San Francisco neighborhoods are characterized by their eclectic range of histories, cultures and demographics; no one neighborhood is similar to the next. Prospective residents have a lot to choose from when it comes to finding a community that fits their respective needs and wants. With so much available, interested residents shouldn’t have to settle for second best. Whether you’re a single business professional, a married graduate student, or the breadwinner of a family household, San Francisco has a neighborhood that exemplifies your current lifestyle. As any seasoned participant of life knows, change is the pinnacle of personal growth, so if your initial neighborhood doesn’t sustain you for long, there’s always a perfect fit nearby for you to call home.
Downtown and the Financial District
Downtown San Francisco is a visual fantasia of architectural styles and time periods, creating one of the most aesthetically pleasing central districts in the country. The world-famous Union Square is the location of some of the city’s top accommodations, as well as the city’s world-class Theater District, which is anchored by the Geary and Curran Theaters. The Financial District marks the center of San Francisco’s dynamic business sector. The skyline includes the Transamerica Pyramid and 555 California Street, the city’s two tallest buildings. The Financial District is home to the corporate headquarters of the Charles Schwab Corporation, McKesson Corporation, salesforce.com, VISA and Wells Fargo Bank. The area’s most notable tourist attraction is its large concentration of high-end shopping centers, including the Crocker Galleria and the Embacedero Center. Levi Strauss & Co. is also headquartered at the Embacedero.
Sea Cliff
Sea Cliff is a neighborhood located in northwestern San Francisco and is known for its large houses and ocean front properties. Houses in the Sea Cliff neighborhood are large, and many offer impressive views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. A small public beach named China Beach is located in the neighborhood.
Pacific Heights
Pacific Heights is an affluent neighborhood inside Bush Street, Presidio Avenue, Union Street and Van Ness Avenue. Luxury is the name of the game here, as exemplified by the upscale shops on Fillmore Street and the fashionable restaurants that permeate the area. The Fillmore District is also the best place to see San Francisco’s renowned “painted ladies,” Victorian and Edwardian-era homes that have been restored in a variety of colorful pastels. The Fillmore Auditorium is a historic music venue that that is now run and operated by Live Nation, bringing both regional and popular acts to San Francisco throughout the year.
The Marina
The Marina is the neighborhood of choice for San Franciscans who have an affinity for nature and outdoor recreational activities. The Marina Green, a 74-acre park, serves as the area’s focal point. Across from the green is the St. Francis Yacht Club and the Golden Gate Yacht Club. The Marina is situated on the site of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The Palace of Fine Arts and the Exploratorium are the only two buildings from the Exposition that are still standing. The Marina is also known for its energetic singles scene and its reputation as the weekend hotspot for young business professionals in their 20s and 30s.
Russian Hill
If there’s a neighborhood in San Francisco that can be described as warm, charming and picturesque, it would definitely be Russian Hill. It’s a residential neighborhood that’s interspersed with boutique shops, antique furnishing stores and low-key restaurants, not to mention the lovely gardens that create dazzling bursts of color. For a dose of floral beauty, the hydrangeas of Lombard Street shouldn’t be missed. Alice Marble Park and Ina Coolbrith Park are also great places to enjoy the scenery. Lombard Street is also known as “the Crookedest Street” in the world, a series of hairpin turns that is truly a one-of-a-kind driving experience.
Cow Hollow
Cow Hollow is an affluent neighborhood located between Russian Hill and The Presidio, and bordering the Marina District on one side and Pacific Heights on the other. The land was used for cow grazing (as its name would imply) and a settlement for fishermen (the coast line was much closer to this area than it is now). The main shopping thoroughfare is Union Street, known for its restaurants, boutique shopping, health spas and wellness centers.
Telegraph Hill
Telegraph Hill is a residential neighborhood that has an established reputation as a respite for the city’s bohemians and intellectual. One of the most beautiful views of the San Francisco skyline can be found atop the Coit Tower, a 210-foot monument that was built in 1933 for beautification purposes. The gardens of Filbert Street are a noteworthy attraction. Telegraph Hill is also the home of a flock of feral red-masked parakeets. In recent years, the birds have been the focus of a both a book and award-winning documentary, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.
Nob Hill
To the west of Chinatown is Nob Hill, an upper class neighborhood at the intersection of Powell and California Streets. That same intersection is also the location of the area’s four major hotels: the Fairmont Hotel, the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, the Stanford Court and the Huntington Hotel. At the top of the hill rests Grace Cathedral, which is the principle place of worship for the Episcopal Diocese of California. The cathedral is famous for its replica of Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, stained glass furnishings and assortment of medieval and contemporary furnishings. It’s Episcopal men and boys choir is one of only seven in the country.
South of Market (SoMa)
South of Market (SoMa) describes the area of San Francisco that’s bordered by Market Street, South Van Ness Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street. SoMa is home to the headquarters of several software and technology companies, including Advent Software, CNET Networks, Sega of America Inc., Wired and Yelp. SoMa is also the location of the Moscone Center, San Francisco’s largest convention and exhibition center. With more than 700,000 square-feet of exhibition space, the Moscone Center hosts major trade shows on a regular basis. It’s also one of the few convention facilities in the country that incorporate green practices into its itinerary. In addition to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, SoMa houses a large number of the city’s renowned museums, including the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Museum of the African Diaspora, the Cartoon Art Museum and the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Eureka Valley
Eureka Valley is bounded by Market Street, Dolores Street, Sixteenth Street, and Noe Street. In San Francisco's Eureka Valley, just a little south of Market Street and west of the Castro, are a few twisty blocks full of surprises. Here in an area enclosed by Seward, 19th, Corwin and Yukon streets, you will find a mini-park consisting of some huge concrete slides enjoyed by both children and adults, a lovingly tended community garden of native plants and Kite Hill - one of the city's premier viewing spots.
