Sir Francis Drake is a historic hotel near Moscone Convention Center, San
Francisco
http://www.sirfrancisdrake.com/
The Moscone Center is a mere ten-minute walk from our landmark Union Square hotel.
The Moscone Convention center is San Francisco's premier exhibition and meeting
facility, located in the thriving SOMA (South of Market Street) district.
Also near the Moscone Center and our hotel are the infamous cable car lines, the San
Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Sony Metreon,
many restaurants and public transportation stations, and the San Francisco Giants
Ballpark.
Our Neighborhood - An Historic Hotel in World-Famous Union Square
Guests at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel on Union Square find the thriving cultural center
for which San Francisco is so well known - artists, theatres, galleries, gourmet
restaurants, musicians and locals - right outside the front door. The Sir Francis Drake
Hotel is a vibrant gathering spot at the center of all the city's goings-on.
Located in the heart of San Francisco on historic Union Square, the Sir Francis Drake
Hotel is a stop on the Powell Street cable car line. Hotel guests are around the corner
from destinations like Tiffany & Co, Gucci, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Coach, Betsey
Johnson and Louis Vuitton, as well as North Face, Niketown and the flagship Levi's.
Right next door to our distinctive hotel is Saks Fifth Avenue with Neiman Marcus and
Macy's just a block away.
San Francisco is an easy city to get around, with major landmarks in close proximity to
each other. The Sir Francis Drake Hotel's central location means ready access to favorite
spots like Chinatown, Moscone Center, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Financial
District. Also easily accessible are destinations such as the Embarcadero along the
waterfront, AT&T Park (home of the San Francisco Giants), North Beach, Telegraph Hill
and Coit Tower, and the ever-popular Fisherman's Wharf.
San Francisco Business Hotel Services & Amenities
This 1928 historic Kimpton Hotel is a true masterpiece. Hotel guests are welcomed by a
grand lobby with classic crystal chandeliers, gilded ceilings, and a curved marble
staircase leading to the mezzanine lounge overlooking Union Square and the Powell
Street cable cars. Intimate seating areas have regal, custom-designed luxury furnishings
and select hotel guestrooms feature spectacular views of the city, San Francisco Bay and
the Bay Bridge.
By day, shop in Union Square, stroll to Chinatown, or catch a cable car for a breathtaking
trip to Nob Hill or Fisherman's Wharf. Business travelers are minutes from downtown,
the Financial District and the Moscone Convention Center. By night, the Sir Francis
Drake's Starlight Room is as hip as it gets - voted the number one nightclub in San
Francisco.
One of the most centrally located San Francisco's downtown hotels, the Sir Francis Drake
Hotel is recognized for its landmark status. Our Kimpton Hotel is recognized by our
guests for providing the services and amenities that make for easy and enjoyable
traveling.
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Personalized room preferences and welcome amenities for Kimpton InTouch
guest loyalty members

Complimentary WiFi high-speed Internet access in all guestrooms and meeting
rooms
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Room service (6:30 - 10:30 a.m. and 5 - 10 p.m.)

Concierge staff
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Safety deposit boxes
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Business center
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On-site audio/visual services and support
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Fax, copy, delivery services
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Fitness center available
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16 meeting rooms to accommodate groups of up to 350 people
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Effective May 18, 2006 the overnight parking fee will be $40 plus tax.
Oversized vehicles are $45 plus tax

Shuttle Service: 24 hour transportation is available through a number of airport
shuttle services, such as SFO Airporter (415-495-8404) and Super Shuttle (415-5588500)

Pacific Heights Limousine Service
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We are a pet-friendly hotel (call hotel for more information)
In-Room Spa - Kimpton Hotels offers relaxing In Room Spa Services
Imagine the absolute luxury of having a full-service day spa in the calm and comfort of
your Kimpton Hotel room.
No walking. No taxis. No inconvenience. Whether you need to unwind after a day of
meetings, a long flight, or to kick-off your vacation, our highly skilled therapists can
banish stress and tension to help you get the relaxation you need.
For a rejuvenating massage, facial, hand or foot treatment.
Call 1.877.452.4772
Maps and Directions
http://www.sirfrancisdrake.com/sfdmapa/index.html
Tel: 415-392-7755 | Res: 800-795-7129 | Fax: 415-391-8719
Directions to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel Near Moscone Convention Center and
Union Square
The Sir Francis Drake Hotel is located near Moscone Convention Center and Union
Square. The hotel is convenient to all that San Francisco has to offer including fine
dining, shopping, arts and entertainment.
Below are easy to follow directions for travelers driving to San Francisco, California
from the east, north and south.
Directions to the Sir Francis Drake hotel in San Francisco from the north (Marin &
Wine Country)

