Union Square in San Francisco is the city's crown jewel of shopping, and is reputedly the third largest shopping district in the country. With stores that cater to fashion and home goods and also offer art and design wares, it is a great place to window shop and browse. From the middle of the Square facing Macy's you can see the Financial District and waterfront to your left, and beyond the ruins of Macy's are SoMa (South of Market) and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Behind you are Chinatown and North Beach, while the theatre and gallery district is to your right.
For years, however, Union Square was easy for locals to dismiss. It was expensive, definitely not the most convenient place to visit, and the area was full of open-top sightseeing buses and crammed with designer labels. Visitors wanting to do more than shop often found the area underwhelming.
That changed with the opening of August Hall in 2018, which revived a Victorian theatre that had been closed since the 1890s. This helped to attract locals back to the area, including for a headline performance by former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. If you can ignore the tourist traps like Sears Fine Food and Macy's, Union Square has a lot more to offer that is creative and entertaining.
MOIC Ice Cream Museum
MOIC Ice Cream Museum, 1 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108, +1 (855) 258-0719
With its major Instagram appeal, the Museum of Ice Cream has become a necessary stop for photo hunters, and has enjoyed great success since opening in the fall.
In San Francisco, you can find unique ice cream options at Ghirardelli, My/Mo Mochi, and La Michoacana as well as Ghirardelli’s The Ice Cream Bar. Calling it a spectacle would not be wrong, but the attraction offers a fun option in the region. Pacific Cocktail Haven
Pacific Cocktail Haven, 580 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, +1 (415) 398-0195
Located in a neighborhood bar, Kevin Diedrich, the owner, has made headlines as a “Bar Star” in the San Francisco Chronicle. The bar does not have the typical cocktail prestige, but instead has a down-to-earth and fun drink menu that is always changing and never boring. Curran Theatre
Curran Theatre, 445 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, +1 (415) 358-1220
The Beaux-Arts Curran Theatre has been a historic piece of architecture since 1922, and following some restorations, it brought a new theatrical sensation. Their mission is to provide “bold, daring change” by presenting the stage production Soft Power, which includes an imagined version of Hillary Clinton. San Francisco Art Exchange
San Francisco Art Exchange, 458 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, +1 (415) 441-8840
This gallery is located on Geary Street, and while it can be easy to overlook, it should not go unnoticed. If you appreciate pop-culture photography, the clutter of the gallery should not deter you. Santa FAE also has art exhibits of Alberto Vargas and a collection of pop culture photography that includes Robert Kennedy and Johnny Cash. An arch on the first floor reads 'Storm's Arch' as a tribute to Storm Thorgerson, who is known for his work with the album covers for Pink Floyd. In the early days of the gallery, he requested that an arch be built to help 'move' his exhibition.
SFMOMA
SFMOMA, 151 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, +1 (415) 357-4000
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a mere five-minute walk from SoMa down Market Street. With its recent renovation, the museum has tripled its exhibition space, including the Pritzker Center for Photography, which has been described as the first permanent photography center in any American art museum.
In line with the city's culinary talent, SFMOMA also housed the Michelin-starred restaurant in Situ, whose kitchen recreated dishes from celebrated restaurants across the globe, including Eleven Madison Park in New York City and Osteria Francescana in Italy.
Samovar Tea Lounge
Samovar Tea Lounge, 730 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, +1 (415) 227-9400 During afternoon tea, Samovar Tea Lounge provided a nice reprieve above the downtown's chaos. Directly across from SFMOMA, it was a cozy spot on the upper terrace of the arts and cultural center at Yerba Buena Gardens.
Samovar's small-batch teas were a blend of unique artisanal teas from various corners of the globe. They included therapeutic herbal blends of turmeric, ginger, and licorice, and combined full-observing taste experience teas with meals.
The mochi cake should not be missed. It brings together the sponge and the chewy to form a delightful treat. It comes in a variety of flavors, such as cardamom, coconut date, and then some, so check back often for new offerings.
