Your guide to 420-friendly travel in San Francisco

Boom or bust, San Francisco remains an iconic international travel destination. The majestic Golden Gate Bridge symbolizes the city’s status as home to many unique attractions, as well as a global center for industry, commerce, technology and culture.

Where else can you enjoy Irish coffee in Fisherman’s Wharf, dim sum in Chinatown, Mexican food in the Mission District, and five-star fresh farm-to-table food in the Financial District, followed by a nightcap in North Beach—all in one day?

Combine all of this with the counterculture vibe, cultural diversity, coastal climate and colorful history and San Francisco is a must-see for most tourists from near or far. Travel and tourism provider Club Med named San Francisco the fourth happiest travel destination in America for 2022. Add in some cannabis and it could easily be your number one destination.

Travel and cannabis in San Francisco

Northern California’s agricultural bounty has always been a rich source of the city’s upscale aesthetic, which offers everything from regional farms to sprawling vineyards. So it’s only natural that legal cannabis is the latest experience for connoisseurs, adding even more appeal to vacationing in the Bay Area.

After all, since the social revolution of the 1960s, some of the best cannabis strains in the world have been grown in the Emerald Triangle, just three hours north of the city.

“We’ve seen wine consumers come to California who want to tour Napa or Sonoma County with us. We’re beginning to see an increase in consumers who really want to experience California cannabis in California. It’s an experience that’s very Californian and very San Francisco,” said Victor Pinho, founder of Emerald Farm Tours.

Here are some 420 friendly places to stay, travel destinations, and activities to try in San Francisco.

420 friendly hotels in San Francisco

Cannabis-friendly accommodations in San Francisco (and California) are mostly short-term rentals, which can be found online at booking platforms like HiBnB.com, BudandBreakfast.com, and Inndica.com. Vendors on traditional booking sites like Airbnb that welcome cannabis tourists usually state that they are “420-friendly”.

Lists can be sparse, even in large, legal cities like San Francisco, as regulations and permits for cannabis-friendly housing are just beginning to be developed by local policymakers. The presence of nearby consumption lounges can reduce the need for cannabis-friendly accommodations, as they provide a permissible, legal space for public consumption.

Noe’s Nest Hideaway

San Francisco lodging options include Noe’s Nest Hideaway, centrally located in the desirable Noe Valley neighborhood, in a stately Victorian home amidst rows of old Vics and Edwardian architecture. The bed and breakfast allows for al fresco dining in a private backyard.

The Purple Room

In the Duboce Triangle, adjacent to the better known Castro District, there is accommodation at The Purple Room. Conveniently located directly above the Flore Dispensary, this shared townhouse offers a unique cannabis-friendly experience with WiFi, a big screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen, board games and a washer/dryer. Consumption is permitted on a private outdoor balcony and veranda.

Hotel Kabuki

Traditional hotel accommodations that are also 420-friendly are hard to come by. Hotels that are rumored to be cannabis-friendly online often will not make any mention of it on their websites or elsewhere. Such is the case with the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco, located at 1625 Post Street. The boutique hotel was formerly a Joie de Vivre hospitality hotel and is now operated by Hyatt. Located near the Fillmore District, Kabuki is hip, retro rock ‘n’ roll, and pet-friendly. Though cannabis use is not mentioned anywhere on the hotel’s official website, travel platform Trivago Magazine lists Hotel Kabuki as one of “eight great 420-friendly hotels in California” thanks to its large outdoor garden.

420-friendly destinations in San Francisco

If you want to do more with your West Coast weed than smoke some weed and stroll around town, check out these activities that are made for tourists and locals alike.

Emerald Farm Tours

San Francisco-based travel company Emerald Farm Tours offers visitors a variety of ways to enjoy cannabis while touring some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods.

In US cities with access to recreational cannabis, where rules and regulations governing public consumption are evolving, cannabis travel companies like Emerald Farms are growing in popularity. They typically offer cross-promotions with local retailers and lounges, as well as cannabis-friendly venues and events.

3 hour bus tour

“If you’re coming to San Francisco and really want to experience the city through cannabis, take the $195 3-hour bus tour. This is the most popular cannabis tour, taking you to three dispensary lounges, some tours and pairings at a winery where you can do wine tasting,” said Pinho.

