Ian Grieve's SF Visit (4/16–4/23)

Luke: There's no place better to discover new beers, and the food is solid (but pricey)! This Gastropub, Known for its extensive, upscale beer list and rare brews on tap, doesn't take reservations, so get there around 5 to avoid lines. Friendly and helpful staff who's always up for talking beer and offering recommendations.

Luke: This cool, outdoor German-inspired beer garden serves up a selection of German beers and hearty German eats, like bratwursts, pretzels and cabbage salads. A communal atmosphere and plenty of sun on warm, sunny days. If you like burgers, they serve burgers only on Wednesday—the toppings change weekly, but it is always made with quality beef.

Luke: Amazing selection of beers (and a delicious and filling Pastrami Reuben), this bar is a collaboration by famed gypsy brewer Mikel Borg Bergs and Bay Area beer bar guru Chuck Stilphen. Mikkeller offers a huge selection of craft beers from near and far, from Dutch and Scandinavian sours to local cask ales.

Luke: This Haight Street bar, offering over 50 microbrews on tap and 100 bottled beers, has offered great beer in San Francisco since 1987. Grab a sausage sandwich next door at Rosamund, bring it over, and chow down with a pint. Lots of friendly people here, both behind the bar and at the stools.

Luke: 31 taps makes this Nob Hill beer bar (with solid food options) a big player with a list that focuses on California's multitudinous offerings. There's also food and beer pairings for just about everything on the menu.

Luke: An amazing craft beer selection on tap that rotates frequently. A wonderful selection of bottles to drink in shop or to take home with you.

Luke: This cozy, little bar serves experimental beers along side outstanding delicious empanadas. Hard to get a seat on busy nights but the beers are great. Best craft brews on Polk Street. Offers their own brews (Woods) and guest brews. They offer four-beer samplers for $10.

Luke: Barrel Head Brewhouse has their own house beer: A saison, a black kolsch, and a roggenbier are on offer. A line forms outside on the hour and at the halves, so plan your entrance accordingly. Order a basket of fries to snack on while waiting for your table; they come piping hot w/ spicy mustard.

Luke: The perfect neighborhood local, Shotwell's is aboutthe closest thing to a real British pub we may have in SF. Drink beer here: their selections are impeccable. Also, they have a pool table in back, in case you like billiards.

Luke: The staff here is awesome; ask them for recommendations or get the flight (also, ask if you can add an extra pour to your flight in order to sample the whole menu). The house IPA is great and caffeinated. The empanadas are great, especially the jamon y queso.

Luke: Inspired by the grand tradition of arcade bars, this new spot, which is part craft beer bar, part vintage arcade, boasts 24 vintage arcade machines with over 50 games, including Big Buck Hunter, Pac-Man, and Joust. It also boasts a 25-draft-strong craft beer selection for its thirsty visitors.

Luke: Established in 1896, Anchor is the only brewery to still use the term steam beer and is known for kickstarting the craft beer movement in the US. They offer a brewery tour, which you'll want to book in advance, comes with tastings.

Luke: Boasting smoked-in-house BBQ options like chopped pork and brisket, plus a huge, on-site brewing system which can produce 30 barrels, this bar boasts an impressive 20 beers on tap with about 15 of those in-house brews at any given time. Plus, it's cool inside, with an aged industrial design that fits well in the neighborhood.

Luke: A combination bottle shop and bar with rare beer offerings and a huge selection of craft brews you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else (500 to 700 bottled beers from around the globe and a rotating list of 15 on tap). The beers on tap will please any beer enthusiast. Highly likely to try something new.

Luke: Nice outdoor patio spot from a local brewer offering a rotating tap selection, hot dogs, pretzels, and overhead space heaters for cold and wet days.

Luke: One of the only worthwhile seafood spots in the Mission District, this spot serves up delicious cioppino, chowder, oysters, "combination salad," and garlic bread. Happy hour Monday–Thursday until 6pm with $1 oysters and $2.50 drafts.

Luke: Only open for lunch (and late-lunch / early-dinner) Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday), this local, cash-only establishment serves up fresh and delicious seafood. Nearly everything on the menu is delicious, so order whatever strikes your fancy. Prepare to wait in line (or get your food for takeaway and eat at a nearby park). If you come before 11am after 2pm, you'll likely wait less time in line.

Luke: Brewery with a great selection of their own brews and visiting brews on tap. Known for their Burger, garlic and sage fries, and open space, this place can get crowded after work. Remember your passport, because they require it for out-of-country visitors.

