"Australian baker Alson Barakat's teeny shop is a go-to when it comes to fresh-baked, ingredient-driven pastries (the strawberry shortcake is outstanding), but the pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the fried chicken sandwich. The perfectly crispy chicken and piles of from-scratch coleslaw make it well worth the inevitable wait in line. "

"Set up in an old converted home complete with a back yard, this is the kind of laid-back, blessedly well-priced spot locals feel good coming back to on the regular. The menu is packed with comfort food staples like meatloaf, fried chicken, and various pastas. It's pretty ideal for weeknight family dinners. "

"A decade ago, two Bi-Rite Market pastry chefs spied a vacant space across the street from the iconic market and moved in their small-batch baking and ice cream operation. Staying true to the Bi-Rite mission, only organic local ingredients are used, resulting in some of the hands-down best scoops (balsamic strawberry, honey lavender, mixed-berry coconut in the summer; earl grey, orange cardamom, maple walnut in winter), buffalo-milk soft serve (only available in the original shop), frozen cakes, sundaes, and popsicles in the country. The original is in the Mission (and they have soft-serve)."

"Bob's has been taking up prime real estate in Nob Hill since 1960. The secret to their staying power? Really, really good donuts. They don't get crazy with out-there flavors and prefer to use old-school baking methods. While here, take the BIG ONE challenge, which requires you eat the oversized $8 donut in three minutes or less—maybe best attempted after a late night out, as it's open 24-hours a day. Succeed and get your name on the coveted Wall of Fame. "

"The ferry out of the San Francisco docks is right at the entrance to this 31-room Sausalito inn. The clean, modern rooms (most come with working fireplaces and glass decks) are designed with floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the panoramic bay views, which beat out all the expected luxury amenities on offer any day. "

"For anyone who can't resist the siren song of fresh-from-the-over bread, Tartine Bakery in the Mission is a required stop. Owners Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson masterfully churn out the freshest breads (which are used for the construction of insanely good sandwiches) and pastries (best washed down with freshly brewed Blue Bottle coffee). They also do some pretty great cookbooks. "

"Come here for sustainable, organic, and healthy Mexican food. Their simple cocktail list offers a straightforward margarita and paloma, plus blue-bottle coffee for abstainers."

"Nick's Crispy Tacos is only open during the day, since, you know, it operates out of a Russian Hill night club (you enter through a side door of the club). They have the best tacos—crispy or regular—along with perfect guacamole, elote (Mexican corn on the cob), and delicious melon juice. The plush red booths and sprawling dance floor make for an interesting set-up for a taco place but it's a fun place to bring out-of-towners. They also do "Taco Tuesdays" when you can get two tacos for $6 and two Mexican beers for $7."

"Little Star Pizza serves both thin and thick crust so there's something for everyone and they do both variations perfectly. The always surprising daily specials change constantly according to seasonal offerings. They don't take reservations and only accept cash; there are two locations in San Francisco, including an outpost in the Western Addition."

"Though the stone-and-wood interior has the potential to feel cold, the vibe at this comfort food-centric spot is super welcoming…that is if you can actually get in—waits can get kind of unbearable. While everything Chef Yoni Levy turns out is good (a testament to his skill and the top-notch ingredients he sources from local farmers), he does particularly spectacular things with weekend brunch. We're fans of the Dutch pancakes—both sweet and savory versions are excellent—and the pesto-smothered eggs-in-jail. "

"This is the Slanted Door's more casual but equally delicious offshoot. At this location, take-out is the only option. In Pacific Heights, you can actually sidle up to a communal table or counter for an excellent lunch of Asian-inflected small plates or a weekend brunch (the 5-spice scramble is pretty special). None of the dishes feel too heavy and all go really well with a glass of house wine."

"This cute, artfully cluttered shop is one of those places where you go to buy one gift, and walk out with all sorts of treasures, whether it's a tiny baking set for kids, a silk-screened linen throw pillow, or beautiful brass hairpins. "

"Humphry Slocombe vs. Bi-Rite Creamery is an ongoing debate between locals. Jake Godby and Sean Vahey—the two dudes behind team Humphry—pride themselves on the time and effort they put into concocting flavors, which run the gamut from Elvis (the fat years) to potato chip to salt & pepper. They’re also bringing back the ice cream cake in a big way. There's an additional location in the Mission, as well as in The Embarcadero. "

"Come here to enjoy a dinner and a movie in one shot. The menu is surprisingly elevated, rife with perfectly executed American classics like oysters and fried chicken, and a pretty killer scallop situation. Films run the gamut from foreign to classic to indie (check out the screening schedule online). The poached egg with duck confit is particularly insane—it's only served at weekend brunch, which usually involves a wait, but luckily you can stroll around the Mission while your table is prepped."

"Leaning into being a tourist (or playing tourist in your own city for a day) can be extremely entertaining. Such is the case with GoCar's cool take on the common city tour: a talking, GPS-guided go-cart vehicle that takes you around the big—as well as some lesser known—sights of SF. Following the suggested routes laid out for you is simple, as is making an unplanned pit stop for photos, or veering off to do more of your own thing. Each car fits two people (the driver must be at least twenty-one years old, but kids can ride shotgun); small groups and families can reserve a mini fleet of their own. Most departures are from Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf; for a little adventure, you can end by climbing Russian Hill and then screaming down Lombard Street (aka the oft-Instagrammed Crooked Street)."

"Packed to the rafters with books, gifts, stationery, and things for the home from all over the world, Rare Device is a time suck, in the best possible way. There's also a gallery space in the back, home to monthly art shows, workshops, and kid-friendly events. There's also an outpost in Hayes Valley."

