What (Else) to Do
After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged Golden Gate Park's De Young Museum, renowned architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron were charged with redesigning it. Their handiwork, a striking copper-clad structure, was unveiled two years ago to great acclaim.

Tucked off a busy street in Japantown, Kabuki Springs & Spa offers spa treatments and acupuncture—but the real draw is its communal Japanese-style bath. A tranquil space stocked with sea salts, cucumber face cloths, and tea, it features a hot pool, a dry sauna, a steam room, and a cold plunge that's kept at an "invigorating" 55 degrees.

Where to Eat
For a decadent afternoon break, Lovejoy's Tea Room (Lovejoytearoom.com) puts on a Queen's Tea that might make dinner seem redundant (though if a crumpet, sandwiches, and Devon cream fall to satisfy your appetite, the tearoom also serves shepherd's pie and other traditional English comfort foods).

From the twice-weekly farmers' market outside to the smorgasbord of cookware and fresh, local food within (Cowgirl Creamery and Hog Island Oyster Company are among dozens of vendors) the Ferry Building Marketplace is a foodie's paradise. For those who don't fill up on free samples, dinner at a Ferry Building restaurant like Mijita (featuring regional Mexican dishes) or the Slanted Door (modern Vietnamese, with a serious wine list) is a great way to end a day spent wandering the city (FerryBuildingMarketplace.com).

Where to Stay
The historic Stanyan Park Hotel provides a small-scale Victorian alternative to the city's larger hotels.

Rooms from $139; StanyanPark.com

The grand Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel is perched atop Nob Hill, the highest point in hilly downtown San Francisco. The Top of the Mark, the hotel's penthouse bar, serves up 100 different martinis and panoramic views of the city and the Golden Gate.

Rooms from $259; 415-392-3434
From the November 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine