What is San Francisco like?
Where to begin with stunning San Francisco? How about the most famous streets in the US, the iconic buildings that accentuate those beloved curved hills and the history emanating from each and every brick? How about the most iconic bridge, itself a gateway to one of the greatest cities of the entire US? Hungry for more? SF is happy to serve, with more farmer’s markets and restaurants per capita than anywhere else in North America. Throw in a thriving creative atmosphere, tech and startup culture boom and tourist attractions covering everything from sea beasts to inescapable prisons, and you’ve got yourself a truly unique destination.
What are the city’s highlights?
San Francisco is very much a highlight in itself, but what are the parts that make up this whole? The Golden Gate Bridge may well be the most famous bridge on the planet, an A-list construction that connects the city with the northern parts of the state via the famous Pacific Highway 1 as the mighty Pacific flows underneath. This iconic bridge was built in 1917 and is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco and California. At the time, it was both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world, with a main span of 4,200 feet (1,280 m) and a total height of 746 feet (227 m). It leads through the magnificent Presidio park to the Golden Gate Park, which with its 1,019 acre of recreational areas, lakes, waterfalls, windmills, monuments, winding paths, a botanical garden, and other landmarks, is the most visited park in the US. Then there is Pier 39, an anything and everything sort of place that houses theatre, restaurants, art and sea lions. Alcatraz is a short boat ride away, while the curves of Lombard Street are as dramatic as urban planning gets. Living in San Francisco, my favourite spots in the city are parks on the hilltops like Corona Heights, Tenk Hill, Buena Vista, Alamo Square, Alta Plaza, Twin Peaks, Fort Mason and many more that provide a chance for a beautiful walk in fresh Pacific air and breathtaking views of the city and the Bay.
What are the people like?
San Francisco is often considered the most innovative city in the world, and that is very much thanks to the people who live here. SF has embraced multiculturalism like few other places and its people practice their freedom with an openness and curiosity that cannot be matched. People here are prodigiously hard-working and can be a little quick as a result, but getting into the flow of the city isn’t too difficult and bears plenty of fruit. San Francisco is a city of different languages, cultures and opinions, but everyone brings their magic to the flamboyant atmosphere in SF. Since the Silicon Valley boom, the city has rapidly developed to become the capital of technology and innovation that it is today providing unmatched professional opportunities to everyone who finds their piece of heaven here.
What’s the weather like?
San Francisco might be the poster child of California’s Bay Area, but don’t make the mistake of assuming that means the weather is all sun, all the time. In fact, SF is a city famous for its distinct microclimates, meaning it can be gorgeous sunny weather in one district while the famous fog, which the locals endearingly call “Carl”, makes its presence felt just miles away, swallowing parts of the city in the afternoon. All in all, the temperature is pleasant year round as if a perpetual spring has embraced the city, with the only exception being June and July, which are considered winter months, with wet, cold and cloudy weather. This is what the locals popularly call “June gloom”.
What is it like to live there?
San Francisco is a city of opportunities, innovation, excitement and progress, a cultural melting point that is constantly moving forward. It has one of the most efficient public transport networks on the planet, it is just about as pet-friendly as cities get and it boasts some of the best restaurants and clubs in the United States. Above all, San Franciscans know the value of fine wine and dining, while the famous wine regions Sonoma and Napa Valleys are just a short drive away. Sure, rents can be high, but most of us feel privileged to live in one of the world’s most beautiful and forward thinking cities.
Where can I try the best local food?
Truth be told, the concept of local food hits a little differently in San Francisco. For one, the city is just about as multicultural as it gets, and that diversity has developed and evolved the cuisine of San Francisco along the way. Still, this is the home of sourdough bread, the Mission burrito and steam beer, all of which are still ubiquitous around the city. Head to La Taqueria for your Mission burrito, although quality restaurants are everywhere here.
What about the nightlife?
Nights out in San Francisco are borderline legendary, with a vast array of bars, pubs and clubs serving whatever alcohol you can think of until the early hours of the morning. This is a dancing city at heart but it is just as comfortable putting the world to rights with a craft beer as it is getting sweaty on the dance floor as the cocktails flow. Put simply, SF is home to one of the most exciting nightlife scenes in all of the United States. I live in the iconic Haight-Ashbury area, known to be the birthplace of the Hippie movement, where the free spirit of by-gone times still permeates the streets and bars in this area. People still remember Janis Joplin and Jimmie Hendricks hanging out in this area in the 60s and 70s. The Summer of Love (1967) was held in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood which become synonymous with the counterculture of the 1960s ever since.
Why is HTEC Group in San Francisco?
San Francisco is the capital of tech and startup worlds. With the business ecosystem of the city mainly focusing on helping startup teams develop winning products and bring them to the market quickly, it is no surprise that half of the ten most acclaimed tech companies in the world come from Silicon Valley. With the help of startup incubators, innovation hubs, venture funds, various investors and investor organizations, tech and networking events, NGO sector, as well as the city’s government, startups are thriving here. I have seen and met startup founders from all over the world who have come to San Francisco with a dream of making it big.
HTEC is connected with a couple of venture funds and business incubators, most famously Playground Global, where we provide our technical, design and operational expertise to help best startups from their portfolio develop the products of tomorrow and scale as fast as their growth dictates. Our cross-functional teams know how to execute and scale at every stage of a business.
HTEC Group found its natural habitat in San Francisco where most of our clients are located and where we can evolve at the pace of the fastest and most agile tech companies in the world, many of which are our clients. We want to be at the centre of innovation, the place where we can drive the positive impact by putting our expertise in service of some of the most far-sighted companies of the present day.
HTEC Group in San Francisco is located at 535 Mission St, 14th floor (WeWork offices) and you can reach us at +1 628 444 8171 or office-sf@htec.com.
