The most attractive of American cities and regularly voted the best city in the USA, San Francisco is adored because of its colourful history, dramatic setting and its laissez-faire atmosphere, a quality missing from synthetic Los Angeles. It is a regular trendsetter in everything alternative, from flower-power to 'free love' and gay liberation; it prides itself on being individualistic, down-to-earth and cultured.

Streets rollercoaster up and down the hills, and when not swathed in the city's trademark fog, there are superb vistas of San Francisco Bay, spanned by one of the world's most famous sights, the Golden Gate Bridge. Surrounded by hills and urban development, traversed by bridges, dotted with sails and 14 small islands, including the notorious Alcatraz, the bay is the largest inlet on the Californian Coast. Fisherman's Wharf at the edge of the bay is a popular place to eat, stroll and shop, with its resident seals a favourite photographic subject.

Within the surprisingly compact city are distinct neighbourhoods that reflect the cultural background of diverse communities that were attracted to San Francisco by the discovery of gold in 1848, and the promise of a new life for those desperate to escape their harsh circumstances. Most of San Francisco's residents were born outside the city and this mix of cultures is reflected in the dragon-studded temples of colourful Chinatown and Japantown, the characteristic bohemian flavour of the Italian pasta restaurants and cappuccino cafes in North Beach, the old Spanish-speaking Mission District that blends with the nightlife of SoMa, the modern Financial District, the gay centre of Castro and The Haight, characterised by the memory of the hippie movement of the 1960s.

Golden Gate Bridge

Address: Highway 101 North San Francisco

Admission: A $5 toll is collected from cars when driving south towards the city Access for pedestrians is on the east sidewalk during daylight hours only from sunrise to sunset (April to October from 5am to 9pm, November to March from 6am to 6pm). The bridge is open 24 hours for motorists

Telephone: (415) 921 5858

The rust-coloured towers, graceful suspension and supportive cables of the Golden Gate Bridge make this famous symbol of San Francisco the most photographed bridge in the world, and visible from almost any high point in the city, although it is often shrouded in rolling fog. Spanning the two-mile (3km) mouth of the bay, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its completion in 1937 and was built to withstand winds of more than 100 mph (161km per hour). During high winds it can sway up to 27ft (8m) in each direction. One of the great engineering accomplishments of the 20th century, the bridge claims to have used enough wire in its construction to stretch around the earth several times. Walking across the bridge, under the towers that loom 65 storeys above the water, is one of the best ways to experience the immensity of the structure and affords beautiful views of the San Francisco skyline, the bay and its islands. Golden Gate Bridge is also a favourite with the suicidal and the sidewalks are dotted with crisis-counselling phones.

Alcatraz

Address: San Francisco

Admission: Admission includes the ferry trip and is $26 (adults) or $16 (children). Night tours: $33. Other concessions are available. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, especially in peak season The last boat leaves the island at 6.30pm in summer (April to October) and 4.30pm in winter

Telephone: (415) 773 1188 (ferry schedules and information), or (415) 705 1042 (park information)

Out in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, or 'The Rock', is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations. The notorious escape-proof island with its dreaded maximum-security prison once held the likes of Al 'Scarface' Capone, George 'Machine Gun' Kelly and the 'birdman of Alcatraz', Robert Stroud. With sheer cliffs surrounded by the icy waters of San Francisco Bay, known for its treacherous tides and currents, it was regarded as the perfect place to detain the country's most-wanted and dangerous criminals who were isolated in dark solitary confinement cells. There have never been any successful escapes from The Rock. Visitors can explore the prison as well as learn about its history: from its discovery as a pelican nesting ground, its location as a military outpost, and the years between 1933 and 1963 as an off-limit federal penitentiary. It was also inhabited by Native Americans before being declared a Recreational Area and protected bird sanctuary. Thousands of tourists flock here each year and take the excellent self-guided audio tours that contain commentary from former guards and prisoners about life on the island. There is also a slide show and a tour of the island's ecology and bird life led by a park ranger. The view from the island looking across to San Francisco is awesome.