Book the cannabis bus tour

Full Day Wine and Weed Tour

“If you want to dig deeper, I recommend our full day tour, which takes you to the southern corner of the Emerald Triangle, to the Anderson Valley, where we take you to a beautiful cannabis farm to walk around and grab some pictures,” he described .

Book the Wine, Wilderness and Weed Tour

Walking the Wharf Tour

“The Wharf Tour is a bit easier,” adds Pinho. “It’s a walk – we start at Fisherman’s Wharf, and it’s not a long walk. We cover about a half mile in two hours so it’s easy to do. Guests Visit two dispensaries, learn about the sights and it’s good if you just want to get your feet wet and experience cannabis for a few hours while in town.”

Book the Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Tour

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Visit a Bay Area pharmacy

Pharmacies can be found in all of the city’s unique neighborhoods.

Algae SF and Stiiizy’s

The aptly named Seaweed SF in Fisherman’s Wharf is a cable car ride from Stiiizy’s branded flagship store in Union Square.

Visit Seaweed SF

Visit Stiiizy’s Union Square

The pharmacist

Founded in 2011, the Apothecarium has locations in The Castro and the SOMA district and offers online and telephone consultations.

Visit the apothecary

steam room

Originally a medicinal cannabis dispensary during Prop 215 days, The Vapor Room was one of California’s first consumption lounges. It was closed by the government in 2012 and is now back, located in the South of Market area.

Visit the steam room

blossom room

The Bloom Room in San Francisco is near Union Square, Mint Plaza and Westfield Shopping Center.

Visit the blossom room

Bernese on Haight

In the famed psychedelic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, visitors can find Berner’s on Haight, the dispensary owned by native rapper and cannabis entrepreneur Berner.

Cannabis brand Cookies, which Berner co-founded, is known for its proprietary strains and bright blue-painted storefronts. New-age hippies and day-trippers can visit the pharmacy and Haight’s vintage vinyl and clothing stores, as well as local attractions like Buena Vista Park and the old Victorian homes once occupied by the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

Visit Berners on Haight

Toke in Moe Greens consumption lounge

Moe Greens is located at 1276 Market Street and is open daily. The store opened in 2019 and features a consumption lounge where guests can purchase products to enjoy on-site, in addition to the regular retail and delivery options.

Timber-framed windows and exposed brick walls lined with green-upholstered benches and tables give the lounge’s interior a speakeasy feel. “We set it up like a regular bar in a restaurant,” said Sean York, director of marketing at Moe Greens. “You can pull up on Friday and it will be pretty crowded. People talk like they would in a regular bar. It’s very popular because it’s unique, not just in San Francisco, but just unique in general.”

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A special feature at Moe Greens is a dab bar, where customers can consume a variety of cannabis concentrates using state-of-the-art dabbing equipment such as Puffco Peak or Zenco Flow. Specially trained dab bartenders help consumers choose concentrates and assist in using the equipment.

“You know, we have the Orpheum [Theater] and many other cool things to see here. A lot of people come to the Bill Graham before the symphony or the concerts [Civic Auditorium]and they’ll do a dab or a flower and enjoy the weekend.”

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Like most lounges, Moe Green’s offers a variety of guest events, including live music, comedy nights, drag brunches, and open mics. York said they have hosted many different activities and also cater to the crowds that flock to San Francisco for major sporting and entertainment events. Perhaps unsurprising with such close proximity to the world’s biggest tech giants, York said the lounge’s most popular event is its gaming and dabs night.

Celebrate April 20th at Hippy Hill

When it comes to events, there is no bigger one for cannabis enthusiasts than April 20th. The unofficial stoner holiday was actually born across the bay from San Francisco in the neighboring town of San Rafael. According to urban legend, in the 1970s, a group of high schoolers met for afternoon smoke sessions at 4:20 p.m., and the time became a secret code for their sesh activities.

For tourists with cannabis at the top of their bucket list, the 4/20 Festival at Hippy Hill in Golden Gate Park is an unparalleled opportunity to experience the ultimate social cannabis experience. Before the 2019 pandemic, 19,000 attended the celebration atop Hippy Hill overlooking Robin Williams Meadow.

After a pandemic hiatus, the festival returned in 2022 with the first sales of legal cannabis products at the event.

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