Recommendations
San Francisco - Rainbow Grocery
A grocery store that is owned by the workers there, providing local, organic produce with a huge selection of bulk items. Get 5¢ off each BYO container you use!- Details
- Category: United States
Ah, San Francisco! One of the most controversial cities in America, and probably doomed (If you watch Fox News that is). Granted, some of it can be understandable. But most of what you hear about how terrible SF is are completely overblown. The city does have extreme affordable housing crisis (Only 1 in 9 people who work in SF actually live there), which also highlights wealth disparity. You have the high paying tech jobs, startups, venture capitlists paving new innovations daily. Yet at the same time, homeless and drug problems are raging through the bay. That being said, San Francisco is a beautiful city with a great foundation on sustainability programs and innovation.
It's easy to walk (If you have good cardio)
Because of the mild weather of SF, it's very nice to walk whichever part of town you're in. The joke about cardio is you may encounter a sudden incline, the hilly valleys of SF are one of the most unique aspects of the cities. You may encounter some homeless or drug users laying on the street, which is a sad and uncomfortable sight to see. They generally mean no harm, and I've never felt unsafe walking in San Francisco.
Enjoy nature? Plenty of options that don't require to drive
For a relaxing half-day trip, Muir Woods National Park is a great option. There are many affordable guided tours available—I joined an afternoon one and found the guide to be excellent. That said, I personally felt the time spent in the woods (about 1.5 hours) was a bit short.
A helpful tip from our guide: between Memorial Day and Labor Day, public transportation to Muir Woods is available for just $3! You can catch an early bus, explore the park at your own pace, and hop on a return bus that runs every 20 minutes. Definitely worth planning ahead for this!
It's also possible to book a tour to Yosemite! Although a bit on the expensive, which we'll 100% do in the future! Update: It's possible to take public transportation to Yosemite! It's on the "must visit" list for next time in the bay area!
Some SF sustainability programs
When walking on the streets, you'll likely see a lot of trees on the sidewalks, this is thanks to Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the city's green spaces through community engagement and planting trees. Tree equity is also a climate justice! Do you wonder why some areas have more trees than other? This is a result of disinvestment, which not to get to political, is something FUF is solving through greening the city. You can volunteer to help plant or take care of trees when visiting!
Another sticker to keep an eye out for is the California Green Business Certification. It means the business meets specific environmental and sustainability standards—so when you see it, you know you're supporting a company that's actively working to reduce its impact.
Bay Area Bring your own Cup (Pretty self-explanatory), check out the map here!
Bonus Read: In 2024, Petaluma Reusable Cup Project was a reusable take out pilot test program in the bay area, that we hope we see soon in SF!
SFO is actually pretty awesome
Yeah, yeah, airports.. but SFO is striving to become a "Zero" airport, as part of its ambitious "Triple Zero" initiative: aiming for zero waste, zero net energy, and zero carbon emissions. Learn more about their sustainable program, it's pretty neat.
SF Climate Week
It's been going for 3 years now! Let's hope it'll continue every year!
San Francisco Climate Week is a vibrant, community-driven event that has rapidly become one of the largest climate gatherings in the U.S. Launched in 2023, it has grown exponentially, with the 2024 edition featuring over 350 events and attracting more than 18,500 attendees. The 2025 event, held from April 19–27, is expected to surpass previous records, featuring around 475 events and drawing an anticipated 25,000 participants.
Whats cool about SFCW is its decentralized format, allowing a diverse array of organizations, from grassroots groups to tech companies, to host events across the Bay Area. Many topics were covered like energy, transportation, policy, finance, and artificial intelligence.
It was a great week and I highly recommend it to anyone who cares about the environment to attend!
Public Transportation
Public transportation is great (for US standards) Get the clipper card to ride all bay area public transportations, the great part being no need to buy any plastic! Simply download the app and tap your phone whenever getting on the BART or bus, Caltrain etc. It's also easy to top up with Apple Pay / Google Pay, so don't bother getting a physical card!
Ditch the car
If you're in San Francisco, don't bother to rent a car. You'll save a ton on parking fees, and don't have to worry about break-ins. If you staying farther away, like San Mateo etc, drive to a bart station / Caltrain and park there, and ride into the city. Do you know that alcohol is allowed on Caltrain? Crazy right? Bring a six pack before the game and have a party with fellow passengers en route to the Warriors game!
Food options in San Francisco
There are so many eats in SF! We'll focus mostly on local, vegetarian, plant-based here!
One interesting note about San Francisco. They have very strict rules on chain based restaurants opening new stores, so that is one of the reason why you don't see so many big chain stores here in SF! Take advantage of that and explore all the small chain or locally owned eateries.
Farmer's Markets
Most of San Francisco’s farmers' markets are worth checking out, each with its own charm. If you're after affordable, high-quality produce, the Civic Center Farmers' Market is a great choice (especially for Asian veggies!). Plenty of fresh options without the hefty price tag.
A more low-key but lovely option is the Fort Mason Farmers' Market—smaller, but with a great local vibe and solid variety that I personally enjoy. You can easily walk over to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park or visit the Ghirardelli Square (tourist alert!) afterwards. Even better? Head up to Russian Hills for lunch, plenty of great options there.
Of course, the most well-known (and yes, a bit touristy) is the Ferry Building Farmers' Market. It's popular for a reason though—still a solid spot, where you can also visit the Ferry building and stroll to Pier 39 (tourist alert 2!)
Restaurants
Here are some nice vegetarian / plant-based options that we enjoy!
Golden Era
Wow I was blown away by their pho! Solid option that is quite affordable (in SF standards)
Rad Radish
There pasta
Wildseed
More on the mid-high price range, but 100% worth the visit!
Anyone have more recommendations? Let us know!
Fast Food
Fast food? We get it, not exactly a sustainability gold star. But hey, you're in San Francisco, and trying a burger in the U.S. is basically a cultural experience, right? 🍔
If you're craving a classic bite, Shake Shack is a solid option. (though you’ll find them all over the U.S.) I like their Shroom Burger (Fried Portabella with cheese) slightly more than the Veggie Shack, but both are good.
But for a more Cali vibe, check out Super Duper Burgers, Not only do they have tasty veggie burgers, but they serve soda in actual glass cups if you dine in. They also boast all their packaging is compostable! Now that’s a small win for the planet and your burger cravings!
But if you're looking for something more local and purely plant-based, Go for Wildseed or Rad Radish!
Zero Waste Shopping
Rainbow Grocery
Bring your produce mesh bags and containers! You can pretty much get almost everything via bulk or package-free produce, I usually bring a combination of glass containers and mesh produce bags.
Re-Up Refill Shop
Simple - eco market + refillery
Personal Care Items & Household Items
