Attending a conference in San Francisco? We pulled together our top 5 recommendations of what to do in San Francisco.
From September 7-8, hundreds of product marketers will travel to San Francisco for the Product Marketing Alliance Summit. In addition to product marketers, the summit will be co-located with several other events, such as the Sales Enablement Collective, CRO Summit, and others. With nearly 1200 attendees, the gathering brings together a cross-section of individuals responsible for enabling sales and driving revenue for their respective companies. This represents a unique opportunity for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and general networking.
With that in mind, we don’t want to spend all of our time indoors at the Westfield Center. We collectively pulled together our Top 5 San Francisco Recommendations for Attendees. All travel time estimates are based on Bespoke as the starting location.
From closest to farthest from the Summit venue:
Need a break from the indoors? Get a breath of fresh air at the 5-acre Yerba Buena Gardens. Located in the center of the city, this green landscape boasts dining, water features, and public art. View of the outdoor memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr. by Houston Conwill evokes serene contemplation with “words, poems, and images from the civil rights movement.” Sit in the Upper Terrace Garden for an aerial view of the gardens and city. Or wander through the Sister City Gardens featuring plants from San Francisco’s 18 sister cities.
Location: 750 Howard Street
Travel Time: 3 minute walk
Hours: 6:00 am - 10:00 pm
While you may not have time to visit the collection, the building, and surrounding courtyard are beautifully designed. Originally the Jesse Street Pacific Gas & Electric Substation, the museum was completely redesigned by Daniel Libeskind and opened in 2008. We find the exterior intriguing with a combination of the dark steel cube alongside the historic brick of the building.
Location: 736 Mission Street at Yerba Buena Lane
Travel Time: 5 minute walk from Bespoke
Hungry? Stroll over to Belden Place (also known as Belden Alley, Belden Lane, or Belden Street) in the heart of San Francisco’s Financial District. This alley includes several restaurants touting a variety of cuisines - Italian, French, Spanish, Mexican, and Ukrainian, to name a few. A good option for lunch or dinner, though we recommend calling ahead for reservations.
Location: Alleyway between Bush and Pine in San Francisco
Travel Time: 15 minute walk
Hours: Various
Continue past Belden Place to the Top of the Mark located in Nob Hill. A San Francisco fixture for 80 years, the 19th floor lounge located in the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins hotel is known for its cocktails and spectacular views of the City. While walk-ins are served, best to book ahead to catch these views during your stay.
Location: 999 California Street
Travel Time: 20 minutes walk (there is an uphill)
Hours: Monday - Thursday 4:30 pm - 11:15 pm, closes at 10:30 pm on the weekends. (food ends earlier - check website for full details)
The Ferry Building is a working terminal with ferries transporting nearly 1.9 million residents and tourists annually from San Francisco to other cities around the Bay Area, such as Alameda, Oakland, and Larkspur. A historical landmark, the building originally opened in1898. After undergoing an extensive renovation in 2003, the Ferry Building reopened as a word-class marketplace with top restaurants, food markets, and vendors.
Bonus: On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am - 2 pm, and Saturdays from 8 am - 2 pm, the Ferry Building Farmers Market is open.
Most restaurants are open for lunch and dinner. Recommend checking ahead and making reservations.
Location: 1 Ferry Building
Travel Time: 24 minute walk down Market Street or 11 minutes on MUNI
