The Real S.F.

Sometimes having people come to visit can make you fall in love with San Francisco all over again. By showing out-of-town guests around the city, it reminds you of all the cool things there are to do here, and of all the smart and creative people who call San Francisco home.

As best-selling hospitality author Amy Sedaris reminds us, inviting someone into your home — or, in this case, your hometown — is a way of saying, “I like you.” Good hosts show their guests they like them by taking them to see the real San Francisco beyond tourist traps like Fisherman’s Wharf: From the best coffeehouses to the hippest music venues to the most lovable local celebs. Let us help you be a better host with our 12th annual Best Of San Francisco issue. In the pages ahead we present the best of what this great city has to offer.

If you’re a new resident of The City — that’s what we locals call S.F. — this issue is for you, too. We’ve got plenty of tips for people settling down here, from where to buy the freshest organic groceries to the best pickup park for dog owners. We’ve even supplied a helpful lexicon of Bay Area vernacular, so you can talk like us. So, read on, and enjoy the Best of San Francisco. We like you.