Why The 33 Is The Best Bus in The SF Muniverse

The most versatile bus in SF in terms of experiencing a large number of neighborhood institutions is the good ol’ 33 Ashbury / 18th Street, a true lifeline for the car-free Clipper carrier. The 33 can take you to the Richmond District, the Stanyan Street entrance to Golden Gate Park, Amoeba Records, and Club Deluxe (soon to reopen!) on Haight. Keep your seat and you can hit up Cliff’s Variety and the Castro Theatre, Mission Dolores Park, the CCSF Mission Campus and The Great Northern for live music. Do you like nature in the city? The 33 will take you within stepping distance of Tank Hill. All for the low cost of $2.85.

The 33 route begins up north on Sacramento Street, before turning south and cutting through the Inner Richmond. The Richmond, San Francisco’s second Chinatown, is one of the city’s most underrated neighborhoods. It's quieter than other parts of the city, with a great neighborhood feel.

Within a roughly five-block area, I have my pick of baked treats, from bagels at Boichik Bagels with their delicious Hatch green chile cream cheese to the almond croissant at Arsicault Bakery, where there’s always a line of devoted customers.

I head down Clement Street for used books, dim sum to go, and many of the best restaurants in the city. Every Sunday, Clement hosts the Clement Street Farmer's Market. See our post on cooking a Thai dish with ingredients from the market.

When I’m in the cycling mood, I bike west on Lake Street, one of San Francisco's car-free slow streets. This tree-lined street stretches from Arguello to the ocean and is perfect for a relaxing ride.

The 33 drops you right at the corner of Haight and Stanyan, the gateway to both the legendary Haight-Ashbury district and Golden Gate Park. Step off the bus and you're immediately in the heart of San Francisco's countercultural history.

My day trip to Haight Street begins with a stop at Flywheel Coffee on Stanyan Street for a flat white. I like to spend an hour or so reading a book. If I can’t snag a table, I’ll take my coffee to go, enter Golden Gate Park from Stanyan Street, and stroll over to Alvord Lake. Next, I head to Amoeba Records to skim through band tees and hear what’s playing on the speakers.

Just a block away on Waller Street, there is a cool skate community hangout called Zion Skate Plaza (formerly Waller Street Skatepark). This plaza is a gathering spot for the local skate community. If you’re like me and enjoy watching San Francisco skate videos on social media, this is a great place to chill and see it all in person.

I love the low key arcade across the street. Free Gold Watch has pinball, classic arcade games, and a laid-back vibe. When I stopped by this weekend, it seemed more popular than ever. I personally like playing old Neo Geo games. One of these days I’m finally going to get good at pinball.

In years past, my favorite way to spend an evening in the Haight was at Club Deluxe, a neighborhood jazz bar which featured bands like the Cosmo Alleycats and Buena Vista Jazz Band. I’d often sit at a stool, and listen to singers like Darlene Langston or Loretta Gooden while sipping a Greyhound or Manhattan. While Club Deluxe closed its doors in 2022, its doors will soon reopen under new ownership in 2026. I can’t wait.

After the Haight and Ashbury intersection, the 33 turns south, where it climbs through some of San Francisco's most dramatic viewpoints. From this segment you can access some of the best views in the city. The famous Twin Peaks is the biggest tourist draw, but we recommend the quieter viewpoints like Corona Heights and Tank Hill.

Tank Hill is one of San Francisco's most underrated viewpoints, and it's remarkably easy to reach from the 33. On clear days I like to hop off at Clayton and Twin Peaks Boulevard. If you walk a few blocks up Twin Peaks Boulevard, you'll find a narrow path leading to a small summit with sweeping 360 degree views of the city. At this panoramic viewpoint, you can see the downtown skyline to the east, the Sutro Tower, and Golden Gate Park stretching toward the ocean. On clear days you’ll see the Golden Gate Bridge. I was just there on Saturday and took this photo of the green bench where you can sit and take in the view.

The 33 takes a hairpin turn at the intersection of Market Street and Clayton, offering a spectacular view of the downtown skyline. This turn feels wild in a 40-foot bus and even requires its own traffic signal just for the maneuver. SFGate has an excellent article on the history of the route that illustrates how the bus makes its U-Turn from a technical standpoint.

The Castro has been the heart of San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community for decades. You'll know you've arrived when you spot the iconic Castro Theatre and the rainbow crosswalks painted across the intersection. The 33 runs right down 18th Street through the neighborhood, giving you easy access to some of the city's most beloved institutions.

I always try to stop by Cliff’s Variety when I’m in the Castro. It’s a store with everything you might need, from gifts and kitchen appliances to home decor. If you love to browse, you can definitely spend a long time at Cliff’s.

When I’m going out in the Castro, I like to start my night at Twin Peaks Tavern on the corner of Castro and Market. It's cash only, which I love since that keeps the drinks affordable. It's the kind of place where you can sip a cheap drink and people-watch through the big windows. It’s also the perfect pre-game spot to have a chill conversation with your friends before you head down the street to dance at Toad.

After a drink (or two) at Twin Peaks, I like to head over to Toad Hall. If you get there early enough, it feels more like a bar than a dance club. At this point in the night, you can continue your conversation or maybe meet some new people.

Later in the night the dance floor gets packed. By then, you won’t care about talking anymore because you’ll be dancing to some TLC throwbacks or some Chappell Roan. If you’re like me, you’ll lose track of time until you see the TV screen say Last Call while Beyoncé’s “Love on Top” starts playing. You’ll be singing along with everyone, lost in the moment….until the lights come on. If you’re still at Toad, that means it's past 2 a.m., and unfortunately, the 33 bus isn't going to get you home. Time to call a rideshare or start walking.

The 33 continues east on 18th Street into the Mission District. This is where the vibe begins to shift to taquerías, murals, and dive bars. I love hopping off here for Mission Dolores Park, one of the city’s best spots for people-watching. On sunny weekends, the park is packed with day drinkers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, people on mushrooms, people selling mushrooms, and everything in between. I sometimes grab a burrito from El Buen Sabor or Taquería Cancún and find a spot to take in some sunshine.

As a perpetual student, I walk to the CCSF Mission Campus to attend an evening Spanish language class. Did I mention the classes are free for SF residents?

When I’m in the mood for nightlife, Valencia Street has something for every scene. I’ve caught local bands at Blondie's while enjoying a Mexican martini, and sometimes there are swing and salsa dancing nights. If I want to see a rock show in a dive-bar, I head to Kilowatt down the street. For a slightly larger event, The Chapel is only a block away from the 18th and Valencia stop. And if you want to dance to a DJ spinning vinyl under a disco ball, I love Bar Part Time and its selection of natural wines.

If I want to keep the party going late into the night, I head to The Great Northern near the end of the 33 route. This warehouse venue hosts DJs and producers who sometimes go well past 2 a.m. But once again, if you’re dancing late into the night, you’ll be up past the 33’s bedtime and will need to find a way home. Below is a picture from when I caught Gift of Gab of Blackalicious (RIP) rapping at The Great Northern during an event that also featured circus performances and a burlesque show.

So that’s our case for the 33 being the top bus in town. A bus that truly takes you everywhere you want to go. Agree? Disagree? Share your Muni MVP on our socials: foglinesf on Instagram and Threads.