With the annual Macworld Expo upon us, iPhone-wielding fans of all things Apple will descend upon our beloved San Francisco. For those of you who’ll be joining us, we’ve put assembled a short list of must-have apps. Load these on your ’Phone or ’Pad and you’ll confidently navigate the City’s many splendors. Might want to load these before you arrive, though. AT&T’s 3G coverage here is less than ideal, and with the VeriPhone still weeks away, you could find your evening slipping away while your downloads trickle in. Oh and one bit of advice: don’t ever ever use the term “Frisco.”

iBart

http://pandav.us/

Getting around the region without a car usually means catching a Bay Area Rapid Transit train. You can call it BART. With stations in four counties and connections to transit providers serving at least five more, BART is the backbone of regional transit. iBart offers a trip planner that calculates your fare and shows any necessary connections. A station guide shows you what’s nearby and lists the trains scheduled to arrive soon. An advisories tab will keep you appraised of any problems in the system. Free. iPhone.

OpenTable

http://www.opentable.com/

If you want to eat at TGI Olivebee’s, no one’s going to stop you. But the Bay Area has a wealth of terrific restaurants, and a whole lot of them use OpenTable’s reservation system. Plug in the date, time, and number of people in your group and the app will list nearby establishments that can accommodate you -- even if you’re looking for a table within the hour. For each OpenTable reservation you keep, points are accrued toward gift certificates valid at any OpenTable restaurant in the nation. Free. iPhone, iPad.

Cheap Eats in San Francisco

http://sutromedia.com/

Years ago, we nearly purchased a small bag of mixed nuts from a snack cart at Moscone Center, but the transaction was called off when we couldn’t come up with the seven dollars to pay for it. True story. Rather than allowing the inside vendors wring you dry, pick up Cheap Eats. That $7 can buy a decent meal, even in spendy San Francisco, if you know where to look. $0.99. iPhone.

San Francisco’s Best Coffee

http://bluecrowmedia.com/

You’ll have no trouble finding that major coffeehouse chain in SF. We have scores of them. And we’ll admit a weakness for a certain blended chai beverage they offer, but true coffee enthusiasts that want to branch out would do well to download San Francisco’s Best Coffee. Here you’ll find scores of locally owned establishments complete with their bona-fides: beans, grinders and machines. If you know the difference between a La Marzocco and a La Spaziale, you need this app. $0.99. iPhone.

Hotel Tonight

http://www.hoteltonight.com/

Want to stick around a few extra days? Or maybe no one told you the Tenderloin neighborhood doesn’t actually have famous steak houses. Hotel Tonight to the rescue. Hotel Tonight does one simple thing -- it lists three properties with a room available right now. Select the one that fits your style (or budget) and book it right from the app. Be advised though, you’re booking a room for one night. You may need another hotel tomorrow. Free. iPhone.

San Francisco Way

http://www.mysfway.com/

Lugging a travel book is so twentieth century. SF Way seeks to replace your dead tree media with an exhaustive city guide. Aside from the usual gas, food, lodging information, this app lists Wi-Fi hot spots, dog parks, kid-friendly activities, even job listings and restaurant inspection reports. Much of the content is derived from third-party sources like Citysearch and Craigslist, but SF Way does a nice job of keeping everything relevant to your location. Free. iPhone.

SF Arts Guide

http://sfarts.org/iphone/

If you’re lucky, the hardest part of an outing is choosing among a bevy of great options. We can’t help you settle on the Hobo Grunt Cycle stage show or the Captain Beefheart Symposium, but we can turn you on to hundreds of possibilities through the SF Arts Guide. Whether your mood runs theater, nightlife, or art gallery, SF Arts Guide can find something suitable. It also has a kid-friendly category and one called “More for Less” where you’ll find free and cheap events. Free. iPhone.

Time Shutter San Francisco

http://www.timeshutter.com/

History and architecture fans will want to try Time Shutter San Francisco. It’s a collection of about 150 historical images that have been geotagged and paired up with recent shots of the same scene. Pretty cool, even if you’re not in San Francisco. Things get really interesting if you stand where the photo was taken. Using the iPhone’s camera, Time Shutter lays the current scene over the historic photo. You can snap a picture and fade between then and now. Free. iPhone.

San Francisco Parking

http://www.mobileparkingapps.com/

San Francisco isn’t the easiest city to navigate by car, but if you must use your own wheels, give San Francisco Parking a try. This app goes beyond simply listing garages. It contains street sweeping times, a car finder function with photo and voice memos, parking meter rates and, in the unlikely event that you actually find an open metered spot, a timer to help you get back to the car before the Department of Parking and Traffic leaves its calling card under the wiper. Free. iPhone.

San Francisco Bike Maps

http://www.saiapps.com/bikemaps

Really? You’re going to cycle in San Francisco? You’ve heard about our hills, right? (Whatever, it’s a great way to get around, especially if you’re sticking around a few days.) In that case, give San Francisco Bike Maps a try. It’s not exactly dripping with features, but it can show you which streets have dedicated bike lanes and which ones to avoid if your affairs aren’t in order. GPS integration and a built-in directory of cycling shops are nice touches, though a navigation feature would be a welcome addition. One thing it can’t do is tell you to stay off the 800 block of Vermont Street. Free. iPhone, iPad.