Downtown and Hayes Valley
Spend a morning downtown and the density of delights allows you to do everything from sampling Chinatown's fragrant food markets to visiting cheeky African penguins. The jade green gate on Grant Avenue makes an impressive entrance to Chinatown, but the tiny side streets offer transporting charm. Head west to Hayes Valley, which revived when the freeway was torn down after the '89 quake, to explore the vest-pocket shops and sidewalk cafés.
Eat
Gold Mountain
644 Broadway, (415) 296-7733.
The best dim sum in town.
Modern Tea602 Hayes St., (415) 626-5406.
Black, white, and herbal brews are served inside this soothing, lemon yellow tea salon.
Westfield Mall Food Court865 Market St., (415) 512 6776.
Blowing away the typical dismal mall food court, Westfield has such gems as Bistro Burger, which serves naturally raised beef, and Melt, which has perhaps the best gelato in the city. The mall also has a "family room," with a play area, chairs, microwave for heating up bottles, and private nursing areas..
Miette449 Octavia Blvd., (415) 626.6221.
Pick up some all-organic cupcakes from this bakery and candy store and eat them (or let kids burn off all that sugar) in the playground across the street.
Blue Bottle Coffee Company315 Linden St., (415) 252-7535.
Just down the street from Miette is the perfect pairing for your treat: fantastic drip coffee or a perfect New Orleans-style iced coffee.
Shop
Kite Shop
717 Grant Ave., (415) 989-5182.
Discover more than 1,000 flying wonders at this landmark Chinatown shop.
Lavish540 Hayes St., (415) 565-0540.
Browse for children's clothes and accessories, many by talented local designers.
Cotton Sheep572 Hayes St., (415) 621-5546.
Buy an alpaca diaper cover at this shop, which stocks primarily Japanese designs.
Do
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
56 Ross Alley, (415) 781-3956.
Watch the city's main fortune-cookie supplier assemble these famous treats.
SFMoMA151 Third St., (415) 357-4000; closed Wednesdays
World-class exhibits, plus a great shop that carries design-oriented toys for kids.
Yerba Buena GardensHoward St. and Third St., (415) 820-3550 (management office)
An airy space in the heart of downtown, with a waterfall, a carousel, and a larger-than-life playground.
California Academy of SciencesThe Howard St. location is now closed, but will be reopening 09/28/08. Golden Gate Park, 55 Concourse Dr., (415) 321-8000. Next Page: San Francisco Guide: The historic waterfront
