With vibrant interiors by Kelly Wearstler (who has designed properties for celebrity clients including Cameron Diaz and Gwen Stefani) and an ultra-cool rooftop bar, Proper is the place to see and be seen. Its 131 rooms and suites – the largest clocking in at 58 square metres – come equipped with Italian bed linens, Aesop amenities and a mini bar stocked with pre-mixed cocktails and locally sourced snacks.

SFMOMA has established itself as the nexus of San Francisco art, and its futuristic 2016 expansion by renowned architecture firm Snøhetta reflects that. You’ll find works by heavy hitters like Georgia O'Keeffe, Diego Rivera, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, plus a nine-metre-tall “living wall” covered in over 19,000 plants.  

A four-kilometre path snaking along rocky clifftops, the trail at Lands End boasts one impressive view after another: towering cypress groves, the wild Pacific crashing into the shoreline, 19th-century ruins at the Sutro Baths and fresh perspectives of San Francisco's defining landmark to name a few.

Overlooking San Francisco Bay, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is lined with gorgeous seasonal produce and regional street-food vendors. Grab a cold brew at Blue Bottle Coffee, shop for souvenirs at Heath Ceramics and stop at artisan ice creamery Humphry Slocombe, where brown butter is a local favourite.

Opened in 2022 in the neoclassical Bethlehem Steel Building, The Palm Court’s resplendent fitout includes gold marble surfaces, over-the-top chandeliers and an opulent central fountain. Chefs cook everything from avocados to whole branzino (a white fish) over an open fire; don’t skip a glass of wine on the lounger-lined rooftop bar after your meal.

Famous for notorious inmates like Al Capone, failed escape attempts and the action-packed Sean Connery film The Rock, the prison island Alcatraz sits just two kilometres offshore. Join a spooky night tour to avoid the crowds and witness a spectacular sunset over the city.

Once a US Army post, Inn at the Presidio is an old-fashioned B&B in the best way. Think nightly cheese-and-wine sessions, rocking chairs on the front porch and charmingly appointed rooms, many with their own fireplace. Nestled within the Presidio National Park, multiple walking tracks and an 18-hole golf course are nearby.

Spanning 24 blocks, San Francisco's Chinatown is one of the largest outside Asia. Spend an afternoon exploring the Chinese Historical Society of America (stopping by the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, of course) before heading to upscale eatery Mister Jiu's for East-meets-West hits like the sourdough scallion pancakes.

Independent bookstore City Lights has been an institution since the 50s (when it was a hang-out for creatives such as Jack Kerouac) and today it boasts three floors of poetry, fiction, philosophy, music and more. Don’t forget to check the busy event calendar for author panels and live podcast recordings.

Kaleidoscopic murals protesting human rights and political abuses abound around every corner in Balmy Alley, The Mission’s celebrated street art hub. Nonprofit Precita Eyes runs walking tours hosted by artists; you can also purchase a mural map from its mural arts store.

One of San Francisco's most popular lookouts, Twin Peaks has an iconic reputation for a reason: on sunny days it promises 360-degree panoramas of the Bay Area and beyond. You can drive up or take a tourist bus, but the best views can be found on the steep 1.1-kilometre hiking trail that takes you all the way to the top.  

Minimo translates to “minimal” in Italian and is a reflection of the low-intervention techniques championed by this chic bar. But if you’re concerned it might be part of a too-cool-for-school natural wine scene, don't be – the vibe at the long communal table is decidedly chill, plus there’s a relaxed patio out the back.

If you’re yearning for an all-American road trip, cue your playlist and head west to Yosemite National Park, about four hours’ drive from San Francisco. You’ll find 3000-year-old giant sequoias; the imposing slab of El Capitan, a rock formation; Yosemite Falls, North America’s highest waterfall; and plenty of hikes, plus trendy accommodation options like AutoCamp’s Airstreams.

You might spot the line before you’re hit by the heavenly scents of big-name bakery Tartine, but the morning buns sprinkled with cinnamon and orange zest are well worth the wait. There’s also Tartine Manufactory, a café-cum-bar 15 minutes’ walk away, should you fancy a cocktail and wood-fired pizza.