OK, as many of you request, I have already done a magnanimous amount of research about San Francisco, and have already planned an eight day itinery for my August visit. That said, FYI, I am a 40 something female travelling alone. Question#1-I am staying at the Grant Plaza Hotel (what a bargain!), is it clean and safe? Question #2-I love to walk and walk and walk, but know that I will be needing to use Muni (when the feet wear out or at night), is it easy to figure out what bus, train, etc, to use and where they stop-(I sent away and received a system map, but am not familiar with mass transit sytems and am having trouble figuring out where the stops are. I live out in the country where there is no mass transit-but I am not a bumpkin!)
Question #3-Does anyone have suggestions on inexpensive restaurants, cafes, lounges that don't frown on single patrons-I often find that places that serve food at the bar don't mind a solo diner, and I don't mind sitting at the bar, as long as the place isn't a real dive. I like casual (nice jeans and shirt), laid back, and not too young of a crowd maybe 30-40 something. I will have no car so central location is important. I hope my questions have been specific enough not to offend anyone, if they have offended please don't "yell" at me, just ignore my post. (By the way I read back through the last 250 posts to make sure I am not repeating someone's question) Thank you in advance for any and all help.
Bonnie

Bonnie, two suggestions for sitting at the bar are Absinthe and Jardiniere both over near the opera house. The food at each is terrific and the crowd is a bit more upscale and about your age. Would take a taxi there, however, because the area between there and downtown is not so nice. Any place in North Beach would probably also fit your needs.

Bonnie,
You should have no trouble with Muni. Buy a 7 day passport for about $15 at the information desk in the airport by the luggage claim area. It gives you unlimited riding on both Muni buses and cable cars.

The routes are pretty easy to figure out. There are certain lines such as the #1 that run east/west. Most of the 40 buses (I think 42,46 48, but don't quote me) run up and down VanNess (North and South) More than one makes a loop around the main part of downtown. Sorry I am not able to quote all the numbers. Although I am there a lot, by forty year old brain just can't pull them all up.

All the stops are pretty well marked and the maps posted there are helpful too. Most bus drivers will be glad to tell you if you are headed in the right direction or not.

As far as food goes, I like Thai Spice, cheap and small and casual...near corner of Polk and Clay. Vicolo's Pizza on Ivy about a block behind the Symphony Hall...very small, but great cornmeal crust and original salads etc. Only about ten tables in the place. Taiwan Restaurant (one on the edge of Chinatown on Columbus and one in the ave.'s.) Haven't been to the one near North Beach, but you can get to the one in the Ave's on the #1 California bus. Best dumplings in the city. Great dry braised green beans and also good snapper. On the opposite corner is Green Apple Books. A great place with new and used books and a wonderful place to browse after a big meal. None of the restaurants are upscale at all, although when the opera and symphony is on, then it is crowded with patrons.

One more thing, on Sunday, PLEASE make Glide Memorial Church a stop on your itinerary. Services are at 9 and 11. Go to the 9 one and be there by 8:40 at the latest. GREAT GOSPEL music with a band and 75 voice choir and you will leave feeling uplifted. It is a real SF experience. Cross section church. Rich, poor, all races, gay, straight, and all religions too. Even if you are not religious...trust me and go for the experience.

Have a great time!

Bonnie,
The Muni actually has a pretty helpful sight http://www.sfmuni.com/home/home40.htm

But I would not stress the public transport too much. It is fairly self evident once you get here. You will see bus stop signs, and for the most part, buses and cable cars stop on every corner.

The most important thing to know, is that exact change is required on the buses - $1 in change or single bill.

Taxis are also available - although not as easy to catch in New York. You can call for a cab from your hotel or from any location and they will come get you. Just be warned that on weekend nights it is really tough to get a cab.

I recently did a post on inexpensive, casual restaurants in San Francisco for another poster who wished to wear t-shirt and jeans - a bit more casual than you describe, but still a good list. I will look through my notes and post it again here for you.

As a final item, I eat alone all of the time. I think you will be pleased by the friendly conversation you will encounter as well as the general hospitality to lone diners.

