Torr’s Guidebook
Eateries we like
Local eateries and places we've enjoyed...but there are probably a thousand more around the city to explore!
Delicious comfort food with an international flair...we love this place and go there regularly.
Cafe Mystique
464 Castro StDelicious comfort food with an international flair...we love this place and go there regularly.
We are good friends with the bartender, Gaby, and have been coming here for years. Small second-floor restaurant with great Italian food in the heart of the Castro. Reservations are suggested but not required.
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Poesia
4072 18th StWe are good friends with the bartender, Gaby, and have been coming here for years. Small second-floor restaurant with great Italian food in the heart of the Castro. Reservations are suggested but not required.
Excellent Indian food with fast service, Kasa has been here in the Castro for years. Vegetarian and meat options, their food is consistently delicious.
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Kasa Indian Eatery
4001 18th StExcellent Indian food with fast service, Kasa has been here in the Castro for years. Vegetarian and meat options, their food is consistently delicious.
Craftsman and Wolves
746 Valencia StTry their Rebel Within muffin. DELICIOUS!!
Our FAVORITE Mexican restaurant with hands-down the best salsa we've ever eaten!
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Papalote Mexican Grill
1777 Fulton StOur FAVORITE Mexican restaurant with hands-down the best salsa we've ever eaten!
Tasty local eatery (we only seem to go for breakfast or lunch) with a wide range of delicious food!
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Squat & Gobble Cafe
3600 16th StTasty local eatery (we only seem to go for breakfast or lunch) with a wide range of delicious food!
The BEST Puerto Rican restaurant in the Bay Area! From our place, you can either do an urban walk (warning: hills) or jump on the 33 Stanyon bus around the corner from us at Danvers and 18th St, and it will drop you almost in front of the restaurant.
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Parada 22
1805 Haight StThe BEST Puerto Rican restaurant in the Bay Area! From our place, you can either do an urban walk (warning: hills) or jump on the 33 Stanyon bus around the corner from us at Danvers and 18th St, and it will drop you almost in front of the restaurant.
Local eatery at southwest corner of 18th and Castro that is named after Harvey Milk. The food is hit-or-miss, but that corner provides some very entertaining people-watching!
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Pauline's Pizza
260 Valencia StLocal eatery at southwest corner of 18th and Castro that is named after Harvey Milk. The food is hit-or-miss, but that corner provides some very entertaining people-watching!
Newly re-opened, Hamburger Mary's is a fun time and pretty darn good food (considering) and excellent drink options. It's always fun to be greeted and served by a drag queen.
Hamburger Mary's
531 Castro StNewly re-opened, Hamburger Mary's is a fun time and pretty darn good food (considering) and excellent drink options. It's always fun to be greeted and served by a drag queen.
LGBTQi bars
Here are a few of our favorite/local LGBTQi bars
Neighborhood gay bar with a friendly bear/leather scene. Drinks specials, too!
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The Edge
4149 18th StNeighborhood gay bar with a friendly bear/leather scene. Drinks specials, too!
Local club that's been here forever...more of a younger crowd, but quite popular.
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San Francisco Badlands
4121 18th StLocal club that's been here forever...more of a younger crowd, but quite popular.
This is Toad Hall 2.0: local club name that was resurrected from the 70's, it's become a fun place to meet a younger crowd.
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Toad Hall
4146 18th StThis is Toad Hall 2.0: local club name that was resurrected from the 70's, it's become a fun place to meet a younger crowd.
One of our favorite local dives, Moby Dick has been here for ages and recently obtained historic status (far too many of our bars and restaurants have closed due to rising rents). They have pinball machines and a pool table, too!
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Moby Dick
4049 18th StOne of our favorite local dives, Moby Dick has been here for ages and recently obtained historic status (far too many of our bars and restaurants have closed due to rising rents). They have pinball machines and a pool table, too!
