Off the Grid

The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers


Spring through fall, some 30 food trucks and pop-up cubes circle their wagons at SF's largest mobile-gourmet hootenannies on Friday night at Fort Mason Center, and 11am to 4pm Sunday for Picnic at the Presidio on the Main Post lawn. Arrive early for the best selection and to minimize waits.

These weekly parties are a great way to appreciate the breadth of the SF food scene while rubbing elbows with locals. Standouts in 2019 include Lobsterdamus, an LA operation offering a signature garlic noodles and lobster dish, and the mouthwatering meats of Horn BBQ, which are smoked on-site. Beer, wine and cocktails warm you up for dancing to live music and DJs.

There are more Off the Grid events in various other neighborhoods on different days, but they're smaller affairs; these two are the ones to seek out.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers attractions

1. Fort Mason Center

0.01 MILES

San Francisco takes subversive glee in turning military installations into venues for nature, fine dining and out-there experimental art. Evidence: Fort…

2. Maritime Museum

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A monumental hint to sailors in need of a scrub, this restored, ship-shaped 1939 Streamline Moderne landmark is decked out with Works Progress…

3. Ghirardelli Square

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Willy Wonka would tip his hat to Domingo Ghirardelli (gear-ar-deli), whose business became the West’s largest chocolate factory in 1893. After the company…

4. Aquatic Park

0.5 MILES

Everyone loves this easy-access cove at Van Ness Ave's northern end, flanked by the massive comma-shaped Municipal Pier, where fishermen cast their lines…

5. Wave Organ

0.51 MILES

A project of the Exploratorium, the Wave Organ is a sound sculpture of PVC tubes and concrete pipes capped with found marble from San Francisco's old…

6. Cartoon Art Museum

0.53 MILES

Founded on a grant from Bay Area cartoon legend Charles M Schultz of Peanuts fame, this bold museum isn't afraid of the dark, political or racy – cases in…

7. Lombard Financial Center Mosaics

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A couple years ago, blighted trees in front of this bank were cut down and a treasure hidden for almost half a century was revealed: mosaics by California…

8. Maritime National Historical Park

0.57 MILES

Five historic ships are floating museums at this maritime national park, Fisherman's Wharf’s most authentic attraction. Moored along Hyde St Pier, the…