Sarah’s 1/2 touristy and 1/2 local experience guide
Food scene
Quaint family owned Thai food restaurant, I recommend the Coconut curry with tofu and their vegetable egg rolls!
6 locals recommend
Thai Spice
2701 Pinole Valley RdQuaint family owned Thai food restaurant, I recommend the Coconut curry with tofu and their vegetable egg rolls!
Best Ramen in the state! I recommend the Veggie Akamaru and the veggie buns
11 locals recommend
Ippudo Berkeley
2015 Shattuck AveBest Ramen in the state! I recommend the Veggie Akamaru and the veggie buns
Go on the weekends for endless food trucks and perpetual farmers market feel. Go on Saturday morning (until 2) for the actual farmer's market. Take a stroll around the lake (3.2 miles all the way around). Street parking is paid, best bet is to park north of the 580 on either Grand or Lakeshore. Leave NOTHING in sight in the car. Break ins are frequent but non violent (smash and grab).
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardGo on the weekends for endless food trucks and perpetual farmers market feel. Go on Saturday morning (until 2) for the actual farmer's market. Take a stroll around the lake (3.2 miles all the way around). Street parking is paid, best bet is to park north of the 580 on either Grand or Lakeshore. Leave NOTHING in sight in the car. Break ins are frequent but non violent (smash and grab).
Sightseeing
Walk along the San Francisco Bay (East side, Bay side, not the ocean so it's warmer) and enjoy the sun, food, and street performers any day of the week. Spend some time in the Ferry Building to get a taste of local beer, wine, seafood, and cuisines
138 locals recommend
Embarcadero
Walk along the San Francisco Bay (East side, Bay side, not the ocean so it's warmer) and enjoy the sun, food, and street performers any day of the week. Spend some time in the Ferry Building to get a taste of local beer, wine, seafood, and cuisines
Epitome of the tourist experience! Fast food, fried food, some rides, and souvenir shopping
416 locals recommend
Pier 39
The EmbarcaderoEpitome of the tourist experience! Fast food, fried food, some rides, and souvenir shopping
City advice
Getting around
Expect traffic around 3pm on school days
Getting onto Pinole Valley Road to enter the freeway can take a few minutes between 2-4pm on a weekday during the school year. Likewise, the 80 will be jam packed in both directions during 8-9am, or between 5-6pm
Getting around
Bart/Ferry
Both are within 10 miles, they wont save a ton of time, but the Ferry is novel and Bart can be handy if you plan to party in the city. Ferry link https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/richmond-ferry-route and Bart link https://www.bart.gov/stations/rich. Then just Lyft/Uber from there