San Francisco’s must-see landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are amazing. But if you’re looking to act like a local in San Francisco it is time to step away from the crowds of tourists to sample the City’s hidden gems. Thankfully, there are many San Francisco off the beaten path places to visit. These spots are where the locals go for coffee, food, and fun.
Read on for our list of the 11 best San Francisco off the beaten path places to visit.
Take the Ferry to Surrounding Cities
The San Francisco Bay Area has an extensive ferry system that connects the bayside cities with each other, and with Angel Island State Park. The ferry is easy to use and flexible enough to let you add stops on the fly.
Grab a coffee in Larkspur, explore downtown Tiberon, or take a night stroll on the Sausalito waterfront. Can’t decide? You can easily use the ferry to visit more than one city in the day.
Stroll Through Angel Island State Park
Situated in the San Francisco Bay in the shadow of its more famous, albeit smaller, neighbor Alcatraz Island, Angel Island State Park is accessible by ferry from San Francisco or Tiburon.
Angel Island offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Bay, including the San Francisco skyline and three of the Bay Area’s famous bridges: the Bay Bridge, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Amid the fresh marine air and quiet meadows, you can enjoy many California native plants and historic buildings, including a civil war era chapel and immigration station.
Insider’s Tip: Love to explore the city at street level? Check out our self-guided San Francisco city tour.
Spend an Evening at Presidio Bowl
Look out for gutter balls at Presidio Bowl, a bowling destination where all 12 lanes are equipped with automatic scoring and bumpers for kids eight-and-under. Glow in the Dark bowling happens on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. too!
Grab some tater tots and a grass-fed burger or buttermilk fried chicken sandwich at their terrific grill. They also feature an outdoor patio, full bar offering 45+ beers, ciders, seltzers, and wines by the glass. This San Francisco off the beaten path bowling alley gets busy, so reservations are recommended, although not required.
Insider’s Tip: Looking for more nightlife activities? Check out our post on the best things to do in San Francisco at night!
Visit the Walt Disney Family Museum
Learn all about animation at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Located across from the Presidio’s Main Parade Lawn, the museum showcases rare hand-drawn cells and manuscripts from famous Disney projects like The Jungle Book.
You can also see documents demonstrating some surprising contributions Disney made to the World War II war effort. For the more hands-on among you, the museum even offers in-person and virtual art classes for children and adults.
Eat Off the Grid
Every Friday night from April to November, food trucks gather from near and far for Off the Grid: Fort Mason Center. Watch the fog roll in under the Golden Gate Bridge while enjoying live music, a full bar, and an eclectic sampling of creative eats. From Brazilian street food and noodles to Maine lobster, there is something for every foodie to love.
It gets crowded, so come early. This block party runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sample Food and Beer at Tommy’s Joynt
Tommy’s Joynt is a San Francisco institution that has been serving comfort food for generations. Opened in 1947 by Tommy Harris, this Hofbrau is known for its simplicity and amazing slow-cooked food, including corned beef, brisket, and buffalo.
Don’t be deterred if you see a line. Tommy’s Joynt has a unique system and etiquette to get you fed quickly. Here is all you need to do to fit in at this cafeteria-style eatery like a local: bring cash and have your order ready by the time you get to the counter because they really move. Drinks are ordered separately from their full bar, which has over 100 bottled beers from around the world.
Explore the Musée Mécanique
This place is a kick and can make hours disappear in a flash! Musée Mécanique has over 300 coin-operated arcade games, automated musical instruments, and other mechanical wonders for you to enjoy. Family-owned and operated since 1933, Musée Méchanique located at Pier 45 near Fisherman’s Wharf.
Show your kids what games were really like, or just enjoy them for yourself. All of the classics are there, from early 20th-century arm wrestling and fortune teller games to Donkey Kong and pinball. You’ll have so much fun at this worthwhile San Francisco off the beaten path spot.
Grab Coffee at Ocean Beach
Picture it: dawn is breaking and the local surfers and early risers descend on Ocean Beach. Where do they go to warm up with a coffee and pastry? Java Beach Café (1396 La Playa Street) of course!
This popular spot is at the crossroads of Judah and La Playa Streets at the end of the Judah Muni Bus line. They will welcome you in from the cold and fog starting at 6 a.m. on weekdays and 6:30 a.m. on weekends.
Peek into the Past at Legion of Honor
San Francisco has many incredible museums. But the most beautiful by far is the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park. This wonderful structure is a 3:4 scale copy of Paris’ Musée de la Légion d’Honneur, and is dedicated to Californian soldiers who died in World War I.
Situated at Lands End, the museum is surrounded by tall trees and incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate. Inside, the twisting marble stairways and maze of rooms display treasures from ancient art to European paintings to art photography.
Discover the Cartoon Art Museum
For a less serious type of art, visit the Cartoon Art Museum. A captivating place of fun and inspiration, their exhibits are constantly changing to showcase a variety of styles, topics, and formats including political cartoons, newspaper staples, and graphic novels. Featured artists have included Edward Gorey, Bill Watterson, Dr. Seuss, and Charles Schulz, just to name a few.
Wander Through the Grace Cathedral Labyrinths
Meditate and find peace at one of the two Grace Cathedral Labyrinths. The outdoor labyrinth is open daily. Monthly candlelight walks are also facilitated by Labyrinth Guild volunteers. On Tuesday nights, the indoor labyrinth is transformed into a yoga studio for Yoga on the Labyrinth events and features expert instruction and live music.
Want a real-life crash course in how to eat like a local in San Francisco? Join our Ultimate San Francisco Food Tour for a foodie adventure you won’t soon forget!