Take Hwy 101 South to San Francisco

Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and take the Lombard Street exit

Take Lombard Street (Hwy 101) to Van Ness Avenue
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Turn RIGHT on Van Ness Avenue
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From Van Ness, turn LEFT onto O'Farrell Street

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Turn LEFT onto Powell
Sir Francis Drake Hotel is on the corner of Powell and Sutter Streets, in Union
Square, San Francisco
Directions to the Sir Francis Drake San Francisco hotel from the east (East Bay and
Oakland International Airport)

Take Hwy 80 West to San Francisco

From the left lane on the Bay Bridge take the 5th Street exit

Turn RIGHT onto 5th street and continue to Market street

Cross Market (5th will become Cyril Magnin Blvd.)
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Continue 2 blocks to O'Farrell Street, turn RIGHT onto O'Farrell

Turn LEFT onto Powell

Sir Francis Drake Hotel is on the corner of Powell and Sutter Streets, in Union
Square, San Francisco
Directions to the Sir Francis Drake hotel in San Francisco from the south
(Peninsula, including SFO Airport)

Take 101 North to San Francisco toward the Bay Bridge

Take the 4th Street exit (last San Francisco exit)

4th Street becomes Bryant; continue on Bryant to 3rd Street
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Turn LEFT onto 3rd and continue 41/2 blocks, crossing Market Street
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Turn LEFT onto Geary and continue to Powell
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Turn RIGHT onto Powell

