By Su Yardimci

As the weather finally warms up in San Francisco, here is how best to spend a beautiful day in the Sunset.

Stroll the Outer Sunset Farmers Market

1994 37th Ave.

Price: $-$$

Hours: Sundays 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

For a quintessential summer’s Sunday in the Sunset, make your way to the Outer Sunset Farmers Market – a lively, open-air gathering that stretches along 37th Avenue near Ortega Street. Founded in 2020 by Sunset Mercantile, the market quickly grew from a small neighborhood idea into a weekly ritual that brings together families, surfers and longtime locals. The space hums with music, food stalls and the easy rhythm of neighbors catching up under the sun.

The Outer Sunset Farmers Market is known for its fresh produce, locally made goods and small batch treats that highlight the Bay Area’s diverse food scene. You’ll find everything from seasonal fruit and vegetables to handmade dumplings, fresh bread and even surf wax. It’s the kind of spot where you can stock up for the week or just graze your way through a late morning with coffee in hand.

Beyond the produce stands, there are kids’ activities, local musicians and pop-ups from neighborhood makers which create a space that feels more like a weekly block party than a traditional market. Whether you’re strolling over from the beach, grabbing a bite after a morning surf or simply soaking up the atmosphere, it has become a go-to hub for anyone looking to connect with the Outer Sunset community on a beautiful summer’s day.

CHECK OUT: Maillard’s for one of the City’s best smash burgers.

Enjoy a Picnic From Pepperjack Provisions

1232 9th Ave.

Price: $-$$$

Hours: Monday-Tuesday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

After your stroll in the farmers market, head to the Inner Sunset to pick up food and drinks for a Golden Gate Park picnic!

This month, Pepperjack Provisions and Home Goods is collaborating with the San Francisco Botanical Garden and Gardens of Golden Gate Park for the upcoming Flower Piano event which will take place from Sept. 12 to 21. You can pre-order picnic baskets to pick-up from Pepperjack before heading into the gardens.

Pepperjack Provisions was born from the idea that a neighborhood shop could be more than just a place to pick up essentials: it is a space that feels personal, warm and thoughtfully curated. Tucked into the Inner Sunset, the store is designed to have the charm of a modern general store, filled with everyday goods that spark calm and joy. Each item on the shelves has a story behind it, chosen from small-batch makers and people the owner genuinely admires.

At the heart of Pepperjack is Jacquelyn London, who grew up in a tight-knit Cape Cod town before heading to New York to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After years in corporate retail, working in product development and sourcing, she decided it was time to create something of her own – a space that reflected both her professional expertise and her love for community. Whether she’s curating the latest collection, chasing bits of sunshine around San Francisco, or spending time outdoors with friends and family, her vision for Pepperjack is clear – a welcoming hub that will continue to grow, evolve and feel like home for everyone who walks through its doors.

CHECK OUT: The picnic baskets and home decor!

Hangout at Hook Fish Co. for Dinner

4542 Irving St.

Price: $$

Hours: Everyday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Following your afternoon of picnicking and listening to music in the park, work up an appetite for dinner and head over to Hook Fish Co. at Irving Street near 47th Avenue.

Hook Fish Co. was created around a simple, but powerful, idea – that seafood could be more than just what lands on your plate. Hook Fish sees seafood as a way to connect people to the ocean, to local fishermen and to a slower, more intentional way of eating. Tucked into the Outer Sunset just a few blocks from Ocean Beach, the restaurant feels like a neighborhood surf shack-turned-community hub, where the menu is centered on fresh, responsibly sourced fish and the vibe is casual, warm and unpretentious. Their laid-back outdoor patio offers the perfect spot to linger over tacos and beers in the salt air.

At the core of Hook Fish Co. are the founders who grew up with a deep respect for California’s coastline and the people who work its waters. After years of seeing how disconnected most diners had become from the source of their seafood, they set out to build something different: a restaurant and fish counter that valued transparency, sustainability and simplicity above all.

For the team at Hook Fish Co., the restaurant is more than a place to eat. It is a vision realized. Neighbors stop in after a surf session, friends share meals on the patio and families swing by the fish counter to take something home. Whether you are craving a poke burrito after the beach or just looking for a place to gather with friends, Hook Fish Co. is community driven, ocean minded and built to feel like home.

Catch the Sunset and a Bonfire at Ocean Beach

Price: Free

Bonfires at Ocean Beach are one of those classic San Francisco experiences that feels both rare and special. They’re the only legal beach fires in the City, and the pits are tucked into the sand alongside Golden Gate Park, between stairwells 15 and 20. As the sun sets, the beach slowly transforms as families, surfers and groups of friends drift toward the fire rings, settling in as the sky fades.

The pits are first-come, first-served, so it’s worth arriving early if the weather is warm. Most people park along the Great Highway before carrying down firewood, blankets and snacks for the night. Duraflame logs aren’t allowed, so stack up on real wood, and be sure to bring extra layers – the ocean breeze sets in quickly once darkness falls. With the waves in the background and sparks rising into the night sky, even simple food and drinks feel like a celebration.

Su Yardimci is a San Francisco enthusiast who has turned her childhood dream into reality. After moving to the Bay Area for college, she has been sharing her love for the City through film photography and neighborhood guides.