san francisco help

[darner010]

My husband and I will be sailing from SF this month on the Sea Princess to Alaska and will be flying in the day prior. We have the pre-cruise package with Princess and will be staying at the Nob Hill Intercontinental. I would like some information on places to eat within walking distance and not in a hotel. We usually like to walk after the 4 hour flight and it looks like Chinatown would be do able. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sea Dreams:)

[Bruin Steve]

My husband and I will be sailing from SF this month on the Sea Princess to Alaska and will be flying in the day prior. We have the pre-cruise package with Princess and will be staying at the Nob Hill Intercontinental. I would like some information on places to eat within walking distance and not in a hotel. We usually like to walk after the 4 hour flight and it looks like Chinatown would be do able. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sea Dreams:)

 

The "Intercontinental" is better known as the Mark Hopkins...Great locaction, first class hotel (my brother used to live on California, a block away)

I have often walked from Nob Hill to Chinatown for dinner...but usually take a taxi home...as it's a pretty steep hill...Taxis are plentiful in the area...

 

One thing to bear in mind is that you are right at the hub of San Francisco's famous Cable Cars...You can take one of these to Fisherman's Wharf...Or the Powell-Mason line to North Beach--where you will find a myriad of outstanding restaurants...

 

I like to just follow my nose around North Beach (mostly along Columbus Avenue)...and pick from whatever looks good there...

 

http://sanfrancisco.about.com/od/neighborhoodprofiles/ig/sfmaps/San-Francisco-Cable-Car-Map.htm

[darner010]

Thanks for the information, we are looking forward SF and the cruise. I've been looking at city maps so we won't be completely lost. I don't mind the cable cars but my husband isn't the biggest fan so I was hoping to find some places within walking distance. It's been about 20 years since we've been to SF and looking forward to our brief visit.

[sultan_sfo]

This is inside the Fairmont Hotel across from the Mark Hopkins. It will be a unique experience. The Fairmont is being renovated top to down. Some have objected to tearing down the Tonga Room because it is "Historic". There is a controversy going on what to do. The Tonga Room is a fascinating place.

 

http://www.tongaroom.com/

 

But if it is still open pop down there and see whether you can have a pleasant time there.

[Baseball fan]

Take a cable car to the wharf and go to either Scoma's or the Fransciscan. Both have excellent seafood and right on the water. Boudin's for clam chowder in the bread bowl is always good too. San Francisco has probably some of the best food in any city I've been to.

[cmarshall9]

Hi darner010,

 

I know you said not in a hotel, but the Big 4 Restaurant is a very classy understated masculine kind of place. Lots of wood and steak. I believe the Huntington Hotel is across the street or catty corner from the Mark Hopkins.

 

http://www.big4restaurant.com/menus.cfm

 

Personally, I would be cautious about restaurants in Chinatown. I've had some pretty bad Chinese food there over the years. If no Chinese are eating there, don't go in.

 

North Beach is usually pretty good. If you like garlic, you might try the Stinking Rose.

 

http://www.thestinkingrose.com/photos.htm

 

or Cafe Sport - http://www.caffe-sport.com/

 

or Tommaso's for Pizza - http://tommasos.com/ mmmmm that's good.

 

For breakfast, try Sears Fine Food - http://www.searsfinefood.com/

but if you take a cab, be sure to ask for Sears Fine Food on Powell and make sure the cabbie doesn't take you to Sears for shopping.:eek:

[nna]

there are no sears stores in SF--closest one is down by the airport.

 

instead of the old favs...there are thousands of places to eat in SF--try going on SFgate.com and looking at top 100 list or look at yelp for current reviews...that's what the locals do...