A Day in the Mission

The Mission District in San Francisco is a popular mix of bohemia, latino roots and dot com hipsters. It gets its namesake after the Mission Dolores, the oldest building in San Francisco. Its art-friendly vibe shows in its colorful street murals, reminiscent of Diego Rivera. The Mission is home to Mission-style burritos, long lines for ice cream and thrift stores that sell by weight. Here’s some things to do if you’re spending a day in the Mission.

Mission Dolores

The old mission in California was built in 1776 and includes a basilica, humble cemetery and gardens. With a suggested donation, visitors can peruse the church and mission on a self-guided tour that gives insight on the area before it became the SF that it is today.

Dolores Park

This grassy knoll is a spot for the hip people in SF to get some sun and enjoy a picnic or a few drinks. Police turn a blind eye to beers/wine in Dolores Park. It’s a great place to people watch (as well as dog watch), throw a frisbee around and take in the SF skyline. Get food to-go nearby, buy a drink from the corner store and take in your surroundings at this little treasure in the Mission.

Bi-Rite Creamery

If you’re in Dolores Park, chances are you’ll notice a constant line outside this corner ice cream shop. Bi-Rite is widely popular; on Yelp is has nearly 10,000 reviews. Part of the Bi-Rite experience is waiting in line for a ridiculous amount of time before ordering their homemade ice cream. Bi-Rite is known for interesting flavors, such as lavender or Earl Grey tea, and the longtime SF pastry chefs make everything that goes into their ice cream. 3692 18th Street

Boutiques and Thrift Stores

There's a good amount of thrift stores in the Mission. Mission Street from 21st to 16th Streets has a wide array of vintage items, weird taxidermied animals and more. Running parallel to this street toward the west is Valencia Street, which has book shops and fancy rarities more inline with the upscale Noe Valley. Make sure to check out Paxton Gate which specializes in oddities from the natural world.

Mission Burrito

Outsiders may not know it, but SF takes its burritos pretty seriously. La Taqueria invented the “Mission-style” burrito, complete with pinto beans and avocado (note: there is absolutely no rice in these burritos). La Taqueria opened in 1973 and is a Mission staple. This is a nice spot to get a burrito to-go and later enjoy in Dolores Park. 2889 Mission Street

Roxie Theatre

Opened in 1909, the Roxie is the oldest continually operating cinema in the world. After a day walking around the Mission, check out what’s playing at the non-profit theatre and cinema. Calendar here. 3117 16th Street

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