"Seward is a short street in The Castro that runs at a rough diagonal between 19th Street and Douglass Street. In addition to a tiny community garden, the park has these slides made of cement that are said to have been designed by a young 14-year-old girl who won a park design contest. When done sliding, walk up the Douglass Hill steps which lead you to Kite Hill—a small open space with grass and views overlooking the city."

"This is an incredibly rich and well-staffed resource for everything science-related, from informative exhibits on the future of our planet, to an incredible planetarium, to a scaled-down rainforest complete with all sorts of live critters. On Thursday nights, they do a really fun adults-only party with numerous bars and amazing guest DJs."

"Lovejoy's Tea Room is adorable and eclectic, making it the perfect spot to host a small group of children for a tea party. If you're looking to take some of the magic home with you, there are shelves full of antique-looking china sets, teapots, and of course, tea. "

"Specializing in gorgeous clothing and gifts for babies as well as beautiful accessories, toys, furniture, and make-believe items for kids, Mudpie makes every present feel special. It's bright space is classic and magical feeling, and they also do gorgeous gift-wrapping."

"Two years ago, the Exploratorium left from its long-time home next to the Palace of Fine Arts to occupy Pier 15 on the waterfront, a move that more than tripled their exhibition space and also put them in a building with LEED Platinum certification. The science museum features an incredible Tactile Dome, which is a maze of tunnels and slides that you go through completely in the dark using only your sense of touch—needless to say, kids love it."

"Block out a good chunk of hours for a trip here: Depending on your little one's interests, it's likely that they'll fall into a creative vortex. There's an animation studio, where they can build clay characters and create stop-motion videos; a community lab full of physical puzzles that will enlist all of their different creative problem solving skills; an innovation lab where they get a box of materials and have to invent something specific; a music studio where they can make their own music videos in front of a green screen and edit in GarageBand; and then our favorite, which is a tech lab where young coders learn how to build simple video games."

"The recently re-opened Helen Diller Playground is the stuff of children's fantasies. For one, there's a 40-foot long slide, built into a hill, rock climbing walls, sand pits, and a shipwrecked boat; for two, there's a separate zone for the littlest ones, so everyone can run around without fear of collisions. If playground-ing isn't your thing, there's also a soccer field, six tennis courts, and a basketball court. "

"The powerful brainchild of Dave Eggers, 826 Valencia is the flagship for his childhood literacy project—and also home to the pirate store. Here, you'll find after-school writing programs for under-resourced kids, along with all the gear you need for any Peter Pan/Captain Hook fantasies. There are similar concepts—all wonderful, all life-changing—all over the country. "

"The Koret's Children Quarter is one of the city's oldest (it was established at the end of the 19th-century, though refurbished many times in the intervening years), and it's also one of the most compelling, thanks to a hand-carved carousel, proximity to the California Academy of Sciences, rope-climbing walls, a huge concrete slide, and all kinds of play structures."

"Inspired by the playgrounds in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, this beloved spot is particularly good for older kids, as much of the climbing equipment is more challenging than your typical slide structure. That said, there's a designated spot for smaller kids that's not as intimidating. There are also hiking trails throughout the Presidio (with views of the Golden Gate Bridge), along with tennis and basketball courts and playing fields."

"Inarguably one of the city's nicest parks (complete with epic views), this 12-acre spot in the middle of Pacific Heights also boasts a pretty kick-ass playground. There's also an off-leash dog run, tennis courts, and a picnic area."

"This beloved surf spot in Outer Sunset sells boards and gear for the whole family, but we think their kids stuff is the cutest, whether it's pint-sized bathing suits or pennant-adorned hoodies. They also host surf-centric gallery shows and are a great resource for those looking to learn. "

"Established in 1937 by Josephine D. Randall, who received her masters degree in zoology from Stanford in 1910 before going on to become S.F's first Superintendent of Recreation, this incredible resource offers a wood shop, arts studios, a science lab, a greenhouse, and more than 100 animals who cannot survive in the wild. It's currently being remodeled, so the animals and exhibits have taken up temporary residence in the Mission. Fun fact: She Josephine Randall also organized the first Girl Scout troops in the United States."

"Its parent store, Paxton Gate, is devoted to natural oddities and artifacts, whether it's taxidermied animals or other-worldly looking air plants. At the little kid's store, you'll find old-fashioned toys for screen-free tactile play, along with plenty of science-minded finds, including edible chemistry sets, rainbow makers, Korg synth kits, and build-your-own volcano sets."

"Founded by Walt Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, this 40,000 square foot space in the Presidio offers an incredible view into the mind that created the whole concept of animation, whether you have little fans of Mickey on your hands or not. There are elements from his whole life on display, including many drawings from when he first landed in Los Angeles with $40 in his pocket. There's also a fascinating 13-foot model of Disneyland on site, rendered according to Walt Disney's original vision. "

"There's nothing particularly hip or design-y about this old school Pacific Heights hotel, but it's classic, comfortable, and centrally located (grab a bike and explore on two wheels). They're really big on hospitality, so there are usually treats or wine set up in the lobby."

"This classic greasy spoon has been in the exact same location since 1918 though it underwent a top-to-bottom restoration in 2002 to give the retro signage, a flashing neon sign, and vinyl booths the love they deserve. The menu has everything you'd expect from a diner, yet somehow the sandwiches, soups, and salads seem surprisingly light, not greasy (lots of vegan options, too). Even if you don't stay for a full meal, order a shake or a sundae at the counter—both are served old school with whipped cream and a cherry on top. "