San Francisco

Guy Ettore, Designer

Where? San Francisco

Why? Some of my favourite people in the world call San Francisco home and - try as I might - I have never been able to lure them away for long. So I take every opportunity to visit. It's a beautiful city: I love the fresh Pacific Ocean breeze, the insanely steep zig-zag streets, the rich variety of the colourful architecture, the sunny Californian weather and the lingering beatnik vibe. I can spend hours hiking through the surrounding redwood forests or just sitting idly by pier 14 looking out over the bay and listening to the seagulls. Also, Amoeba (on Haight St.) is one of the best second hand record shops I've ever rifled through...it's a socially inept music anorak's paradise.

Where would you stay? Hey, if the Haight-Ashbury district was good enough for the Grateful Dead, it's good enough for me. The Red Victorian is worth a look: it's an affectionate, tongue-in-cheek shrine to the Summer of Love, with 60s-themed rooms and fantastically friendly staff who will bend over backwards to accommodate you. You might feel a bit silly, but it's unlike any other B&B you'll ever stay at.

Best meal? I can’t remember the name of the place, but last time I was there I stumbled upon a superb genuine Italian restaurant. I can’t even remember exactly where it was, although it was quite close to Coit Tower, as I could see it looming large through the window. The place had a really cosy, authentic atmosphere and you could just tell that all the traditional recipes had been lovingly handed down from one generation to the next. I had a lasagne that almost brought on an out of body experience, washed down with a couple of glasses of red wine. The staff were all very jolly and poked cheerful fun at me (like all proper Italian waiters do) for speaking with a dodgy English accent, in spite of my Lombardian heritage. It was great.

Best way to spend an hour? Take a leisurely stroll through Golden Gate Park, then settle down for an iced green tea and some cookies in the Japanese Gardens. Watch out for the cheeky squirrels though, they're not shy and will make off with your snacks if you let your guard down!

Top Tips? Get lost! Go exploring without a map or a guide book and discover new nooks and crannies unseen by tourist eyes. It may involve a lot of wheezing and panting, but if you're lucky, you'll haphazardly scale a particularly bumpy street that offers a stunning view of the Bay Area. The city is chock-full of surprises like that.

© Cheapflights Ltd. Interviewed by Sabrina Wolfe