The glass elevators at the Westin St. Francis are key-card protected and not open to public…read moreanymore. You need a hotel key card to access one of the glass elevators, and I think it's used to be one of free things for locals and tourists years ago.

Wheee! What a fun way to see the city! This elevator is in…read morethe St Regis overlooking Union Square. If you act like you know where you're going, and just jump in with some random guest, you'll get to see a great view of the city for free! The glass elevators are constantly zipping up and down. You need a guest's key to get the elevator to work, so be sure to hop on with someone going to their room, and just start mashing the highest numbers on the keypad. It's kinda thrilling to know that they put in a card reader to keep out the public, but this is totally worth the trip if you don't stay here. Unfortunately, this Glass Elevator is not like the one written about in the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Unlike the one in Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory, this one doesn't go sideways, through the roof, or upside down at all.

Beautiful place me and my girlfriend just stopped after in and out and there's a bunch of art…read moreinstallations here This is a hidden gem in San Francisco not that many people know of it. There is a fee of 5 dollar and 3 for kids.

The Umbrella Alley is undergoing renovations when we went in May 2026. Some of the nice murals…read moreyou'd see in photos in the internet are there but only as copies. You won't find the umbrellas too. If you have limited time, would skip this one at least until the renovations are finished.

Still standing in its glory [San Francisco CA]…read more When we come to the City we try to stop by this Pacific Heights neighborhood and stop by for a respectful look as we remember the late Robin Williams. The three-level Victorian house sits in a prime location. Mrs Doubtfire is a really great movie and if you haven't seen it I would highly recommend it. 32 years later after the filming of the movie the house still stands and garners many visitors. The next time you're in San Francisco make sure you stop by 2640 Steiner Street to see the Doubtfire Victorian home used for the exterior shots in the film. Miranda actually mentions the actual address of the Hillard house in the movie. The door and the famous steps has been changed and the gate is installed by the current owner to keep fans from sitting on the steps to get their photos taken. Review #0958 updated

If you love the movie Mrs. Doubtfire then this is a good place to stop by and take a picture. It's…read moredown the street from the Painted Sisters.

Yeeees, beautiful views from these steps!…read more I've come here in the very early morning to see lovely views of the Bay Bridge and then in the afternoon to see the city humming with life below me. Never too crowded, but worth the work out for the view. 2024: 66/100

There are three sets of stairs that were built on the eastern slope of Telegraph Hill, and it's…read moreclear to me which one is which. With its leafy foliage, the Filbert Steps are Ginger, and with far less foot traffic than the Filbert Steps, the Greenwich Steps are Mary Ann. That must mean these stairs are Mrs. Howell because let's face it, they're the least sexy. Three stairways make up the Vallejo Street Steps, but the central one is the only one that allows you to wander the surrounding gardens. These steps are the closest ones to Broadway, and that counts for something. Isn't that right, Lovey? RELATED - Interested in climbing the stairways around the Bay Area? Here's a collection of steps I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3UkMHud

Just real fun. Reminds you of the movie "Big". The history…read moreof this creation Is heartfelt. FUN

The Musical Stairs, located at Pier 39, is straight out of that old movie 'Big' in the late 80s…read more So every time you step on a stair, you're playing a piano note. When It's crowded near hear, sometimes it can be kinda hard to hear it. Kids love these stairs, and why not!! And when I say kids, I mean kids of all ages!! So, if you're at Pier 39, keep a lookout for these. They are located about the middle of the pier on the right side when entering the pier. It's definitely worth checking out!!

I have been coming here for many years and each time I am wowed. It's always fun to bring somebody…read morevisiting, which is what I did yesterday I love climbing so I have no issues with the stairs but my friend has a fear of heights so was a bit leery. She persevered and was delighted she did so. No matter what time of year it's always lush here and through the seasons there are a variety of things blooming. To me it's always beautiful. And of course, arriving at Coit Tower is always spectacular. We intended to take the Greenwich steps back, but forgot to change course.

Fun and steep climb with beautiful views up to Coit Tower! It's a mostly shaded incline walking…read morebetween houses with cute little gardens. We got views of the bay bridge and ships coming in under it. Good views of Treasure island as well. There's a handful of parking spots right at the base of the steps, with other metered street parking across the street. We came on a Saturday morning and found a spot across the street with ease.

