The Ferry Plaza farmers market

This was the first time that I had been to the farmers market in San Francisco and it was well worth the effort.  It is situated at the end of Market street in and around the historic ferry building. I expected this market to be quite big, as California is a large producer of fresh produce, and I was not disappointed.

The fresh fruits and vegetables were plentiful and of a good quality including some of the most beautiful radicchio I have every seen.

Radicchio disguised as roses

The Saloon and The Glide = The best music in San Francisco

My husband and I stumbled upon The Saloon blues bar several years ago when visiting San Francisco.  It is the oldest bar in SF and will be celebrating 150 years in October! It is now along with the Glide our favourite venue for music in San Francisco, maybe any where.

It is a small venue an as far as I can figure the bands play for tips, half way through a set one of the members of band had to leave "to make some real money." Both the musicians and the audience are here for the music, there are no fancy drinks and certainly no food but there is some great music.

Greens Restaurant San Francisco

If you are going to San Francisco, as well as wearing some flowers in your hair, you really should go to Greens Restaurant for lunch.

I say lunch because the view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge is priceless.  I went to Greens for the first time about 20 years ago, and I have been back every time I have been to San Francisco. We went on Saturday lunch time and luckily we had a reservation, because even after all these years you still do need a reservation.

Greens Restaurant is located in a converted warehouse at historic Fort Mason only a 15 minute walk along the waterfront from our hotel adjacent to Ghiradelli Square. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were lucky to get a table right at the large window which takes up the entire wall facing the Golden Gate Bridge.

View from the table

Saturday and Sunday at lunch time the menu is in fact a brunch menu. Greens is a Vegetarian restaurant that serves creative vegetarian cuisine using seasonal organic produce. The restaurant maintains a close relationship with local farms and endeavours to serve fresh local and in season.

Hotel Argonaut - San Francisco

We chose Hotel Argonaut for our long weekend in San Francisco as much for the location as anything else and we were right it is an amazing location right next Ghiradelli Square, steps away from the cable car and across the road from fisherman's wharf.

The building is an old warehouse that has been re purposed and it is part of the American National Parks system, and therefore has kept much of its original character with internal brick walls and wonderful old beams.

The other factor that enticed us to stay here was the fact that they host a free wine reception every day at 5:00. Now I have never been known to turn down a glass of wine, and this was a great way to meet people in the same way as you do when staying at Bed and Breakfasts.

Happy hour in the lobby

We did partake of the free wine on two of our four days staying here and they served decent California wine each time.