Ferry Building. Locals pick up weekly produce and wait way-too-long in line for really good rotisserie chicken. Dining with a view of the Bay is expensive at neighboring restaurants, but cheap when you grab picnic supplies from local farms and walk out back.

The Tipsy Pig

 The Tipsy PigSan Francisco, United StatesThis Marina hot spot, with its cute outdoor patio lit by string lights, is perfect for Happy Hour and getting the night started. Tip? They are known for their Strawberry Fields, so you might as well do like the locals do and drink these forever (or you know, for the night) #happyhour #sf #bites #nightlife

Planet Granite

 Planet Granite San FranciscoSan Francisco, United StatesJoin local climbing buffs at one of the city’s best gyms, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Day passes are available for climbing and yoga. Work up a sweat and then cool down with a walk along Crissy Field or head into the Presidio if you’re looking for a long walk.

Join local climbing buffs at one of the city’s best gyms, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Day passes are available for climbing and yoga. Work up a sweat and then cool down with a walk along Crissy Field or head into the Presidio if you’re looking for a long walk.