It’s been pouring buckets in San Francisco lately, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still fun things to do (if you know where to find them!)
I’ve lived in the city for over a decade, here’s all the best things to do when it rains in San Francisco.
1. Explore 7 Floors Of Art At SFMOMA
On rainy days, one of my favorite things to do in Downtown is visit SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) my favorite San Francisco museum. This place has 7 floors with constantly rotating galleries.
They always have a special event exhibition on, right now it’s Amy Sherald: American Sublime (she’s the one who painted the famous Obama portraits!)
There’s also a cafe inside SFMOMA so you can grab lunch and explore all the floors without every stepping outside.
If you happen to be visiting San Francisco on the first Thursday of the month, you can enter the museum for free.
2. Catch A Drag Show In The Castro
One of my favorite rainy day indoor activities in San Francisco is catching a drag show! If you haven’t ever experienced a drag show, this is something you need to do at least once in your life, and San Francisco is the perfect place to do so.
We have a very talented drag queen community! Some of the best places to find a local drag show are The Edge and Oasis. Make sure to grab tickets ahead of time.
3. Dine At The Top Of The Mark To See The Golden Gate Bridge
Listen, it’s hard to view the Golden Gate Bridge on rainy days in the Bay Area since the usually best lookout spots are all outdoors. But one of my favorite places to catch a view of the iconic bridge is from the Top Of The Mark bar and restaurant.
It has 360 degree views of San Francisco, and since it’s lccoated on the top of Nob Hill, it has extra amazing views. You can grab martinis or snacks, curl up in a window table and soak up the views of the Bay (including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and downtown skyline!)
4. Eat Your Way Through Japantown
Did you know there’s only 3 Japantowns left in the United States? San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles. I feel so incredibly lucky to live just a few miles away from the Japantown Center, especially as it’s a great place to visit on a rainy day.
It’s massive, with an East and West side connected via a bridge, so you never have to go outside. There’s sushi and ramen restaurants, and places to get boba tea or bento boxes. There’s tons of stores and a bookshop. My favorite is Daiso, a large Japanese market filled with everything from Japanese snacks to home decor to accessories. We get all our sushi making tools here!
Take a couple of hours to explore, though I recommend the following businesses:
- Uji Time for Taiyaki (ice cream in a fish cone!)
- Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea for boba
- Kushi Tsuru for lunch
- Kissako Tea for $4 onigiri
- Kinokuniya for books
- Daiso for trinkets and snacks
5. Relax And Unwind At Kabuki Spa
Speaking of Japantown, if you’re looking for the best massage and sauna in San Francisco, this is it! Kabuki Springs is a traditional Japanese spa with a sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and spa services. I love to come here every couple of months to use the facilities, but it’s a great activity to do on a rainy day.
6. Alcatraz Is Even Creepier In The Rain
Ok, I will preface this by saying the journey out to Alcatraz int he rain will probably be a little wet since ou take a boat, but it does have indoor seating.
But the prison is obviously indoors and after I went on a night tour of Alcatraz, I realized moody vibes makes the whole experience more fun. So, if you love true crime or history, try visiting this during a stormy day!
7. See Fortune Cookies Being Made In Chinatown
The famous Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory makes over 10,000 fortune cookies a day, and they’re open for tours! Come visit, see a fortune cookie go from dough to the finished product, and snack on a few while you’re there (hopefully your fortune is lucky!)
If you like to drink, I recommend you head to nearby Li Po Cocktail Lounge for happy hour after your tour and try one of their famous Mai Tai that even Anthony Bourdain loved. This bar is wild, it has a cave like feeling and they make the strongest Mai Tai, so split it amongst the group (trust me! I drank half and was wasted all day).
8. Smell Books In The Famous City Lights Booksstore
The most famous bookstore in San Francisco is City Lights. I love how you walk in and are just enveloped with the smell of books. Such an addicting smell! It’s not too far away from Chinatown (across the street, actually) so it’s good to tack on after a visit to the Fortune Cookie Factory.
9. Head To The Golden Gate Park Museums
One of my favorite places to go on a rainy day in San Francisco is the DeYoung Museum, especially their observatory which is totally free to enter and offers great views of Golden Gate Park.
DeYoung is an art museum, but right across the concourse is the California Academy of Sciences, which is a great thing to do with kids on a rainy day in San Francisco. Adults, too. I love visiting the famous albino alligator and wandering the tropical zone.
If you are up for a bit of a walk in the rain, head to the Conservatory of Flowers about a 10 minute walk away. This all indoor greenhouse is utterly beautiful and a great cozy escape from the elements.
PS looking for more San Francisco museums? Try the Asian Art museum!
10. Head To The Tonga Room For Tiki Drinks And Sunnier Vibes
When I’m craving warm beach days, I love to head to The Tonga Room. This is one of these famous restaurants in San Francisco that still retains an air of mystery and almost speakeasy vibes since it’s in the basement of The Fairmont San Francisco.
This is a tiki bar like you’ve never seen. In the middle of the bar is a giant pool that’s not for swimming but instead hosts a live band that floats on the water. There’s thunder cracks on the speakers and tropical music playing, and some of the best tiki drinks in the state.
When I need to feel like I’m on a beach and not in a raincloud, I come here!
11. Channel Your Inner Child At Exploratorium After Dark
The Exploratorium After Dark is the adults only night where grown-ups take over the Exploratorium with special events, speakers and of course, drinks flowing.
I love the Exploratorium any time of day (come during regular daylight hours with kids) but it’s extra fun on After Dark nights with a beer in hand and a ton of fellow adults channeling their inner child.
It doesn’t rain often in San Francisco and if it does, it’s usually in the winter (though we’re currently having one of the wettest winters in recent history – go figure!)
I love living in San Francisco since it’s so focused on outdoor activities, which obviously aren’t fun during historic rain events like we’ve been having.
But, there’s still so many hidden gems and unique things to do on rainy days in San Francisco
