THIS IS AMERICA
SAN FRANCISCO
THE ACHINGLY COOL CITY IS FAR MORE THAN CUTESY COLOURED HOUSES AND GOLDEN GATE VIEWS (THOUGH THOSE ARE GREAT, TOO)
The “Bay Area” to those in the know, San Francisco has long been home to tech types making the daily pilgrimage to nearby Silicon Valley (where Apple, Google and Facebook are all headquartered), but these days you’ll also find a mix of start-ups, cool dispensaries and a food and wine scene that may well have eclipsed that of Los Angeles. One of the city’s buzziest hotel openings of the past couple of years, the Proper (properhotel.com) has given San Francisco another calling card – the group also has hotels in Austin, Downtown LA and, most recently, Santa Monica.
Proper is a sound jumping-off point for the best bits of San Fran. A short drive or 30-minute stroll away, Lower Haight has been reclaimed from its “hipster-territory” tag to be filled with delightful cafes and stores, like Perdita (), which stocks handmade goods from independent creators that are far from naff. Down near the buzzy Valencia St strip in the Mission District, Stuff () is a vintage paradise – don’t be surprised if you find yourself frantically googling “shipping container San Fran to Australia” – and) has a mix of the best new and second-hand titles.
