San Francisco can feel like it’s constantly in motion, but there’s a quieter way to spend a Sunday with friends. I like starting on the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park, where the morning is slow and the eucalyptus hangs in the air. From there, we wander west until Hook Fish appears like a small reward - fresh, simple, perfect but always packed. A coffee stop at Black Bird follows across the street, a warm coffee in hand and a delicious pastry, before the city finally opens into Ocean Beach. The day always seems to exhale there.
1. Golden Gate Park
Before making your way to Hook Fish, you can wander through a few quiet corners of the park, little pauses that feel like part of the journey:
San Francisco Botanical Garden
I happened to be there on one of those rare rainy San Francisco days, when the paths were empty and the trees seemed to breathe. You don’t need the rain to enjoy it, though, on a sunny day, the whole park feels lighter, brighter, and completely different.
2. Hook Fish Co
4542 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122
One of my favorite neighborhood spots is this fish market turned counter-serve seafood shack, the kind that pours local beer and wine. On a quieter day, they’ll tell you where your fish came from, how it was caught, and who pulled it from the water but today it was far too packed for stories. We waited about thirty minutes in the salt-tinged air, and somehow it felt like part of the ritual. When we finally sat down, it was worth every minute.
My personal must-orders: oysters, nachos, fish and chips, the plate with fish, rice, and veggies, and a cold draft beer or a glass of wine if the sun lingers just right.
3. Black Bird Bookstore and Café
4541 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122
4. Ocean Beach
Less than 10 mins away from the Black Bird. By the time you reach Ocean Beach, the neighborhood thins out and the city feels like it’s finally letting go. The wind carries a bit of salt, the dunes shift with the season, and the Pacific stretches out in that muted, endless way that makes you forget you’re still in San Francisco at all.
You can walk along the sand, watch the surfers disappear into the fog or sun, or just sit and listen to the waves folding over themselves. It’s not the kind of beach where you sunbathe for hours, it's the kind that clears your head, slows your breathing, and leaves you feeling a little more spacious inside, or way more spacious if you let it. If you stay long enough, the light changes in a way that makes the whole day feel complete.
