Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The City Guide app will be sunsetting on December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Please visit our FAQ to learn more or to download our Swarm app.
Learn more
The Layover: San Francisco
Fairmont Hotel Crown Room is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

1. Fairmont Hotel Crown Room

8.5
950 Mason St (at California St), San Francisco, CA
Hotel Bar · Nob Hill · 10 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: Tony finds out what it’s like to have no reservations – literally! After a complication at check-in, he enjoys a martini at the bar. As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.

Hotel Des Arts is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

2. Hotel Des Arts

6.7
447 Bush St (Grant Ave), San Francisco, CA
Hotel · Downtown San Francisco-Union Square · 18 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: A more affordable option, this funky hotel has rates starting at just $59/night. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Swan Oyster Depot is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

3. Swan Oyster Depot

8.4
1517 Polk St (btwn Sacramento & California St.), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Polk Gulch · 220 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: This casual spot is a great place to enjoy fresh seafood. Its first come, first serve - so breakfast is often to best time to drop by. As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.

Blue Bottle Coffee is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

4. Blue Bottle Coffee

66 Mint Plaza (at Jessie St), San Francisco, CA
Coffee Shop · SoMa · 736 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: A great stop for hand-crafted artisanal coffee and small breakfast options. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Twin Peaks Summit is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

5. Twin Peaks Summit

9.5
100 Christmas Tree Point Rd (at Twin Peaks Blvd), San Francisco, CA
Hill · 274 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: The geographic center of the city – with an amazing view! As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.

Castro Theatre is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

6. Castro Theatre

9.2
429 Castro St (btwn 18th & Market), San Francisco, CA
Indie Movie Theater · Castro · 118 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: A dramatic movie theatre – showing revivals, foreign & indie films and even sing-along movie musicals. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Toronado is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

7. Toronado

8.7
547 Haight St (btwn Steiner St & Fillmore St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Lower Haight · 292 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: With over 50 microbrews on tap and 100 bottled beers, this is a great stop for an afternoon drink. As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.

Zeitgeist is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

8. Zeitgeist

8.9
199 Valencia St (at Duboce Ave), San Francisco, CA
Beer Garden · SoMa · 387 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: A beer garden with bikers, a jukebox with local bands & a back patio full of picnic tables. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Pier 23 Cafe is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

9. Pier 23 Cafe

8.0
Pier 23 (btwn Battery St & Green St), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 147 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: A local hangout with a great view of the bay! As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Zam Zam is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

10. Zam Zam

8.0
1633 Haight St (at Clayton St), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · Haight Ashbury · 22 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

To Hyang is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

11. To Hyang

3815 Geary Blvd (at 2nd Ave.), San Francisco, CA
Korean Restaurant · Inner Richmond · 12 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: This Korean restaurant is known for using home-grown ingredients and staying open late! As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.

King of Noodles is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

12. King of Noodles

8.2
1639 Irving St (at 18th Ave), San Francisco, CA
Chinese Restaurant · Inner Sunset · 85 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: Their wontons and noodles are made fresh, in-house. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Off the Grid: 5M @ Fifth and Minna is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

13. Off the Grid: 5M @ Fifth and Minna

410 Minna Street (btwn 5th & Mary St), San Francisco, CA
Street Food Gathering · SoMa · 33 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: Some of the best street food in San Fran! These trucks are powered largely by solar panels & they notify people of their location via Twitter! As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

14. Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

7.6
950 Mason St, San Francisco, CA
Tiki Bar · Nob Hill · 179 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: A genuine Tiki room/Polynesian restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel. Has a swimming pool turned bar & a rain/thunder show! Seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.

The Alembic is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

15. The Alembic

8.8
1725 Haight St (btwn Cole & Shrader St), San Francisco, CA
Cocktail Bar · Haight Ashbury · 236 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: This place has high quality drinks and a small, but interesting menu – including choices like duck hearts & quail eggs. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

Rice Paper Scissors is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

16. Rice Paper Scissors

639 Divisadero St
Vietnamese Restaurant · Panhandle · 5 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: This “pop up restaurant" lets patrons take over for the night and make their own recipes. Tony recreates street food from Vietnam. As seen on Travel Channel’s The Layover with Anthony Bourdain.

Mission Chinese Food is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

17. Mission Chinese Food

8.1
2234 Mission St (btwn 18th & 19th St), San Francisco, CA
Chinese Restaurant · Mission District · 314 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: Serving classic Chinese recipes and some of Chef Danny’s own creations. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.

La Folie is one of The Layover: San Francisco.

18. La Folie

2316 Polk St (near Green St.), San Francisco, CA
French Restaurant · Polk Gulch · 65 tips and reviews

Travel ChannelTravel Channel: This unintimidating, cozy French restaurant is one of the city’s best dining experiences. Chef Roland Passot is in the kitchen every night. As recommended by Travel Channel host, Anthony Bourdain.