Sir Francis Drake Hotel is on the corner of Powell and Sutter Streets, in Union
Square, San Francisco
Hotel Parking
Effective May 18, 2006 the overnight parking fee will be $40 plus tax. Oversized
vehicles are $45 plus tax.
Parking Alternatives in downtown San Francisco:
LOCATION
RATES
750 Bush Street
$2.50 every 20 min.
Between Powell & Mason
$15 up to 12 hrs
415-544-9170
$20 12 hrs - 24 hrs
24 hours
Crown Plaza Garage
$2.50 every 20 min.
480 Sutter
Maximum $30
Between Sutter & Bush
in & out privileges
415-398-8900 x7110
Early bird special: $14 M-F, 10am-6pm
24 hours
Union Square Garage
$2: 0.5 - 1 hr
333 Geary
$3: 1 - 1.5 hrs
Between Powell & Stockton
$4: 1.5 - 2 hrs
415-397-0631
$6: 2 - 2.5 hrs
24 hours
$8: 2.5 - 3 hrs
No in & out privileges
$9: 3 - 3.5 hrs
$10: 3.5 - 4 hrs
$11: 4 - 4.5 hrs
$25: 7 - 24 hrs
Union Square
http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/unionsq.shtml
Sights and Culture
Cable Car Turnaround: The Mason and Hyde lines terminate at the intersection of
Powell and Market streets, where drivers gets out and turn the nearly 8-ton, 18-foot-long
relics around so they're pointing in the direction they came from. Want to ride? Get there
early in the morning to experience this San Francisco treat with minimal fuss.
Theatres
The Geary Theater is home to the prestigious American Conservatory Theatre. The
building's beautiful 1909 facade -- encrusted with colorful foliage -- is worth a look: a
few years ago it was cleaned and restored to its original luster.
Other theaters in the area include the Curran Theatre, which hosts many traveling
Broadway shows; the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, which features productions written by
black playwrights; and the Golden Gate Theatre, which was designed by Gustav Albert
Lansburgh and presents Broadway shows like "Rent" and "Chicago."
To buy half-price day-of tickets to various shows, head over to the TIX Bay Area booth
at the Geary-Powell corner of Union Square.
Union Square is also home to San Francisco's Half-Priced Ticket Booth. Run by Theatre
Bay Area, tickets for most of San Francisco's performing arts can be purchased the day of
the performance at a discounted rate.
Galleries
You'll find most of the galleries on the storefronts of Geary, Post and Sutter. A handful,
including Christopher-Clark Fine Art, Russeck, Weinstein, Pasquale Iannetti and
Meyerovich, display works by old and modern masters, such as Picasso, Renoir, Matisse,
Chagall, Rembrandt, Warhol, Lichtenstein and Dali. Martin Lawrence boasts the largest
collection of Chagall works for sale in the world and a large collection of Keith Haring
pieces and Warhol exclusives. Though Weinstein deals heavily in original prints, it does
also display a large selection of oil paintings and sculpture, including Rodin originals.
For more contemporary, emerging and Bay Area artists, the galleries at 49 Geary and 77
Geary are prime buildings for art show hopping. The former houses the Robert Koch
Gallery and Fraenkel Gallery, both known for their photography, the Catharine Clark
Gallery and the Haines Gallery, among others. The latter is home to the Graystone
Gallery, known for its Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Motherwell artworks,
as well as the Rena Bransten Gallery and Heather Marx Gallery. On Sutter Street, Hang
Art and Hang Annex grant exposure to emerging Bay Area artists at affordable prices for
emerging collectors. Many of these galleries are open late (i.e. 7:30-8 p.m.) on the first
Thursday of every month, with free wine and snacks for browsers.
Rolling Stones fans can find Ron Wood's paintings and drawings on display at the San
Francisco Art Exchange, along with the works of Alberto Vargas and 20 rock and roll
photographers.
The Xanadu gallery, Housed in San Francisco's only Frank Lloyd Wright building, is
worth a visit just for the Guggenheim-style interior itself.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. http://www.ybca.org/
Curran Theater, 445 Geary St. http://www.bestofbroadwaysf.com/theatres/index.asp?key=44 (Walking distance from Sir Francis Drake)
Golden Gate Theater, 1 Taylor St. http://www.bestofbroadwaysf.com/theatres/index.asp?key=48 (Walking distance from Sir Francis Drake)
Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market St. http://www.bestofbroadwaysf.com/theatres/index.asp?key=52
Shopping
Though there are still statues honoring the Union troops, today the area is definitely a
tribute to the power of shopping. Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Gump's and a very
substantial Macy's are right on the square, and the venerable Bullock and Jones and
Tiffany and Co. are within walking distance, as is the nine-story San Francisco Shopping
Centre with its three-level Nordstrom's. It is also a center for exclusive couture and high
fashion, with boutiques dedicated to Dior, Armani, Marc Jacobs, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Most of the high-end shops are on Geary, Post and Sutter from Powell Street towards
Market Street; Stockton Street and Grant Avenue. Maiden Lane, a narrow little alley that
