Best Things to Do at RSA 2017 in San Francisco
5 minute read
Every year, the ZeroFox team ships out to San Francisco from all across the country -- many of us leaving from our Baltimore HQ. Collectively, we’ve been to more RSA conferences than we care to count. We’ve collected a few of our teams’ favorite things to do and see in San Francisco during RSA 2017. Because we know how the conference goes, we have broken them out into three categories (all varying distances from the convention center): quick break from Moscone, free afternoon/evening, and full day.
Quick Break from Moscone
- Zero Zero -- Great pizzas, quick service if you need to get back to the booth.
- 826 Folsom St.
- Deli Board -- Incredible sandwiches off Folsom. It’s a bit of a hike, but worth it if you’re up for a nice SoMa walk.
- 1058 Folsom St.
- Pianofight -- Sick of the stuffy handshakes and suits? Jam out at Pianofight, our favorite bar in San Francisco. Located at Eddy and Taylor, it’s only a 10 minute walk from the Moscone. Piano Fight’s motto is “new work by new artists,” and you’ll always find incredible indie entertainment on one of their two intimate stages, from music to sketch comedy to theater. If you go, tell Andy that ZeroFox says hi.
- 144 Taylor St.
- Dirty Habit -- A new, incredible cocktail bar walking distance from the conference center. At 4th and Market upstairs in the Hotel Zelos, expect this to become an RSA staple in years to come. Patio is awesome.
- 12 4th St.
- The Hidden Vine -- A cozy wine bar and bocce ball court (which is awesome) in FiDi. It’s a block away from the iconic Transamerica Pyramid.
- 408 Merchant St.
- Bourbon & Branch -- An industrial yet cozy speakeasy. Don’t take a big crowd here, but expect incredible cocktails. It’s a speakeasy -- can you figure out how to get in?
- 501 Jones St.
- Wayfare Tavern -- Located in the Financial District, this upscale American eatery by celebrity chef Tyler Florence is designed to look like a classic British pub. Go for a pint and some of the best dishes in Frisco.
- 558 Sacramento St.
Free Afternoon/Evening
- Cellarmaker -- Some of the best craft beers in San Francisco. Get the Coffee and Cigarettes Porter if they have it. They also have incredible IPAs (but who doesn’t nowadays). It’s located down the street at Howard between 7th and 8th in SoMa.
- 1150 Howard St.
- Urban Putt -- Located in the Mission District, this restaurant and bar boast a full mini golf putt putt course in a renovated warehouse. There’s no better place to enjoy a drink than on the golf course!
- 1096 S Van Ness Ave.
- Nopa -- escape the downtown and get out to our favorite new spot, Nopa, located between the Fillmore and Haight-Ashbury (it’s a block or two from the Painted Ladies). They serve “new-California” cuisine. Whatever you call it, it’s fantastic. Like most places in the city, they boast incredible cocktails, wines and beers.
- 560 Divisadero St.
- The Presidio and the Wave Organ -- The Wave Organ might be the coolest thing in San Francisco. Start in the Presidio, take an Instagram of the Golden Gate, and walk northwest along the water towards downtown. You can’t miss the Wave Organ, a giant sculpture piece that creates tones as the waves hit it.
- Mission District and Foreign Cinema -- Ever been to Chipotle? The Mission District is home to the original burrito style, the Mission style, made famous by Chipotle. With countless spots to go we decide to recommend a little different place that we are sure you’ll like, the Foreign Cinema. You’ll want to call ahead to get seats at this hipster restaurant location that’s known for its fun drive-in movie accents, with locally sourced Cal-Med dinners (and some of the best brunches in San Fran). When you’re done, stroll the streets of the Mission district and check out the incredible street art. There’s tons more to do, of course, but you can’t go wrong with the Foreign Cinema!
Full Day
- The Ferry to Sausalito -- Go to the Ferry Build (an attraction in itself) at the end of Market Street and take the Ferry to Sausalito. Sausalito is an incredible little down on the north side of the bay with excellent view of the city. Bonus: the Ferry takes you right past Alcatraz! In Sausalito, tour the art galleries, get a glass of wine and eat a seafood lunch on the water. When you’re finished, take an Uber back across the Golden Gate Bridge (#wheninsanfrancisco).
- Wander the Sunset District -- We LOVE the Sunset District. It’s dripping with pre-Tech-Boom, 1960’s/70’s Frisco charm: long sloping avenues that lead down to the beach, historic California homes, and recently, a rise of incredible coffee shops and restaurants. Wander through the streets or take a jog along the water and up through Golden Gate Park (the have a great Botanical Garden to boot). Check out the Secret Tiled Staircase at 16th and Noriega, for the best views back to the ocean.
- Russian Hill and Fisherman’s Wharf -- Knock out a half dozen San Francisco staples in on trip to the north side of the city. Take the world famous trolley as far north as it goes, grab a chocolate at Ghirardelli Square and take a selfie at Lombard Street (all within a few block of each other). Finish the day with a bread bowl full of chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Napa Valley -- Need we say more? Napa boasts the best wine on earth and unbelievable scenery. If you’re a beer lover, like many foxes, check out Russian River Brewery. They have some of the best California beers and West Coast IPAs we’ve ever tasted.