My Favorite Food & Stroll Routes in San Francisco 🍂

A little drizzle, and just like that — autumn is here! I love coming to San Francisco on weekends to recharge. Guess this extrovert really thrives in a lively city 🌆💫 I’m putting my favorite scenic spots up front: Twin Peaks — never gets old! You can see the entire city and the Golden Gate Bridge from above 🌁, and if you time it right, a glowing sunset too. Just be ready for winds strong enough to make you feel like you could take off with a running start 🏃💨 Spent half an hour looking for parking in Chinatown… all for Z&Y Peking Duck, a Michelin-listed Beijing-style restaurant 🦆. On a chilly fall day, I was totally craving Chinese stewed offal (lu zhu) and boiled fish in chili oil! We started with a mixed appetizer platter of meats and veggies, plus a delicate scallion-tofu salad — served with crispy bean curd skin. So refreshing and creative! The Boiled Fish was incredibly tender — sliced thin and soaked in all the spicy, savory flavors. The Lamb Spine Hot Pot was massive and deeply satisfying. The vermicelli noodles absorbed all the rich broth, and the lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender. Nothing beats lamb spine to warm you up in the cold — it hit all the right nostalgic notes ❤️ Also loved the Beef Shank “Condo” — we skipped the famous Peking duck to try something new, and it did not disappoint! Served with pancakes, potato shreds, and egg crepe — so hearty and flavorful 🫔🥔 The restaurant is small but full of charm. I watched the chef slice the roast duck right in front of me 🍖👨‍🍳. Every dish was thoughtful and beautifully presented. Service was warm, and portions were generous. That stewed offal and boiled fish? So authentic — I’d definitely order them again. After dinner, we walked to Fisherman’s Wharf to watch the sea lions 🦭. Then we continued west along the coastal trail — such gorgeous views! You can walk all the way to the Palace of Fine Arts, even to the Golden Gate Bridge 🌉. Outpost Meadow and other spots along the way are totally worth the stroll. In the afternoon, I explored Haight Street and Hayes Valley — so many cool vintage shops 🧥👒, quirky and chic. Lots of affordable fashion stores too. San Francisco really is a walker’s paradise 🚶‍♀️💞 #SFBayArea #SanFranciscoFood #SFExplored #SanFranciscoTravel #BayAreaLife #BayAreaEats #BayAreaVintage #USCollegeLife