Discover our locals' 156 hidden gems in San Francisco

Let's uncover San Francisco’s hidden gems with Spotted by Locals! From local coffee shops to secret viewpoints, our Spotters bring you the city's best-kept secrets. Discover San Francisco through the eyes of true locals.

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Check out our latest hidden gems in San Francisco

Things to do in San Francisco

Free Gold Watch

Honest old school pinball palace

When I can hear the sound of spare coins jingling, I get an itch for a real pinball fix and head to the Haight and Free Gold Watch in San Francisco...

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Art & culture
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Relaxing

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Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

View Deck at UCSF

Best view in Western SF

When I want to know if the fog is coming in under the GG bridge in SF, I walk over to the public deck at UCSF's Helen Diller Medical Center...

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Art & culture
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Relaxing

by

Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

6th Ave Skate Park

Daily free roller skate party

When I am in Golden Gate Park in SF, I almost always stop for a few minutes at the 6th avenue skate park to watch the skaters dance to the music...

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Art & culture
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Relaxing

by

Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

GG Park Golf Course

A 9-hole gem

I love coming to the Golden Gate Parks Golf Course in SF in the morning, where it's almost 100% guaranteed to be foggy...

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Relaxing

by

Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

Columbarium

History, heritage and dioramas

The SF Columbarium is one of the only cemeteries within San Francisco city limits. Pair a diorama with a dash of biography & you have me hooked...

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Art & culture

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Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

Green Apple Books

Get lost in a real book store

"Green Apple Books" in San Francisco is one of my favorite places to get lost for an afternoon. Unmatched levels of discovery await...

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Shopping

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Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

Zazie

A bit of French dining all day long

"Zazie" in SF is my perfect local French bistro, whether I'm up at 8 am, peckish at lunch or in the mood for the greatest pork chop in town...

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Restaurants

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Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

The Turrell Skyspace

A hidden meditation

"The Turrell Skyspace" in San Francisco is a hidden oculus buried underground that provides a moment of either meditation or social overload...

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Art & culture

by

Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

Ushi Taro

Ramen with beef bone marrow

"Ushi Taro" is a tiny ramen house that specializes in beef ramen. A personal favorite is their spicy tomato beef ramen that never fails to warm my core...

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Restaurants

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Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

InoVino

Italian wine bar

"InoVino" in San Francisco is a lovely Italian bar with amazing food! The arancini are my go-to bites with either a Verdicchio or a Barolo...

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Bars

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Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

Corbin Steps

Fantasy garden stairway

The "Corbin Steps" represent everything delightful & quirky about San Francisco. It's an art project composed of fantasy creatures built of found objects!

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Art & culture

by

Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

Ferry Plaza Wine

Wine by the bottle

"Ferry Plaza Wine" in the San Francisco Ferry building is, perhaps surprisingly, one of the best wine bars in the Bay Area...

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Bars

by

Byron

Beach

Jul 1, 2025

Heading to San Francisco?

156 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

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What to expect?

Authentic & Unbiased Content

Our local Spotters share personal tips and secrets about their city. Nothing sponsored! These unique insights can’t be found in traditional guidebooks. Discover the city through the eyes of a local!

Go off the Beaten Path Gems

We focus on hidden gems and unique places that aren’t crowded with tourists. Our Spotters’ tips help you avoid the crowds and have truly special experiences, far from the tourist masses.

Responsible Travel

By visiting our locals’ favorites and lesser-known places, you contribute to a more sustainable way of traveling. You support the local economy and reduce the pressure on popular tourist spots. And in the end, those are the best places right?

Hi! Nice to meet you.

We are Spotted by Locals. An online travel community publishing city guides in 80+ cities. Our hand-picked local writers and photographers create all the content.

Our 488 Spotters (and counting) live in the cities they write about, speak the local language, and regularly update their tips. Their insights help around 1.4 million travelers each year discover the hidden gems of cities.

With insider advice from locals, we offer a unique, sustainable travel experience, allowing travelers to slow down and immerse themselves in the local culture, beyond the tourist hotspots.

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