A great late afternoon/early evening walk up Grant Avenue starting at Market Street and ending at Coit Tower. You start in the heart of downtown but soon transition to Chinatown and then the Italian North Beach district before ending with panoramic views of The City and The Bay.

Stop at local establishments Tosca (www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7859) for an Irish coffee, Cafe Macaroni (www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7860) for dinner, then catch some live blues at the Saloon (www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7858) - Perfect!

Start at Grant Ave and Market Street.

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An intimate little Italian restaurant with cheesy decor but great food and bags of character. The upstairs has a ridiculously low ceiling with pasta stuck to it! I heartily recommend the gnocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce.

59 Columbus (at Jackson) in North Beach;
tel: (415) 217-8400
www.caffemacaroni.com

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A low-key 40s-style cocktail bar that specialises in killer Irish coffee (the bar staff make them in batches by lining 30 glasses up along the bar). Also noteworthy for having only opera on the jukebox. A hidden gem that never seems really busy and has a great casual atmosphere.

242 Columbus Ave (between Broadway & Pacific) in North Beach;
tel: 415 986 9651

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A great no-frills old timey bar with live blues (the excellent Johnny Nitro and the Doorslammers are the house band - Fridays and Sundays).

The place has an authentic neighborhood feel about it and is a great stop on a walk up Grant from Market to Coit Tower (see www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7862). Warning: Strange things will happen and people will dance!

1232 Grant Ave, near Grant and Broadway, North Beach;
tel: (415) 989-7666;
www.sfblues.net/Saloon.html

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