24 hours in San Francisco
28 Aug 2015
Free-wheeling cosmopolitan San Francisco has always marched to a very different beat to the rest of America. The lively city gave birth to the hippy generation, who wore flowers in their hair in the 1967 Summer of Love, and it has since maintained its eccentric edge.
Early morning
1. Good morning, San Fran
We blow away the cobwebs with a walk up one of Frisco’s steep streets for views over the expansive bay area, the Golden Gate Bridge and the infamous prison island of Alcatraz.
2. Hit the streets
We cross to Lombard Street with its daunting zig-zag bends, making it the “crookedest street in the world”.
3. City limits
We head to the Cannery (2801 Leavenworth St) for a tour of the city on a 1955 Mack fire engine. A highlight is crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.
Lunch
4. Food, glorious food
It is an easy walk to historic Ghiradelli Square (900 North Point St) where we salivate over the seafood at McCormick & Kuleto’s. We struggle to choose between a stew of prawns and mussels, and the local delicacy, Dungeness crab. In the end, we share plates while enjoying an unobstructed view of the bay, bathed in sunlight.
Afternoon
5. A view from behind bars
At Pier 33 (1398 The Embarcadero), we board a ferry for the former prison on Alcatraz. During the tour, the guides paint a harsh picture of life for the inmates, including gangster Al Capone. Many tried to escape, but none were successful.
Late afternoon
6. Do the hustle
Back on land, we explore the bustling Ferry Building Marketplace where there is a plethora of fresh food stalls on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
7. All aboard
We follow singer Tony Bennett’s advice on taking “a little cable car that climbs halfway to the stars”. The rattling trolley is crowded and it is hard to imagine how it manages to not slip backwards as it lurches up another steep hill.
8. Absolutely fabulous
Over at North Beach, we are booked into Beach Blanket Babylon at Club Fugazi (678 Green St) for San Francisco’s must-see musical comedy revue with high-energy performers, topical banter, flamboyant costumes, and outrageous hats and hair.
9. Buon apetito
As we are in the heart of Little Italy, there is no shortage of cafes and restaurants around Columbus Avenue where we enjoy a pizza or two between us all.
Late night
10. Chin, chin
We decide to kick on, and head to Bimbo’s 365 Club (1025 Columbus Ave) for a glass or two of champagne. The former art deco dinner club has changed little since the 1950s, when the likes of Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth supped there.
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