This lifestyle blog is not aimed at tourists, but it makes it all the more interesting for savvy travelers who want to get on the inside track of their destination. It’s beneficial for nomadic types, who tend to spend an extended period in a place (see this post on little pockets around town with slightly less expensive rent).

If you like unusual souvenirs, ditch the Golden Gate Bridge snow globe and head to the site’s online shop for some interesting San Francisco-themed goods, from silk scarfs designed with an area map to fake tattoos resembling a Muni ticket (the local transport network). To avoid dealing with long-distance shipping, take advantage of “pick-up Thursday” and swing by their office to collect your purchase.

San-Francisco-poster-sold-008-1

The useful post Don’t miss the contributions from the so-called chief of cheap Broke-Ass Stuart, who also has a notable blog of his own (brokeassstuart.com) for those on meager budgets in San Francisco (and New York).

Sfist

A closed 24-hour diner, San Francisco

Mixing humor, local news, and events, Sfist is the less pronounceable cousin of fellow city blogs Londonist and Gothamist. If you enjoy a good quick-fix list when planning a trip, don’t miss the page that collates the best of its “best of” articles: the best bars with an outdoor oasis, the best bike rides, the best bloody marys, etc. Check out the company’s other useful offshoots worldwide, including Austinist, Shanghaiist, and Torontoist. Useful post 41 signs you’re a jaded San Franciscan: worth a read for a glimpse into local quirks and bugbears.

Brunch at Skool

Brunch at Skool, on 7×7’s list of recommendations

Springing from the magazine of the same name, this site has been running since 2006. The name signifies San Francisco’s 49 square miles, but it has evolved into covering all the surrounding region: the entire Bay Area, Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, and even dipping into LA. The site is well organized, with plenty of content to help a newcomer or a seasoned visitor.

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Useful post 11 under-the-radar brunch spots

FOOD AND DRINK

Tablehopper

Chocolate Lab, San Francisco

Dessert at Chocolate Lab. Photograph: ChocolateLabSF.com Tablehopper is not a blog; it’s a website, says it is About page, and, indeed, your average blog rarely boasts both its own app (directing you to all-important, late-night dining options around town) and its own brand of singles night. However you define it, Tablehopper, run by freelance food writer Marcia Gagliardi, is a great resource for busy travelers. If you want to be one step ahead of the guidebook, take a glance at the right-hand sidebar, which lists 10 places to eat right now.