Hitachino Beer & Wagyu
Hitachino Beer & Wagyu, 639 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, +1 (415) 624-3580
The Japanese craft-beer brand Hitachino Nest chose its location east of Union Square for its first American restaurant. The concept was to combine Japanese beer and sake with dominant Japanese flavors, so Hitachino Beer & Wagyu really says what it is.
Hachino beef is not a cheap eat. But the bar was a good place to be for the unique beers, even if you were paying top dollar for the traditional red rice beer or one with yuzu. The sake was also good, as Kiuchi, which has been brewing sake since 1823, produces the Hitachino Nest.
Bourbon & Branch
Bourbon & Branch, 501 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94102, +1 (415) 346-1735
Nowadays, it seems that every bar has a speakeasy theme, but Bourbon & Branch was one of the first to do it, and one of the first to do it well.
During Prohibition, it was known as 'JJ Russell's Cigar Store,' but in reality, it was one of the city's top drinking dens. The new version keeps the original meaning and context of the input, while staying under the same word count. Each entry will give the name, address, and phone number of the venue, and a description of its offerings and atmosphere. The spirit of the place continues today. The entrance is hidden behind a plain door and an “Anti-Saloon League” sign, and you will need a special password to get in. No booking? Then you’ll have to go to the other unmarked entrance around the corner, where a somewhat conspicuous bouncer is stationed outside a bar that looks like a library. The password is “books.” Liholiho Yacht Club Liholiho Yacht Club, 871 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109, +1 (415) 440-5446 Liholiho Yacht Club quickly became a favorite in San Francisco's Tendernob area, located between the famously gritty Tenderloin and the posh Nob Hill. Chef Ravi Kapur fused California and Hawaiian cuisines, inspired by his upbringing and the fresh, clean ingredients of the Bay Area. Since its opening in 2015, it has always been hard to get a dinner reservation before 10 pm, even on a weekday. Downstairs, Louie’s Gen-Gen Room bar served pineapple Negronis and butter waffles. MR Holmes Bakehouse MR Holmes Bakehouse, 1042 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109, +1 (415) 829-7700 Now that you have a cruffin (a hybrid of a croissant and a muffin), you can walk around San Francisco and enjoy the streets. Each morning at 9 am, MR Holmes Bakehouse sold a limited number of them. With white tiles and a pink neon sign that read “I got baked in San Francisco”, it was arguably the most chic bakery in the city. Cruffin flavors changed daily and offered delightfully indulgent options like guava cheesecake and lavender mousse. Hero Shop Hero Shop, 982 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109, +1 (415) 829-3129 Just because San Francisco has a reputation for laid-back, hoodie-driven outfits, doesn’t mean it’s true. Hero Shop was a fashion boutique owned and curated by former Vogue staffer Emily Holt. She picked out everything from Rosie Assoulin statement pieces to the elevated streetwear of San Francisco’s own Stevie Howell. Even better, the shop supports local social services, including family social service providers, Raphael House.
How to get to Union Square
All regional highways have signs directing drivers to Union Square. Use 335 Powell Street, St. Francis Hotel, as a GPS point.
Unlike the other downtown city garages, the Union Square garage, located directly under the square, is not more expensive. Enter from Geary near Macy’s. If the 985 spaces are full, go around Union Square, turn right onto Powell Street, and then Bush Street to the Sutter-Stockton Garage.
To walk from North Beach or Chinatown, head south through Grant Avenue in Chinatown, and then turn right onto Maiden Lane.
Union Square is served by San Francisco Muni buses 30 and 45. At the intersection of Powell and Market, travelers can transfer to the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable car lines, BART, and the historic free F-line streetcar.
Union Square is more than just a shopping destination. Once you step beyond the department stores, you’ll discover music, art, food, and nightlife that will make your visit even more worthwhile.
