Enjoy the Excelsior!
Food Scene
This is a short list of nearby spots - of course SF is a foodie mecca, so let me know if you are looking for recommendations further afield.
Surprisingly good bar/restaurant combo. Cocktails are nuanced, food is upscale comfort food, ambiance is of a casual neighborhood spot.
37 moradores locais recomendam
The Dark Horse Inn
942 Geneva AveSurprisingly good bar/restaurant combo. Cocktails are nuanced, food is upscale comfort food, ambiance is of a casual neighborhood spot.
Authentic, reasonably priced, very tasty Filipino food. They have a decent amount of seating, but it is definitely not a fancy place. They tend to close pretty early like many of the other local restaurants here, and will sometimes close for vacation since they are family run, so check before you head over.
Pampanguena Cuisine
4441 Mission StAuthentic, reasonably priced, very tasty Filipino food. They have a decent amount of seating, but it is definitely not a fancy place. They tend to close pretty early like many of the other local restaurants here, and will sometimes close for vacation since they are family run, so check before you head over.
*dog-friendly on the patio (call ahead to ensure it's open)*
Not actually in the Excelsior so you'll need to trek up to Bernal Heights, but great for casual brunch/lunch, and not as hard to get into as many other brunch places in the City. They have an outdoor patio area as well as indoor seating, excellent food and mimosas (regular or grapefruit) - hot tip is to get the large one which is way more than twice the size of the small one (which is pretty small) and a much better value. There are some cute shops on the same block of Cortland to check out as well.
138 moradores locais recomendam
Bernal Star
410 Cortland Ave*dog-friendly on the patio (call ahead to ensure it's open)*
Not actually in the Excelsior so you'll need to trek up to Bernal Heights, but great for casual brunch/lunch, and not as hard to get into as many other brunch places in the City. They have an outdoor patio area as well as indoor seating, excellent food and mimosas (regular or grapefruit) - hot tip is to get the large one which is way more than twice the size of the small one (which is pretty small) and a much better value. There are some cute shops on the same block of Cortland to check out as well.
Wonderful newish spot with a very local vibe, great coffee, lots of ube & matcha treats. My favorite is the ube flan. Just walk down Excelsior to Mission Street and turn right - they are just around the corner.
Excelsior Coffee
4495 Mission StWonderful newish spot with a very local vibe, great coffee, lots of ube & matcha treats. My favorite is the ube flan. Just walk down Excelsior to Mission Street and turn right - they are just around the corner.
Double Shot Coffee
4587 Mission StAnother local coffeehouse which I have not been to but has great reviews.
*dog-friendly on the back patio (call ahead to confirm)*
Another neighborhood favorite which I have not personally been to yet, but people love. Apparently a dive bar/casual-but-good food spot, with a dog-friendly back patio.
47 moradores locais recomendam
The Broken Record
1166 Geneva Ave*dog-friendly on the back patio (call ahead to confirm)*
Another neighborhood favorite which I have not personally been to yet, but people love. Apparently a dive bar/casual-but-good food spot, with a dog-friendly back patio.
New-ish cajun restaurant owned by folks who live in the neighborhood. Definitely try the crawfish pot pie and the crab fritters! Beignets are small but decently fluffy/crispy (not doughnuts as you sometimes get when you order "beignets"). Cocktails are excellent as well. Open for dinner plus brunch on weekends.
8 moradores locais recomendam
Gentilly
4826 Mission StNew-ish cajun restaurant owned by folks who live in the neighborhood. Definitely try the crawfish pot pie and the crab fritters! Beignets are small but decently fluffy/crispy (not doughnuts as you sometimes get when you order "beignets"). Cocktails are excellent as well. Open for dinner plus brunch on weekends.
Right across the street in the back of the corner store is a great taqueria which has long been a local favorite, and was recently featured in Bon Appetit as one of the 8 Best Burritos in the City!
Don Chuys Mexi-Mercado
544 Excelsior AveRight across the street in the back of the corner store is a great taqueria which has long been a local favorite, and was recently featured in Bon Appetit as one of the 8 Best Burritos in the City!
Drinks & Nightlife
Decent cocktails at a decent price (no food, though I believe they allow you to order in). Free pool table in the back last time I was there! Good friendly neighborhood hang.
12 moradores locais recomendam
Rocks Den
4753 Mission StDecent cocktails at a decent price (no food, though I believe they allow you to order in). Free pool table in the back last time I was there! Good friendly neighborhood hang.
Parks & Nature
*dog-friendly*
Right up the (very steep) hill behind the house - walk up Excelsior and aim for the big blue water tower for a fabulous view of the City. There's also a nearby reservoir which is nice to walk around, and if you head all the way over the hill towards Visitacion Valley, there's a big golf course, and the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre (neither of which I've checked out myself).
99 moradores locais recomendam
Parque John McLaren
100 John F Shelley Dr*dog-friendly*
Right up the (very steep) hill behind the house - walk up Excelsior and aim for the big blue water tower for a fabulous view of the City. There's also a nearby reservoir which is nice to walk around, and if you head all the way over the hill towards Visitacion Valley, there's a big golf course, and the Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre (neither of which I've checked out myself).
Just inside the Haight-Ashbury end of Golden Gate Park is this lovely Victorian-style greenhouse, with cold and hot sections exhibiting a gorgeous variety of exotic flora.
232 moradores locais recomendam
Conservatório de Flores
100 John F Kennedy DrJust inside the Haight-Ashbury end of Golden Gate Park is this lovely Victorian-style greenhouse, with cold and hot sections exhibiting a gorgeous variety of exotic flora.
Arts, Culture, Science
The Exploratorium is a San Francisco institution devoted to science originally housed at the Palace of Fine Arts but now on the Embarcadero on the water. They have a "maker" spirit and all the exhibits are interactive and educational. Be prepared to run into lots of families and field trips, but it's still a fantastic experience for adults as well.
432 moradores locais recomendam
Exploratorium
Green StreetThe Exploratorium is a San Francisco institution devoted to science originally housed at the Palace of Fine Arts but now on the Embarcadero on the water. They have a "maker" spirit and all the exhibits are interactive and educational. Be prepared to run into lots of families and field trips, but it's still a fantastic experience for adults as well.
Another of San Francisco's gems, the Academy of Sciences was completely rebuilt a while back, with 2 "hills" of living roof topping it. One hill sits above the rainforest section which contains free-range butterflies and many reptile exhibits - after strolling up the spiraling ramp to the top, you can take the elevator down underneath to the aquarium - be sure to visit Claude, our albino alligator on your way back out to the main floor. The other hill is over the planetarium, and the rest of the space includes natural history exhibits (lots of dinosaurs), and we have a bunch of live penguins somewhere in the back. While you're there, you may want to head up to the tower at the deYoung Museum across the way for the 360 view - you should be able to get in there for free without museum admission.
816 moradores locais recomendam
Academia de Ciências da Califórnia
55 Music Concourse DrAnother of San Francisco's gems, the Academy of Sciences was completely rebuilt a while back, with 2 "hills" of living roof topping it. One hill sits above the rainforest section which contains free-range butterflies and many reptile exhibits - after strolling up the spiraling ramp to the top, you can take the elevator down underneath to the aquarium - be sure to visit Claude, our albino alligator on your way back out to the main floor. The other hill is over the planetarium, and the rest of the space includes natural history exhibits (lots of dinosaurs), and we have a bunch of live penguins somewhere in the back. While you're there, you may want to head up to the tower at the deYoung Museum across the way for the 360 view - you should be able to get in there for free without museum admission.