Affectionately referred to as the "glass coffin", Twin Peaks is a must for any visitor to San Francisco. Located at the corner of Market and Castro St (Southeast corner across from the Chevron Station), it was the first bar to feature windows so patrons could see in and out. Google "Twin Peaks Tavern" and read about its history on Wikipedia.
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Twin Peaks Tavern
401 Castro StAffectionately referred to as the "glass coffin", Twin Peaks is a must for any visitor to San Francisco. Located at the corner of Market and Castro St (Southeast corner across from the Chevron Station), it was the first bar to feature windows so patrons could see in and out. Google "Twin Peaks Tavern" and read about its history on Wikipedia.
Local favorite with great views overlooking the intersection of Market, Noe and 16th St.
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Lookout
3600 16th StLocal favorite with great views overlooking the intersection of Market, Noe and 16th St.
Hi Tops is a gay sports bar with tasty comfort food options and is quite popular if you want to watch a game or six! Very fun place.
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Hi Tops
2247 Market StHi Tops is a gay sports bar with tasty comfort food options and is quite popular if you want to watch a game or six! Very fun place.
Newly re-opened, Hamburger Mary's is a fun time and pretty darn good food (considering) and excellent drink options. It's always fun to be greeted and served by a drag queen.
Hamburger Mary's
531 Castro StNewly re-opened, Hamburger Mary's is a fun time and pretty darn good food (considering) and excellent drink options. It's always fun to be greeted and served by a drag queen.
Grocery and specialty stores
These are a couple of places we light to shop to keep it local (as much as possible). There's always Safeway if that's your thing. (c;
Local grocery store on the pricier side, they have almost everything you need. Excellent seafood, meat and produce, a deli counter with many tasty options, and a good selection of various other items you might need. They also have a shuttle that will drive you back up the hill when you're finished shopping!
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Mollie Stone's Markets
2435 California StLocal grocery store on the pricier side, they have almost everything you need. Excellent seafood, meat and produce, a deli counter with many tasty options, and a good selection of various other items you might need. They also have a shuttle that will drive you back up the hill when you're finished shopping!
Local food co-op with an amazing selection of organic and other specialty foods. Lots of bins for buying in bulk and huge selection of fruits and vegetables, however, they don't sell meat. Bring your cloth bags and walk, bike or take mass transit as parking a car there is extremely difficult.
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Rainbow Grocery
1745 Folsom StLocal food co-op with an amazing selection of organic and other specialty foods. Lots of bins for buying in bulk and huge selection of fruits and vegetables, however, they don't sell meat. Bring your cloth bags and walk, bike or take mass transit as parking a car there is extremely difficult.
If you don't know Trader Joe's, where have you been living?! It's our favorite grocery store with reasonable prices. Warning: it can get very busy!
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Trader Joe's
555 9th StIf you don't know Trader Joe's, where have you been living?! It's our favorite grocery store with reasonable prices. Warning: it can get very busy!
Marijuana dispensaries and delivery
With recreational marijuana now legal in the State of California, here are two businesses we frequent.
Now that California has legalized recreational marijuana, the Apothecarium is the closest dispensary. They are in a new, clean, beautiful space, and have hundreds of flower and edible options, and their employees are helpful and can answer virtually any question you might have.
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The Apothecarium - Castro
2029 Market StNow that California has legalized recreational marijuana, the Apothecarium is the closest dispensary. They are in a new, clean, beautiful space, and have hundreds of flower and edible options, and their employees are helpful and can answer virtually any question you might have.
Eaze is a marijuana delivery service. They can typically deliver within 20 minutes and oftentimes less. A little pricey, but very convenient. You must be >21 years old and government-issued ID required.
Eaze
Eaze is a marijuana delivery service. They can typically deliver within 20 minutes and oftentimes less. A little pricey, but very convenient. You must be >21 years old and government-issued ID required.
Coffee & tea
Aside from Spike's Coffee on 19th St, here is our biggest recommendation for coffee/tea. You may, of course, find a Starbucks on virtually every street corner of the city, or Peet's.
