“I left my heart in San Francisco.” Quotes like this make it clear that most are completely enamored by the city, but since I visited San Francisco as a kid, I never really bothered to visit again as adult. I wish I did sooner, because San Francisco has great writing spots and is a city surely every writer would love.
As with all my Writer’s Travel Guides, you’ll find the best writing spots, places to get inspiration and where to stay while in San Francisco.
Without further ado, see why it’s worth leaving your heart in San Francisco—and also why you’ll likely write a lot there.
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You’ll be hearing a lot about the Beat Generation this guide, so let me first acquaint you if you aren’t already. This movement of writers from the 1950’s included famous writers like Kerouac and Ginsberg. If you read On the Road, you’ll know these writers spent some time in San Francisco. And Vesuvio Café is was one of their hang out spots.
It was one of my absolute favorite writing spots in San Francisco, and likely would have even without its connection to the Beat writers. This bar is preserved to look like how it did back in the day, and it’s great being able to soak in all the evident history inside.
I’d recommend going in the day when they first open since it’s not too busy and most the tables are free. I was able to sit for a few hours at a table upstairs undisturbed.
Another place that the Beat writers hung out at was this café, and it’s a better choice if you like writing with a coffee in hand instead of beer. It’s also a place where screenwriters hung out later; this is where Coppola wrote The Godfather screenplay.
This French-style bakery is located on Hayes Street, which has really great dining options (don’t miss ice cream from Salt & Straw!) nearby. It has good Wi-Fi for any research you need to do and a great environment for writing on your laptop. Not to mention if you love bread, coffee and pastries, you’ll be in heaven!
If you like writing outside and in parks, San Francisco has lots of writing spots for you. Perhaps the best park is Dolores Park, which a San Francisco local at my hostel claimed to be the warmed place in the city (it was quite cold when I went considering that it was July!).
You’ll get great views of San Francisco below too, so it’s perfect if you like writing spots with a view. Bring a blanket to sit on or find a bench, and pray for nice weather (always a gamble in this city)!
Similarly, the roof of this art school has a beautiful view of the city, and it’s open to the public! Not a bad place to sit and write.
This independent bookstore has a café right outside it, and if you read my other Writer’s Travel Guides, you know that I’m all for that! There’s nothing better than writing with a hot beverage in your hand and being surrounded by books. This bookstore is located in the Ferry Building, so it’s a convenient location if you plan to sightsee.
Did you even visit San Francisco if you didn’t see this iconic bridge? I don’t think so.
I’d recommend taking a stroll on it, or even a bike ride. You’ll get a different view of the city from the bridge, and I always love getting different perspectives of a place I’m exploring.
On the other side of Golden Gate Bridge is a gorgeous expanse of nature. It’s perfect for writers who love writing spots in nature, as it’s probably the best nature you’ll find close to San Francisco.
Possibly one of the most famous prisons in the world, a visit to this island prison will surely give you some writing ideas. You can either cruise by it on a boat, or actually go onto the island and visit the museum there.
This bookstore has connections to the Beat Generation too (and it’s right next to Vesuvio Café). But even if you don’t like the Beat literature, this bookstore is absolutely fantastic. You’ll find amazing books, both popular and obscure, and upstairs there’s a whole section dedicated to the Beat writers.
Interested in learning more about these Beat writers I keep talking about? Learn about them in the small Beat Museum. Despite its size its packed with information, and it also has a bookstore in the front that’s also very good.
All the Beat stuff I’ve been talking about is on the outskirts of Chinatown, so if you’re already nearby, don’t miss out on wandering around. I really felt momentarily as if I were transported into a small street of a city in Asia, and how lovely is a city that can make you feel like you’re in two places at once?
Did you know that Robert Frost was born in San Francisco? Go check out the plaza decimated to him and daydream about the day your city or town of birth will dedicate an entire plaza to you.
This was my favorite spot to watch sunset, with a beautiful beach, a view of Golden Gate Bridge and the sun setting over the blue expanse of ocean. If you like writing outside, this is also a great writing spot! Although it was very windy when I went, so careful if you have any loose papers!
For any budget travelers/ starving artists, I highly recommend Adelaide Hostel. The first floor has comfy couches great for spending long hours on writing and there’s a lovely little patio downstairs behind the kitchen. Oh yeah, and free breakfast!
For those with a bigger budget, FOUND Hotel is a trendy option with good writing spots as well.
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Omg. I love the idea of finding the best writing spots in a city! That's super useful. I love City Lights Bookstore.
It's such an awesome bookstore!!
I love San Francisco, and all the places you listed here are so inspiring. I will save this for my next trip, as I always travel and write too, and it is always great to get to visit places where I can find writing spots.
I hope you get to try some of these writing spots out!
I consider myself being a travel photographer who also writes articles. I never do writing when I travel except notes to memorize specific data. So it's a new idea about writing during travel. I will think about that! Thanks for sharing!
Of course! I hope you give it a try. It's one of my favorite things to do :)
Nice article. I have been to San Francisco a couple of times, and I missed some of these place. I will make sure to hit them on my next trip.