Lonely Planet Experiences: Flavours and Murals of the Mission

Your Mission food tour will kick off the only way we know how at 9:30 am – with coffee and donuts! But these aren’t just any donuts. These are artisan hoops of heaven!

They’re locally sourced, made with organic, sustainable ingredients to create an eclectic selection ranging from bacon maple apple, to chocolate rose or even lemon and thyme.

Enjoy a donut and a cup o’ joe with your local guide as they introduce you to the neighborhood and its legendary food scene.

Your next stop on this SF food tour is a local panaderia, a Mexican bakery that captures the Latino culture and charm that is everywhere in the Mission district. Here you can choose from a selection of pan dulce, or Mexican sweet bread made daily in the bakery.

To wash that all down, you can also try an agua fresca, a blended fruit drink that is sure to refresh. Fully stocked up on energy after your breakfast, you will continue your tour towards the murals along Balmy Avenue.

This area’s artistic roots date back over 30 years, giving your guide plenty to chat about.

Your guide will give you the scoop on the murals you will find here and what they mean to this neighborhood. Whether they’re describing the plight of migrant workers from Latin America, oppression in Nicaragua, or the gentrification of the mission District itself, the multitude of murals along Balmy Avenue each have a special story to share and your local guide will make time for you to soak in all the beautiful artwork.

Next up, pie time! Whether you’re up for some strawberry rhubarb, or perhaps you fancy a roasted cauliflower and black olive quiche made with free-range eggs, organic milk, and cream, you’re sure to find your slice of happiness in the local spot we take you to.

Having tasted these delights, you will hop on a bus to travel a few minutes down the heart of Mission Street itself and make your way to one of the oldest and most beloved taquerias in the neighborhood.

Here you can sample a carne asada, al pastor, or another of this spot’s famous tacos – a must-try in the Mission!

You will continue your tour from SF onwards to Clarion Alley, where you will find the second largest collection of murals in the Mission. It might be more contemporary than Balmy Avenue, but Clarion Alley shares the same vibrant stories and is lined with lots of colorful graffiti.

The final section of the tour will take you to the center of the hipster scene, where you will check out the Mission’s best thrift stores, grab a last snack at one of the trendiest bakeries in San Francisco, and then you will head to Dolores Park, finishing up at the Mission Dolores church itself.

You will conclude your food tour here, the perfect spot for you to continue to spend as much time as you like learning about the history and stories that built San Francisco.