Fisherman's Wharf

Address: The Embarcadero San Francisco

Some people love the bustle of Fisherman's Wharf, while others make a conscious effort to steer well clear of it. But for better or worse it is massively popular, attracting more visitors than any other city sight, with Pier 39 the commercial tourist epicentre. The Wharf was once a fishing port with dozens of boats anchored here. Pier 45 is still used by fishermen in the early morning hours, and fish and seafood can be bought from the Fish Alley Market. There are shops galore, fast food stands and overpriced bay-view restaurants as well as bars, markets, street performers, and an endless variety of activities for the whole family. It is also the gateway for several top attractions: trips to Alcatraz and other bay cruises leave from here; numerous museums include the Historic Ships Pier; and the USS Pampanito submarine that can be boarded from Pier 45. The entertaining colony of sea lions that reside on the floating docks at Pier 39 are one of the best attractions on the quay.

North Beach

Address: San Francisco

Between Russian and Telegraph Hills, North Beach is San Francisco's 'Little Italy', that has long been the central hub for anyone with alternative inclinations. During the 1950s the pleasure-seeking, non-conformist lifestyle of the Beat Generation and their rebellious literature contributed to the neighbourhood's unconventional character and tourists poured into the district for 'Beatnik Tours'. Two of the Beat-era landmarks are the Vesuvio bar, and the first paperback bookstore in the US and hangout of Beat-era writers, the City Lights Bookstore. The steep stairways on Telegraph Hill lead to one of the city's most distinctive landmarks, Coit Tower, a monument to the volunteer fire fighters of the city providing superb 360-degree views of the city and San Francisco Bay. Inside the round, stone-tower murals of the Great Depression depict different aspects of life in California during the 1930s. The 'Crookedest Street in the World' winds down the steep eastern side of Russian Hill, the angle so steep that Lombard Street has to zigzag down with eight sharp turns to make any descent possible. The affluent residents inside their mansions with well-tended flowerbeds that flank the street bemoan the frequent traffic jams as thousands of visitors queue at the top and wait their turn to drive slowly down the tight curves, gathering at the bottom for photographic opportunities.

Golden Gate Park

Address: John F Kennedy Drive San Francisco

Admission: Park entrance is free. $10 (Academy of Sciences) plus $2.50 for the planetarium; $3.50 (Japanese Tea Garden) The Academy of Sciences is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Japanese Tea Garden is open daily from 9am to 6.30pm

Telephone: Park information (415) 831 2700 or (415) 321 8000 (Academy of Sciences). Japanese Tea Garden (415) 752 4227

Of the many open green spaces in San Francisco, Golden Gate Park is the biggest and the loveliest stretching from The Haight to the Pacific Ocean, featuring gardens, lakes, numerous sporting facilities, and museums. On Sundays the main drive is closed to traffic and becomes the playground for joggers, cyclists, roller-bladers and strollers. The California Academy of Sciences includes the Natural History Museum, aquarium and planetarium (temporarily relocated to 875 Howard Street until September 2008 due to renovations). The serenity of the Japanese Tea Garden with its bridges, bonsai and fortune cookies is a favourite with tour groups. Although filled with people, the park never seems crowded and there is always a secluded space somewhere on the lawns or in the gardens.

Cable Cars

Address: 1201 Mason Street (Cable Car Barn and Powerhouse) San Francisco

Admission: $3 per ride, each way. Day passports for the cable cars, buses and streetcars are also available. Entrance to the museum is free The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm (until 6pm from April to October)

One of San Francisco's most endearing attractions is its network of 130-year-old cable cars, the only mobile National Historic Landmark in the country, and the world's only surviving system of cable cars. Many cities adopted the system, but all have since been replaced by more practical means of transport. The perpetuation of these clanking museum pieces was due to determination by the city's residents and today they remain at the heart of the city's character. It is an experience to ride up and down the steep gradients of the hills, hanging on while the brass bell clangs, the conductor jingles his coins and the familiar clanking of the cables pulls the car at a constant 9.5 miles (15km) per hour. Many people have difficulty believing that these six-tonne cars can work without engines and the San Francisco Cable Car Museum affords visitors a closer look at the cable-winding machinery, and the 'home base' where cars are reeled in and out on 11 miles (17km) of steel cable. The museum also houses some interesting sights, including the first cable car (1873) and scale models of different types of cable cars that were once in use in the city. The idea of the cable car system was conceived by engineer Andrew Hallidie. After watching the uphill struggle of laden horse-drawn carts, he was determined to find a kinder and more efficient means of transportation, which he produced four years later.

