The Ultimate Vegan Guide to San Francisco
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There’s so much more to San Francisco than the Golden Gate bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf. As a kid growing up in nearby Sacramento however, these were the places my parents always took us to on vacation so they still hold a special place in my heart. However, one of the many reasons I love being vegan is because it actually opens up my travel experiences. Most people who travel a lot, whether it be for business or for leisure, would say that being vegan would be a nuisance. That it would be too hard to find good food or they’d miss out on all the traditional delicacies but honestly, since I’ve been traveling more recently as a vegan I find it to be the exact opposite.
In my experience, most of the vegan establishments take you off the main roads and away from the tourist parts of town, which personally, is what I like. I love going to a city and feeling like a local. I love to immerse myself in the culture, eat at the small hole in the wall, mom and pop, totally unique restaurants that I can’t find back home. Often times, finding these places leads my boyfriend Harley and I to quaint little neighborhoods and scenic views. When we go to these restaurants seeking out the local must eat dishes we often find that the quality of the food is fantastic! Vegan business owners certainly aren’t in business for the money, they’re in it because veganism has impacted their life in such a way that they want to share this gift with others and it’s always apparent in the love they put in the food.
Just like any food, of course, you’re going to have some great experiences, some so-so experiences, and some bad experiences but I will say most of our amazing experiences have been at restaurants that are 100% fully vegan. When we are travelling with non-vegan folks however, we tend to dine at more omni restaurants as long as they have suitable vegan options but with that can come some challenges with the staff possibly not being as knowledgeable about vegan food or the fear that the staff forgot to take the mayo or cheese off of your Beyond Meat burger.
My boyfriend and I have travelled to San Francisco and the surrounding Bay area before by ourselves and had a wonderful time and ate very well, however this past trip we did eat at more omni restaurants since we were traveling with people who were not vegan so it was a bit of a challenge but luckily they were totally open to eating at some of the vegan restaurants we’d wanted to try and we were so glad they enjoyed the food.
Just because you are vegan and your friends and family may not be, doesn’t mean you can’t travel with them on fun trips. Yes there will be a bit of a compromise, but as long as your family and friends are open to trying some vegan food and they make a point to select places where you can dine as well then please do consider traveling with them still. As vegans, we can sometimes seclude ourselves from our non vegan friends and family and I am here to say please continue to show up, enjoy your time with them, and have fun. Come joyfully, with patience, and compassion and I promise you some of your family and friends who may be your biggest critics when it comes to veganism will find themselves asking you questions and having so much respect for the choice you’ve made to live a peaceful life even if they aren’t ready yet to take that step. By taking this approach, you can truly have an effect on how people view veganism and that my friend is so important and vital to this movement to better our lives, the planet, and the lives of animals everywhere.
So now that my Ted Talk is over… I’ll get into it! Here’s what you need to know before you go to San Francisco and the surrounding Bay area as a vegan!
Tip 1: Getting There-Where to Fly Into
There are 2 airports in the San Francisco area. I would say both are about equally the same distance to the city center of San Francisco with the Oakland Airport being about 10 minutes further than San Francisco International Airport. I tell you that because it’s helpful to know so you can compare flights. Sometimes flying into either airport depending on where you’re travelling from can help you find the best price.
Tip 2: Transportation-You Won’t Need a Car
The BART may be a bit intimidating at first but it’s actually quite easy to use. They have a super handy map on their website and schedule. Whether you fly into Oakland or San Francisco’s airport you can take the BART into the city center. I will say that this is a major city so if you are getting in late at night or leaving late at night do be careful, watch your surroundings, or take an Uber or Taxi to your destination. I myself have never experienced any issues with safety on the BART but I’ve only ridden it during the day and times where there are plenty of people about.
You can rent a car as well, which we did on this last trip but parking is hard to find and depending on when you are visiting, it can get expensive. The public transportation in San Francisco is very accessible and you can get to anywhere you need to go within the city and the surrounding area using public transportation. In fact, many people who live in and around San Francisco do not have a car because parking is so tough and traffic can be a nightmare!
Tip 3: Accommodations-Home vs. Hotel
I’ve worked in both hotel and short term vacation rentals and honestly it is all about what suits your needs best. Some people feel uncomfortable staying at someone’s home and some people don’t like the cookie cutter experience of large hotel chains and want to opt for a more local experience when it comes to their accommodations.
