One Day in the Financial District

Spending time in San Francisco's Financial District can be just as much fun as hitting up any of the city's other popular tourist spots. As you begin your vacation day at a leisurely pace, you'll enjoy a twisted sense of satisfaction when you jump into Montgomery Street's sea of suits and office workers hustling to get to work. Inwardly you'll giggle to yourself, knowing that you have no deadlines or boss hovering over you, at least for today. On the surface, the Financial District appears to be all business and no play, but dig a little deeper and you'll discover that although the earliest days of San Francisco are buried underneath all of that concrete, placards like the Barbary Coast Walking Tour bring the past alive with depictions of buried treasure ships, gold rush heroes and literary lives. Do yourself a favor and skip the touristy spots like Union Square and Embarcadero Center and instead venture into lesser known attractions that will share the authentic San Francisco while you're on your leisurely break away from the working world.

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City View Restaurant
When in San Francsisco, do as the locals do. Start your day right with a healthy brunch-time breakast of shrimp dumplings and pork buns. These authentic dishes are just two examples of a Chinese delicacy known as dim sum. Few places serve it up as well as City View Restaurant in the Financial District. City View's dim sum selection ... More >
When in San Francsisco, do as the locals do. Start your day right with a healthy brunch-time breakast of shrimp dumplings and pork buns. These authentic dishes are just two examples of a Chinese delicacy known as dim sum. Few places serve it up as well as City View Restaurant in the Financial District. City View's dim sum selection is some of the best in San Francisco. Dozens of Chinese wait staff busily walk through the restaurant pushing carts of seafood and meat-based dumplings, pastries, noodle dishes and more. A little of this, a little of that. Each plate features three or four pieces for everyone at your table to share. Most are reasonably priced and two people can eat a filling brunch for less than $40 that will satiate you until dinnertime. City View has been around for many years, its quality is consistent and it's not a secret, so be sure to show up around 11:30 am to get seated right away.
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Wells Fargo History Museum
Bannking behemoth Wells Fargo has its roots in the city of San Francisco and a financial district shares not just the beginnings of this national institution, but also gives in-depth stories about San Francisco's earliest days. Items on display include pistols, photographs, early banking articles, posters, a stagecoach, and mining equi... More >
Bannking behemoth Wells Fargo has its roots in the city of San Francisco and a financial district shares not just the beginnings of this national institution, but also gives in-depth stories about San Francisco's earliest days. Items on display include pistols, photographs, early banking articles, posters, a stagecoach, and mining equipment. The best part is that this museum is absolutely free.
Although the hotel is located in a busy part of the city, the rooms are quiet, allowing you to sleep extra well, especially after indulging on the hotel's warm chocolate chip cookies that are served nightly in the lobby.
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Wallflowers
Wallflowers is a well-received florist in the heart of the FInancial District, but that's not the main attraction at 1 Sansome Street. To find it, look across the street at the 3' high brick wall where small bands of bicycle and motorcycle messengers spend their off-time waiting for job tickets and catching up with two-wheeled comrades. This spot is known as "The Wall," and it's been bike messenger headquarters for decades. It's not really in any tourist books, but it's a fun place I like to go to to experience the dramatic contrast betwen their lifestyle and those blue-suited office workers whose packages they're delivering. It's also the place where you can witness firsthand the unique culture and language of members who belong to th... More >
Wallflowers is a well-received florist in the heart of the FInancial District, but that's not the main attraction at 1 Sansome Street. To find it, look across the street at the 3' high brick wall where small bands of bicycle and motorcycle messengers spend their off-time waiting for job tickets and catching up with two-wheeled comrades. This spot is known as "The Wall," and it's been bike messenger headquarters for decades. It's not really in any tourist books, but it's a fun place I like to go to to experience the dramatic contrast betwen their lifestyle and those blue-suited office workers whose packages they're delivering. It's also the place where you can witness firsthand the unique culture and language of members who belong to this half-crazy tribe comprised of people insane enough to battle San Francisco traffic while delivering packages from one end of town to the other on two wheels, often for less money than a burrito in the Mission. Bike messengers used to be critical cogs in the Financial District's machinery. But thanks to the Internet, the bike messenger is a dying breed here (and in cities around America). However, if you look closely and venture out into their hiding spots like The Wall, you'll get to peer into a day in the life of the last of two-wheeled office heroes.