Wine Country

Address: San Francisco

The Napa and Sonoma Valleys are at the heart of the Californian wine country, producing wines that are praised by connoisseurs worldwide, from a perfect climate of sunny days and cool nights. The area is a forerunner in the latest grape-growing techniques and wine making, and many individual growers, instead of selling their grapes to the larger wineries, are producing their own excellent boutique wines. The Napa Valley is the more commercial of the two, with more wineries, spas and tourist traffic, and a better selection of restaurants and hotels. The valley also caters for classic wine country activities such as hot air ballooning or biking through the vineyards; the world-renowned wineries also offer informative tours, which provide the ultimate wine-country experience. Sonoma Valley is less pretentious and more beautiful in a rustic way, with smaller family-run cellars and fewer visitors. Although the Napa Valley is the USA's best-known wine region, Sonoma boasts more awards than their snobbish neighbour, producing intensely complex reds. The Napa Valley is a relatively compact region with more than 200 wineries offering tours and tasting. Most of the large wineries with their orderly rows of vineyards are situated along the main thoroughfare that stretches from San Francisco Bay to Calistoga in the north. But there is more to the valley than wine tasting. The small resort town of Calistoga is famous for its mineral springs and mud baths, as well as the Old Faithful Geyser that shoots boiling water and steam 60ft (18m) into the air every 40 minutes. Nearby is a Petrified Forest with redwoods, seashells and marine life that were turned to stone after volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount St Helena covered the area.

Sausalito

Address: San Francisco

Located at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito is a half hour ferry ride from Fisherman's Wharf. The panoramic view of San Francisco Bay is spectacular, and Sausalito's sunny, inviting outdoor cafés and small shops overlooking the city are simply charming.

Exploratorium

Address: 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco, CA 94123 San Francisco

Admission: Adult $14. Children $9. Concessions available Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. Closed Mondays, except Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Telephone: (415) 561 0360

Located inside the Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is known as the museum of science, art and human perception, and is a leader in the movement to promote museums as educational centres. Named San Francisco's best museum, the Exploratorium is a fun, quirky museum of science, art, and human perception that features some 650 'please touch' exhibits. Many of its exhibits are created by visual and performing artists as well as scientists and educators. Exhibits such as the off-site Wave Organ, a unique sonic exhibit which is located on a nearby piece of land jutting out in the San Francisco Bay, can be found nowhere else in the world. It is one of San Francisco's most popular museums, drawing over 500,000 people each year and its three-dimensional pitch-black Tactile Dome inspire many visitors to approach challenges in a very different way.

Aquarium of the Bay

Address: The Embarcadero and Beach Street San Francisco

Admission: Adults $14.95, Children $8. Concessions available. Open daily except 25 December. Hours may vary according to season.

Telephone: (415) 623 5300

The Aquarium of the Bay features 300 feet (91m) of crystal clear acrylic tunnels through which over 20,000 aquatic animals can be viewed. The aquarium offers visitors the opportunity to come face-to-face with the Bay's largest predator, the sevengill shark, as well as touch leopard sharks, skates, rays, and sea stars. The Aquarium hosts nearly 600,00 visitors every year and provides free classes and tours to more than 13,000 Bay Area school children annually making it a wonderful attraction to the city.

Alamo Square

Address: San Francisco

Anyone who has ever seen an episode of the 90s sitcom 'Full House' will know what Alamo Square looks like. It is a residential neighbourhood and park in San Francisco, frequented by tourists, neighbours and dog-owners. The park features a playground as well as a tennis court. A row of Victorian houses overlooks the park, known as the 'painted ladies' and this view is often shown in the foreground of panoramic pictures of the city. On a clear day, the Transamerica Pyramid building and the tops of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge can be seen from the park's centre.

Chinatown

Address: Intersection of Bush and Grant Streets San Francisco

A dragon-draped archway at the intersection of Bush and Grant streets marks the entrance to Chinatown in San Francisco, the oldest Chinatown in the United States and the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. Chinatown draws more tourists than the Golden Gate Bridge with its streets teeming with fish and vegetable stalls, herbal shops, temples, and eateries. There are some fantastic restaurants such as Lichee Garden, Hunan Home's, and R&G. Museums include the Chinese Historical Society of America and Chinese Culture Center, making Chinatown an absolute must-see.