Luke: This mid-range neighborhood seafood spot offers delicious cioppino, chowder and lobster rolls. Tuesdays, when they offer $1 oysters, can get crowded, but are worth the wait if you love oysters. The counter offers a great place to dine alone and enjoy a beer while watching the action in the kitchen and being you're served your food.

Luke: This mid-range neighborhood seafood spot offers delicious cioppino, chowder and lobster rolls. Tuesdays, when they offer $1 oysters, can get crowded, but are worth the wait if you love oysters. The bar offers a great place to dine alone and enjoy a beer while you're served your food.

Luke: This great value for your money seafood spot in North Beach, the predominantly Italian section of SF, offers delicious cioppino, chowder and pasta specials. Sit at the bar for a great view of the action, a shorter wait and, possibly, a free glass of wine if they're feeling generous.

Luke: This once crack alley is more recently a destination for tourists, photo-shoots, video film crews, and even wedding parties, thanks to the vivid murals lining all the walls. Since 1992, the Clarion Alley Mural Project has been visually voicing artists’ objections to SF gentrification with a regularly-refreshed batch of nearly 50 murals on the tiny alley’s walls. The art here is always changing, be sure to visit often. And when you do, pay close attention to the details. Look up, down, and all around. Every surface tells a story. Everything is a collaboration.

Luke: Huge park with lots of grass (and people smoking grass), where people love to hang out on the weekend (and weekday afternoons), kids/dogs, and great views from the southwest corner of the park (at 20th and Church Streets).

Luke: Cramped in studio apartments shared sometimes by a whole family, this "park" offers an open space to socialize, listen to Peking opera, and play chess/card games for the local Chinese residents. A great place to relax, eat lunch and people watch. There's also a bridge in this plaza leading to the Chinese Cultural Center that offers excellent views Chinatown, North Beach, and Downtown. If you're in the mood for lunch, grab a sandwich to go from Good Luck Deli and sit in the Park.

Luke: This famous indoor marketplace features a wide selection of food and drink options, from full service restaurants to takeaway counters; It's a great place to walk through, perusing the food and other items. There's also an outdoor Farmers Market here on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Luke: The biggest (and most remarkable) Farmers Market in SF. Tuesday and Thursday 10am–2pm, and Saturday 8am–2pm. Saturdays feature numerous food and coffee vendors on the pier / open space behind the Ferry Plaza Building.

Luke: Known to locals as "the Panhandle," because this park looks like a handle protruding from the edge Golden Gate Park, The Panhandle is a park is long and narrow, being three-quarters of a mile long and one block wide. Fell Street borders it to the north, Oak Street to the south, and Baker Street to the east. Only two streets run through it, Stanyan Street at the western end between it and Golden Gate Park, and Masonic Avenue through the middle. Two paved walking paths run through it from Golden Gate Park to Baker Street, one (the path on the north side near Fell) allowing bicycles; If you're walking through the Panhandle, walk on the south path for a more peaceful stroll.

Luke: A unique example of urban design, optimized for bicycles going through our hilly city, The Wiggle is a one-mile, zig-zagging bicycle route from Market Street to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California, that minimizes hilly inclines for bicycle riders. Rising 120 feet (37 m), The Wiggle inclines average 3% and never exceed 6%. The path generally follows the historical route of the long since paved-over Sans Souci Valley watercourse, winding through the Lower Haight neighborhood toward the Panhandle section of Golden Gate Park.

Luke: An area of Golden Gate Park infamously known (and named) for its connection with hippies (and marijuana). You'll coincidentally be in town on April 20th ("420") when there's an enormous gathering of people at Hippie Hill to celebrate 4/20: http://sf.funcheap.com/420-park-gigantic-gathering-hippie-hill-golden-gate-park/

Luke: This is where you'll go to take the boat to Alcatraz. Not much else to see or do here (besides look in the touristy gift shop)—this is mostly a reference point for you to know where to go for your Alcatraz trip.

Luke: Known to the locals as "the Academy of Sciences," this unique museum with an interactive and immersive rainforest bubble has a cool event called Nightlife on Thursday night from 6–10pm ($15) which boasts "music, creatures, and cocktails as you set out with friends on a journey to the stars and the depths of the sea"; There's also usually food trucks setup outside:: http://www.calacademy.org/nightlife — The Nightlife theme for April 21st is "Metamorphosis: Experience the art and science of transformation—inside and out" http://www.calacademy.org/nightlife/metamorphosis-nightlife

Luke: Known for their seafood chowder and uni avocado toast, this quality-seafood neighborhood spot has a happy hour from 5–6:30pm with $1 oysters.

