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San Francisco is quite small, yet its hilly terrain and patchwork demographic profile give it more distinctly defined neighborhoods than a city five times its size. As a result, the sights, sounds and flavors of a community-and even its climate-can change within a single block.

Castro Street and Noe Valley

The center of gay San Francisco, and a landmark for gay culture everywhere, the Castro's bars, dance clubs, restaurants, and one-of-a-kind shops abound in the commercial area around 18th and Castro Street. There's arguably more street life in the Castro than anywhere else in the city, especially on weekends. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence sometimes make an appearance at special events (they're really men in nun drag), and take it from us-this is the place to be on Halloween. Trek up Castro to Liberty Street to see exceptional Victorian homes. Over the hill lies Noe Valley and its main shopping strip, 24th Street. Cute and relatively quiet, Noe Valley has enough great restaurants and gourmet food shops to make it sophisticated, but not so many chromed-up bars and Italian clothing boutiques to make it stuffy.

Chinatown

The greatest single concentration of Chinese people outside of Asia-a population of 80,000-live in the approximately 24 square-blocks of Chinatown, making it the most densely populated area of San Francisco. As you walk around, you'll be richly rewarded by the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of this vibrant community. Grant Avenue is the decorative showpiece of Chinatown. Try dim sum for lunch and select your dinner while it's still swimming!

Civic Center and Hayes Valley

Stately Beaux Arts buildings like the Opera House and the domed, renovated City Hall tolerate the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall and the Public Library's graceful Main Branch, both architectural newcomers. A recent addition to the area, the Asian Art Museum is currrently housed in the former Main Library building. Nearby Hayes Valley offers fine dining and apres-symphony toddies for concert-goers, as well as tastefully creative stores for clothing and gifts.

Cow Hollow and Union Street

The most gracious, imposing homes of Cow Hollow (so named for its original bovine residents) are nestled against the Presidio where Pacific Heights dives to the Marina. Spectacular views are the norm. Straight, single yuppies pack the Balboa Cafe, Sushi Chardonnay, and other bars and restaurants on Fillmore and Union Streets. Clothes hounds can easily fritter away a day in Union Street's tasteful boutiques.

Downtown and Union Square

Union Square is the heart of San Francisco's bustling and stylish downtown shopping district. Posh department stores such as Neiman Marcus ring the one-block-square park. Hundreds of other exclusive stores and boutiques lie within a three-block radius of the square. If you've shopped till you've dropped, pick yourself up at an outdoor cafe in tiny Maiden Lane, and restore the soul at one of the many art galleries on Sutter and Geary Streets. This is also the home of San Francisco's modest Theater District.

Financial District and the Embarcadero

"The Wall Street of the West:" Bank of America, Charles Schwab, and the Transamerica Corporation (in its landmark, 48-floor Pyramid) are among the many banks and corporations headquartered here. The Embarcadero Center features dining, shopping, a fine-art cinema, and a health club. Justin Herman Plaza is the starting point for the infamous Critical Mass bike ride and the site of New Year's Eve bashes. The Embarcadero itself fronts the bay for miles on either side of the imposing Ferry Building, modeled on the cathedral tower in Seville, Spain.

Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, and Aquatic Park

The Wharf was once the thriving center of San Francisco's fishing industry. Many fishing boats still dock here, but Fisherman's Wharf today is more of an extended tourist trap. Pier 39 is fun thanks to the delightful colony of sea lions which annexed its boat marina. Aquatic Park features a beach, of sorts, and a long pier spiraling well out into the bay. Old sea-dogs will enjoy adjacent Hyde Street Pier, where the tall ship Balclutha and other historic ships are docked, and the Maritime Museum. Ghirardelli Square, a chocolate-factory-turned-shopping-and-restaurant-complex, features some of the city's better dining and views, nice for an evening stroll.

Golden Gate Park

With 1000 acres of gardens, meadows, lakes, golf, archery, and internationally recognized art and science museums, Golden Gate Park offers endless recreational possibilities for visitors and locals.

The M.H deYoung Memorial Museum, the California Academy of Sciences and the Japanese Tea Garden, are the main attractions of the famous park, drawing millions of visitors each year. At the western edge of the park, Ocean Beach, although unappealing for swimming, attracts hard-core surfers with its rough, frigid and unpredictable waves.

Lower Haight

The area around Haight and Fillmore feels at once more bohemian and less unsavory than the Haight Ashbury to the west. Ethnic restaurants, unpretentious cafes, and independent bookstores are mushrooming in this neighborhood that as recently as the early 1990s was dangerous. The youngish street life is lively on nights and weekends. The Haight-Ashbury Street Fair is also popular.