Lombard Street

Address: Between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets San Francisco

Known as the 'Crookedest Street in the world', Lombard Street features eight sharp hairpin turns. The road was designed in 1922 in order to reduce the 72 degree slope of the hill and make it more usable for cars as well as pedestrians. The speed limit is a mere 5mph (8 km/h) on the crooked section, which is about a quarter of a mile (400m) long. The crooked section of the street is reserved for one-way traffic travelling downhill and is paved with red bricks. Tourists are known to literally queue to drive down this famous road, making it a definite must-see when visiting San Francisco.

Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum

Address: 175 Jefferson Street San Francisco

Admission: $14.99 (adults); $8.99 (children). Admission prices exclude tax Mid-June to Labor Day: Sunday to Thursday from 9am – 11pm, Friday and Saturday from 9am – 12am. Rest of the year: Sunday to Thursday from 10am – 10pm.; Friday and Saturday from 10am – 12am

Telephone: (415) 202 9850

Visitors at the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum can be mystified and thrilled at the rare, the bizarre and the totally unexplained in the many interactive and state-of-the-art exhibitions throughout the museum. Children will be gob-smacked and this is a must for families travelling with kids in San Francisco.

Boardwalk Casino Arcade

Address: 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz San Francisco

Admission: Open Monday to Friday from 11am – 10pm; Saturday to Sunday from 19am – 7pm

Telephone: (831) 426 7433

Located in the Santa Cruz district, the Boardwalk Casino Arcade is a fantastic amusement park full of state-of-the-art video games and other great arcade games to entertain just about every child of every age.

Oakland Zoo

Address: 777 Golf Links Road, Oakland San Francisco

Admission: Open daily from 10am – 4pm

Telephone: (510) 632 9525

Boasting a plethora of over 300 wonderful animals, the Oakland Zoo is a must for animal lovers and children. Highlights include a children's park, picnic area, wildlife theatre, carousel and a miniature railway. The children's zoo allows kids the opportunity to get close to the animals and even pet them.

Randall Museum

Address: 199 Museum Way San Francisco

Admission: Free Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am – 5pm

Telephone: (415) 554 9600

The Randall Museum, also known as the Science and Nature Museum, provides plenty of enjoyable and exciting learning opportunities and experiences for children of all ages. The museum also features animals, such as birds, mice and snakes and children can even get to handle these animals as part of the educational experience. Workshops and programs are also available to children and adults.

Children's Fairyland

Address: 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland San Francisco

Admission: $7 each Winter: Friday to Sunday 10am – 4pm; Spring and fall: Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 4pm; Summer: Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone: (510) 238 6876

This ten-acre entertainment park on the shores of Lake Merritt features carousel rides, puppet shows and displays of other fairy-tale characters from well-loved stories where stories come to life. Children of all ages will love a trip to Children's Fairyland where they can let their imaginations run wild.

Uncorked!

Where: Ghirardelli Square,San Francisco

When: May 2010 TBA

The San Francisco Wine Festival is a celebration of wine, providing opportunity to taste, learn about and enjoy wines produced from San Francisco's local wine-making region. Various events take place along Beach Street including chef demonstrations, wine tasting seminars, and a chocolate and wine pairing seminar.

San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration

Where: Market Street, from Embarcadero to the Civic Center,San Francisco

When: 26 - 27 June 2010

As the world's most gay-friendly city, San Francisco celebrates gay and lesbian pride with a festive procession and numerous music stages. The parade features hundreds of themed marchers and floats, after which thousands of people from every walk of life gather at the Civic Center to carry on the party in front of one of the many music stages. The area is lined with stalls selling everything from food and drink to crafts and souvenirs.

Carnaval

Where: Mission District,San Francisco

When: 29 - 30 May 2010

Every Memorial Day weekend, the Mission District hosts San Francisco's version of the Mardi Gras celebrations with music and dancing, food and craft stalls, contests, street performers, and a parade with lavish floats, marching bands and colourful costumes. The Grand Parade is an exotic celebration of different traditions and cultures from around the world, with floats and dancers depicting vibrant multi-cultural themes, from samba and Chinese Lion dancers, to African drummers, and accompanied by the hip-swinging music of Latin America, Brazil, and the Caribbean.

