Home of the hipster
Spanish Colonialism, Latin American immigration, future-forward/backward hipsters, innovative humanitarianism (Kiva, 826 Valencia & Mission Murals), boutique coffee (Philz, Ritual & Four Barrel), gourmet eats (Tartine Bakery, Pizzeria Delfina & Dynamo Donuts), not to mention burritos (Taqueria Cancun, Puerto Alegre & Farolito)... the Mission rides fearlessly along the cutting edge.
The Mission itself was founded with the Mission Dolores (the oldest building in San Francisco) with now-über popular Dolores Park (across the street, Bi-Rite Creamery joined a little later and enjoys similar popularity) and the neighborhood is one of the SF's largest - adjoining with the Castro, Hayes Valley, SOMA, Potrero Hill and Bernal Heights.
For a video introduction - watch author Kevin Collins' 20-slides-in-5-minutes presentation about the Mission► at Public Works :)
Otherwise, the Mission's sunny days and active nights delight - enjoy!
Around Mission District...
The Mission itself was founded with the Mission Dolores (the oldest building in San Francisco) with now-über popular Dolores Park (across the street, Bi-Rite Creamery joined a little later and enjoys similar popularity) and the neighborhood is one of the SF's largest - adjoining with the Castro, Hayes Valley, SOMA, Potrero Hill and Bernal Heights.
For a video introduction - watch author Kevin Collins' 20-slides-in-5-minutes presentation about the Mission► at Public Works :)
Otherwise, the Mission's sunny days and active nights delight - enjoy!
Around Mission District...
826Valencia
Arrrrrrrrgh
If you have a funny bone, hook or patch, visit one of the city's hidden gems!
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Armory
Sweet dreams are made of these...
Mothballed for 3 decades, in 2006 this 200,000 square foot Moorish Revival castle in the Mission was purchased for Kink.com, the world's largest producer of S&M pornography!
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Bar Tartine
Another one bakes the cake...
With an openly fragrant kitchen (the "bar") and the freshest smelling bathroom in SF - BT starts with the nose and moves inward.
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Bi-Rite Creamery
Just say yes!
Catty corner to Dolores Park and as-of-yet untouched by the DEA, this Mission "homemade ice cream" hot-spot often sports a line out the door. There are no reports of un-delicious► ice creams, but it's advisable to sample a few flavors before ordering... just to be safe :)
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Blondie's Bar & No Grill
Everything but the grill
Pool tables, double-wide drinks, dj's, live music, outdoor patio - Blondie's Bar and No Grill is no classier (or hipper) than its name suggests, but hosts a reliably lively party!
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Boogaloos
Breakfast of hipsters
Boogaloos transforms an old school drugstore into a old school breakfast cafe - one of the few in San Francisco!
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Bruno's
One stop party
Coffee Bar
Working from work is so last millenia...
A modern split-level space with great natural light, a great menu (caffeine/food/alcohol), and long hours make for a lively during-the-day spot on the Potrero Hill side of the Mission.
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Dolores Park
Sunny center of outdoor activitiy
Covering two city blocks on the Castro side of the Mission district, Dolores Park has more visitors per square foot than any park in the city. Tennis and basketball courts, pickup soccer, a children's playground (currently under re-construction), dogs aplenty, and expansive skyline views combine for a magically relaxing afternoon. It is delightful (and relatively safe) after dark as well. Bike polo is on (at least temporary) hiatus pending a political battle with the tennis players.
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Dynamo Donut
Deep-frying 2.0
Offering a collection of gourmet donuts around the signature (and daily) "Maple Glazed Bacon Apple" - DD takes donuts to new horizons. Ordering is handled out front, with good seating inside and a patio through the back (with bike parking).
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El Farolito
Tasty after-hours burritos
This "little lighthouse" in the Mission cranks out some big juicy burritos... until 4am on the weekends!
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El Rio
Mission houseparty
This Outer Mission domestic space turned jack-of-all-fun venue hosts live bands, djs, comedy shows, salsa dancing, margaritas, drag queens, backyard patio, pool table, barbecue, oysters, etc - best check the schedule, cash only!
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Elbo Room
Prohibition-era bar rocks on
With a bar downstairs and a stage on top (with dance floor) the Elbo Room hosts lively and diverse music within close proximity to other Mission night life. Check the calendar for upcoming shows.
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Four Barrel Coffee
Coffee, Donuts and... Boar Heads
The new kid on the roast-it-yourself cafe circuit, FB augments coffee and pastries (including Dynamo Donuts) with eclectic decor - most notably four stuffed boars heads overseeing the (sparse) coffee condiments. It's harder and harder to get noticed in the Mission - what will be next? :)
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Golden Fire Hydrant
The little fire hydrant that could
When all the other hydrants were broken or dry, this celebrity valve spared the western half of the city from the raging fire of 1906. For the effort it is ceremoniously rewarded with a fresh coat of gold paint every year on April 18th.
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Good Vibrations
For those who like sex
Friendly and helpful staff augment a high quality selection of books, videos and sex toys in this clean well lit sex positive male/female/trans-friendly shop. Founded in 1977, there are now two locations in San Francisco, one in Berkeley and another in Massachusetts.
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Humphry Slocombe
Come quickly?
What do milk, sugar, cream, cornflakes and bourbon make?
