Hopefully this question is specific enough so I don't get cyber bullied. What would be the best way to tour the city as well as hit every bar/store. I will have a car (have to drive out of the city one day, don't want to drive drunk obviously), I am aware of beerbybart, I am very capable of walking, and of course I cant forget about having the option of renting a bicycle. Should I just stick with the BART, or can it be a pain in the ass sometimes? Does renting a bike totally put the tourist stamp on your forehead? Thanks
I'd say renting a bike with a lock on it and doing beerbyBART is probably the best way to be safe and hit the most spots possible if that's your goal. You can bring your bike onto the trains.
And that is my goal. Is that still a good way to see the city as well? I was there a few years ago and did the whole tourist thing (never used BART though), but my buddy that I am meeting out there has never been so I am trying to kill a few birds with one stone.
I guess it depends. What exactly are you trying to "see", where are you staying, and what's your time frame?
That's a good question. I am assuming he just wants to cruise around, and if that is the case I kinda answered my own question. Staying at the Hilton Financial, 2 full day time frame.
Are you trying to do this in one day or a few? If you have a few days you can probably break things up into a much more manageable/pleasurable tour by either foot or bike.
Do the BeerbyBART thing the first day after mapping out your gameplan. For the second full day, figure out what you didn't see/do that you really wanted to the first day and go for it. Should just about hit everything you wanted to and leave both parties satisfied.
Definitely not a few, its a pretty quick trip. Two days max for the "sightseeing", his vacation is really out here in Hawaii and I am just meeting him in SF to basically drink as much beer as possible.
BART won't take you to every place you'll want to hit in the city. Muni (mostly busses, but by far the cheapest way to get around) will get you close to anywhere you want to go. Or you could get lyft or uber, but a lot of rides will get pretty expensive. In the city, you'll want to avoid driving if possible as parking is a nightmare in most areas. Biking is IMO the best way to get around, but you'll want to know the flattest/bike friendliest routes. Here's the wiggle, which is clutch and google maps does a pretty good job of letting you know where the bike lanes are. In SOMA, it's less stressful to take the bike lanes on Howard and Folsom as opposed to Market unless you they're really out of the way. Cellarmaker is on Howard, City Beer is on Folsom, and 21st Amendment is close to Folsom. Also, if you go the bike rental route, a place like this will get you something that won't be impossible to climb the inevitable few hills you'll have to deal with as opposed to the bike share bikes or the shitters from places like Blazin' Saddles. A few new spots of note: Barrelhead Brewhouse should have a few of their own beers along with a good guest list, though I don't know how much rotating they'll be doing as the tap lists have been very similar the two times I've been there and they were like a month apart. Magnolia's new Dogpatch location. Triple Voodoo is newish and right by there. I haven't been to either yet, but am way more excited about Magnolia/Smokestack Hopwater Distribution - only serves California beers and the food looks to be pretty good
Thank you very much! I will def research those links and pay attention to the kinds of bikes. This was very helpful.
I'm an EastCoaster with virtually no knowledge of the West Coast craft market....but that needs to change soon because I'm headed to SF for vacation in a month or so. Is it fair to say that, assuming I'm staying near/in the city, Cellarmaker and Almanac are my first 2 stops...per some of the feedback to Nayr? I'll have a car, but really don't want to risk driving back from Russian River after an afternoon there. Anything else worth trying within, say, 20mi of downtown SF?
Just FYI, Almanac does not have a location. The Rare Barrel in Berkeley is well worth a visit, and if you like farmhouse beers, Sante Adairius in Capitola is a must (though more like 80 miles).
@Patbrown2 I went for the first time a couple weeks ago and here's the spots I hit up: Mikkeller bar is a cool spot you should check out. Cellarmaker has good brews and they have a triple ipa that was dank. Toronados tap list was dissapointing(maybe cuz I live in San Diego, I was expecting more) but I'd still stop by and check it out. I really liked Zeitgeist, place was packed and had a real good tap list. Speakeasy was pretty cool but a little out of the way. Monks kettle had great food and a solid tap list. City beer store was cool, small tap list but solid. Plus, they're a bottle shop but nothing really special when I went. 21st amendment is a nice spot but their beers were just ok to me. Public house had good beers on draft but I went before a Giants game and place was crazy packed! Those are the spots I hit up in the city. First day we were walking and cabbing, then had a rental so don't know about riding a bike. Have fun out there, I sure did.
