San Francisco, California (Sabrina Eliasoph)
...order yourself a cheeseburger, and fries, along with your martini and you’ll feel super “adult.





- More about your Oliver Guide: Sabrina Eliasoph
- Trip type: Adult, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 3-4 DAYS/ NIGHTS
to & from
- I am a local living in Marin, so I usually access the city via The Golden Gate Bridge/ 101 South. From Marin, another option are the Tiburon or Larkspur ferries for quick access to downtown, the Embarcadero, AT&T Park, Pier 41 and Fisherman's Wharf.
- Non-Bay Area residents often drive along the majestic California coast, to reach San Francisco. Enter the city from the East via the newly updated (and architecturally impressive) Bay Bridge or from the South use 101 North or 280 North.
- SFO is the major largest international airport serving The Bay Area.
Where to Stay
- The Battery- Very chic and well appointed rooms; great location in an old charming part of downtown with cobblestone streets and smaller-scaled buildings; within close walking proximity to the city's Financial District, Union Square area, the Ferry Building, China Town, and Little Italy. Further, as The Battery is not only a hotel but also a private club, modeled like a SoHo House, hotel guests can still use the common restaurant area and House Bar. On any typical late afternoon/early evening, the spirit of San Francisco comes alive as the popular House Bar fills to the brim with the city's techies and cultural folks alike.
- The Four Seasons- While The Four Seasons San Francisco sits on Market Street, a totally commercial and not charming thoroughfare of the city, once you step inside, you’ll be charmed by the service and serenity. Of course, Four Seasons hotels are famous for offering a top notch stay, and while this one may not be my most favorite location, it is arguably still very close to a lot of the downtown action and close to the pulse of SOMA, including SF MoMA, Yerba Buena Gardens and other wonderful attractions.
- Hotel Vitale- This hotel is not only adult-appropriate, with its bustling bar / restaurant scene off the lobby called Americano, but also situated in a beautiful spot. It is right across the street from San Francisco’s foodie mecca, The Ferry Building and offers gorgeous views of San Francisco Bay (facing East) towards The Bay Bridge. It is stylish, fun, and very vibrant—a place even locals love to stay if they’re taking a weekend away from the kids.
- Hotel Drisco- This hotel is definitely for couples’ seeking something different than the hustle bustle of downtown. It is off-the-beaten-path, nestled in the quaint and quieter neighborhood of Pacific Heights, one of the most beautiful of all of the residential areas of the city. Sitting up high on the city’s hills looking out to the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay, staying in this hotel offers you quick access to the beauty of the nearby Presidio, many restaurants that are locals’ favorites and the luxury shopping on Sacramento Street. The hotel is elegant and very much captures the “vibe” of sophisticated San Francisco.
- Cavallo Point- Note, this hotel is actually located across the Golden Gate Bridge, just on the other side of the city, in Sausalito. With no traffic, it takes about 10 minutes from city across the Bridge down into the Fort Baker, an old military fort, where Cavallo Point is perched. It is more of a full-scale expansive resort-type of hotel, with hotels rooms converted from old military homes, a huge green park in the center for strolling, a full-service spa, and lots of yummy food options on-site, including a world-class cooking school. Whether it's rainy or sunny, Cavallo Point takes the word charming to a new level and it can feel particularly romantic to sit inside the cozy Farley Bar, in front of a fire or on the porch, wrapped in a blanket, and just enjoy the views!