San Francisco Art Institute

The San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) is the oldest fine art school on the West Coast, founded in 1871 and located in a classic Mediterranean style building. Inside the Diego Rivera Gallery, which houses weekly student art shows with openings on Tuesday evenings, there is an epic three-story mural by Rivera, which was once covered up as it was deemed by the school’s administration to be too Communist-friendly. There is also a beautiful courtyard with rotating student artwork outside of the gallery. From the building’s roof you can take in the amazing panoramic views of downtown and the bay. There is also a public café on campus open for breakfast and lunch. Also close by is Café Sapore, a great café with a big food menu, and Kennedy’s Pub, which has over 100 beers on tap.