I came across this bar/restaurant on the internet when I was doing research for my 2010 USA roadtrip and I became determined to visit it. The bar is slightly out of the way for most, but luckily for me, it was down the street from where I was staying. Still, I didn't make it there until my last night in San Fran. My friend and I had a tiring day of sight-seeing and only strolled in to Tommy's at around 11pm. Tommy's is a Mexican restaurant, not only famous for it's food, but also for it's tequila. It's not fancy, or classy, or pretentious. I headed straight to the bar and ordered a margarita, only to be told last orders were at 11pm. I was gutted! I begged and pleaded with the bartender. He went and asked the owner, but came back with an apology. I then decided to play the English card. He went back to the owner and this time, the owner himself came over and greeted me with, 'Oh! You're from England! Come! Have a drink!' It was probably one of the best margaritas I've ever had! Not only that, I was given a personal lesson in picking good tequila, was given free tasters, and also a free shot glass. The owner chatted to myself and my friend for a good few hours about his favourite bars in the world and it turned out he knew someone I knew. He even introduced us to his family and the original Tommy! A little tip on Tommy's. They have a 'tequila card' that has around 50 different tequilas listed on it. You are allowed to try a maximum of three tequilas a night and each time you try one, it will get marked off your card. They vary in price - some start at a few dollars and some go up to hundreds of dollars. If you complete the card, the owner will take you to his distillery in Mexico. I now keep on noticing 'Tommy's Margarita' on bar menus around the world, which proves how iconic this place is. I know it is slightly out of the way, but please give it a shot - I guarantee you will love it!

www.tommystequila.com/index.php
5929 Geary Blvd, San Francisco CA 94121
+1(415) 387 4747
Google map: bit.ly/XlbVch

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OK fine you could go to Mexico City for day of the Dead and I imagine it would be insane. But San Francisco with it's vibrant Mission District puts on an amazing show. Garfield Park is filled with altars made by the community, there's a walking procession, music, dancing and a lot of dressing up. Grab some amazing Mexican food at Gracias Madre on MIssion Street and go get involved.
San Francisco itself is a great city in autumn - mainly because it's no different to summer. The fog still rolls in, you still need a jumper, but there are less tourists and the colours are beautiful. The sun here just seems softer.

Gracias Madre: www.gracias-madre.com/
2211 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94110, United States
+1 (415) 683 1346
Google map: bit.ly/QEd9Lo

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Stayed here recently on a trip to San Francisco and can't recommend it highly enough (actually booked it because of reading about it in these tips!)
Beautiful room, fabulous host, AMAZING breakfast, good wifi, voip phone in the room, and excellent location in a great area and right near lots of public transport. I doubt there is a better place to stay in the city. I will definitely be going back.

www.innoncastro.com/
321 Castro Street San Francisco, CA 94114
+1 415 861 0321
Google map: bit.ly/tl9b9d

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The Swedish American Hall is a venue above the Cafe Du Nord on Market Street. Built in 1907, the grand ballroom was a speakeasy during Prohibition and still has its old decor. Fold-down seats make it feel a little like school assembly, but the hall has great acoustics and provides good sized folk and rock concerts at a reasonable price.

2170 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
+1 415 861 5016
www.cafedunord.com
Google map: bit.ly/m8Cetb

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