The best way to explore San Francisco is through its small, independent businesses, which make up the beating heart of every neighborhood.

But as San Francisco becomes increasingly expensive, it’s these small businesses that suffer most. That’s where Kiva Zip comes in — it’s a crowdfunding microlending site that allows entrepreneurs to take out 0% interest loans to start or improve businesses.

Take a tour of San Francisco through the eyes of Kiva Zip borrowers, and see the wide diversity of neighborhoods and districts that this city has to offer. The products and the locations provide unique insights into the city and Kiva:

Friday

Neighborhoods: Treasure Island, North Beach, Bayview

1. A Tran’s Bay Bike Shop 3:00pm

Start off your San Francisco visit with stunning views of the city skyline as you bike around Treasure Island, the man-made island sitting in the middle of the bay just under the Bay Bridge. They say San Francisco is the city of views, that every hill and turn offers one, but this tops them all. The financial district stretches along the water with the Bay Bridge to your left, and Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge to your right.

A Trans Bay Bike Shop: 1 Ave of of the Palms, Building One on Treasure Island

Circle the island on the bike to see a 360 degree angle of the surrounding areas. A Tran’s Bay Bike shop, located in Historic Building One, isn’t just a full service bike shop. Local artists painted the insides with murals representing bikes and the LGBT community. They all vary in artistic style and message. Tammy, the owner, wants to represent a positive message about transgender people. She’s also extremely proud of her Treasure Island location. If you can’t make it out for a bike ride around the island, stop in for a cup of coffee at her new coffee cart in the mornings.

2. Platinum Dirt (available at Metis Makers) 5:00pm

After you’ve taken in the sights through a bike ride around Treasure Island, stop into North Beach to do some shopping. North Beach is San Francisco’s old Italian quarter that boasts cafes, restaurants and boutiques all surrounding Washington Square Park. For a truly unique shopping experience, go to Metis Makers to check out the Platinum Dirt (Pd) collection.

Pd is known for creating quality fashionable leather jackets, vests, bags, and accessories by upcycling leathers taken from old luxury cars in scrapyards.

These silk lined leather jackets are made from the car seats from old Cadillacs, Mercedes-Benz, Lincolns, BMW’s and Volvo’s. Each jacket has the vehicle identification number from the plate. The Platinum Dirt products are all one of a kind and ecologically friendly!

Metis Makers: 1314 Grant street (cross street Vallejo) in North Beach

3. Old Skool Cafe 8:00pm

Hungry after a day of exploring? Stop into the Old Skool Cafe (OSC), a youth run 1940s styled supper club for dinner and a show. The mission of OSC is to provide job training and employment experience to at-risk, previously incarcerated and foster care youth through a faith-based, violence-prevention program.

Old Skool Cafe: 1429 Mendell Street (between Palou Ave & Oakdale Ave) in Bayview

The restaurant provides a haven for these youth as well as alternatives to a life of crime and poverty. Beyond that, the food is rich and flavorful soul food. Step inside an elegant restaurant lined red curtains and chandeliers and be transported back in time. End your night here with beer, wine and live jazz music. Food with a social cause has never tasted better!

Saturday

Bernal Heights, Inner Sunset, Golden Gate Park, Fillmore, Sacramento Street and the Mission

4. Cafeto Coffeeshop 9:00am

Start your morning off right at a neighborhood coffee joint, Cafeto, that serves a variety of coffee drinks as well as pastries, sandwiches and other snacks. Catch up on emails (with free Wifi!) while you sip on their most popular drink, the Cafe Cubano. Or, take your coffee to go and hike up Bernal Hill for sweeping views of the city and south bay.

Cafeto Coffeeshop: 111 Richland Ave (between San Jose Ave & Mission St) in Bernal Heights

5. Animal Instincts Apparel (available at Wishbone) 11:30am

After breakfast it’s time to shop. Head to the Inner Sunset to browse the various shops of Irving Street. Be sure to head into Wishbone for a unique San Francisco souvenir with their Animal Instincts Apparel line. Brand creator, Jamai Lowell sells his graphic tee’s to various outlets (Wishbone included) throughout California and street fairs around the city. They represent a unique fusion of street art, illustration, and urban lifestyle.The brand has become known for iconic images of animals overtaking popular landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Twin Peaks. Jamai’s future plans are to give back to the wildlife and to donate a percentage of his sales to wildlife preservation.