A special place in SF…read more Love how many dim sum spots there are, grab and go. Lots of Chinese restaurants too And takeout spots. Really happy about the new businesses opening up here! Yes bring the energy and charm! Parking can be hard so park at Portsmouth Square garage

San Francisco Chinatown: 2026 Feb 7 (5 of 5)…read more Rediscovering San Francisco Chinatown: It's been eleven years since I last visited the Chinatown in San Francisco. What I remember: Chinatown was a bustling, dense, and vibrant enclave. The atmosphere was unique, created by the combination of its architecture, street life, sounds, and smells. Human activity was electric. It was a rush, as ladies pulling shopping carts jostled their way through the crowds, while little children tugged at their sleeves, trying to catch up with their mothers. I remember elderly men playing chess with one leg bent, and ladies practicing tai chi in the park. Today's Chinatown seemed more subdued. The high-energy I once experienced has toned down quite a bit. The scenes looked different. The once triple parked streets and crowded walkways looked almost deserted. San Francisco Chinatown is easily walkable. We walked along Waverly, Montgomery, Grant, California, Jackson, Columbus, Broadway, towards North Beach. Along the hidden alleys, I noticed colourful arts and paintings on the walls. A queue has formed outside the fortune cookie shop, so we joined in to take a peek. We stopped and peeked at the menus posted outside eateries. The menus still looked exotic - some items I couldn't even pronounce. San Francisco Chinatown's historic charm still exists and the walk is still adventurous. Would I return to this walkable enclave? You bet I will. There's always something that's 'new' to fresh eyes.

Like a real world Disneyland ride!!! I loved the thrill of careening down this curvy switchback…read moreroad! It was an unexpected glitch in our cross town trek and so much FUN! I immediately wanted to do it again! All the time I lived in San Francisco, I never drove down this crazy road with all the hairpin turns! Probably because my VW convertible had so little engine power, that I frequently had to turn around before I reached the top of some hills!! We were powering along in an SUV, and it was up to the task! Hopefully the pedestrians walking up the hill (use the sidewalks)! weren't too terrified.

As we headed out for the day to explore Downtown San Francisco, we figured we needed to check out…read morethe iconic Lombard Street. Some claim, the "crookedest street in the world". Apparently, we were not the only ones looking to check it out. There was a short wait to get on the street, due to traffic. But once on it, yep, we can confirm it's pretty damn crooked. it was a cool drive, with lots of hair pin turns to drive one block, but not something I'd want to have to deal with every day. It was a fun detour, and worth checking out to say you did it. Side note - I can't imagine living on this street, paying San Francisco real estate pricing, having tourists driving down it 24 hours a day, I'm not even sure how these people get out of their driveways, there's got to be constant traffic.

Came to San Francisco during Super Bowl week and had the chance to explore Japantown and Lower…read morePacific Heights again, and it honestly reminded me why I love this city so much. After being in Washington, D.C., where it was much colder, the warm SF weather felt amazing and made walking around the neighborhood even better. The food was incredible! We tried several different restaurants, and every place had something special, from comforting ramen to fresh sushi. Japantown has such a great mix of authentic flavors, cozy spots, and unique little shops that make the whole experience feel lively and welcoming. Being back in San Francisco, enjoying great food, good weather, and the energy of Super Bowl week, was just an all-around great feeling. I truly believe this is one of the best Japantowns in the country, and I can't wait to come back and explore even more.

Japantown has always been a go to spot for us when we miss Japan, of course there is no comparison,…read morebut Nijiya Market has always been a good spot for Bento boxes, sushi, Sashimi, anything you want- quality has always been good, and if you get there later before closing, they discount some of the items. It's located on Post and Buchanan, street parking if you can find it but they have a parking garage underneath the shops and restaurants. They have so many good spots for Sushi, Ramen, Sophie's Crepes is another fav, Boba, you won't be disappointed! We will be back!

I've never actually seen 'the Parrots of Telegraph Hill' on Telegraph Hill but have seen them all…read moreover the Northeastern part of the city like Russian Hill, Pac Heights, North Beach, and the Embarcadero area. This is one of those things at least for me is that when I'm looking for them I won't find them but they turn up all the time when I least expect it. They are very distinct because these birds are LOUD. Especially if they are in a big group, they are really noticeable. It sounds like they are constantly arguing about something or chanting together with high pitched voices. The birds are quite pretty with a rich green hue and red head. If you are looking for them specifically the best bet would be to go to Ina Colbrith Park or across the street from Sue Bierman Park in the Embarcadero at the aptly named 'Parrot Park'.

Dang! These guys are loud! (But adorable)…read more First of all, this neat group of animals have a documentary featuring them: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424565/ and a really cool website discussing their existence: http://www.markbittner.net/parrot_pages/wildparrots.html (by the author of a book bearing their name) Scoping out the parrots is one of my favorite free hobbies in San Francisco (free hobbies are few and far between in SF - hahaha!) The best way to hear and see them is in Sue Bierman Park, which is just west of the Ferry Building or on Telegraph Hill in and among the trees along the Greenwich and Filbert Steps. I find that they are loudest in the afternoons until sunset.