was a mall for the world's oldest profession before the 1906 earthquake, is now home to
many European-style bistros and boutiques.
Restaurants
Anjou Restaurant: Tucked out of sight in a alley, the warm and welcoming Anjou is a
small French restaurant catering to both the business lunch and dinner theater crowds.
Campton Pl., (415) 392-5373. (Chronicle Review / Web site)
Bar Crudo: Raw bar focuses on a short menu of updated oyster bar favorites, in addition
to a few selections of crudo, Italian for uncooked. If a whole raw meal isn't your style,
there are a few cooked dishes on the menu. (SF Chronicle/SF Gate) 603 Bush St. (at
Stockton), (415) 956-0396. (Web site)
Biscuits & Blues: Posh "down-home cookin'" here -- California-ized jambalaya, fried
okra and chicken, presented with live blues music. A full-service restaurant was added in
2005. 401 Mason St., (415) 292-2583. (Web site)
Bistro 69: One of the several eateries on Maiden Lane offering outdoor café seating,
Bistro 69 offers an array of Mediterranean and Italian dishes and specialty sandwiches.
69 Maiden Ln., (415) 398-3557.
Cafe Andree: The 25-seat Franco-Latino cafe resides in the Hotel Rex, serving small,
medium and large plates in a former bookshop. (-SF Chronicle) 562 Sutter St. (near
Mason), San Francisco; (415) 433-4434. (Web site)
Caffe Espresso - coffees, sandwiches, pastries; cocktails/wine service; outdoor seating off
Union Square; breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
Cafe Madeleine: Shopgirls and boys stop by this tiny, bright and hip spot for quick
panini and salad lunches, coffee drinks, old-fashioned Lorina lemonades and gorgeous
confections by Jil's Patisserie. 43 O'Farrell St. (at Grant Avenue); (415) 362-1713.
Citizen Cupcake: This cafe-size version of the celebrated Hayes Valley restaurant
resides on the third floor of Virgin Megastore. Find Elizabeth Falkner's award-winning
pastries and designer cupcakes, plus a selection of sandwiches, salads, cheese courses,
specialty chocolates, wine, beer, sake, and coffee drinks. 2 Stockton St., (415) 399-1565
(Web site)
Colibri Mexican Bistro:Mexican small plates from executive chef Alex Padilla,
formerly of Boulevard. (-SF Chronicle) 438 Geary St. (near Mason), San Francisco;
(415) 440-2737. (Web site)
Cortez: Another venture by Pascal Rigo, who started his San Francisco artisan food
empire with Bay Bread bakery and has moved on to several small-plates venues
throughout the city. Located in the Hotel Adagio, the modern-rustic space fits into the
hotel's Spanish colonial-revival style. (-SF Chronicle) 550 Geary St. (between Taylor and
Jones streets), (415) 292-6360. (Chronicle Review)
E&O Trading Company: This Southeast Asian grill and brewery melds Vietnamese,
Thai, Cambodian, and Indian, among other cuisines in an upbeat, fun atmosphere. Live
jazz and classical performances on some nights. 314 Sutter St., (415) 693-0303.
(Chronicle Review / Web site)
First Crush Restaurant: As the name implies, First Crush is primarily known for its
wine list, featuring one of the largest collections of California wines in the city.
Occasionally, First Crush hosts Crush Fridays, tastings of fine wines and spirits. 101
Cyril Magnin, (415) 982-7874. (Chronicle Review / Web site)
French Quarter: There is one little dining section of SF, off the well-worn path of
Union Square and the Financial District, where joie de vivre and wine flow freely. It's the
City's French Quarter, loosely concentrated around Belden Place. Every bistro and café
has outdoor tables, some French staff and just enough attitude to approximate that little
place just off the Champs-Elysees. Try to be there on Bastille Day (if you can't jet off to
Paris in time), when the fête goes on all night. Here are the full Chronicle reviews of
those on Belden Place; also check out nearby Cafe Claude. (Belden Place Web site)
Harry Denton's Starlight Room - Luxury nightclub on the 21st floor with San Francisco
views, offering cocktails, live entertainment, and dancing
King of Thai Noodle: Although noodles star, rice plates and soups are also available.
Your order arrives quickly, even if all dozen or so tables and counter seats are filled. (-SF
Chronicle) 156 Powell St. (near O'Farrell); (415) 397-2199. (Bargain Bites 2004)
Macy's Cellar and Cheesecake Factory: Around the corner from the swanky appliances
on the basement level is basically a food court, but better than the usual with Wolfgang
Puck, Boudin, a sushi bar, Ben & Jerry's, Tom's Cookies and more. Beware, though: it's
usually a madhouse. Find the Cheesecake Factory on the top level, with good views of
Union Square. 170 O'Farrell Street, (415) 397-3333. (Cheesecake Factory Review / Web
site)
Michael Mina: The prettiest dining room in the city (in what was formerly the Compass
Rose), with an equally exceptional food and wine list and flawless service. (-SF
Chronicle) 335 Powell St. (at Geary, in the Westin St. Francis Hotel), (415) 397-9222.
Valet $17 for four hours. (Chronicle Review / Web site)
Morrow's Nut House: Morrow's Nut House has been a Union Square staple since the