Noe Valley
Noe Valley is one of the more bourgeois neighborhoods in San Francisco. It is largely inhabited by middle-class families, as evidenced by the significant amount of parents and strollers that can be found strolling its sidewalks. Noe Valley’s geographical location finds it nestled amidst a group of hills, which gives the impression of seclusion away from the rest of the city. The Victorians and other classic residential buildings lend the area a quaint charm that naturally attracts family-oriented households. Residents also have access to a wide range of coffee shops, clothing stores, restaurants, bookstores, and beauty product outlets.
The Castro
The Castro is a enclave of Eureka Valley and has a distinct cultural history of its own. It is considered to be the world’s largest residential gay neighborhood and is the site of the GLBT political activism of the 1960s and 1970s. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office, began his activism work from his camera shop business in the Castro. The Castro is an enjoyable neighborhood that always draws visitors, but it really comes into its own at nightfall. Its roster of bars and dance clubs creates a singular, one-of-a-kind nightlife that can be enjoyed by bar hoppers of any persuasion. In relation to other entertainment districts around the country, The Castro remains a safe neighborhood after dark.
Haight Ashbury
San Francisco was the site of America’s counterculture revolution. It was in Haight Ashbury that the hippie movement began. The bohemian spirits of the 1960s still thrives in the form of several prominent sub-cultures, including the neo-punk and Goth groups. The neighborhood’s less flamboyant citizens still demonstrate a laidback and easy going attitude that has come to define the area. It’s the best place in San Francisco for alternative nightlife venues. Recent gentrification of Haight Ashbury has led to the restoration of many of the neighborhood’s “painted ladies,” which in turn has seen the popularity of these turn-of-the-century homes into bed and breakfast establishments.
Japantown
San Francisco’s Japantown is the largest cultural enclave of its kind in the nation. It constitutes six city blocks and is the site of the city’s two annual Japanese festivals, Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival and the Nihonmichi Street Fair. The Japan Center is a mixed-use compound that features Japanese-oriented shopping, dining and entertainment. Also of notable interest is the Peace Pagoda, a five-tiered concrete monument presented to San Francisco from the people of Osaka, Japan in order to honor their relationship as sister cities.
South Beach
The South Beach neighborhood encompasses the moderately affluent, medium-density mixed-use blocks which border The Embarcadero and King Street from south of the Bay Bridge down to 3rd Street. From two blocks inland westward is the South of Market neighborhood, and from south of Townsend Street and west of 3rd Street begins Mission Bay. The most notable feature of South Beach is AT&T Park in its south-east corner.
Mission District
The Mission District is the cultural epicenter of San Francisco’s Latino population. The neighborhood takes its name from the Mission Dolores, the city’s oldest surviving structure. The Mission Dolores now operates as a museum and is classified as a California Historical Landmark. While walking the streets of the Mission District, it’s not uncommon to see mural paintings that celebrate U.S. Latino culture. The neighborhood also hosts many live music performances and is the area of choice for first-rate salsa lessons. Despite the gentrification of the past decade, the Mission District is still home to a significant creative arts community. Some of the prominent artists associated with the area include Ricardo Gouveia, Margaret Kilgallen, Dori Seda Xiani, Yngojo-Wang and Scott Williams.
Bernal Heights
To the south of the Mission District is Bernal Heights, a residential neighborhood that is identified by its open parkland and microwave tower on top of Bernal Heights Summit. Precita Park and Holly Park provide green areas for children to play and the local branch of the San Francisco Public Library has a regular schedule of child-friendly activities, making the neighborhood an ideal location for middle-class families. The north slope is home to a thriving ecosystem that includes a variety of local flora and fauna. There is a slow trend that has seen young business professionals replace Bernal Heights’ mainly working-class population.
Hayes Valley
A good example of the transformative effects of gentrification is Hayes Valley. What was once a run-down urban area is now one of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods. Hayes Valley is marked by Queen Anne-style Victorian homes on every corner, with trendy restaurants and boutique stores mixed in just for pleasure. The neighborhood has a distinctly Soho feel to it, compliments of the area’s many art galleries and al fresco dining opportunities. It’s a great place of residence for the fashionable and trendy, as boutiques are only a short walk away from most living spaces.
Western Addition/Anza Vista Sunset
What were to happen if you picked a handful of the above neighborhoods, put them in a blender and spit them out? Chances are you would come up with something close to Western Addition, an amalgamation of all of San Francisco’s best attributes. It’s definitely the city’s most diverse neighborhood when it comes to household economics and ethnic demographics. Alamo Square Park is one of San Francisco’s most recognizable spots because of its stunning views of the city and the six iconic Victorian houses that stand side-by-side. Fillmore Farmer’s Market should also be of interest to potential residents who have a penchant for fresh produce and bread.
