Spend a DayIn the Mission District
Get to know one of San Francisco's trendiest neighborhoods with a day of dining, shopping and local culture.
Explore one of San Francisco's trendiest neighborhoods by dining at popular local restaurants, shopping at unique stores, and immersing yourself in the local culture. Spend a day getting to know the area and all it has to offer.
Ritual Coffee
1026 Valencia Street
San Francisco has several temples of third-wave coffee, but Ritual might be the most iconic. When it’s impossible to find a free table in this laptop farm, taking your cup of single-origin drip for a stroll down Valencia Street.
Grab a cup of JoeBalmy & Clarion Alleys/Precita Eyes
50 Balmy Street
Although massive, building-size murals are nearly everywhere, two narrow lanes stand out. Balmy Alley (off 24th Street, near Harrison) and Clarion Alley (south of 17th Street, between Mission and Valencia Streets) contain dozens of murals; some permanent, others routinely painted over. Precita Eyes, the de facto custodian of the Mission’s Latino heritage, maintains many of them and gives guided tours.
Check out the Mission District MuralsBi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th Street
Bi-Rite Creamery is one of San Francisco's most famous small-batch ice cream shops, located conveniently next to Dolores Park. Although the line can sometimes stretch down the block, it usually moves quickly. The creamery is particularly known for its salted caramel and balsamic strawberry flavors.
Valencia Street Vintage
714 Valencia Street
Valencia Street is a fantastic place for second-hand and vintage shopping. Valencia Street Vintage is a great option for impeccably curated clothing and accessories. Need a unique new outfit or funky piece of jewelry? You'll be able to find it here.
Shop in the MissionCreativity Explored
3245 16th Street
The Mission is a powerhouse in galleries and public art. The globally renowned and long-lasting Creativity Explored, a nonprofit that celebrates people with developmental disabilities, combines entrepreneurial altruism with a winning aesthetic. Visit the Gallery on 16th Street near Guerrero Street and pick up a piece of original art you could not find anywhere else.
Explore our Museums & GalleriesDolores Park
Dolores Street and 19th Street
Dolores Park has a communal picnic vibe on sunny afternoons, as virtually every tribe of Missionites is represented. With its open view of downtown, the southwest corner is arguably the neighborhood’s best spot for panoramic pics.
Check out all of San Francisco's ParksMission Bowling Club
3176 17th Street
Mission Bowling Club is not your average bowling alley. Located in the heart of the Mission, this six-lane bowling venue offers craft cocktails and a full menu of delicious food in a thoughtfully designed space. It also features an outdoor patio, allowing guests to enjoy their famous burgers and a proprietary blend of Woodford Reserve bourbon without needing to reserve a lane.
Explore more things to doForeign Cinema
2534 Mission Street
While upscale dining is now ubiquitous in the Mission, Foreign Cinema was there first. A beautiful indoor-outdoor space for brunch or dinner, the classic movies projected onto the back wall create the perfect accompaniment to its California-Mediterranean cuisine. Don’t skip digestifs at László, the cocktail lounge next door.
Get Romantic in San FranciscoThe Chapel
777 Valencia Street
The Chapel is a gem in the heart of the Mission, an intimate live music venue in an old Mortuary. After the show, mosey across the foyer to the Curio for a nightcap or a late-night bar snack.
Check out the Music Lover's GuideTacolicious
741 Valencia Street
This delicious Mission restaurant offers one of the best happy hour deals in town. Tacolicious serves up incredible guacamole, margaritas, and of course, tacos. But they also offer much, much more. Swing by for snacks or a full meal and pet some of the sweet furry friends that sit out on the patio with their people.
Explore Vegetarian Dining in San Francisco
Heart of the City: The Mission
Learn from the residents and business owners of the Mission about why this neighborhood is the heart of the city.
Brenda Tucker is the Director of Arts Marketing at San Francisco Travel. She has lived in San Francisco since 1998, after driving cross-country to a home she secured sight unseen. Brenda enjoys swimming out-of-doors year-round, being inspired by the incredible art scene in the City, and living in the best place on earth.
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