I honestly make this decision depending on where I am. When I am in San Francisco however we use Airbnb especially if we have rented a car because they’ll typically have parking included in the price where a hotel could charge you $25 and up for their nightly parking rate. I also have found that recently, I’ve really enjoyed the experience of staying at an Airbnb. We typically pick places that are guest quarters off the main home and that has really worked out well for us so far. When searching for an Airbnb, I filter for the Airbnb Plus collection or Superhost. Airbnb Plus homes have been verified by a representative from Airbnb and homeowners have to meet certain requirements and offer particular amenities to be considered for Airbnb Plus. Superhost is not as strict of requirements as the Airbnb Plus collection but I typically find that Superhost locations have better decor, amenities, cleanliness ratings, and are typically more accessible to shops and restaurants. In San Francisco, it can be expensive as well to stay in a hotel and sometimes even an Airbnb as the cost of living here is high. When we visit, we stay in Oakland for two reasons-it’s cheaper than San Francisco and super vegan friendly!
We love staying in Oakland when we visit as well because we find it really easy to get around, it’s calmer than being in the city of San Francisco, and we love being able to just walk up the street or around the corner to a local grocery store to stock up on some vegan essentials for our stay. This is also another reason we prefer to rent through Airbnb because we can cook to keep costs down and also have a fridge to store food. It’s so nice to be able to wake up on vacation and make a good cup of coffee or tea in the kitchen and just feel like we have a home away from home.
Here are the two places we’ve stayed before that we absolutely loved! Both hosts were incredibly kind and thoughtful. The places were very clean, cozy, and easily walkable to shops and restaurants. Feel free to use my link for $55 off your next stay with Airbnb:
Tip 4: Attractions- It Ain’t Just About The Golden Gate
Now you can certainly go see the Golden Gate Bridge it is in such a beautiful area and so beautiful but because it is incredibly iconic bring your patience because you will be dealing with the crowds. The same goes for another popular tourist destination, Fisherman’s Wharf. If you’ve got a car be prepared to pay a hefty fee of $20 or more for parking near here. This place is also not the best place to be if you’re vegan. There are mostly chain restaurants and vegan options are pretty slim over here.
If you want to avoid the crowds and see some beautiful sights in the city I recommend the following:
This is my favorite place to come now when we visit. The views are absolutely stunning! It can get a little crowded around sunset as it’s the perfect place for photos but the park is so large that you really don’t feel like there are very many people around. A little history about this place for those who love history like I do, this place was created in 1894 by a guy named Adolph Sutro, a self-made millionaire. He created Sutro Baths to be a massive public bathhouse. Back then this place was impressive with seven swimming pools total and could accommodate up to 10,000 people at one time! After the Great depression however the baths became less popular and even though the Sutro family tried to reinvent this place as an ice skating rink they couldn’t make this place profitable enough to keep up the facilities. In 1966 a fire destroyed the rest of the complex and these are the ruins you’ll see when you go just north of the Cliff House. This is a great place to get in a hike and take in the scenic views however and the waves crashing up against the rocks is the most calming sound. I can’t say enough amazing things about this place!
San Francisco has some awesome parks. Two of my favorites are Dolores and the Golden Gate Park. Dolores park is a great place to go for an afternoon picnic. Pack yourself a tasty lunch or pick one up nearby, grab a blanket, and relax.
Golden Gate Park is massive! You could honestly spend all day here. There are multiple gardens like the Japanese Tea Garden and the Garden of Shakespeare and my favorite, The California Academy of Sciences.
A Must See!
This place can be a quick stop on your list but it is an absolute must see! It’s absolutely beautiful! It was constructed so that San Francisco could host the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition and was actually meant to come down at the end of the fair but this beautiful monument is now an iconic piece of the city’s history.
THE PAINTED LADIES
If you were a fan of Full House or a fan of the reboot now then of course you have to stop by for your photo op in front of the Painted Ladies, but one thing that most people do not know is that the actual home that was used for the exterior shots on Full House is located several blocks away from the Painted Ladies at 1709 Broderick Street… you’re welcome.
