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Visitors guide to Union Square 

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There is never a dull moment at Union Square, the heart of the city and thus one of the best places for people watching, which some people call stalking. If you're not among the financially wealthy, Union Square has tons of great places to window shop. Why not strut through Saks Fifth Avenue like you own the place?

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Shopping is off the hook here, and off the rack, too. Everything you can imagine within a few blocks. It’s known for designer brands (Gucci, Tiffany Co. and Louis Vuitton are right on the square) and upscale department stores (Macy’s and Neiman Marcus are on the square and especially delightful at Christmas time).

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The Macy’s at Union Square is the largest department store in the country outside of New York City. Enter the lobby of Neiman Marcus just to gaze at the rotunda; or go up and have lunch at the top of the rotunda, looking out onto the square.

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The lobby of the Westin St. Francis Hotel, on the corner of Powell Street and Geary Boulevard overlooking Union Square, is worth checking out. Act like you’ve already checked in and the security folks won’t give you a hard time.

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The Theater District starts one block from Union Square along Geary Boulevard. It’s not Broadway, but it’s not bad. Streets in the Theater District might have more homeless people than you prefer. They’re all on drugs, but don’t worry, you’ll be fine. 

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Side streets off Union Square offer excellent restaurants. Maiden Lane, which runs two blocks into the Financial District, is ultra quaint with outdoor dining. Maiden Lane is a favorite among Instagrammers.

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Two blocks from Union Square, on Market Street between Fourth and Fifth streets, is the huge Westfield Mall and beyond that on Mission Street is food and movies at the Metreon mall, with a beautiful urban park next door.

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Beware: Either bring a lot of extra cash to give to the homeless, or be prepared to say no over and over and over. A lot of poor souls live on these streets, the vast majority with mental illness. It’s heartless, but you can do what most people do – ignore them, don’t make eye contact. They can be dangerous. Or just bring an extra $20 to $50 per day to help them. Or $500 to help them all.

Hot tip: The Museum of Ice Cream (yep, really) is two blocks from Union Square, at the corner of Grant Avenue and Market Street. Get a reservation and avoid the lines.

Hotter tip: There is a ticket booth on the Powell Street side of Union Square where you can score day-of tickets to shows at big discounts, generally 50 percent off.

Hottest tip: Hit up any department store or hotel for their public bathroom.

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Oddly: San Francisco weather doesn’t bring up visions of ice or snow, but a portion of Union Square is converted to an ice rink around Christmas. It’s a gorgeous scene every year.

Nearby: Market Street (the city’s unofficial Main Street) is two blocks away. If you stand in Union Square and face Macy’s, Market Street is on the other side of Macy’s. Chinatown is two blocks in the opposite direction, and the Financial District is two blocks in yet another direction (toward the Bay Bridge). Walk down Powell Street to the cable car terminal at Market Street, then go left and stroll on Market all the way to the Ferry Building and the Bay Bridge. Don’t go right on Market. The homeless own most of the blocks that way. … Enjoy the street performers along Market Street between Third and Fifth streets in the evenings and on weekends. … Two blocks from Powell Street down Market Street (and another block over to Mission Street) takes you to beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens, one of the coolest urban parks anywhere.  

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Good eats: Walk two blocks to Market Street, then three more blocks to New Montgomery Street in the Financial District. There you can enjoy the bright and airy Garden Court restaurant inside the Palace Hotel. Not too expensive. Just bBright and airy and unforgettable.

Getting around: This is not a good place for cars, but if you have one, you can park under the square itself or nearby in garages at Sutter and Stockton, Mason and Post, or a bit farther at Fifth and Mission streets on the other side of Market Street.