Sharon

Here was the post I mentioned in my earlier email. I simply pasted the entire post for you to read:

I hope these suggestions are helpful. As I said, most of San Francisco is casual. However, a bit more "snappy" casual than a t-shirt would suggest (unless it was a solid black t-shirt worn with nice shoes and a pair of nice jeans). So these are restaurant recommendation at which a t-shirt would not stand out:

L'Osteria del Forno - Italian
519 Columbus

Malee - Vietnamese and Thai
1450 Lombard

Cafe de la Presse - French bistro
352 Grant

Cafe Bastille - French
22 Bleden Place

Cafe Claude - French
7 Claide Lane

Ti Couz - Crepes
3108 16th Street

Tommy's - Mexican
5927 Geary Blvd.
(best margarita in town!)

Indian Oven
223 Fillmore

Chez Nous
1911 Fillmore

Sushi Groove
1916 Hyde Street

Suppenkuecke - German
(Best beer selection)
525 Laguna

Ton Kiang - Chinese (especially dim sum)
5821 Geary Blvd.

House of Nanking - Chinese
919 Kearny

Swan Oyster Depot - Seafood
1517 Polk

In case you are willing to loose the t-shirt, here are a few places that do not require that you dress up, but a t-shirt would stand out (worth loosing the t-shirt for these - or at least adding some jewelry to dress it up a wee bit)

* Lulu - California - French
* Pastis - French
* Plouf - French Seafood
* Zarzuela - Spanish Tapas
* Fringale - Italian
* Antica Tratoria - Italian
* Rose Pistola - Italian
* Yabbies - Seafood

I have more if you would like, but I think this is a good start.

Sharon

Bonnie: I have only a few specific suggestions for dining, but as you mentioned, eating at the bar at nicer restaurants is a good option. There's plenty to watch and usually people to talk to, often other single diners. I like to sit at the bar at sushi bars for the same reason. In SF, places I liked this spring include the Slanted Door for Vietnamese, any of the takeout burrito places in Mission District for lunch, l'osteria del forno in north beach for italian, and bruno's for dinner and drinks, also in mission district. Blowfish sushi was not as good as I had heard, but a fun place nevertheless.

We stayed at the Grant Plaza for a week in 1999. It was a decent little place but I had a problem with what sounded like a 400lb person walking around in the room above us for the first two nights from about one until 3 in the morning. The rest of the week was fine. It is clean albeit the rooms are a little on the small side, very much like a European pensione. It is a good location but the area is very quiet at night so if you are a distance away i would suggest a cab. We walked to and from North Beach most nights (2 males though) and at times it felt a little too quiet for my comfort zone as you get further south on Grant Street. North Beach is a great, vibrant neighbourhood with a lot of Italian restaurants. If you like pubs check out the Vesuvius(sp?) bar at the south end of North Beach, i think it may be on Grant Street. It was a beat poet hangout in the fifties and has an interesting mix of people there. We even saw a lot of scruffy poet-types (or wannabes) in the area but from what I've heard in just two years a lot of the artists have been forced out of this beautiful city due to atrocious rents. All in all a beautiful city. Have fun!

Bonnie,
Have fun - we stayed at the Grant Plaza in 1994 and really enjoyed it. Clean, safe, rooms were small but everything was fine for the $. It's right at the start of China town and for that reason there was alot going on outside. Felt ok at night walking back to hotel at night from the North Beach area but we were a group of 4 women and with one man so weren't really worried. We walked everywhere, used the Muni to go to Golden Gate Park and what I remember about that was a long wait for the bus.(about 30 min.) Must of just missed one or something. But being close to the Financial District on a week end, we were able to hop on the cable cars without waiting in long lines. You'll love SF.

Try Little Joe's on broadway ion the North Beach district. It's very casual with canned soda, benches and communal tables wtih checked plastic tablecloths. A single person could comfortably sit at the communal table but they also have bar type seating specifically for singles. Very good (and messy) cioppino and other Italian type seafood dishes. Not haute cuisine but fun and moderately priced.