'30s, when ladies who shopped Union Square slipped into Morrow's Nut House on Geary
Street for dainty bites of hot, salty, roasted nuts and be back among the racks in minutes.
111 Geary St., (415) 362-7969.
Morton's of Chicago: Since 1978, Morton's has been dishing out steaks at high prices.
Some say it's not worth the cost, though the quality of meat at this restaurant chain is
good. 400 Post St., (415) 986-5830. (Chronicle Review / Web site)
Old Navy Torpedo Joe's: It's not just the place to buy drawstring pants at bargain prices.
You can also pick up salads, sandwiches, smoothies and sodas at bargain prices. At the
rear of the main level. (-SF Chronicle/SF Gate) Fourth and Market streets, (415) 3440376.
Postrio: Pan-Asian-Californian cuisine served in a dramatic dining room. Outstanding
desserts and the influence of co-owner Wolfgang Puck make for a memorable dinner (as
does the bill). 545 Post St., (415) 776-7825. (Chronicle Review / Web site)
Rotunda at Neiman Marcus: The Rotunda is the kind of place where regulars and
bartenders know one another by name and where "ladies who lunch," lunch. A
cheeseburger runs about $15 and a cup of coffee goes for $3, but the windows that line
the Rotunda have a terrific view of Union Square. Look up and there's that gorgeous
stained-glass skylight Neiman Marcus is famous for. (-SF Chronicle/SF Gate) 150
Stockton St., (415) 362-4777. (Chronicle Review / Web site)
Scala's Bistro: The mahogany booths and intimate lighting add a feeling of privacy to
this large country-French/rustic-Italian restaurant. New on the menu is "faux gras," an
animal-friendlier pate with butter and fresh duck liver that hasn't been hyper-fattened like
foie gras. The more than 150 wines on the list hail from California, Italy and France. 432
Powell St., (415) 395-8555. (Chronicle Review / Web site)
Sears Fine Food: After a brief hiatus, Sears Fine Food, founded in 1938, returned under
new ownership in 2004. Fortunately, they kept the famous dollar-sized Swedish pancakes
and retro waitress uniforms. (-SF Chronicle/SF Gate) 439 Powell St. (near Sutter), (415)
986-0700. (Chronicle Review / Web site)
For more Union Square and Financial District restaurants, check out these Chronicle
reviews.
Nightlife
Cafe Royale: With the dark-wood, low-lighting style of a speakeasy, Cafe Royale
manages to be a friendly neighborhood bar/cafe as well as a classy place for a discreet
rendezvous. The large main room downstairs is wrapped by a balustraded balcony, which
is even darker and more romantic. The beer-and-wine-only selection is eclectic, with a
half dozen beers on tap, and the bar makes up for what it lacks in spirits with unique soju
cocktails. The food is simple and delicious, featuring baguette sandwiches, quiche and
homemade soup. On Friday and Saturday nights, in-house DJs play house and beats, and
on occasional weeknights the Royale has been known to host trendy literary events. (- Jan
Richman, special to SF Gate) 800 Post St., (415) 441-4099. (Web site )
Gold Dust Not the place to go for an intimate date. The Gold Dust is the epitome of the
theme bar, decked out floor to ceiling in gold rush schtick. The good thing? It's been that
way forever, and the patrons are a friendly, tipsy bunch. Good drink specials, too. 247
Powell St., (415) 397-1695.
Harry Denton's Starlight Room: Long before big-band swing music was popular with
the MTV set, the Starlight Room was the swanky place for drinks. Perched on the 21st
floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, its lush velvet booths, swinging jazz music and
incredible views are all that's needed to bring out the inner Rat Packer in you. 450 Powell
Street, (415) 395-8595. (Web site)
Lefty O'Doul's: This old hofbrau -- a favorite of tourists and locals -- has character
seeping out of its walls. The food is good, the bar is great and Marilyn Monroe's
California state ID watches over the place. Why? Lefty was Joe DiMaggio's manager in
the Yankee Clipper's minor-league days, see, and you remember who Joe married, right?
333 Geary St., (415) 982-8900.
Plush Room: Besides being, er, plush, the Plush Room at the Hotel York is the premier
venue for cabaret in the City. Formerly a speakeasy, this swanky nightclub sports a very
classy retro style, authentic stained-glass skylights and the most sultry chanteuses this
side of the Seine. Neither cover charges nor cocktail prices are cheap, but the Plush
Room is one of the few places in town where you'll feel absolutely upscale, even if your
blouse is made of microfiber instead of real silk. (-Jan Richman) 940 Sutter St. (inside the
Hotel York), (415) 885-2800. (Web site)
Ruby Skye: Don't be fooled by the huge red-lettered marquee and the line stretching
down the block. Ruby Skye is not a touring Broadway show or a hot new pop diva -- it's
a dance club. In the former Stage Door theater, just off Union Square, which was built in
1890 and outwitted both big quakes to retain its original Victorian stained-glass windows,
interior arches and glorious proscenium, this high-end nightclub caters to tourists and
