San Francisco Itinerary | A Couples Weekend
San Francisco is really a place like no other in the United States! There’s so much to see and do, so it might be overwhelming on where to start. With everything from an energizing cultural and music scene, to beautiful scenery, natural attractions and outdoor activities, and home to some of the best food you will find in the United States there’s something for everyone to enjoy! All of this combined with it’s vibrant and unique atmosphere makes it a great place to travel, especially for a couples trip or romantic getaway.
If you’re looking for fun, unique, romantic, free, and affordable things to do when you visit San Francisco, keep reading because this blog is for you!
Tip: There is also a video towards the end of the blog if you prefer to see our itinerary and accommodations in that format.
Important tips to know before you visit:
Dress in layers! Even though San Francisco is located in the Golden State, it is not always sunny and perfect weather like you might expect. Most days we were there it was actually pretty foggy and windy. I usually run cold while Brennan normally runs hot and we were both pretty chilly during our visit, even though we visited in July one of the hottest months of the year in the South where we’re from. Please never, ever leave your stay without at least a light jacket!
Wear comfortable shoes! San Francisco is a walkable city, because that’s one of the best ways to experience the city’s energy and views; however, there are hills everywhere. These hills are incredibly steep and might seem unmanageable if you’re wearing the wrong shoes.
Take Pictures at the Golden Gate Bridge
Being the most photographed bridge in the world, you cannot visit San Francisco with your partner without taking pictures to commemorate your trip! We have a tradition of taking a kissing picture at every new place we visit. To us it’s one of the best souvenirs plus the bridge is something you have to see when you visit - so this is a must do!
It’s important to remember that San Francisco is a foggy city and because of this the bridge is not always visible at certain vantage points. Nevertheless, even on those days the fog adds an ambiance to the bridge that is still beautiful and romantic in its own way.
There’s a plethora of ways to view the bridge, but after lots of research these are in our opinion the best views of the bridge, without facing the crowds.
Fort Point
Great thing about this location is you can drive you car right up to it and get some awesome angles of the bridge towering over you. Even better if you go on a foggy day like we did, parts of the bridge might still be visible and show up in your pictures from this vantage point.
Tip: Your GPS will not take you to this exact spot, instead it will take you to the visitors’ center. Save our picture and show it when you arrive at the visitors’ center. They will tell you exactly how to get there either by car or foot.
Golden Gate Overlook
This iconic shoot between the two trees is a photographer’s dream and surprisingly not a busy spot at all. The symmetry and composition of this shot is sure to make for an Instagram-worthy picture you will want to show everyone back home.
We used a specific lenses to make the bridge stand out even more, a 50-140mm F2.8. If you want know more about our camera gear and what we use to shoot our pictures, check out this blog here.
If you want to know how we take our own pictures like this all over the world without a photographer, check out our video here.
Tip: Check the weather forecast on fog conditions so you can know what days and times are best to capture this vantage point at its best.
Marshall’s Beach
Our favorite view is the most secluded of them all, Marshall’s Beach. This might look similar to another popular vantage point, Baker’s Beach, but it’s so much better because there’s no crowds. We actually had the beach completely to ourselves! It is a hike down to the beach which could be bothersome for some, especially on the way back up; but it’s so worth it! Just note that this is a nude beach, even though we hear you rarely see people out there in the nude anymore.
Picnic at Mission Dolores Park
Next up, have a dreamy picnic at Mission Dolores Park. Having a picnic is one of the most romantic things to do as a couple and there’s no better place than at the most scenic park in San Francisco.
Mission Dolores park is a vibrant park lined with big beautiful palm trees overlooking panoramic views of the city skyline.
We found a shaded spot underneath the palms, enjoyed our award-winning croissants while we people watched.
If you love spectacular views with relaxing vibes add this to your San Francisco itinerary!
Ride a Cable Car
No experience is more uniquely San Francisco than riding in a cable car, so this is something you have to do at least once! As the world’s last manually operated cable car system, this is an icon of the city that might be touristy, but worth it! You can hop on and hop off at any of the stops, but of the most popular is Beach and Hyde near Fisherman’s Wharf, because of the famous turnaround. The cable cars can’t go in reverse, so they must be turned around by hand. Not only do you get to witness that unique event, but there’s also another great view of the Golden Gate Bridge here.
Since this is an iconic thing to witness, the Beach and Hyde stop is usually very busy with hour long wait times. The trick is to just make a quick stop here for the turnaround, take a few pictures then walk a few feet to the next closest stop and get on the cable car there! Make sure you grab a seat (or poll rather) at the front so you can stand and hang off the sides of the cable car for an extra special experience.
