This Time Out guide takes visitors through the boulevards and byways of a world-class city. Informed locals profile the cultural background and how to make the most of it, from San Francisco's Gold Rush origins to its beatnik and hippie subcultures. Here too are the best ways to enjoy the city's renowned gay scene, from shops to health clubs; its superb walking-tour opportunities; and the outlying Wine Country with its myriad pleasures. Accommodations from hotels to hostels are detailed in updated entries, along with the city's stellar cuisine.