Things to do in North Beach

5 places to start in North Beach

City Lights Booksellers

Lawrence Ferlinghetti co-founded this bookstore on Columbus Avenue in 1953, and it published Allen Ginsberg's Howl. The poetry room is upstairs.

Official site →Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 3.0

Coit Tower

The 1930s murals in the lobby are free to see. Pay for the elevator to the top and you get a full circle of bay and city.

Official site →Photo: Chris6d, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Beat Museum

A small museum on Broadway devoted to the Beat writers, around the corner from City Lights.

Official site →Photo: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 4.0

Caffe Trieste

This Vallejo Street cafe has been pouring espresso since 1956, and it still feels like a neighborhood living room.

Official site →Photo: Christopher Michel, CC BY 2.0

Vesuvio Cafe

Jack Kerouac drank at this bar, which is across the alley named after him from City Lights. Grab a table on the balcony.

Official site →Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 3.0

Hotels in North Beach

Staying over? These are the picks from our guide, Hotels in North Beach & Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, and Dyme members see private rates on each. You can also browse every San Francisco hotel guide or search hotels on Dyme.

Marriott Vacation Club®, San Francisco 2620 Jones St, San Francisco, California, 94133, San Francisco 9.2251 reviews Marriott's Serve 360 program covers energy and water reduction targets across all Marriott-branded properties, including this locationProgram details at Marriott Serve 360. View hotel → Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Fisherman's Wharf by IHG 550 North Point Street, San Francisco 8.51,954 reviews IHG's Green Engage program tracks energy, water, and waste metrics at the property level and publishes reduction targetsProgram details at IHG Green Engage. View hotel → Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco 555 North Point Street, San Francisco 8.01,708 reviews Hyatt's World of Care program sets property-level targets for carbon, water, and waste reductionProgram details at Hyatt World of Care. View hotel →

This weekend in North Beach: November 13–15

51 things on: 21 gigs, 3 classes, 3 tours and 2 free. Listed by day and start time.

Friday, November 13

10:00 AMPersonalized Guided Tour of The Beat MuseumBeat generation time capsule.Art540 BroadwayFrom $450View listing →11:30 AMPrix Fixe Lunch at VerjusFrench bistro lunch.Food550 Washington StView listing →4:00 PMMike HendersonLive blues afternoon set.Music1232 Grant AveView listing →5:00 PMHappy HourCraft cocktail flights.Bar714 Montgomery StView listing →5:00 PMBattle of the Decades DJ Party and Happy HourDecade-hopping dance party.Bar473 BroadwayFreeView listing →5:30 PMSalsa Fridays at Cigar BarSalsa dancing and music.Class850 Montgomery StFrom $20View listing →6:00 PMHaunted Pub CrawlSpooky tales and drinks.Tour582 Washington StView listing →7:00 PMJamie Davis-CD Release: ‘Steppin’ Out’Jamie Davis album release.Music498 BroadwayFrom $40View listing →7:30 PMDos Bandoleros (and friends) – San FranciscoLive musical performance.Music988 Columbus AveView listing →7:30 PMDear San Francisco- An Acrobatic Love Letter from The 7 FingersAcrobatic city history show.Show678 Green StFrom $87View listing →7:30 PMSalsa Lessons + Social Dancing with Ava & RodolfoSalsa lessons & live band.Class850 Montgomery StFrom $20View listing →8:00 PMAndean and Latin World Music NightAndean world music night.Music1630 Powell StFrom $20View listing →8:00 PMLate Night DJ and EntertainmentMoroccan-inspired cocktail lounge.Bar714 Montgomery StView listing →9:00 PMAtta KidBay Area jazz funk.Music498 BroadwayFrom $40View listing →9:30 PMCraig CaffallLive blues performance.Music1232 Grant AveView listing →9:30 PMSalsa Night with Live Band: Susana Y Su Orquesta Adelante…Live salsa dance night.Music850 Montgomery StFrom $20View listing →