Nob Hill and Russian Hill

On impossibly steep Nob Hill, California's early industrialists built fabulous mansions that looked down upon the rest of San Francisco. While only the imposing Flood Mansion remains-now the Pacific Union Club-the area's five-star hotels bear the names of other Nob Hill denizens: The Mark Hopkins, the Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel, and the Huntington. Facing Huntington Park is Grace Cathedral, a 3/4 replica of Paris' Notre Dame. Adjoining Nob Hill is Russian Hill, where San Francisco's old money has a great view of the Bay. The "Crookedest Street in the World" resides here and snakes down Russian Hill for the 1000 block of Lombard. The traffic is generally impossible-walk it!

North Beach and Telegraph Hill

Originally settled by Italians, North Beach became a magnet for Beat Generation writers and poets in the 1950s. City Lights Bookstore and the cafes and shops on upper Grant Avenue still exude Beatnik funkiness. A new wave of entrepreneurial Italians has brought a sense of Roman style to exciting new restaurants along Columbus Avenue. On Broadway, barkers still pull tourists and sailors into charmingly seedy strip joints. Clapboard sea captains' cottages and mossy flower gardens seem to dangle in space from the cliffs of Telegraph Hill. Coit Tower, at 210 feet, commands a stunning panorama from the hilltop. The boardwalk Filbert Steps lead from the Tower down through the Grace Marchand Gardens to Levi's Plaza Park at the base of the Hill.

Fillmore Street and Japantown

Fillmore Street, Pacific Heights' commercial spur, features noteworthy restaurants, epicurean food, and antique shops, all attended by a lively trade from young professionals. Fillmore and Geary has become a popular nightlife destination, thanks to John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom Room, the Fillmore Auditorium, and the AMC Kabuki 8 Theater multiplex, a favorite for film festivals. Be advised that the neighborhood gets a bit sketchy to the south and west of Geary and Fillmore. The Kabuki 8 Theater and neighboring Kabuki Hot Springs are part of the Japan Center, the commercial heart of Japantown. A sort of miniature Ginza, the Japan Center features a 100-foot pagoda, bonsai gardens, sushi bars and other businesses. Each spring it holds the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival.

Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights

Stately homes and high-rent apartment buildings line the ridge high above Cow Hollow in old-money Pacific Heights. Genteel, renovated Victorians ring the peaceful Alta Plaza Park. Washington Street between Presidio and Arguello features exceptionally palatial residences. Those fortunate enough to live here shop for antiques and dine in quiet refinement on a few understated blocks of nearby Sacramento Street. San Francisco's largest synagogue, Temple Emanu-el, is to be found on Arguello Street.

SoMa

Once an unglamorous stretch of warehouses with a seedy undercurrent, an exciting new San Francisco has emerged in the area South of Market Street-SOMA. Conventions, art, and entertainment possibilities abound in the brand-new Moscone/YerbaBuena Center area. The dot-com businesses of nearby "Multimedia Gulch" spawn new twenty-something cyber-millionaires every week, although that tide is changing. Many of them can be seen at leisure at the South Park Cafe, Brain Wash (a cafe/performance space/laundromat), or other fashion-forward restaurants and watering holes.

South Beach and China Basin

One of the city's most popular new residential areas for young professionals, South Beach arose from a virtual wasteland at the southern end of the Embarcadero and the western edge of SoMa. Apartment complexes and boat marinas squeeze together between the foot of the Bay Bridge and Pacific Bell Park, the San Francisco Giants' brand-new waterfront baseball stadium. Warehouses and factories have either been converted into stylish lofts or are being razed in a swath of development extending down Third Street to the forthcoming Mission Bay development.

Haight-Ashbury and the Panhandle

This small but densely concentrated cradle of the hippie movement has tried to retain much of its flower-power, peace-and-love appeal. While real Summer-of-Love generation hippies may be hard to find, young people, dreadlocked, skinheaded, or skateboard-crazy, have continued to come to the Haight to break boundaries. The colorful bars and restaurants of upper Haight Street, however, are always packed with job-holding, going-places twenty-somethings. The annual Haight-Ashbury Street Fair is quite a scene. Architecture buffs will want to take a look at the regal Victorians on the Panhandle-the grassy, tree-lined strip extends east from Golden Gate Park along Fell and Oak Streets.

The Marina District

Tanned, fit and energetic twenty-somethings run and rollerblade along the Marina Green, a vast expanse of grass fronting the bay between two yacht harbors and a perfect spot for flying kites. Mountain bikers crowd cafes, restaurants, and brunch hangouts along busy Chestnut Street after Sunday morning rides to Mount Tamalpais. The graceful Palace of Fine Arts houses The Exploratorium, the one-of-a-kind, hands-on science museum-a must-see for those with kids. At the southern end of the Marina Green is Fort Mason Center, a waterside arts and cultural center.