Chinese New Year Parade

Where: Chinatown,San Francisco

When: 14 February 2010

The New Year Parade is the highlight and focus of the two-week Chinese New Year celebrations that includes the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant, the Community Street Fair and the New Year Flower Market. A San Francisco tradition since the 1849 Gold Rush, the Parade is the biggest celebration of its kind outside Asia and is listed as one of the top 10 parades in the world. Hundreds of spectators gather to watch as colourful floats, elaborate costumes, firecrackers, stilt walkers, lion dancers and marching bands go by, and wait in expectation for the world-famous annual Golden Dragon, which is 160ft (49m) long and takes over 100 men to carry it through the streets. In 2009 the Year of the Ox begins.

Haight Ashbury Street Fair

Where: Haight Street, Haight-Ashbury District,San Francisco

When: June 2010 TBA

One of the city's most famous neighbourhoods, Haight Ashbury was the centre of the hippie movement in the 1960s, and the summer Haight Street Fair is a vibrant and colourful celebration of its cultural heritage and creative roots. Two stages provide a variety of musical presentations and entertainment, and the streets are filled with food and drinks vendors, art and craft stalls and street performers.

North Beach Festival

Where: North Beach District; main stage in Washington Park,San Francisco

When: June 2010 TBA

Every year 'Little Italy' celebrates San Francisco's oldest street festival with arts and crafts, a pizza toss competition, local delicacies, Italian street chalk art, cooking demonstrations and cheese carving. The weekend kicks off with the Animal Blessing at the national Shrine of St Francis, and entertainment includes live jazz, rock, blues, salsa and swing music in a salutation to the Italian and Beat Generation history of the neighbourhood.

International Beer Festival

Where: Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason,San Francisco

When: April 2010 TBA

The biggest beer festival in the city is an annual event that features hundreds of beers from around the world, including Thailand, Japan, England and Germany as well as local brews and allows visitors to taste as much as they like. Live bands and a wide selection of food from local restaurants add to the atmosphere.

San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival

Where: Palace of Fine Arts,San Francisco

When: June 2010 TBA

The Bay area has been hailed as one of the dance capitals of the country and the annual Ethnic Dance Festival is the most significant contributor to its reputation as such. The festival presents dance styles from around the globe introducing a diverse range of cultural traditions, from Scottish dancers to belly dancing. Weekends only.

Monterey Jazz Festival

Where: Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey,San Francisco

When: September 2010 TBA

The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the oldest and most famous annual jazz festivals in the world. Throughout the decades, some of the greatest names in jazz have played including Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, McCoy Tyner and Oscar Peterson. The main focus of the festival is jazz education with several workshops held over the weekend.

Aqua

Address: 252 California Street (Financial District) San Francisco

Diners are wowed by the masterful seafood cookery and dazzling dish presentations served up at Aqua, all cooked with exquisite care. Dishes such as the shellfish soufflés and ahi tuna with foie gras are especially fine, and there is also a good-value five-course tasting menu available. Aqua is quietly elegant and is frequented by business clientele and a prestigious, gourmet crowd who like to dine in style for a special occasion. Reservations recommended. Dinner Monday to Saturday, and lunch Monday to Friday.

Gary Danko

Address: 800 North Point at Hyde Street (Fisherman's Wharf) San Francisco

Food Type: French

Award-winning, top Californian chef Gary Danko has built up a culinary name for himself by combining classical French cuisine with Mediterranean and Californian cooking, incorporating major culinary traditions from around the world into his work. His fine dining restaurant is a very special experience, and not only for the exquisite food; the service is impeccable and the atmosphere quietly elegant with no hint of stuffiness. Perhaps the best way to experience Danko's ingenuity is by way of a fixed-price seasonal menu, which might include glazed oysters, guinea hen breast and chocolate soufflé. Reservations essential. Dinner nightly. Elegant dress attire requested.