Philz Coffee
3101 24th StPhilz is a local favorite for coffee
Activities
Need to blow off some steam and get in a workout? Here are a few local places you might like to check out.
Yoga Tree Castro
97 Collingwood StLocal yoga studio that is very close by.
Fitness SF is a local gym and that offers free weights and machines, various cardio options, yoga, and various other classes. No membership required.
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Fitness SF Castro
2301 Market StFitness SF is a local gym and that offers free weights and machines, various cardio options, yoga, and various other classes. No membership required.
Barry's Bootcamp
2246 Lombard StBarry's Castro is thier newest location!
Sunday Streets SF happens intermittently throughout the summer around the city. If you're interested, it's a fun, local event with food, displays, entertainment and street vendors you'll surely enjoy.
Sunday Streets SF
66 8th StSunday Streets SF happens intermittently throughout the summer around the city. If you're interested, it's a fun, local event with food, displays, entertainment and street vendors you'll surely enjoy.
There is a roller- and rollerblading area in Golden Gate Park on the north side of the park at 6th Ave and JFK Drive on Saturdays and Sundays. There is almost always a colorful guy who brings a huge speaker for entertainment that locals and visitors alike flock to. Check it out and bring food, drinks and people-watch!
Skatin' Place
There is a roller- and rollerblading area in Golden Gate Park on the north side of the park at 6th Ave and JFK Drive on Saturdays and Sundays. There is almost always a colorful guy who brings a huge speaker for entertainment that locals and visitors alike flock to. Check it out and bring food, drinks and people-watch!
Super fun local roller-skating and rollerblading place in a converted church.
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Church Of 8 Wheels
554 Fillmore StSuper fun local roller-skating and rollerblading place in a converted church.
Dolores Park was renovated approximately 4 years ago and the updates were long over-due. It's a local favorite with vendors selling beer by the can, food items, and edibles. Bring a blanket, sunscreen, food, drinks and your music and take in the city and the locals during your visit. The gay area is up at the top of the hill on the southwest corner of the park (Church and 20th).
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Mission Dolores Park
19th StreetDolores Park was renovated approximately 4 years ago and the updates were long over-due. It's a local favorite with vendors selling beer by the can, food items, and edibles. Bring a blanket, sunscreen, food, drinks and your music and take in the city and the locals during your visit. The gay area is up at the top of the hill on the southwest corner of the park (Church and 20th).
This museum is NOT to be missed! They are privately funded and limit the number of visitors as you MUST have an appointment. Their exhibits are changed every 6-8 weeks. On the Embarcadero almost under the Bay Bridge.
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Pier 24 Photography Museum
24 PierThis museum is NOT to be missed! They are privately funded and limit the number of visitors as you MUST have an appointment. Their exhibits are changed every 6-8 weeks. On the Embarcadero almost under the Bay Bridge.
After a recent brazillion dollar renovation, this place is gor-geous! Go early as it can get crowded!
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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StAfter a recent brazillion dollar renovation, this place is gor-geous! Go early as it can get crowded!
Neighborhoods
If you bicycle while you're here, you MUST take the wiggle from our place toward Golden Gate Park. It's the BEST way to get to the park without hills!
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Lower Haight
If you bicycle while you're here, you MUST take the wiggle from our place toward Golden Gate Park. It's the BEST way to get to the park without hills!
Like Haight-Ashbury, no trip to San Francisco is complete without a stop in the Mission. Outstanding restaurants and bars and a thriving nightlife. You'll love it!
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Mission District
Like Haight-Ashbury, no trip to San Francisco is complete without a stop in the Mission. Outstanding restaurants and bars and a thriving nightlife. You'll love it!
The Castro speaks for itself...check it out. BOLO for the local nudists who frequent the area!
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The Castro
The Castro speaks for itself...check it out. BOLO for the local nudists who frequent the area!
Outstanding Italian restaurants and shops. Check it out after a day at Fisherman's Wharf.
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North Beach
Outstanding Italian restaurants and shops. Check it out after a day at Fisherman's Wharf.