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Maiden Lane
Forget the San Francisco Mall...the real money heads to Maiden Lane, the most elite and expensive shopping district in San Francisco. This tiny little pedestrian-only French-style street is tucked away across from Union Square and houses upscale retail giants like Chanel, Escada and Yves St. Laurent. Even if you're just window shoppin... More >
Forget the San Francisco Mall...the real money heads to Maiden Lane, the most elite and expensive shopping district in San Francisco. This tiny little pedestrian-only French-style street is tucked away across from Union Square and houses upscale retail giants like Chanel, Escada and Yves St. Laurent. Even if you're just window shopping, it's a great place to have an afternoon espresso on one of the sidewalk tables strategically located for the best people-watching in Union Square.
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Chancellor Hotel on Union Square
Some of the best San Francisco hotels run the gamut from franchise predictability to upscale exclusivity. The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square is one of my favorites because it's somewhere in the middle. This charming little hotel has always had some of the most reasonable room rates in the entire city, at one of the best locations available, across from Union Square. The Chancellor is a boutique-style hotel with small, Manhattan-style rooms packed with style and charm. The marble-floor bathrooms are one of the best part; every visitor is welcomed with a souvenier rubber ducky. Although the hotel is located in a busy part of the city, the rooms are quiet, allowing you to sleep extra well, especially after indulging on the hotel's warm ... More >
Some of the best San Francisco hotels run the gamut from franchise predictability to upscale exclusivity. The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square is one of my favorites because it's somewhere in the middle. This charming little hotel has always had some of the most reasonable room rates in the entire city, at one of the best locations available, across from Union Square. The Chancellor is a boutique-style hotel with small, Manhattan-style rooms packed with style and charm. The marble-floor bathrooms are one of the best part; every visitor is welcomed with a souvenier rubber ducky. Although the hotel is located in a busy part of the city, the rooms are quiet, allowing you to sleep extra well, especially after indulging on the hotel's warm chocolate chip cookies that are served nightly in the lobby. For the best deal, take advantage of the hotel's special packages, like room plus breakfast in the hotel restaurant. The restaurant and bar serves up good food that's better than most hotel cuisine.
Dozens of Chinese wait staff busily walk through the restaurant pushing carts of seafood and meat-based dumplings, pastries, noodle dishes and more.
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Sears Fine Foods
After you check out of the Chancellor, have them hold your luggage so you can walk next door to Sears' Fine Food restaurant. This historic institution has been around since 1938 and is renowned for it's amazing American-style cuisine, most notably the quarter-sized, ultra-light and fluffy Swiss pancakes. Sears has other classic diner-style food ranging from Bay Shrimp Louie salads to authentic San Francisco Cioppino. One of... More
After you check out of the Chancellor, have them hold your luggage so you can walk next door to Sears' Fine Food restaurant. This historic institution has been around since 1938 and is renowned for it's amazing American-style cuisine, most notably the quarter-sized, ultra-light and fluffy Swiss pancakes. Sears has other classic diner-style food ranging from Bay Shrimp Louie salads to authentic San Francisco Cioppino. One of the most entertaining aspects of Sears is the wait staff. Many of Sears' mostly-female waitresses have been there for decades, addressing everyone with "hon" and a cheerful attitude reminiscent of days gone past. There's no better place to have your last meal in San Francisco.
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About the Author

Rene Agredano
Rene Agredano
Partner, Agreda Communications, and co-founder of Tripawds.com, the world's largest community for three legged dogs and their humans. Seasonal adventure traveler, writer; and seeker of good times, tasty beverages and good people.
Websitefacebook.com/agredano
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