Most people purchase the one ride ticket which is $8, but the smart people know about another trick! Download the Muni app and purchase the passport for unlimited rides which is a much better deal if you plan on being in SF for longer than 1 day. The cable cars are fun, but also a practical way to get around the city.
Tip: Grab a seat facing East for the best views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge while you ride the cable car.
Award-Winning DIY Food Tour
San Francisco is a foodie city and it’s vibrant food scene is on par with some of the greatest cities in the world! Travel + Leisure actually named it the 4-th best foodie city in the United States behind NYC, New Orleans, and Chicago. Which means you probably can’t go wrong with wherever you choose to dine, but like the foodies we are we did all the research for you and found these award-winning and tried-and-true favorites.
Arsicault Bakery
Start your day off at the most popular pastry eatery in the city. Arsicault Bakery has won multiple awards like “best bakery of the year” in 2016 by Bon Appétit and most recently ranked Top 5 croissants in US & Canada by Yelp. I must say they lived up to the hype and are on our list as the #1 best croissants we’ve ever eaten in the US and this is also coming from Brennan, a croissant expert some might call him. When you arrive, expect there to be a wait, but the line moves along quickly and you will not have to wait long. We ordered the original, the almond chocolate, and the ham & cheese. They were all so delicious we came back everyday of our trip, especially for our favorite - the almond chocolate!
Tip: Get there early in the day because they do sell out.
Dumpling Home
As of July 2023 Michelin Guide recognized Dumpling Home as the cheapest Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in San Francisco! Michelin Bib Gourmand is not exactly the same as a Michelin Star, rather, it is awarded to restaurants that serve delicious food at affordable prices! Doesn’t that fact just make the food taste even better too! We arrived 20 minutes before they opened and the line was already flooding the streets.
Luckily, once the doors opened we were in the first round of guests to enter. After asking the locals what to order, we chose the Juicy Pork Bao, Fried Wontons, and the Crab and Pork XLB. We are not exaggerating when we say, these were the best soup dumplings we’ve ever had and will be dreaming about them often!
Mensho Tokyo
Mensho Tokyo actually started in Japan and is one of Japan’s most acclaimed ramen bars. Now it’s also a San Francisco Michelin-guide award-winning restaurant that some say is the best ramen in the US! Another place where they say the lines can get long, but we went on a Friday around 7pm and there was no line. To our pleasant surprise we were seated right away and our food arrived approximately 9 minutes after we ordered. Yes, we timed it!
Their menu changes, but during our visit we ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen and the spicy ramen. Everything was so delicious that it has now set the bar incredibly high and all future ramen has huge shoes to fill.
Abacá
When we found out the dining at our hotel - the Kimpton Alton Hotel - also has an award-winning restaurant we fell even more in love. ABACÁ serves contemporary Filipino cuisine with a modern California spin.
We made the great decision to order everything our server recommended and were blown away at how delicious and beautifully presented everything was!
Tip: Even though walk-ins are permitted, make a reservation to avoid a wait and ensure you get a table.
Good Mong Kok
Nestled in the heart of the biggest Chinatown outside of Asia is this popular spot, Good Mong Kok Bakery. You will more than likely be welcomed by a line out the door, but don’t worry because it moves at a decent pace. This San Francisco favorite is very very very affordable which allowed us to try a few items we heard you couldn’t leave without - dim sum, bbq pork buns, and sesame balls. The bbq pork bun was our favorite. The bun was soft and the filling was a little sweet, a delicious combination.
Even though this bakery comes as a highly recommended San Francisco gem, we were not overly impressed. To be quite honest, we took a couple of bites and couldn’t even make ourselves finish it. Since it’s so affordable we still recommend you trying it for yourself, because others can’t get enough of this place.
Tip: Bring cash and head there early because the best items usually sell out.
The Painted Ladies and Alamo Square
The Painted Ladies are the most photographed houses in the city and once you see them you will understand why. Made famous from the tv show Full House, these houses are not just a nostalgic stop, but also right across from the park, Alamo Square, and directly in front of the San Francisco city skyline. Making this a perfect spot to picnic, people watch, and sneak a few kisses.
We went on a Saturday afternoon and there had to be at least a hundred people at the park picnicking, socializing, taking pictures, and playing with their dogs.
Head to the top of the hill at Alamo Square for pictures with incredible views of the skyline.
Land’s End Coastal Trail
San Francisco is such a unique place to visit because it’s adorned with city life, but also has some of the most beautiful coastal views in the state. Start at the Land’s End parking lot where you will see a few different hiking trails.
