An Insider’s Guide to San Francisco: What to See, Do, Eat, and Drink at #SIGNALConf

An Insider’s Guide to San Francisco: What to See, Do, Eat, and Drink at #SIGNALConf

SIGNAL, Twilio's customer and developer conference is coming up on October 17 & 18, and can’t wait to welcome you to San Francisco.

If you’re traveling to San Francisco, we know you’ll want to explore the city while you’re here, so we polled some of our San Francisco team to get their insider recommendations on things to do, see, eat, and drink while you’re in town. (Because let’s be honest, you can only see the Golden Gate Bridge, the Full House houses, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Ferry Building so many times.)

Here are some of the team's top picks:

Get the chicken wings at San Tung (1031 Irving St, Inner Sunset). Pro tip: Order them for pick up so you don’t have to wait!

Coin Op Game Room (508 4th St, South of Market). Get the high score you always wanted to over a delicious cold beer and a shared bite with friends. Coin Op has over 50 video games from early released classics such as Donkey Kong & Tron to the 2011 4-Player Pac-Man (yes, it’s a lot of fun).

If you need some late night pizza post-$BASH, look no further than DNA Pizza. (371 11th St, South of Market).They serve pizza 24/7 and have plenty of vegan options!

Try something different at Black Hammer Brewing (544 Bryant St, South Park). If you enjoy good ales and lagers, this is the place for you. Beers change daily as this team of brewers crafts small batches that are sure to please.

Cocktails at Top of the Mark (999 California St, Nob Hill). Enjoy a high-end cocktail on top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel, with 360-degree views of the city.

Warming Hut Cafe (983 Marine Drive, Fort Point) Stop in here for sandwiches, soups, healthy snacks, and other lite bites while you hike Crissy Field and take in views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sneak your way into Smuggler’s Cove (650 Gough St, Hayes Valley). If you love rum and pirates, this is the place for you. This pirate-themed bar is one of the top rum and exotic cocktail destinations in the world.

Drink colorful lattes and eat fancy toast at Home Cafe (2 locations in Outer Sunset and Outer Richmond). Go for the Instagram photo and stay for delicious spins on toast and coffee.

Try a burrito at La Taqueria (2889 Mission St, The Mission). There's no question the best place to get Mexican is anywhere in The Mission, and while the war wages on about the BEST place, most of our team agrees you can't go wrong with a burrito from La Taqueria. 

Have a donut ice cream sandwich at Milkbomb Ice Cream (1717 17th St, Potrero Hill). Yes, you read that correctly. Get your favorite donut stuffed with ice cream like vietnamese coffee and ube (purple yam).

Because there are never enough new donuts to try, make your way to Dynamo Donut + Coffee (2760 24th St, The Mission). October’s seasonal flavors include pumpkin chocolate chip, ginger orange, and chai.

Check out all of the food trucks at Spark Social (601 Mission Bay Blvd. North, Mission Bay). Part food truck park, part sangria/beer garden, Spark is a way to experience life like a local and enjoy amazing food!

Take a step back in time and see pre-8BIT (and kind of creepy) penny games Musée Mécanique (Pier 45, Fisherman’s Warf). Pop in here if you’re near Fisherman’s Warf and check out this vintage collection of penny arcade games.

Sutro Baths (1004 Point Lobos Ave, Outer Richmond). Check out the ruins of the Sutro Baths and hiking nearby. It offers excellent panoramic views of Ocean Beach, the Cliff House and several San Francisco neighborhoods.

Embark on a night tour of Alcatraz (Departing from Pier 33, The Embarcadero). Circle the island and hear the echoes from the past in this night tour of the infamous Alcatraz Island. Also, take in sweeping city views as night falls over San Francisco. Tickets go fast so get yours now!

Live your Instagram dreams at the Museum of Ice Cream (1 Grant Ave, Union Square). Dive into a pool of sprinkles and get some of the most coveted shots for your Instagram feed at this interactive museum dedicated to ice cream. Tickets sell out quickly!

Explore Muir Woods (1 Muir Woods Rd, Mill Valley). Escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a short jaunt across the Golden Gate Bridge, and take in the wonders of the redwood forest. Hike in the forest or along the coastline and be transported to another world. A parking pass is required.

Experience ‘sound sculptures’ at Audium (1616 Bush St, Nob Hill). Audium is the only theatre of its kind in the world, pioneering the exploration of space in music. The theatre's 176 speakers bathe listeners in sounds that move past, over, and under them. "Sound sculptures" are performed in darkness in the 49-seat theatre.

Check out street art and murals in The Mission. (Clarion Alley and Balmy Alley, The Mission) The Mission District is a virtual outdoor art gallery full of vibrant murals. Best viewed on foot, take a stroll over to these locations for an up-close experience and enjoy its nearby restaurants and attractions.

See the parrots of Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower (Telegraph Hill) While you may think that parrots are more often to be found in more tropical locations, but in 1990 a pair them made Telegraph Hill their home and today, a flock of 300+ can be seen while walking Telegraph Hill.

Go mini golfing indoors at Urban Putt (1096 South Van Ness, Tenderloin). Part mini golf course, part restaurant, part bar, have fun and enjoy some great food and good times mini golfing inside!

These are just a handful of some of our favorite spots in San Francisco. If you're a local and have other suggestions, feel free to share them below. And as always, our team will be on hand during SIGNAL to offer you their suggestions on places to see, things to do, and what to eat and drink while you're with us. We can't wait to see you!

P.S. - For even more to see, eat, drink, and do, check out this interactive map!