5 Hidden Gems In San Francisco

As the name suggests, Hawker Fare styles itself like the Hawker stalls of Thailand but does it with much more pizzazz and consideration for different dietary concerns such as veganism or gluten-free than the traditional southeast Asian variety. The restaurant is themed in a vibrant, colorfully tiled two-leveled room that encourages you to linger longer and sip beautifully presented cocktails. Their food flavors are a complex and tasty fusion of Chinese, American, and Thai dishes. I recommend the satay beef short ribs with a side of Brussel sprouts—yes Brussel sprouts, trust me you’ve never had Brussel sprouts as good as these, and that’s one of my favorite additions to Christmas dinner.

The Armory Tour is an experience unlike any other you will have and somehow it seems totally appropriate for San Francisco. This is a fascinatingly unique and comprehensive tour of a porn studio. Kink.com paid 14.5 million dollars for this space that was originally built as an actual armory, but now is a huge facility of dungeons, period-piece rooms, torture chambers, and various other intriguing sets spread over multiple floors. The tour lasts for about 90 minutes and combines the studio tour with lots of interesting historical information making it really engaging. 

Through the Wells Fargo lobby at the corner of Montgomery and Post Streets in the financial district, you’ll find access to a locally loved roof garden complete with magnificent city views and tasty lunch options (the garden is only open during business hours). This is an oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle. If you have trouble locating the roof terrace just ask a steward in the Wells Fargo lobby and they’ll direct you. You can also bring your own lunch to enjoy here along with the trees, perfectly manicured shrubs, fountains, and potted plants that cover this quite large space. It’s a tranquil and serene location to unwind if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of town.