If you want to see incredible views of the coastline, the bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge then you will want to hike the Coastal Trail. It’s not that difficult because it’s mostly flat, but there are some stairs to climb.
You will walk through the cypress trees along the coastline revealing dramatic cliffs as you get closer and closer to beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you keep going you will come across a cool rock labyrinth.
You can also head further and you will reach the water’s edge at Mile Rock Beach.
Where to Stay
As soon as we discovered The Kimpton Alton Hotel on Instagram, we knew we had to stay at this hotel for at least a couple of days during our trip to San Francisco. The Kimpton Alton completely blew us away that we ended up extending our stay there for 2 more nights. We felt like we found an oasis in the middle of the city and it was perfect.
Location
Centrally located in San Francisco’s most iconic Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood and walking distance from plenty of restaurants, bars, shopping, beaches, and popular attractions, The Kimtpon Alton Hotel is the perfect place to stay. You can easily walk to Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, Lombard Street, and Ghirardelli Square to name a few. Plus the nearby food options are some of the best in the city with Little Italy and Chinatown right next door. In-N-Out, another popular California fast food chain, is less than a 5 minute walk from the hotel. They were some of the best fast food burgers we’ve ever tried and worth the visit!
Design
In May 2021, The Kimpton Alton Hotel opened it’s doors as the trendy new hotel. Acclaimed interior designer Kara Mann decorated the hotel, which features eccentric style, lush greenery, and a mix of modern and vintage charm.
The lobby welcomes you with a beautiful oak reception desk, original art, and sumptuous seating making it the perfect place to enjoy your free social hour drinks and conversation.
Rooms
Located in the middle of a buzzing city, the guest rooms offer an oasis to relax and recharge. We stayed in the Sanctuary Suite, which was filled with lush greenery and plants curated by Blk Girls Green House, an Oakland-based small business.
The room was not only stunningly beautiful ,but also one of the coziest hotel rooms we’ve ever stayed in. Everything from the midnight blue velvet headboard, to the spa-like tub with marble accents and bronze fixtures, to the Victrola record players, this room was equal parts luxurious and hip. Our plush bed gifted us with some of the best sleep of our lives.
Plus our room was spacious and had everything you need including:
Smart TV with guest streaming
Plush robes
Luxurious Frette Linens that made it feel like you were sleeping on a cloud. Some of the best quality sleep you can get from a hotel.
In-room yoga mats
Victrola record player with plethora of records to choose from in the lobby. Our room had Lauryn Hill and Sade records which we played every morning while we were getting ready.
Spa soaking tub
Atelier Bloem bath toiletries - because of this stay they are becoming some of my favorite skin and body products. Made every bath and shower feel like a spa.
Amenities
The Kimpton Alton Hotel amenities include:
Inspired Filipino-California dining at the highly awarded ABACÁ restaurant & bar
Complimentary morning coffee + tea service in the lobby
Free wine + beer hosted social hour everyday in the lobby
A full service spa with 20% discount on in-room spa services from Soothe Spa
Complimentary loaner bikes
IHG One members get extended 2:00pm Late Check Out
Pet friendly
Nespresso machines upon request
24-hour fitness center
Dining
Tucked in the lobby of The Kimpton Alton Hotel is the vibrant, award winning ABACÁ restaurant & bar. They offer a fusion of Filipino cuisine enhanced by fresh California influences. They serve breakfast, brunch, and dinner or enjoy the delicious and aesthetic cocktails at the bar.
We took the recommendations from our server and ordered our food family sharing style. We ordered the Escabeche Pork Chop with a cherry escabeche sauce and topped with cherry tomatoes, grilled cherries, Fresno chillies, and pickled shallots for the perfect sweet and sour combination. It reminded us of a tempura fried pork chop topped with a fancy sweet and sour sauce - it was immaculate! We also ordered the Pork Belly Steamed Buns, Chicken Thigh Satti BBQ Sticks, Thin Cut Pork BBQ Sticks, and the Java Rice which was incredibly delicious and gorgeously presented!
Our plates were colorful, flavorful, unique, and I’m not exaggerating when I say some of the best Filipino food you will ever experience. We also treated ourselves to cocktails and the Ube-Colada was truly unforgettable.
Overall
We truly enjoyed our stay at The Kimpton Alton Hotel, so much so that we extended our stay! We would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting San Francisco or locals looking for a relaxing, fun, and unforgettable staycation in the city. We can’t wait to come back!
Video of The Kimpton Alton Stay
Video of San Francisco Itinerary
Thank you, The Kimpton Alton Hotel, for hosting us during our stay.
All honest opinions are my own.
COMMENT BELOW,
Have you ever visited San Francisco?