Wishbone: 601 Irving St (between 7th Ave & 8th Ave) in Inner Sunset

6. Anda Piroshki 1:30pm

Finish up in the Inner Sunset and cut through infamous Golden Gate park for a stroll. Heading east, you’ll hit Haight street, home of the counterculture of bohemians, artists, musicians and hippies. Stroll the lanes of Haight, Clayton and Ashbury streets, taking in the painted murals and second hand shops. Grab lunch to go at Anda Piroshki, with the delicious famous Russian homemade pies. There are a wide variety to suit all dietary needs with everything from Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese to Mushrooms and Spinach or Apple and Cinnamon. There are even breakfast piroshkis!

Anda Piroshki: 1727 Haight Street (between Cole and Shrader) in the Haight

7. Bumzy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies 3:00pm

To satisfy that sweet tooth pick up one of Bumzy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, conveniently located in the heart of the Fillmore Jazz District. This mother-daughter owned gourmet cookie shop specializes in making all-natural homemade cookies, brownies, and ice cream all made from scratch and by hand. The cookies contain no hydrogenated oils, no trans fat, and no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors and are made in small batches throughout the day. Swing by for a cookie on your way to explore the infamous jazz district.

Bumzy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies: 1460 Fillmore St(Byington St & O’Farrell St) in the Fillmore Western Addition

8. Poetica Art and Antique 4:00pm

After walking up Filmore, you’ll reach Sacramento Street. This street boasts local small businesses and boutiques. Look for the black sandwich board that says Poetica Art and Antique in elegant gold lettering. Run by Traci, Poetica sells an eclectic mix of antique furniture and art at accessible prices. Traci strives to not only sell products, but sell an experience. Stroll through this boutique and strike up a conversation with the owner. Every piece has a story and is uniquely different.

Poetica Art & Antiques: 3461 Sacramento St between (Walnut and Laurel St)

9. El Salvador Restaurant 6:30pm

Whether you want unique shops and boutiques, diverse restaurants, street murals, outdoor space or just plain good weather, the Mission District is crawling with things to do. Experience some of the area’s Latin influence at the El Salvador Restaurant, a small restaurant that serves authentic El Salvadorian food. Sit down for a tamale or grab a pupusa to eat in Dolores Park. End the night at one of the many trendy local bars with live music on Valencia street.

El Salvador Restaurant: 2278 Mission St (between 18th and 19th) in the Mission

Sunday

Potrero Hill and Bayview districts

10. Wholesome Bakery (available at the Kitchen Communal) 10:00 am

Wake up and grab some healthy baked goodies and coffee in Potrero Hill. Stop into the Kitchen Communal to grab some of Wholesome Bakery’s goodies. Wholesome makes goods for those with dietary restrictions and food allergies. Everything is gluten free, dairy and egg free, soy free, yeast free, trans fat free and low glycemic. All their items are made with locally produced, organic ingredients. Potrero Hill is famous for it’s good weather and views of San Francisco downtown. So grab your stuff to go and drive down the truly most crooked street in the city (not Lombard, despite popular belief) on Vermont Street from Mckinley Park.

Kitchen Communal: 613 York St (between 18th and 19th) in Potrero Hill

11. Auntie April’s Chicken Waffles and Soul Food 1:00pm- Wrap up your time in San Francisco with some good old fashioned soul food. Auntie April’s is a full service restaurant situated in the heart of the San Francisco Bayview neighborhood. Like Old Skool Cafe, Auntie April’s is a safe haven for youth. April decided to open her business in the heart of Bayview to give young men and women of color a positive image and a place to call home. More than just chicken and waffles, Auntie April’s serves home-style comfort food.

Auntie April’s Chicken Waffles and Soul Food: 4618 3rd St (between Newcomb Ave & Mckinnon Ave) in Bayview

We hope you enjoy your stay in the city by the Bay! Touring San Francisco through Kiva Zip businesses not only gives you an overview of this amazing city, but allows you to support small businesses! Support other small businesses in cities around the U.S.