Haz's Personal Guide to "Doing" San Francisco

1. Place to stay: Hosteling International, Downtown
One block from Union Square, 5 minutes walk from Market Street, cable car stop, BART and MUNI stations, bus stops, HUGE Forever 21 store...

I stayed in a 4-bed dorm with 3 German girls and it costs me $25/night. Some of the perks are:
- FREE breakfast (bagels, toast, juice, coffee)
- FREE towel, linen, blanket
- FREE wi-fi
- Ensuite bathroom, but shared with the room next
- Ensuite locker
- FREE storage room after checkout if you still feel like exploring the city before jetting off
- VERY helpful and friendly staffs, just tell them what you feel like doing and they'll come up with TONS of suggestions!
- VERY international/fun/cultured

atmosphere
- SUPER clean
- For those of age of 21, FREE pub crawl every weeknight and the staff who takes you is super fun/outgoing (no I didn't go but he tried to persuade me to so that was how I got a glimpse of his personality. I mean, to be able to go out with strangers to bars and pubs and hang out when they have a little too much drinks...that calls for personality, right?)

2. For crepes go to Honey Honey on the corner of Post and Taylor, which is within walking distance from Market/Powell shopping district and a block from Geary theater district. It was recommended by the staff of HI downtown and I only got the chance to satiate my craving for crepes this morning: Chocolate Nutella crepe with whipped cream and a cup of steaming mocha. Yums.

3. For clam chowder in sourdough bread bowl and any other seafood go to Fisherman's Wharf. You can get some from the street vendors or you can do it the fancy way in Boudin Bakery Cafe or in many eateries in Pier 39. I need to come back for some breaded, fried calamari with cocktail sauce. Am drooling just thinking about it.

4. For pancakes go to Sears Fine Food on Powell. The line for a seat in the restaurant is huge every morning, even in the pouring rain! The food is a little bit pricey but when they have really awesome pancakes, I'm not really complaining.

5. For eating, walk around Union Square and its vicinities, explore the nooks and crannies of each street and you'll be surprised at what you'll find. I only found a 24-hour "kedai mamak" half a block from HI on my last night in the city so at almost 11 p.m. I went for a quick fix of roti naan. And the kedai is halal too. That was also how I found the little "kedai" that serves the best seafood pad see eew ("kuew teow goreng" with real fresh "sawi") on my second night here.

6. For the best cable car experience, stand on the allocated space for standees. I was so kecut perut when the car went downhill!

7. For strip clubs, take your pick along Market Street. No, I'm not kidding.

8. For indie, one of a kind stores (books, cafes, apparels, records) go to Valencia and Mission and Haight Ashbury <--- hardcore hippie with rastafarians, etc so be prepared. But the coffee is cheaper and the chocolate chip cookies are homemade and you can tell the difference!

9. For Zagat-rated Best Nightlife in SF go to Hobson's Pub in Haight Ashbury.

10. For local theater scene, go to Geary theater district.

11. For gay bars and clubs, go to Castro.

12. For cultural experience, go to Civic Center/U.N Plaza. There are tons of art galleries and museums, and also a symphony hall and a ballet conservatory.

13. For shopping, go to Union Square (Bloomingdale's, Barney's, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, all the high end stores and boutiques), Market Street (take the opposite direction from the strip clubs district), Powell Street and Westfield SF Center.

14. For cheap souvenirs, go to the west side of Fisherman's Wharf. The prices escalate as you walk eastward towards Pier 39.

15. For chocolates, go to Ghirardelli Square and purchase some at Ghirardelli Original Chocolate Shop. Also try Ghirardelli's hot chocolate and chocolate croissant. Arghhh..I want them right now! (Hungry again after crepe).

16. For the best travel experience in SF, ASK your friends who have been here, or are living here so you don't appear that tourist-y. I know I'm grateful for awesome friends like Zach, Dana and Az.