Saturday, November 14

9:00 AMNorth Beach Farmers' MarketFresh seafood market stall.Shopping725 Greenwich StView listing →10:00 AMPersonalized Guided Tour of The Beat MuseumBeat generation time capsule.Art540 BroadwayFrom $450View listing →10:00 AMNorth Beach: SF's Little Italy TourLittle Italy walking tour.Tour666 Filbert StView listing →11:00 AMBrunchSpritzes & sidewalk vibes.Bar565 Green StView listing →11:30 AMPrix Fixe Lunch at VerjusFrench bistro lunch.Food550 Washington StView listing →2:00 PMDear San Francisco- An Acrobatic Love Letter from The 7 FingersAcrobatic city history show.Show678 Green StFrom $87View listing →2:00 PMCaffe Trieste Saturday ConcertItalian jazz & show tunes.Music601 Vallejo StView listing →4:00 PMMari Mack & Livin’ Like KingsAfternoon blues live set.Music1232 Grant AveView listing →4:00 PMStretchy Pants Food Tours Presents: North Beach Gourmet Ghost…Spooky suppertime stroll.TourNorth BeachView listing →6:00 PMHaunted Pub CrawlSpooky tales and drinks.Tour582 Washington StView listing →6:00 PM2nd Annual SFIAC Pedro TournamentPedro card tournament.Games1630 Stockton StFrom $40View listing →7:00 PMJazz Mafia: BRASS & BOWS: THE MUSIC OF ADAM THEISBrass and bows concert.Music498 BroadwayFrom $45View listing →7:00 PMSalsa Lessons with Ava & Rodolfo - Saturday, November 14, 2026Salsa lessons and social dancing.Class850 Montgomery StFrom $20View listing →8:00 PMAndean and Latin World Music NightAndean world music night.Music1630 Powell StFrom $20View listing →8:00 PMLate Night DJ and EntertainmentMoroccan-inspired cocktail lounge.Bar714 Montgomery StView listing →9:30 PMDelta WiresPowerhouse blues set.Music1232 Grant AveView listing →9:30 PMSalsa Night with Live Band: Josh Jones Salsa Big BandLive salsa night.Music850 Montgomery StFrom $20View listing →10:30 PMLate Set: Simon Rowe Organ TrioLate night jazz trio.Music498 BroadwayFrom $20View listing →

Sunday, November 15

6:00 AMUpwardSunday morning dance party.Party473 BroadwayView listing →10:00 AMKaufman ArchivesBeat generation literary shrine.Art540 BroadwayView listing →11:00 AMBrunchSpritzes & sidewalk vibes.Bar565 Green StView listing →1:00 PMDear San Francisco- An Acrobatic Love Letter from The 7 FingersAcrobatic city history show.Show678 Green StFrom $87View listing →4:00 PMJoe Newsman and the BluesmenMusic1337 Grant AveView listing →4:00 PMBlues PowerLive blues afternoon residency.Music1232 Grant AveView listing →5:00 PMDani & Debora Gurgel Quarteto featuring Sandy Cressman &…Samba jazz collaboration.Music498 BroadwayFrom $40View listing →5:00 PMMarissa McLain JazzSunday jazz vocals.Music1402 Grant AveView listing →6:00 PMAlexandra Rieloff Jazz TrioJazz trio performance.Music1402 Grant AveView listing →6:00 PMHipsteriaLive jazz and soul.Music565 Green StView listing →6:00 PMMonthly Bachata PartyLatin dance social.Party435 BroadwayFrom $25View listing →6:00 PMA Sunday Music CafeSunday Andean music cafe.Music1630 Powell StFrom $10View listing →7:00 PMNorth Beach Noir: Free “Renegade Cinema” Night of SF FilmsLocal cinema underground.Film1345 Grant AveFreeView listing →9:30 PMThe BlazersLive blues band.Music1232 Grant AveView listing →

On all weekend

No set start time for these, so go when it suits you.

Happy Hour SpecialParisian nightlife, Vegas energy.Party523 BroadwayFreeView listing →San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio TourLiterary haunts & Gold Rush tales.TourSan FranciscoFrom $9View listing →Saturday Live MusicWine tasting & live music.Bar140 Columbus AveView listing →

More San Francisco neighborhoods

• The Mission District
• Union Square
• SoMa
• Civic Center
• The Financial District
• The Marina District