The Mission District

The nexus of Hispanic culture, and more recently a mecca for edgy bohemians, the Mission now houses increasing numbers of young professionals and their sport utility vehicles. Mexican and Central American businesses line teeming Mission Street. Visit popular La Taqueria, and be assured that the wait is worth it. Along the Valencia Corridor, one block to west, bars, cafes, and restaurants of every description lead to the buzzing 16th and Valencia hub. The neighborhood draws its name from nearby Mission Dolores, founded in 1776. The dolled-up, postcard-perfect Victorians on Dolores Street are worth a look-in the daytime-from adjacent Dolores Park.

The Presidio

Fourteen-thousand acres of forests and beaches, seventy-five miles of bicycle-friendly roads, a golf course, and scenic grandeur without end make this the jewel of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The Presidio was a military base from 1776 to 1994; antebellum Fort Point, under the Golden Gate Bridge, is a favorite for cannon enthusiasts, as well as for surfers, sailboarders, and Hitchcock aficionados (it's the site of Kim Novak's attempted suicide in Vertigo).

The Richmond District

Fog-bound and quiet residential streets stretch to the Cliff House and Sutro Baths at the ocean, with the occasional Irish pub along the way. Some of the city's best Chinese restaurants are to be found in "Little Chinatown" on Clement Street, and Cyrillic lettering fills store windows around the imposing, gold-domed Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Cathedral on outer Geary Boulevard. Exclusive Seacliff, home to Robin Williams and other celebrities, gives onto the Golden Gate next to Lincoln Park, site of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor and a spectacular golf course.

The Sunset

A quiet and intensely foggy residential district, the principal attractions of the Outer Sunset are the San Francisco Zoo and the natural amphitheater at Stern Grove, where free concerts are held on summer Sundays. The Inner Sunset features a lively stretch of Irving Street, near Ninth Avenue. Students from nearby UCSF Medical School crowd ethnic restaurants of every stripe, from Ethiopian to Thai.







Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Chinatown


San Francisco
United States
The greatest single concentration of Chinese people outside of Asia--a population of 80,000--live in the approximately 24 square blocks of Chinatown, making it the most densely populated area of San Francisco. As you walk around, you'll be richly rewarded by the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of this vibrant community. Grant Avenue is the decorative showpiece of Chinatown. Try dim sum for lunch and select your dinner while it's still swimming!

Review © 2007, Wcities
Chinatown photo by Spencer
Photo: Spencer
Chinatown photo by minghan
Photo: minghan
Chinatown photo by Ed Schipul
Photo: Ed Schipul
Chinatown photo by Carmen Watson
Photo: Carmen Watson
Chinatown photo by Tad Marko
Photo: Tad Marko
Chinatown photo by Fou-ad
Photo: Fou-ad
Chinatown photo by Dave Zombie
Photo: Dave Zombie
Chinatown photo by Tina Franco
Photo: Tina Franco
Chinatown photo by Alex Morman
Photo: Alex Morman
Chinatown photo by andygrayson
Photo: andygrayson
Chinatown photo by Audrey Puah
Photo: Audrey Puah
Chinatown photo by Brian Caldwell
Photo: Brian Caldwell
Chinatown photo by Wei Wei
Photo: Wei Wei
Chinatown photo by Glen Close
Photo: Glen Close
Chinatown photo by Marcus Cook
Photo: Marcus Cook
Chinatown photo by Bichu
Photo: Bichu
Chinatown photo by Scott Thompson
Photo: Scott Thompson
Chinatown photo by Grace Selogy
Photo: Grace Selogy
Chinatown photo by Erika Narimatsu
Photo: Erika Narimatsu
 

 
Civic Center & Hayes Valley


San Francisco
United States
Stately Beaux Arts buildings like the Opera House and the domed, renovated City Hall tolerate the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall and the Public Library's graceful Main Branch, both architectural newcomers. A recent addition to the area, the Asian Art Museum is currrently housed in the former Main Library building. Nearby Hayes Valley offers fine dining and apres-symphony toddies for concert-goers, as well as tastefully creative stores for clothing and gifts.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Civic Center & Hayes Valley photo by Laura Shefler
Photo: Laura Shefler
Civic Center & Hayes Valley photo by Mike
Photo: Mike
Civic Center & Hayes Valley photo by Jon Bristow
Photo: Jon Bristow
Civic Center & Hayes Valley photo by Photo: Megan Krause
Photo: Photo: Megan Krause
 

