Seven Dog-friendly Holiday Activities in San Francisco
We recently had a fantastic weekend getaway to San Francisco. We have started a tradition over the past few years of visiting the city during the Christmas season so that we can soak in all of the holiday cheer. There are so many locations in San Francisco that really go all out with their decor, and it immediately gets us in the Christmas spirit.
Here are a few of the places we visited that you can check out with your dog(s) for a fun day of dog-friendly holiday activities in San Francisco!
1. Union Square - it wouldn’t be a proper holiday visit to San Francisco without seeing Union Square. Every year Macy’s puts up their Great Tree, which makes for the perfect backdrop for some photos. While you are in the area, you can also check out the SPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s. On Thursday-Sunday from noon-5pm puppies and kitties from the SPCA take over the windows.
2. Westin St. Francis - this hotel is right in Union Square, so while you are there be sure to check it out. As you walk in you will see the beautiful 12-foot tall rotating sugar castle, which weighs over 1,200 pounds and is surrounded by a running train. There is also a mail drop off for letters to Santa.
3. Fairmont - this hotel takes their holiday decor to another level, it was definitely my favorite stop. Their website describes it as “exuberant seasonal ambience,” and I have to say I agree! Their decorated tree is beautiful, but the star of the show is the life-sized two-story gingerbread house. We learned that all of the gingerbread is baked by their pastry team in-house, and it is certainly a sight to see. There is also an elf that we got to take a photo with, as well as a champagne bar where you can buy the cutest mini bottles of Moët. Drinking champagne while enjoying the magical decor is my kind of afternoon!
4. Christmas Cable Cars - in a tradition that dates back more than a century, even some of the quintessential San Francisco cable cars get decked out for the holidays. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the decorated cable cars are on display at Powell + Market, as well as Hyde + Beach. During non-commute hours, you can even ride with your pup! Check out their website for more information.
5. Castro Santa House - arguably the most festive house in the city is located at 68 Castro Street. We unfortunately didn’t have time to visit during our recent trip, but definitely put this on your list if you are scouting out the best decor. There is a bench in front of the house that would be perfect for photos!
6. Terrene - enjoy local and sustainably sourced food and festive drinks on the patio at Terrene, the restaurant at 1 Hotel. For the holiday season the patio is transformed into an après-ski chalet, and offers seasonal bites and drinks. The restaurant is right across from the Embarcadero, so you can pair this with a nice walk along the water or a visit to the Ferry Building.
7. Holiday pop up bars - several bars in the city get decked out with amazing holiday pop ups and delicious festive drinks. Two that we have visited and loved are Miracle at Pacific Cocktail Haven, and Sippin Santa at Kona’s Street Market.
We visited these without the pups, but have since learned that they are in fact dog-friendly. Neither take reservations, but if you do plan to bring your dogs I would definitely recommend avoiding peak times, as they were very crowded when we visited and would not have been suitable to dogs.
Do you have any other favorite dog-friendly holiday activities in San Francisco that we missed? Let us know in the comments so we can add them to our list for next year!
Disclaimer: The information provided above and dog-friendly policies were understood to be accurate as of the time of this post. For the most up-to-date information and policies, be sure to confirm with the businesses directly.