One Market

Address: 1 Market Street, Embarcadero San Francisco

Food Type: American

Winner of several national and local awards, One Market features upscale American fare specialising in fresh meat and fish dishes. There are remarkable views of the waterfront and historic Market Street that can be enjoyed while dining on ahi tuna steak or the daily roast. For a unique dining experience, the restaurant also features a special 'Chef's Table' located inside the kitchen from where the group is guided through the exquisite tasting menu served by the chef himself. There is live jazz every evening. Closed Sundays. Dinner Monday to Saturday and lunch on weekdays only. Reservations essential.

Boulevard

Address: 1 Mission Street, Embarcadero, SoMa San Francisco

Food Type: American

Located in the Art Nouveau Audiffred Building near the waterfront, the mosaic floor, central open kitchen and striking decor perfectly complement the artistic dishes created by culinary star Nancy Oakes. One of the city's best restaurants, Boulevard is always packed and is ideal for a special occasion. Specialities include wood-roasted dishes like the rack of lamb, pork loin, or a variety of fish. Reservations essential. Dinner daily; lunch on weekdays only.

Fifth Floor

Address: 12 Fourth Street, Hotel Palomar, SoMo San Francisco

Food Type: French

With a palette of rich colours and luxurious furnishings, Fifth Floor became an instant classic after opening in 1999. The modern French cuisine produced by Laurent Gras remains original, visually creative and sophisticated. Incredible attention to detail is paid to dishes like the crab salad with a white truffle confit, the slow-baked rack of lamb, or the velvet chocolate mousse cake with a roasted banana sorbet. The wine list is prestigious and professionally served. Breakfast daily. Dinner Monday to Saturday. Reservations essential.

The Slanted Door

Address: 1 Ferry Building #3 San Francisco

Chef Charles Phan prepares real Vietnamese home cooking at The Slanted Door and his food is so flavourful and incredibly fresh that even the likes of Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton have sought it out. The establishment attempts to recreate the richness of Vietnamese street food with Western style service. The menu includes fresh spring rolls, green papaya salad, duck and grilled ahi tuna, as well as delicious desserts such as vanilla bean crème brûlée and a collection of Oriental teas. Its new location overlooking San Francisco Bay also has a to-go section of the restaurant. Lunch and dinner daily.

Zuni Café

Address: 1658 Market Street, Civic Center, Hayes Valley San Francisco

Dining at this much-loved rustic restaurant is a quintessential San Francisco experience. The eclectic Italian-Mediterranean fare includes the legendary brick-oven roasted chicken with a Tuscan-style bread salad, hamburger on grilled rosemary focaccia bread, and the classic Caesar salad. The bustling copper-topped bar serves drinks as well as the very freshest selection of oysters. It is a great place for a pre- or post-Opera House drink and is always crammed with an eclectic crowd. Reservations recommended. Closed Monday.

Greens

Address: Building A, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard, Marina San Francisco

With high ceilings and enormous windows overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay, Greens boasts one of the most dramatic dining spaces in the city and offers outstanding, creative meatless dishes that have earned it a place as one of the top vegetarian restaurants in the country. Owned by the Zen Buddhist Center, dishes use the finest organic ingredients and the delicious meals attract non-vegetarians as well as vegetarians. Lunch Tuesday to Saturday and dinner Monday to Friday. There is a special fixed-price dinner on Saturdays. Brunch on Sundays.

Delfina

Address: 3621 18th Street (Mission District) San Francisco

Food Type: Italian

Craig Stoll was one of Food and Wine's Best New Chefs in 2001, and the ultra-fresh seasonal Italian cuisine, the reasonable prices and warm atmosphere have made Delfina one of the most popular restaurants in the city today, continuously abuzz with happy diners. Dishes on the daily-changing menu are kept simple but extraordinary and might include thick Tuscan soup, butternut panna cotta or roasted chicken. The handmade pastas, braised meats and fish dishes are all full of flavour. Reservations essential. Dinner daily.

Brandy Ho's

Address: 217 Columbus Avenue, Chinatown San Francisco

Food Type: Chinese

San Francisco's Chinatown district is world renowned for its restaurants. One of the top choices is Brandy Ho's, run by three brothers from Hong Kong and specialising in spicy Hunan (Southern China) cuisine. A typical meal would be spicy eggplant; calamari with black bean sauce, or chicken curry with garlic and hot sauce. Lunch and dinner daily.