Best Places to Work in San Francisco

Each year, Fortune publishes a list of the top 100 places to work across the U.S. In the most recent edition, several companies based in or near San Francisco made the cut. Employees at these businesses enjoy perks like paid sabbaticals and gym memberships, and thrive in open, communicative corporate cultures.

1. Google

Working at Google is like checking in to a five-star hotel. Each employee has access to recreational amenities that are scattered throughout the campus and include a workout room with weights and rowing machines, locker rooms, washers and dryers, a massage room, assorted video games, football, a baby grand piano, a pool table, and ping pong. In addition to the rec room, there are snack rooms stocked with various foods and drinks. Google has a San Francisco office, but they provide free transportation to their headquarters in nearby Mountain View (2 hour commute) on their bio diesel GBus for Googlers that live in the bay area.

2. Adobe Systems

Though the software giant known for its popular Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Flash tools is not headquartered in San Francisco, employees at its office in San Francisco benefit from the same perks as their cohorts in San Jose. Those include a six-week paid sabbatical (based on tenure) and a week dedicated to public service.

3. Genentech

With its storybook view of San Francisco Bay, the place feels more like a college campus than a FORTUNE 500 company. Employees enjoy a liberal environment filled with Friday night "ho-ho's"-- Genentechese for kegger --and big occasions are celebrated in huge ways. After a recent run of FDA approvals, the parking lot in front of Building 9 became the site of a rock concert featuring Elton John, Mary J. Blige, and Matchbox 20.

4. Clif Bar & Co

Located across the bay in Berkeley, employees have the option to log their 80 hours in nine days and can work out anytime in a health facility packed with fitness machines, two climbing walls, and a full schedule of free yoga, martial arts, dance, and Spinning classes. The energy-bar maker has a generous paid-sabbatical program for its 207 employees, which allows staffers to take two months off every seven years.

5. Intel

Located in Santa Clara, with 88,000 employees on the payroll, Intel puts a savvy twist on perks, offering employees free backup childcare, consultations with a personal health coach, about three weeks of vacation, and paid eight-week sabbaticals every seven years.