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Latin American Club
Not your mother's margarita
Serious drinks and a warm vibe snuggle up together at this Mission hotspot - often crowded on the weekends and sometimes on weekdays too, the nearby Make-Out Room and Revolution Cafe offer alcohol at slightly lower voltages.
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Lexington
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dyke Bar :)
SF's best (and only!) full-time dyke bar, "The Lex" vibes warm and home-y, has a great jukebox, and a pool table :)
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Luna Park
Moon or bust
Desserts and drinks - especially scotch - put the sparkle on a solid menu. Walking in can work, but reservations are advisable for this Mission destination. It's hard to go wrong ordering and the staff are extremely helpful.
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Make-Out Room
A room for making out
No guarantees on "making out", but this Mission classic hosts a reliably good time with a strong calendar of live shows and djs.
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Mission Beach Café
Good morning!
A bright corner location (in a bright neighborhood) with boldy flavorful food, Blue Bottle coffee, delicious (and large) mimosas, gourmet pastries►... and a massive line! Reservations?
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Mission Cliffs
Play on the edge!
With endless bumpy walls of brightly colored tape for climbing, Mission Cliffs provides a quick fix to Yosemite deficiency syndrome.
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Mission Dolores
The original missionary position
The oldest building in San Francisco, Mission Dolores de Asis still holds mass and provides visitors► a window into the native Ohlone culture (at least, the end of it), and Spanish colonization of San Francisco, with still-working bells►.
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Mission Murals
Wild and free
The Mission Murals are an oft-overlooked artistic treasure of San Francisco. The Mission's regularly warm weather can combine for a great afternoon of mural appreciation.
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Mission Pie
Sweet, savory, or one of each (!)
An urban offshoot of Pie Ranch in Pescadero, Mission Pie's commitment to sustainability, local produce and community involvement roots in SF's social entrepreneurship camp.
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Monk's Kettle
Monks gone thirsty!
Offering a hearty selection of delectable brews and a kitchen that's open until 1am (limited menu after 11:30) - the Kettle is a low risk stop for anyone vibing pub in the Mission.
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Pancho Villa Taqueria
If Pancho could see us now...
Assembly-line burrito construction, harsh lighting, formica tabletops and an overall cafeteria vibe only heighten the lively atmosphere of Mission denizens tanking up for a hard days night!
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Pauline's Pizza
From the ground up... the way pizza was meant to be :)
Fresh dough, grow-it-in-themselves vegetables, thin crusts (!?)... and a can't-miss wine list put Pauline's in it's own category.
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Philz Coffee
One cup at a time...
The most inventive, down-homey and apparently successful (?) of SF's coffee-obsessed businesses - Philz serves up a menu of previously unimagined (unless your name is Phil Jaber►) beany beverages... each individually filtered to-order (including an optional mint sprig) on-the-spot, albeit sometimes after a wait :)
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Pizzeria DelfinaBookend-ed by Bi-Rite Creamery and Tartine Bakery in one of the Mission's (and SF's) tastiest blocks, Pizzeria Delfina is a thin-crust pizza-lover's hearthrob... with outdoor seating in a great people-watching spot and first rate wine/brew options :)
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Public Works
What the people want...
With a mission statement of "give the people what they want", Public Works defies self-identity :)
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Puerto Alegre
Introducing little Margaret...
Margaritas and a lively Alegre atmosphere put the sparkle on large tasty Mexican dishes a stone's throw from the busiest corner in the Mission (16th and Valencia) and next to Blondie's. There are (many) cheaper Mexican options around - eg, Pancho Villa, Taqueria Cancun, El Farolito, El Metate and the Tamale Lady - but many fewer restaurants, Tommy's (similarly old-school), Nopalito and Colibrí (both modern) are notable exceptions.
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Revolution Cafe
Viva la Mocha
Tasty food, liquor license, art, sunlit patio - check!
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Ritual Roasters
Ritual de lo Habitual
Promoting the rise of the cafetariat► with in-house-roasted beans and free wifi (but no power outlets), Ritual has become a staple of Mission life. That is to say, it gets crowded and loud :)
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Sparky's Diner
24/7
A pretty good worst case option, Sparky's provides alcohol-absorbing diner food at all hours! Seated between the Mission and the Castro - the after hours scene varies and is often crowded.
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Tamale Lady
Our Lady of Tamale
Virginia Ramos►, the "Tamale Lady", is a delightful woman who travels the Mission with a cooler of delicious tamales.
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Taqueria Cancun
Mission hotspot
Climbers, drinkers, clubbers and other belly-minded junkies pack themselves into this little Mission joint for an authentic taste of... Cancun?
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Tartine Bakery
Preferred by 9 out of 10 Mission hipsters
Critically renowned (and tasty!) pastries with a line out the door frequently make for gastrological dissonance at this Mission hot spot. Good things await those who wait.
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The Cafe
Trans-human
Bar, pool table, patio, dance floor►, music... check!
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The MarshA self-described "breeding ground for new performance", the Marsh hosts some amazing solo performances► in addition to organizing classes and youth performances.
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Zeitgeist
A zeitgeist of bikes, beers and burgers
The biggest (and warmest!) of SF watering holes, Zeitgeist hosts a great sun-powered party► in the Mission and a prime spot to catch the Tamale Lady and her husky delights.
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