Short on time in San Francisco? More than three decades in the City by the Bay have equipped Michael Dunlap, assistant chief concierge of Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Loews Regency San Francisco Hotel, with the know-how to help you make the most of your precious hours in the popular city.
Check out his quick tips for a short trip in San Francisco:
Loews Regency San Francisco Hotel’s Michael Dunlap. Credit: Michael Dunlap
If we only have one day to spend in San Francisco, what should we do?
I would start with a walking tour of the city. Beginning at the Ferry Building — where you’ll find all local products — walk along the Embarcadero waterfront to Pier 39 to bark at the seals, see Fisherman’s Wharf and take a trip to Alcatraz.
From there, walk down Columbus Avenue to our Italian district and get a slice at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. Columbus Avenue will intersect with Grant Avenue in the heart of Chinatown, where you can enjoy the culture, shopping and cuisine, especially dim sum.
Follow Grant Avenue back to our hotel, where you can have a drink and dinner at our restaurant, The Bear & Monarch.
The Bear & Monarch. Credit: Loews Regency San Francisco Hotel
What are some of the most underrated attractions?
Cupid’s Span, an outdoor sculpture along the Embarcadero, and the Filbert Steps, one of our hidden staircases that takes you up to Coit Tower for breathtaking views of the bay.
Choose Your Fortune Cookie. Credit: Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
What’s the one spot we shouldn’t miss while in town?
Be sure to visit the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory hidden in Chinatown on Ross Alley, opened almost 60 years ago. The fortune cookie was invented here in San Francisco by Makoto Hagiwara, the caretaker of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate park around 1907.