locals alike. There's plenty to see and do here, with a huge dance floor, several balconies
(often hoisting hired dancers), super-high-tech lighting design, a smoking lounge called
the Jungle Room and a VIP section in the wings high above the pulsing dance floor. Also,
you can make weekend reservations for a "booth," an intimate, plush zone reminiscent of
the inside of Jeannie's bottle -- it's pricey, but, with the preferred status it confers, you can
skip the line outside! Ruby Skye is the perfect place to take an out-of-town guest or
someone celebrating his or her 21st birthday. (- Jan Richman, special to SF Gate) 420
Mason St., (415) 693-0777.
Public Transportation
http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/transportation/publictrans.shtml
Driving around San Francisco presents many hazards: the rush hour traffic, the
unconventional outlay of streets and, of course, the legendary parking difficulties.
Chances are that if you're spending much time here you'll end up using some form of
public transportation at least once. Here's a rundown of what you need to know, and
where to find out more.
Muni -- It's sometimes late and crowded, but woefully necessary for getting
around San Francisco. It's also the way to see the real city and the best option
for budget transportation. Muni operates buses, streetcars and cable cars in the city 24
hours a day, but service is limited at night.
Special service is available to both Monster (Candlestick) Park and AT&T Park on game
days. For schedules and fares, call (415) 673-6864.
The F-line streetcar is a great alternative to the cable cars. The vintage electric rail
vehicles serve the City's main artery, Market Street, and its grand waterfront boulevard,
The Embarcadero -- linking downtown San Francisco to Fisherman's Wharf / Pier 39.
Board the F-line at specially marked center islands along the route.
As of September 1, 2005, bus/streetcar fare is $1.50 for adults, 50 cents for seniors (65+)
and youth (5-17). Exact change is required. Free transfers are issued when the fare is
paid, and they're good for two more rides in any direction for 90 minutes to two hours.
Note that different rates apply to cable car rides (see below).
The Passport Pass is available in 1 to 7-day increments and is good for unlimited
bus/streetcar and cable car rides. The Weekly Pass, good for unlimited bus/streetcar rides
Monday through Sunday, is cheaper than the 7-day Passport but cable car rides cost an
extra $1 each. The San Francisco CityPass is good for seven consecutive days on Muni
and is also good for admission to several attractions in the city. It provides a savings over
the individual admission prices for the attractions and fare for Muni. A monthly Fast
Pass is good for unlimited rides on Muni and cable cars, and BART and Caltrain within
the city limits. For more information, go to www.sfmuni.com/fares/fareinfo.htm
It's a good idea to pick up a Muni Map; they're sold at many local shops and bookstores.
You can order an Official Muni Transit and Street Map by sending a check or money
order for $2.50 to: Muni Map, 949 Presidio Ave., Room 238, San Francisco, CA 94115.
The Muni website also has lots of schedules and maps (including cable cars):
www.sfmuni.com
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Cable Cars -- A trip to San Francisco is simply incomplete unless you ride a
cable car at least once. If you really want to get to Fisherman's Wharf, take the
Powell-Hyde line or the Powell-Mason line. Both start at the cable car
turnaround at Powell and Market and end at Fisherman's Wharf, but the Powell-Mason
line has the best views. It ends on the east side of Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell-Hyde
line takes you right past the crookedest street (Lombard) and ends on the west side of the
Wharf. The lines to get on at Powell and Market and at Fisherman's Wharf can be very
long -- try getting up at the crack of dawn if you don't like to wait. Don't try to catch it at
the stop on the corner of Post and Powell by Union Square (known locally as Fantasy
Island); the car is full by that time and won't admit more passengers. Otherwise, take the
California line, which runs on California Street from Market to Van Ness Avenue. It's
generally less crowded, and takes you through Chinatown, past Grace Cathedral and up
and down some impressively steep hills. Hang on tightly and be careful to keep all body
parts on the cable car at all times -- sometimes cars pass very close.
The cable cars operate daily from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. As of September 1, 2005, tickets are
$5 per ride and can be purchased on the cable car; change is given up to $20. Cable car
tickets and one-day Cable Car Pass ($10) are sold by the conductors on the cable cars.
See the Muni section for more information about fares, maps and schedules.
The Cable Car Museum (1201 Mason St. at Washington; Web site) is free and is open
every day except New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call the museum
at (415) 474-1887 for more information.
