Timeline
19:00
Grab a coffee at Caffe Trieste. This North Beach landmark has been a local favorite since the Beat Generation days. The atmosphere is scruffy but authentic, and the coffee is widely considered some of the best in the city.
19:30
Walk 36 minutes from the anchor (The Long Now Foundation) in an ESE direction to Coit Tower. Climb to the top to watch the sun dip toward the WNW. The tower stands atop Telegraph Hill, offering an excellent view of the bay and the city as the golden light fades.
20:15
End the evening at The Saloon. Walk 7 minutes from Coit Tower to this grotty, rough-looking bar that has survived the Barbary Coast era and the 1906 earthquake. It is the oldest bar in San Francisco and a perfect spot to unwind after the climb.
Local tip
Coit Tower is visible from much of the city, but the climb is worth it for the specific WNW sunset alignment in April. The Saloon has a weekend cover charge, so check if your visit falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Check before you go
- Caffe Trieste is open until 24:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 23:30 on other days.
- The Saloon is open daily from 12:00 to 02:00.
- Coit Tower viewing hours may vary; check the official site for current access times.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to San Francisco (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).