City Lights Booksellers

Two floors of Beat-era manuscripts and photographs above a North Beach shop. Reading-heavy, so it suits teenagers rather than small children.

A popular breakfast and brunch spot that's family friendly but fills up fast, so go early.

Grab-and-go pizza collective with a lively, noisy atmosphere and flexible toppings.

Sunset Vietnamese where pho and rice plates suit kids of any age.

Chinatown bakery famous for egg tarts; the line moves and the tarts are worth it with kids.

A Chinatown alley the width of a hallway where two women fold cookies off a hot press by hand. Two minutes, a sample, and worth the detour.