Luke: If you love raw oysters and are in the mood for one (or three) while perusing vendors in the Ferry Plaza Building, Hog Island Oyster Co. has great oysters. For a great value, go on Monday or Thursdays between 5pm and 7:30pm (4:30, if you want to beat the post-work rush) for $1 oysters during their happy hour.

Luke: A bit touristy for sure, but, if you're near Fisherman's Wharf and starving for a bowl of chowder, you could do worse than Pier Market. If you want a full meal though, go to another place on the list/map.

Luke: A no-frills, locals spot with great ceviche. Only open for lunch (and early dinners) Monday–Saturday: 10am–4pm

Luke: Cozy, homey and quaint neighborhood seafood spot with a great prix fixe offering: soup or salad, entree, and dessert) for $14.50 all night Sunday through Tuesday and Wednesday to Saturday from 5:30pm-7:00pm

Luke: Trendy seafood and taco spot with solid cocktails. The ceviche and taco tropical are the things to order for food!

Luke: Food truck gathering and cultural experience with musical performers, communal high tables, and beer and cocktail stations. Lines can get long, so pick the truck that looks most appealing to you and expect to wait 5–20 minutes for your food. Friday 5–10pm.

Luke: Food truck gathering (and cultural experience) at the southeast corner of Golden Gate Park. Peruse the food trucks (and their menus) before deciding what you want, and enjoy the local vibe while you eat. Thursday 5–9pm.

Luke: Food truck gathering (and cultural experience) with beer/cocktail stations overlooking the Bay, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Peruse the food trucks (and their menus) before deciding what you want, then take a seat on the lawn and enjoy your food with a view. Sundays 11am–4pm.

Luke: A moderately priced food truck known for their fish and chips and fried oreos. If you order fish and chips and like spice, make sure to order a side of the spicy "baja sauce"—it's worth the $1! Open Monday and Wednesday through Sunday (closed Tuesday) 11:30am–7pm.

Luke: The obligatory recommendation for people visiting SF. If you haven't visited the Bridge or gotten pictures of it from close up, or just wondered where it is in relation to other parts of the city, its included on your map/list of recommendations for easy access. The Bridge can be reached on foot, bike, public bus ("Muni") or through a ride-sharing app, like Lyft or Uber.

Luke: A large, green, open space on the northern edge of SF, with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and nice walking/biking trails. On weekends (especially sunny ones), locals love to come up here to hang out, relax and take in the views on the grass.

Luke: A market that spans a half-block and closes down the street. Wednesday 4–8pm.

Luke: Sunday 7am–5pm, Wednesday 7am–5:30pm

Luke: Food truck area with a covered area and outdoor tables. Fun to go to watch a sports game on a warm night or on Tuesday for trivia night.

Luke: A market that spans a city-block and closes down the street. Wednesday 4–8pm.

Luke: A half-block market with a selection of product, nut, food and juice vendors. Sunday 10am–2pm.

Luke: A market inside a mall/galleria, mostly trafficked by professionals who work Downtown. Grab food/drink and go up to the rooftop terrace to enjoy the outdoors while you eat. Tuesday and Thursday 9am–3pm.

Luke: Small, calm park with loads of dogs and dog-owners. Great to relax on a warm, sunny day.

Luke: A large park known by tourists for its proximity to the row of "Full House Houses" and known to locals as a place to hang out, relax and enjoy nice weather on weekends. Grab coffee or food nearby and relax in the park on the weekend.

Luke: Fancy and unique grocery store with loads of local produce and food; Also has a great selection of prepared foods and sandwiches at their deli. Fun to peruse; Dangerous to go when you're hungry and/or trying to be frugal ;)

Luke: Delicious ice cream served inside a famous, local grocery store. They allow you to taste anything you want before you buy a scoop, so make sure to try a few before deciding!

Luke: A toffee and nut vendor always slinging their free samples of toffee and nuts by hand and in small containers intermingled with the toffee and nuts. There's no obligation to buy anything, so feel free to snag a few samples and carry on through the Ferry Building.

Luke: A small, but comfortable tasting room that f 5-ounce tasters, if you want to taste your way through the lineup, and there's usually a food truck parked out front if you want food with your beers. Try the pale ales and IPAs.