How to have fun around SOMA
Situated right off the downtown arteries of Market and Mission streets, SoMa is packed with museums, professional sports venues, and trendy food spots, perfectly mixing old school SF institutions with new generation trends.
Eats:
The Deli Board—The Deli Board is a SoMa sandwich institution known for massively overstuffed creations on Folsom Street, with stacked meats, house sauces, and the kind of serious takeout lunch that can fuel an entire festival day. It’s an easy Space Walk stop for visitors who want a decadent San Francisco bite between events, especially if pastrami, brisket, curly fries, and maximum sandwich energy are the mission.
Californios—This isn’t your typical late night burrito spot. Make a reservation at this high-end, double Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant if Day 2 of Weed Week overlaps with a special occasion.
The Bird—If the first two restaurants seemed a bit much, lower those brows but keep up the taste expectations for this one. The Bird serves up some of the best fried chicken sandwiches on the West Coast.
Yank Sing—Yank Sing is a classic downtown San Francisco dim sum destination, serving more than 100 rotating dishes from traditional pushcarts in a polished Rincon Center dining room that has been drawing locals and visitors since 1958. It’s an ideal Space Walk brunch or lunch stop for festivalgoers who want a quintessential SF meal—think dumplings, buns, and old-school occasion energy just a short hop from the SoMa action.
Drinks:
House of Shields—House of Shields is a storied downtown San Francisco saloon across from the Palace Hotel, beloved for its dark wood interior, old-school cocktails, and timeless “where time stands still” atmosphere. It’s a great Space Walk stop for festivalgoers who want a real-deal historic bar near SoMa—somewhere to slip into the city’s past over a stiff drink before heading back into the night.
The Tempest—Tempest Bar & Box Kitchen is one of SoMa’s great old-school hang spots: a beloved, no-frills bar on Natoma pouring strong drinks and draft beer, with Box Kitchen turning out standout comfort food from the side window. It’s a perfect Space Walk refuel stop for festivalgoers who want a lively local bar with serious burger-and-fries energy, a bit of San Francisco grit, and none of the fuss.
Sights:
Salesforce Park—Salesforce Park is a 5.4-acre public rooftop park stretching nearly four blocks above the Salesforce Transit Center, with gardens, walking paths, lawns, a children’s play area, an amphitheater, and big-sky downtown views. It’s a great Space Walk breather stop for festivalgoers who want a little greenery, sunshine, and skyline energy in the middle of SoMa without ever really leaving the action.
SF Modern Museum Of Art MOMA—Modern art becomes a lot easier to understand when you’ve got a cannabis companion. The SF MOMA hosts one of the biggest and boldest art collections in the country displayed on six floors.
Yerba Buena Gardens—Enjoy your green in this heavenly intersection of public artwork, playgrounds, science exhibits, and even a carousel!
Museum of the African Diaspora—This museum displays artwork exclusively by artists of the African diaspora, one of only a few museums of its kind in the US.
Oasis nightclub—At Oasis, you can quench your thirst for theatricality with a rotation of bawdy and endlessly entertaining drag performances, all night long.
The Gold Club—The Gold Club is a long-running SoMa nightlife institution on Howard Street, known for its downtown location and its famously quirky lunch reputation, including the return of its well-known fried chicken buffet on Thursdays. It’s a classic Space Walk wildcard stop for festivalgoers who appreciate San Francisco’s weirder side and want a story-worthy SoMa destination that mixes old-school downtown energy with pure local legend.
Oracle Park—Oracle Park is San Francisco’s spectacular waterfront ballpark on the edge of SoMa, home to the Giants and beloved for its bay views, classic brick-and-steel design, and big-game city energy. It’s an easy Space Walk anchor stop for festivalgoers who want an only-in-SF landmark—whether that means catching a game, snapping skyline photos, or just soaking up the Embarcadero-meets-SoMa atmosphere.
Metreon—Metreon is a four-story Yerba Buena entertainment hub anchored by the giant AMC Metreon 16 and a mix of dining and shopping, making it one of downtown San Francisco’s easiest all-in-one hangout stops. It’s a strong Space Walk pit stop for festivalgoers who want to catch a movie, grab a bite, or regroup indoors right in the middle of SoMa-adjacent action.
Getting to and from there:
MUNI:
Get off at either the Powell or Montgomery station stops along Market Street and head south. After all SoMa means South of Market. The 14 bus line also runs along the parallel Mission Street.
BART:
Same applies for the BART, get off and Powell or Montgomery stations, and you’ll be a joint’s flick from SoMa.
Car/Taxi/Rideshare:
If Public Transit isn’t your bet, try catching an Uber/Lyft. This is downtown, so parking is as scarce as an honest politician.