The ultimate guide to being a summer intern in San Francisco
BI Graphics_SF Summer internship guide 2x1
BI Graphics_SF Summer internship guide 2x1

(Make the most of your summer by the bay.Samantha Lee/Business Insider)

If you're a college student, there's a good chance summer has become synonymous with one thing: internships.

Land one in the tech industry and you're likely headed to San Francisco. While dozens of the largest tech companies,— like Facebook, Google, HP, and Cisco — are headquartered on the outskirts of the city, in the heart of Silicon Valley, spending time in San Francisco is a must.

To help you make the most of your summer in the city, Business Insider has put together a list of some of the best places to eat, drink, and hang out in San Francisco this summer. We spoke with employees at Business Insider's San Francisco bureau, as well as friends who live in the city, including those who have worked and interned at high-profile tech companies like Facebook — and asked them for their must-see, must-eat, must-do recommendations during a summer internship in San Francisco.

Here they are.

On the map below, there are four different icons:

  • lunch or dessert spots (burger and drink)

  • restaurants (fork and knife)

  • bars (mugs)

  • activities (stars)

Zoom in to see more suggestions, and click on the icons for a link and brief description.

Here are a few highlights from the map, with commentary from our local experts:

Lunch spots and cafés:

Brunch and dinner:

Bars:

  • Anina Bar — fun outdoor patio and tropical drinks for happy hour.

  • Palmhouse — try the fish bowl drinks on happy hour.

  • Jaxson — a fun country Western bar.

  • 21st Amendment Brewery — one of the most well-known breweries in the Bay Area; full restaurant and bar located next to AT&T park.

Things to do:

  • A day trip to Sausalito — take the ferry from the Embarcadero for $5. Once you're there, get ice cream from Lappert's and fish and chips from Fish and Chips.

  • Twin Peaks and Lands End — less tourist-y hikes with spectacular nature views.

  • Off the Grid — a family style picnic with food trucks and local vendors; located at Fort Mason in the Marina every Friday night, and at the Presidio greens every Sunday afternoon.

  • Go Car Tours — Rent Scoots or Go Cars and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.

  • Dolores Park — have a picnic here and bring mimosa supplies, but expect a crowd.