MUSEUMS
As I said above I am a history nerd and love any chance I get to go to museums. There are always a plethora of different museum exhibits available in the city. Check out a full list here of what’s available when you go. Our personal favorite however is the Exploratorium located at Pier 15. This place is kind of like if you had a ton of useless junk and then turned it into a fun science experiment. This place is fun for families and for adults too! Of course there will be a ton of kiddos in here but we had the best time exploring this place, no pun intended. They even have a water fountain made out of a toilet which was a fun treat to take a picture at as well. Tickets aren’t cheap, about $30 per adult, but honestly this place is a blast and I highly recommend it but if you are here on a Thursday night between 6pm-10pm it’s adults only and tickets are only $20! Winning!
MUIR WOODS
Muir Woods has been on my list forever! I fully intend to go next time we visit because this place looks incredibly beautiful! I’ve always wanted to see red wood trees and this place is only about a 40 minute drive outside of the city! Don’t be like me and if you have time check this place out because it’s my dream!
Tip 5: Food-Where to Eat
TIMELESS COFFEE
LOCATION: Oakland
I love, love, love Timeless coffee! Everything in here is vegan and their pastries are freaking amazing! They also have rotating breakfast specials. When we were there we had their pumpkin spice pancake and their breakfast burrito both of which were, excuse the Californian in me, hella tasty! Vegan or not, don’t pass this place up!
PEPPLE’S DONUT FARM
LOCATION: Oakland
Breakfast kind be kind of tough to find in San Francisco as a vegan but Pepple’s in Oakland has you covered! They offer donuts of course but a tasty breakfast menu of tofu scrambles, breakfast burritos, and chicken and waffles! They are also open every day of the week!
THE BUTCHER’S SON
LOCATION: Berkeley
Ok hands down this is my favorite place to visit when we are in San Francisco. The Butcher’s Son is a vegan butchery, you heard me, a vegan butchery! It’s located in Berkeley, of course, and it’s serving up everything from vegan fried chicken to bacon. I love getting their Caesar salad with extra bacon! I wish I could just ship myself some of this bacon ya’ll because it is so good! They also offer local grocery products here like vegan cheeses and meats and also offer some beautiful pastries too. My favorite are the pistachio cannolis!
THE VEGAN BURG
LOCATION: San Francisco
So I am putting this on the list because I feel like we just came on an off day. We ate here right before heading to the airport and although we loved the interior design and the vibe here the food was just so-so. It felt a bit heavy compared to the other food we had tried but they do have vegan soft serve and you can add on a vegan fried egg to any sandwich so honestly all is forgiven.
GOLDEN LOTUS
LOCATION: Oakland
My boyfriend and I cannot go to San Francisco and not eat here! The food is super fresh, flavorful and authentic. Our favorite dishes to get are the fried dumplings, fried jalapeno tofu, Mongolian beef, and of course their mocha cakes with some Thai tea! Everything is completely vegan and made with love! (Note: There is a Golden Lotus in San Francisco that is not vegan, the one in Oakland on Franklin street is)
MILLENIUM
LOCATION: Oakland
This place is a culinary treat! You’ll try things here you’ve never heard of but the staff is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about their seasonal menus and everything I have had here has been delicious. This place is completely plant based and is a bit on the higher end of the budget but if you’ve got a night you want to splurge this place is it! Also, do not skip dessert here. Their desserts are some of the best I’ve had in the world! I would seriously book a flight from Texas just to eat their desserts and fly back, that’s how good their desserts are. Don’t pass it up!
SOULEY VEGAN
LOCATION: Oakland
Souley Vegan is a vegan take on all those soulful and southern dishes like po’boys, chicken and waffles, crab cakes, mac and cheese, cornbread, and collard greens. The vibe is hip and trendy and the music is always on point. I love coming here when I’m visiting and always leave with a full belly and smile.
There are so many places in San Francisco and the surrounding area that we still haven’t tried them all but I wanted to make sure I included them here for you so you have plenty of places to choose from on your next visit.
Use Yelp? Check out my Vegan San Francisco Collection while you’re on the go.
If you’ve been to San Francisco and the surrounding area or are a local and you’re favorite place isn’t on the list, let me know, and I’ll be sure to add it!
