10 ways to fall in love with San Francisco all over again this season

Fall in San Francisco has a vibe. While the rest of the country starts layering up, the city quietly enters its most golden season, literally. September and October bring the clearest skies, warm afternoons, and sunsets that set the fog ablaze. The tourists thin out, Karl the Fog takes a nap, and the city becomes something soft, slow, and almost cinematic.

Whether you're craving design inspiration, coastal walks, or the perfect cortado under string lights, here are 10 ways to fall in love with SF all over again this season.

1. Morning Coffee at Avotoasty

Wake up slow and wander to one of Avotoasty’s 3 SF locations. It is classic for a reason, tiny, moody, and full of soul. Order an avocado toast and sip on their seasonal coffees.

Vibe check: Coffee, toast, pastries and good vibes.

2. Browse General Store & Mollusk Surf Shop

While you’re in the neighborhood, stop into the General Store—part art gallery, part lifestyle shop. Everything here feels curated for a life lived slowly: linen jumpsuits, handmade ceramics, wildflower seed kits. Next door, Mollusk is surfer-chill heaven with vintage tees and the smell of wax and wood.

Recommendation: Take home a candle that smells like a hike through Land’s End.

3. Sunset Hike at Land’s End

Speaking of Land’s End—there’s no better way to clear your head than a golden-hour walk along the cliffs. The Sutro Baths ruins feel especially magical in the fall light, and the view from the labyrinth is postcard-perfect.

Pro tip: Bring layers. It gets wildly romantic and wildly windy.

4. Brunch at Zazie in Cole Valley

Tucked away on a tree-lined street, Zazie is cozy, classic, and always worth the wait. The gingerbread pancakes? A seasonal rite of passage. Bonus: no tipping needed—it’s built into their wages.

Order this: The “Miracle Pancakes” + a mimosa carafe.

5. A Quiet Hour at Green Apple Books

Let the city noise fall away for a while. Green Apple in the Inner Richmond is the kind of bookstore where you lose track of time. Creaky floors, hand-written staff picks, and that old-paper smell. You know the one.

Recommendation: Pick up a poetry collection or a well-worn copy of Didion.

6. Picnic at Alamo Square

The Painted Ladies feel different in the winter, less touristy, more Wes Anderson. Pack a lunch, sit on the slope, and watch the fog roll back to reveal the skyline like a magic trick.

What to bring: Cheese, baguette, blanket, maybe a film camera.

7. Afternoon Shopping in Hayes Valley

Hayes is where style lives. Think: Scandinavian chairs, minimalist clothing boutiques, and that one flower shop with eucalyptus bundles that always smells like a dream. Stop by Sézane, Marine Layer, and gather.

Pro move: End with soft serve from Smitten and people-watch on Patricia’s Green.

8. Ferry Ride to Sausalito

Catch the ferry from the Embarcadero just before sunset. The light on the water, the bridge towering overhead—it’s the kind of beauty that slows you down without asking. Sausalito in fall is quieter, dreamier. Grab a gelato and sit by the dock.

Bring this: A sweater, sunglasses, and zero plans.

9. Dinner at Foreign Cinema

Outdoor films, string lights, and seasonal menus, Foreign Cinema is iconic for a reason. Tucked into a Mission alley, it’s dinner and a vibe. The courtyard is made for date nights or dreamy solo dinners with a good book.

Must-order: Anything with heirloom tomatoes, and a glass of red.

10. Nightcap at Tosca Café

End your day with a little Old San Francisco glam. Tosca has been here since the ‘20s and it shows (in the best way). Candlelight, red leather booths, and the famed House Cappuccino (no coffee, just steam, brandy, and cocoa).

Mood: Velvet, Ella Fitzgerald, and “let’s stay out a little longer.”

Wrap-Up: A City in Her Golden Hour
Fall in San Francisco is a soft season, less about what you do, more about how you feel while doing it. It’s about walking slower, dressing warmer, and noticing the way the light hits a window just right. So grab your camera, your favorite jacket, and your curiosity. This city’s in her golden hour. Go bask in it.