I’ve been to Dreamforce 10 times. Some years, attendance was larger than many cities! Some years offered pared-down COVID-conscious experiences. Regardless, the magic of Dreamforce is real. There is always an infinite amount to do/see/experience/enjoy.
While the event can happily keep you on the Dreamforce campus the entire time, there are so many incredible San Francisco (SF) experiences close by. As a local for over 20 years, and one who loves the richness of The City, I offer you my Insider Tips for your Dreamforce 2022 Experience.
FOOD
Lunch- Joyride Pizza: In Yerba Buena Park, adjacent to Moscone Center where Dreamforce is held, go upstairs by the park and you’ll find an excellent Detroit-style pan pizza joint. Joyride has established itself as an SF favorite and now has three locations.
- The Bird: An easy 5-minute walk from Moscone, The Bird offers free-range, highly flavorful, and gluten-free fried chicken, plus tots (all at very reasonable prices!). You can choose spicy or not.
- MIXT: This is the consummate local salad spot. Great fresh, organic ingredients served by “salad baristas.” Recommend pre-ordering on their website as lunch lines can get long.
- The Grubbies: A super unique grab-and-go, high-quality Japanese spot where your meal is served tied in a hankerchief. Highly recommend taking it up to the Salesforce Park, minutes away on foot, to enjoy.
- Mourad: A Michelin-starred Moroccan gem with an aesthetic that is as amazing as its food (and drink).
- Burma Love: Another local restaurant that has thrived and now has several locations. Stellar authentic Burmese food (described as a blend of Thai, Indian, and Chinese, and is all the rage in SF). The tea leaf salad is a patron favorite. Also open for lunch with indoor/outdoor seating.
- Zero Zero: Wood-fired pizza, paired with a specialty cocktail, is my idea of a great meal. This is a solid dinner choice. If you’re game to venture father, Del Popolo is incredible.
- Tin: Authentic, nourishing Vietnamese food. Try the Hue Rolls as an appetizer. Also open for lunch.
BEVERAGE
Coffee- Philz Coffee: You will get amply caffeinated at Philz, which has an incredible local history going back to 1978. I’m a big fan of the Mint Mojito coffee, which is made with fresh mint leaves. Each cup is hand-brewed for you, so you can customize your own level of sweetness, creaminess, etc. Walk up to the Salesforce Park to enjoy!
- Mazarine Coffee: On SF’s lively Market Street, a short walk from Moscone, Mazarine offers solid coffees, pastries, and experience. Peak hour lines can get long.
- Blue Bottle: What started in a San Francisco neighborhood called Hayes Valley is now omnipresent in SF with locations in major cities worldwide. Reliably strong beans. The New Orleans-Style iced coffee is so good.
- Natoma Cabana: Fun cocktails and seating, adjacent to the Salesforce Park.
- Flatiron Wine & Spirits: Grab a glass of wine or do a tasting! New spot with a great selection, including on-trend natural wines. House of Shields is across the street.
- House of Shields: Open since 1908, this is all bar. The picture says it all.
- Dirty Habit: Top of the Hotel Zelos, it offers a nice rooftop, creative cocktails, and bites, a 7-minute walk from Moscone.
- Thriller Social Club: En route to Dreamfest at Oracle Park, you’ll find mixologist created cocktails, arcade fun including a Skee-Ball arena and Pop-A-Shot, and high end bar bites. If you RSVP for our Californication Dreamfest Pre-Party, a night at Thriller is our treat!
RESPITE
- Yerba Buena Garden: Lounge under a tree and soak up sunshine. Free dance class offered on Wednesday, 9/21.
- Palace Hotel: A luxury hotel with a gorgeous lobby, 7-minutes by foot from Moscone. Catch up on work, grab a drink, or just relax.
- Salesforce Park: A rooftop experience with so many cool things: gardens, views, play structures, numerous seating options, and much more.
- The Dreamforce FINs VIP Lounge: Get the perks of an airport lounge, a stone’s throw from Moscone. Comfort, chargers, chow, and more, for Financial Services. RSVP here.
SUPPLIES
- Target: A pint-sized version of a Target that is designed for a city, this is the closest spot to Moscone to secure provisions, layers, comfy shoes and more.
- Westfield Shopping Center: A 10-minute walk from Moscone, you’ll find 85+ stores, including Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and solid food court in the bottom floor.
ADVENTURES
- F-Train: Catch the classic SF light rail F-Train on Market Street @ 4th Street. Ride this beautifully restored streetcar to the Ferry Building and grab an artisanal snack, lunch, beverage, or all! Pay the $3 fare onboard.
- SFMOMA: The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is right next to the Dreamforce campus. If you can go, you should. Current exhibit is Diego Rivera’s America, but their permanent collection is also great (I’m a big fan of the Pop Art on Floor 5). Bonus: their gift shop is great place to buy unique souvenirs (you don’t need a ticket to enter).
- City Bike Ride: Check out a Lyft bike by the Salesforce Transit Terminal. Ride to the Embarcadero and explore the SF coast!
- Bay Boat Ride: Even as a longtime local, I found this fast boat adventure in the Bay incredibly beautiful, fun, and unique. Book in advance! The photo below was an unseasonably hot day so be prepared to don the waterproof gear they provide.
- Go Car: The funny little yellow cars you may spot in tourist areas provide a fun way to see local sights! Recommend the shortened version of this tour. Must stop at the viewpoints in The Presidio for breathtaking scenery.
FINAL TIPS
- Layers: Don’t forget your layers. SF is notorious for its microclimates, and we even have a name and Twitter Account for our fog (yes, Karl the Fog is a real thing here). While the weather in September is the best of the year, you really never know in the Bay!
- Comfy shoes: You. will. be. walking. a. lot. Carshares can be hard to come by during Dreamforce. SF is a very walkable city and I’m a huge proponent of exploring on foot.
- Transit: –The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train is great way to get to/from the SF or Oakland airports. It covers a wide swath of the East Bay. You will need to buy a Clipper card while in the station to board. Driving during rush hour (3-7pm on weekdays) can be rough getting out of SF, so consider BART. Traffic coming into SF is worst 7-10am on weekdays. -The San Francisco Muni Train is a different system that sometimes shares underground boarding with BART. Muni has many train lines that can get you to most neighborhoods in SF. The F-train (recommended above) is part of the Muni fleet. The SF Muni system also includes Bus lines. -App-based rentals for scooters (Scoot, Spin, Lime) and bikes (Lyft a.k.a Bay Wheels, Lime) are abundant! Make sure to review your route for hills! -Lyft and Uber both operate locally and generally offer the same price and wait times.
- Verbiage: Don’t call it “Frisco” if you want to sound like a local :).