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BART -- Generally on time and fairly clean, BART is the subway/commuter
rail to the East Bay (Berkeley, Oakland, or beyond), Fremont,
Dublin/Pleasanton, the San Francisco Airport and Millbrae.
The fare depends on the length of your trip (see the fare calculator for exact fares), and
each rider must have his/her own ticket. Bicycles are allowed, except during rush hour on
certain trains. BART is wheelchair accessible but sometimes (often) the elevators are out
of service; call 510-834-LIFT or 888-2-ELEVAT for station elevator information.
Service begins at 4 a.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. on Sundays and
holidays, and the last train is around midnight. Check the schedule for your station for
exact times.
BART stops at the Oakland Coliseum and also operates a shuttle (Air BART) from this
stop to the Oakland Airport ($2 one way; 50 cents for children 5-12, seniors over 65 and
people with disabilities). Buy your ticket at the machines in the station or the airport
before boarding the shuttle. Shuttles run from 6am to 12:05 a.m. every 10 minutes and
Sundays 8 a.m. to 12:05 a.m. (first and last shuttles from Coliseum Station to Oakland
Airport are at 6am and 11:30pm; trip is approximately 15 minutes, but may be as long as
30 minutes in rush hour traffic). Call (510) 577-4294 for more information on Air BART.
511.org has a great online trip planner to help you get where you're going by BART and
other public transportation.
Call 415-989-2278 for SF/Daly City information, 510-465-2278 for Oakland/Berkeley
information. BART also has an excellent website with an interactive schedule and maps:
www.bart.gov
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Ferries -- Trips to Alcatraz leave frequently each day from Pier 41 at
Fisherman's Wharf. Though tickets can be purchased at the Blue & Gold
Fleet box office window at Pier 41, advance purchase is strongly
recommended, as tours do sell out. More information and online ticket purchases at
www.blueandgoldfleet.com.
For ferry service to most Giants games, see AT&T Park's Web site for directions.
The Blue and Gold Fleet also runs from Pier 41 and San Francisco's Ferry Building to
Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, Oakland's Jack London Square, Alameda and
Vallejo. For schedule and fare information, or go to www.blueandgoldfleet.com.
The Golden Gate Ferry runs daily high-speed service from San Francisco's Ferry
Building to Sausalito and Larkspur; call (415) 923-2000 for fare and schedule
information. www.goldengateferry.org
The Vallejo Baylink Ferry runs from SF (Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 41 and the Ferry
Building) to Vallejo. www.baylinkferry.com
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Caltrain -- Caltrain runs between downtown San Francisco and San Jose,
through several Peninsula cities (for a list of stations, click here, or check out
the system map). Weekday commute-hour service is also available to Gilroy.
One-way fares range from $1.75 - $8, depending on how many zones you travel through.
See below for specific services. For schedules, fares, special event service and other info,
visit www.caltrain.com or call (800) 660-4287.
Caltrain to SFO: The closest stop is the Millbrae station, but riders can easily take
BART from there to the San Francisco Airport.
Baby Bullet (weekdays only): This speedier option takes weekday riders between San
Francisco and San Jose in less than an hour. To start, Caltrain is offering 10 Baby Bullet
trains -- five in the morning and five in the evening. During evening commute hours,
northbound trains stop at four stations after departing San Jose -- Mountain View, Palo
Alto, Hillsdale and Millbrae. During morning commute hours, southbound trains will
make an additional stop at 22nd Street in San Francisco.
Note on buying tickets: Purchase your ticket at a vending machine or a staffed station
before boarding -- while riders were once able to buy tickets on the train, now anyone
caught on board without one is fined up to $250.
AC Transit -- AC Transit provides bus service in Alameda and Contra Costa
counties in the East Bay, and transbay service from San Francisco. Transbay
buses leave from the San Francisco Transbay terminal (Mission St. between First and
Fremont streets). For current fares, schedules and other rider info, go to
www.actransit.org or call (415) 817-1717.
Golden Gate Transit -- Golden Gate Transit provides daily bus service within
Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco and Contra Costa counties. Information on fares,
routes and schedules for both buses and ferries is available on their website:
www.goldengate.org
SamTrans -- SamTrans buses serve San Mateo County and connect to San
Francisco, Palo Alto and Hayward BART. SamTrans also has bus service to
the San Francisco Airport -- the 292 originates at the Transbay terminal
(Mission St. between First and Fremont streets) and stops at SFO. The BX connects
Colma Bart station to SFO. Fares vary by route, so call 800-660-4287 or visit
www.samtrans.com for fares, routes, and schedules.