Iconic neighbourhoods in San Francisco: Where history meets new-age charm
San Francisco is a city rich in art, culture, history and a world-class food scene, with an irresistible charm that infuses every street and neighbourhood. Whether you enjoy a peaceful sunset at Fisherman's Wharf or a gastronomic adventure at one of the city's many acclaimed restaurants, you will be immersed in the cultural richness of each of these neighbourhoods.
Whether you're taking the bus or a bike across the city, or simply going with the flow with a leisurely stroll, you'll come across lots of stories and experiences in these neighbourhoods that perfectly capture San Francisco's charm.
Alamo Square
Alamo Square is a visual treat and one of San Francisco's most photographed locations. The grassy area itself is a nice midday break, with a tight, escalating formation of Victorian houses set against downtown skyscrapers. The Department of City Planning has designated it as one of 11 historic districts, which includes various bed-and-breakfast inns.
NOPA, a neighbourhood near Alamo Square is well known for its various boutique shops and restaurants such as NOPA and Bar Crudo. For dessert, go to Bi-Rite Market for ice cream or the Mill for Four Barrell Coffee and their world-famous toast.
Fisherman's Wharf
The world-famous Fisherman's Wharf is a must-see destination in San Francisco, with fishing boats, seafood vendors, hot crab cauldrons and seafood restaurants. The atmosphere is enhanced by souvenir shops and museums.
The area is served by cable cars, sightseeing boat tours, cruises to Alcatraz Island, bus lines and the historic F-line. Fisherman's Wharf is known for its novelty stores and fishing boats, but it also has some of San Francisco's greatest seafood.
Boudin is a great place to get a bowl of warm clam chowder or a loaf of fresh sourdough bread. Stop by PIER 39 to see the sea lions before heading over to the 7D Experience, a thrilling simulator.
North Beach
North Beach encompasses one of San Francisco’s busiest nightlife areas with a mosaic of cabarets, jazz clubs, cappuccino houses, off-beat bistros and established restaurants. The vibrant accents of the city's more than 100,000 Italian inhabitants may be spotted all over. Provolone, prosciutto, frittata, mozzarella, ravioli, galentina and more delectable appetisers can be found in delicatessens.
Lunch in the sun is a must at Washington Square. Visit Vesuvio for a drink or browse the shelves of City Lights Bookstore, where Ginsberg's literary masterpiece, Howl, was born. In the neighbourhood, Spec's Twelve Alder Museum Cafe and Tosca Cafe are also excellent choices for drinks and food.
Union Square
The hub of San Francisco’s downtown is strictly uptown with its Fifth Avenue, Rodeo Drive, State Street, and local success stories all in one. Within a four-block radius of the park, elegant stores and richly appointed shops appeal to every taste and do it with style, accented by a palette of posies brimming from sidewalk flower stands.
During summers, the square fills up with concerts and festivals, while in winters, Union Square is home to ice skaters and holiday cheer.
Civic Center
San Francisco's Civic Center is the most impressive grouping of federal, state, and city structures in the United States. The magnificently restored City Hall is crowned by a dome taller than the one on the nation’s Capitol.
Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, the War Memorial Veterans Building, and the War Memorial Opera House are now collectively known as the San Francisco Performing Arts Center. One can also visit the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and the Main Library and other civic structures that are all in the neighbourhood.
The old Main Library is transformed into the new Asian Art Museum. Hayes Valley is a neighbourhood making a name for itself with stellar dining options, boutique craft and clothing shops and public art.
Haight Ashbury
The “Summer of Love” lives on mainly in stores - vintage clothing, books, and records are abundant along the neighbourhood’s busiest stretch, Haight Street.
Places of interest include 710 Ashbury St, once home to the legendary band The Grateful Dead; 112 Lyon St., where famous singer Janis Joplin lived; Buena Vista Park, with its views of the city; and, for architectural highlights, Masonic Avenue, Piedmont, and Delmar Streets. Home to many musicians back in the day, Haight Ashbury is a walkable and reminiscing tour of who's who from the 1960s and 70s.
Sunset
In the early 1900s, the same vision that transformed Golden Gate Park into a green oasis also influenced the transformation of the Sunset. The region is now known for its trendy restaurants and the classic "surfing vibe." The La Playa Park, a strip of green between Kirkham and Judah right on the coast of the Pacific, is a fantastic area to rest and watch the waves.
Bike around Golden Gate Park and back through Sunset on Judah for coffee or lunch at Trouble Coffee or Outerlands.
The Presidio
Before becoming a national park in 1994, the Presidio served as a military garrison under the flags of Spain, Mexico, and the United States.
Founded in 1776, the Presidio has a long history which is reflected in many places like 17th-century cannons, a diversity of architectural styles, and a forest planted beginning in the 1880s. Within the boundaries of this 1,480-acre (599 hectares) preserve are the Walt Disney Family Museum, Main Post, the Officers’ Club, San Francisco National Military Cemetery, Fort Point, and the Herbst International Exhibition Hall. Flanked on one side by the Golden Gate Bridge and the Richmond District on the other, the Presidio is a wooded oasis in the urban jungle.
Chinatown
Chinatown in San Francisco is one of the largest outside Asia, offering an array of exotic shops, restaurants, food markets, temples, museums and venerable Chinese institutions. Pagoda-style roofs and decorative balconies dominate the architecture while the street lamps are dragon-entwined.
Grant Avenue, the district’s main street, is a perpetual pageant during the annual Chinese New Year and Moon Festival celebrations. For eight blocks, between Bush Street and Columbus Avenue, visitors are assured of one of the most unconventional walks in America.
Castro Neighborhood
Visit the Castro, one of the first LGBTQ neighbourhoods in the US to experience acceptance and celebration of humanity in its purest form. You can explore historical sites such as GLBT History Museum, enjoy a meal, and shop to your heart’s content. While exploring this easily accessible neighbourhood, you may check out the Rainbow Honor Walk, featuring 20 bronze plaques placed on the sidewalks honouring the heroes and heroines who were prominent in the LGBT community.
Mission District
The Mission District is home to trendsetting boutiques, restaurants and more but its namesake is one of the city’s oldest icons, the 18th century Mission Dolores.
Mission St. is the neighbourhood’s most famous area and is packed with a variety of restaurants and shops. Valencia St is famous for cafes, bars and clothing and accessory shops and one must visit Mission Dolores, built in 1776. You may also check out the Mission’s celebrated outdoor murals in places like Balmy Alley or on the facade of the Women’s Building. Dolores Park is a popular green space that offers a perfect picnic location with spectacular skyline views.
SOMA
SOMA, which stands for South of Market, is one of San Francisco's most well-known neighbourhoods. This area, which extends from Market to Townsend and Embarcadero to Eleventh Street, is home to a diverse range of nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, museums, and other attractions. The Moscone Center, the Folsom Street Fair, and various museums and theatrical companies are among the must-see San Francisco attractions. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Moscone Center for any upcoming exhibitions or conventions, the lush greenery of Yerba Buena Gardens, or the Press Club for a glass of wine and dinner are some of the must-see places in this region.
Filmore
Fillmore St which is linking the Western Addition in the south to Pacific Heights in the north is a hub for San Francisco’s music scene with a rich musical history. On the south side of Geary blvd, the legendary 1960s music emporium, The Fillmore, continues to rock with top-name performances. The neighbourhood is also home to some of San Francisco’s most historic churches like Bethel A.M.E. Church, First A.M.E. Zion Church, St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church and Third Baptist Church. Upper Fillmore is one of the city’s top destinations for shopping. Find chic vintage shops and plenty of food and drink options around the area.
-PTC News
