San Francisco's Moscone Center is the city's main convention center, nestled in the heart of downtown and the SOMA District. It's just blocks from a variety of transportation and offers tons of nearby services and attractions for convention attendees.
The center is named for murdered Mayor George Moscone who was shot alongside City Supervisor Harvey Milk by Supervisor Dan White. Even though it's located on Mission Street, just south of the Metreon or adjacent Yerba Buena Gardens, you might miss what it really is as most of the convention center is underground. There is a block-long stretch of doors that lead to massive escalators that go down from steet-level. Moscone Center has now grown from a North and South Concourse to include a West Concourse as well. At a brisk walking pace, to get from one end of the complex to the other could easily take twenty minutes at a crowded event.
Within just a few San Francisco city blocks, there are many eating options catering to a variety of price ranges and timeframes. For cheaper and faster eats, give the food court at the Metreon a go. If you'd prefer something more substantial, try the Metreon's sit-down restaurants too. There's a Chevy's right near the SF MOMA, and the delightful Thirsty Bear Brewery around the corner.
If you head East from Moscone, you move towards the SF Ballpark where you can find many local sports bars. Heading north, you can reach Union Square and the many upscale hotel restaurants of that area. Hail a cab and ask the driver to take you to North Beach for the best Italian, or to Chinatown for authentic Chinese.
