Food Nob Hill, San Francisco
Swan Oyster Depot
A place to eat in Nob Hill, San Francisco, pricey ($$$) and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Weekday lunch.
Why go
Counter-only seafood bar since 1912 serving crab, oysters and Sicilian sashimi.
It is one of 10 curated places we feature in San Francisco, alongside 2 bars & cafés, 2 places to eat and 2 sights. The closest of our other picks is Top of the Mark, 0.6 mi away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Food
- Neighborhood
- Nob Hill
- Price
- $$$
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time
- Weekday lunch
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 3 beyond San Francisco. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Top of the Mark
Glass-walled lounge on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins, open since 1939, with 360-degree views.
Drinks · The Embarcadero & Ferry Building · 0.6 mi straight-line - 2City Lights Booksellers
Beat-era bookstore and publisher with a poetry room upstairs.
Shopping · 0.9 mi straight-line - 3Vesuvio Cafe
Two-floor bohemian bar next to City Lights, a Kerouac-era hangout since 1948.
Drinks · 0.9 mi straight-line - 4Buena Vista Cafe
Bar at the cable car turnaround that popularized Irish coffee in the US.
Drinks · 1.1 mi straight-line - 5Tadich Grill
California's oldest restaurant, founded in 1849, with a long wooden counter, white-jacketed waiters and cioppino.
Food · The Embarcadero & Ferry Building · 1.2 mi straight-line - 6Hyatt Regency San Francisco
John Portman's 1973 hotel with a 17-storey atrium, across the street from the Ferry Building.
Stay · The Embarcadero & Ferry Building · 1.4 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Swan Oyster Depot is a stop on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More places to eat in San Francisco
2 more curated places to eat in San Francisco. See the full San Francisco guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in San Francisco run from 56°F in January to 74°F in September; December is usually the wettest month. For Swan Oyster Depot itself, we suggest: Weekday lunch.
Modelled monthly averages for San Francisco from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full San Francisco weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Swan Oyster Depot, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- 1517 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
- Coordinates
- 37.79083, -122.42096
- Destination
- San Francisco, California
Swan Oyster Depot: quick answers
How much time do you need at Swan Oyster Depot?
Plan on about an hour at Swan Oyster Depot. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Swan Oyster Depot?
Our pick: Weekday lunch. Insider tip: Cash only; line forms before the 10:30am opening. Closed Sundays.
Where is Swan Oyster Depot?
Swan Oyster Depot is at 1517 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA, in Nob Hill. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Swan Oyster Depot?
Swan Oyster Depot appears on Pacific Coast Highway, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Swan Oyster Depot to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to San Francisco.
Plan San Francisco
- San Francisco travel guide 10 places
- Best time to visit San Francisco weather by month
- San Francisco to Monterey & Carmel 86 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in San Francisco
- Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center Sight
- Alcatraz Island Activity
- Lands End Trail Outdoors
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.