Perfect Day in Yerba Buena

Rise & Shine!

1. You wake up hungry in one of San Francisco’s most culturally rich districts. Steps away are a lots of choices. Thank goodness! Need a great pastry? Try The Grove on 3rd and Mission. There’s Arabian coffee at Delah at 370 4th Street. Breakfast is always delicious at Bin 55 in the Marriott Marquis at 4th and Mission or the Bean Bar at Hilton’s Canopy on 4th and Clementina.

Art is EverywHERE

2. After a bite, see some stunning and profound artwork. Take in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s (SFMOMA) stepped and patterned brick facade topped by a soaring cylindrical turret and enjoy one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States. The Contemporary Jewish Museum features the most fascinating works by artists exploring the Jewish experience. Next, walk one block to the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) which celebrates Black cultures and inspires learning through the global lens of the African diaspora.

overhead photo of bagels and other deli food

Feed Your Soul

3. After feeding your visual and aesthetic hunger, it’s time for lunch! Walk over to Wise Son’s Deli in the Contemporary Jewish Museum for California-inspired Jewish deli food. Or, indulge in the complex cuisines from the diverse regions of Mexico at Tropisueño on Yerba Buena Lane. Something simple? The most delicious Detroit-style pizza in San Francisco is at Joyride Pizza, with skyline views atop the Yerba Gardens Terrace.

photo of a quartet smiling in ice skates

Get in Motion or Be Still

4. Work off lunch for an hour at the Yerba Buena Skating Rink or Bowling Alley. Or, be still. Take a moment to relax in the green oasis of the Yerba Buena Gardens, then pamper yourself with a spa treatment at Massage Envy or Cellicon Skin, or give your nails a fresh, bold look at Nora Spa Salon.

photo of the storefront of the CA Historical Society museum

Respite Before the Evening Ramp Up

5. It’s later in the day now. How about a quiet adventure? Visit the American Bookbinders Museum or the California Historical Society. Each has exhibits illuminating California’s and the written word’s past. Take the Yerba Buena Public Art Audio Walking Tour, a self-guided audio tour that highlights the impressive collection of public art by renowned and emerging artists right here in Yerba Buena!

Food is the Star

6. Yerba Buena has internationally recognized restaurants and some of the best food in the City. Try Aphotic and Mourad, both Michelin- Star restaurants. Eat at Fly Trap, a San Francisco landmark restaurant in operation since the late 1800s! Enjoy French cuisine at Mathilde French Bistro that is tres magnifique! Walk to Buena Vida Cantina on Folsom Street for outstanding contemporary Mexican cuisine.

Nightlife to Remember

7. After dinner, it’s time to see why Yerba Buena is truly one of the most exciting neighborhoods in San Francisco. Walk to the Dawn Club and be transported to the prohibition-era with sexy live jazz and timeless cocktails. Or get a real speakeasy feeling at Cordials, tucked away at Jessie and Annie streets. Combine contemporary art with cocktails at The 111 Minna Gallery and enjoy local art shaken and stirred with superlative cocktails. Are you a traveler who wants to get to know some locals? Head to Tequila Mockingbird on 2nd Street. Perhaps you’d like a stunning visual as you sip your bespoke cocktail? Take the elevator to The View at the top of the Marriott Marquis and enjoy premium cocktails while gazing at the city’s wonderous evening elegance.

Photo of a DJ with fans raising their hands

Something to Tell Friends

8. Still in the mood for something special that you can tell your friends back at home? Stop by City Nights Nightclub and dance the night away to the best DJs and live music all on Harrison Street. Then, do it all over again tomorrow!

Spotlight on SOMA

In this video

San Francisco's SOMA neighborhood is a spirited and diverse community that celebrates Filipino culture and heritage, a gem in the heart of the City. From its delicious food and lively festivals to its rich history and passionate people, SOMA is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the best of San Francisco.

Getting to Yerba Buena

As a central neighborhood, Yerba Buena is easy to get to and from. BART/MUNI stations for Powell and Montgomery are both within blocks of the area. MUNI Bus lines 8X/8AX/8BX San Bruno, 14 Mission, 30 Stockton, 45 Union/ Stockton run past Yerba Buena. All Market St. routes, including Powell and Montgomery stations, are walkable.

The CalTrain Station at Fourth and Townsend Sts. is served directly by MUNI’s 30 Stockton, with stops on Third St. at Howard St. and at Mission St. Yerba Buena Gardens is also convenient to Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans and AC Transit downtown bus routes.

About Yerba Buena

Yerba Buena is where it all began. As one of San Francisco’s first neighborhoods, the district has seen times as a gold prospector’s camp and as a place where dockworkers and merchant seamen filled boarding houses.

Today’s iteration is that of thriving, thrilling neighborhood of art, culture, entrepreneurship and diversity in downtown San Francisco. As the arts and culture hub of San Francisco, the Yerba Buena district has the highest concentration of museums and galleries in the city, and is located within the larger SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District.

It bustles with more than 400 shopping, dining and entertainment venues, convention space and hotels. Here, technology companies, retailers and restaurateurs bring life to new ideas. Yerba Buena Gardens is the district’s green civic centerpiece.

Throughout its pioneering history, Yerba Buena has always been colorful to the core.

A Perfect Day in Yerba Buena was curated by the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District.

Mabuhay!

The SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Heritage District is a celebration of the love, pride and people power of generations of Filipinos in San Francisco and beyond.

The cultural heritage district spans 1.5 square miles, and honors 120+ years of history of Filipinos in San Francisco. It celebrates the community’s living legacy of making home, celebrating culture, building community, and fighting for economic and racial justice.

Learn more about SOMA Pilipinas

About

Shop Dine SF is an initiative of the Office of Small Business, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

Its aim is to bring attention to the local businesses and neighborhood corridors.

Spending money at local small businesses helps merchants, creates jobs, and is critical to San Francisco's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shop local. Even a small increase can have a big impact.

Questions? Email shopdinesf@sfgov.org