 
Cow Hollow


San Francisco
United States
The most gracious, imposing homes of Cow Hollow (so named for its original bovine residents) are nestled against the Presidio where Pacific Heights dives to the Marina. Spectacular views are the norm. Straight, single yuppies pack the Balboa Cafe, Sushi Chardonnay, and other bars and restaurants on Fillmore and Union Streets. Clothes hounds can easily fritter away a day in Union Street's tasteful boutiques.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Cow Hollow photo by Thomas Hawk
Photo: Thomas Hawk
Cow Hollow photo by Annie
Photo: Annie
 

 
Downtown


San Francisco
United States
Downtown San Francisco encompasses much of the variety this diverse city has to offer. All roads here seem to lead to Union Square, as do all the cable and street cars; you should head there too if shopping is your aim. Fisherman's Wharf and the Embarcadero offer views of the bay that surrounds the peninsula, as well as family-friendly entertainment. In the evening, the restaurants of Chinatown and North Beach let diners pretend they've traveled to another continent, while the Civic Center hosts countless musical and theatrical performances. Even later at night--and well into the morning--the bars and clubs of SoMa reveal why San Francisco is so famous for its nightlife.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Downtown photo by M. B.
Photo: M. B.
Downtown photo by RobertF
Photo: RobertF
Downtown photo by Mike Fernwood
Photo: Mike Fernwood
Downtown photo by Susanne Friedrich
Photo: Susanne Friedrich
Downtown photo by Jeremiah Lewis
Photo: Jeremiah Lewis
Downtown photo by Daniel Estabrook
Photo: Daniel Estabrook
Downtown photo by Bill Barnard
Photo: Bill Barnard
Downtown photo by Terry Lavender
Photo: Terry Lavender
Downtown photo by Sarah Kate Buckles
Photo: Sarah Kate Buckles
Downtown photo by Corey Thomas
Photo: Corey Thomas
Downtown photo by Jason Kotecki
Photo: Jason Kotecki
 

 
Fillmore & Japantown


San Francisco
United States
Fillmore Street, Pacific Heights' commercial spur, features noteworthy restaurants, epicurean food, and antique shops, all attended by a lively trade from young professionals. Fillmore and Geary has become a popular nightlife destination, thanks to John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom Room, the Fillmore Auditorium, and the AMC Kabuki 8 Theater multiplex, a favorite for film festivals. Be advised that the neighborhood gets a bit sketchy to the south and west of Geary and Fillmore. The Kabuki 8 Theater and neighboring Kabuki Hot Springs are part of the Japan Center, the commercial heart of Japantown. A sort of miniature Ginza, the Japan Center features a 100-foot pagoda, bonsai gardens, sushi bars and other businesses. Each spring it holds the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Fillmore & Japantown photo by fiveinchpixie
Photo: fiveinchpixie
Fillmore & Japantown photo by fiveinchpixie
Photo: fiveinchpixie
Fillmore & Japantown photo by fiveinchpixie
Photo: fiveinchpixie
Fillmore & Japantown photo by fiveinchpixie
Photo: fiveinchpixie
Fillmore & Japantown photo by Shane Case
Photo: Shane Case
 

 
Financial District & Embarcadero


San Francisco
United States
"The Wall Street of the West:" Bank of America, Charles Schwab, and the Transamerica Corporation (in its landmark, 48-floor Pyramid) are among the many banks and corporations headquartered here. The Embarcadero Center features dining, shopping, a fine art cinema, and a health club. Justin Herman Plaza is the starting point for the infamous Critical Mass bike ride and the site of New Years Eve bashes. The Embarcadero itself fronts the Bay for miles on either side of the imposing Ferry Building, modeled on the cathedral tower in Seville, Spain.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Tomas Hellberg
Photo: Tomas Hellberg
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Rebecca
Photo: Rebecca
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Henri Sivonen
Photo: Henri Sivonen
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by SF_Nath_Antoine
Photo: SF_Nath_Antoine
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Asha
Photo: Asha
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Morrens
Photo: Morrens
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by V. T. Vassilev
Photo: V. T. Vassilev
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by fitotorres
Photo: fitotorres
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Patrick Torre
Photo: Patrick Torre
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by robertoates1
Photo: robertoates1
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by John Zipperer
Photo: John Zipperer
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Aaron Tait
Photo: Aaron Tait
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by carbo222
Photo: carbo222
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Alana Kirby
Photo: Alana Kirby
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Andreas Kunstek
Photo: Andreas Kunstek
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by San Francisco Interloper
Photo: San Francisco Interloper
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by John Philip Green
Photo: John Philip Green
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Kathleen Marie Grone
Photo: Kathleen Marie Grone
Financial District & Embarcadero photo by Robin Madden
Photo: Robin Madden
 

 
Fisherman's Wharf


San Francisco
United States
Once the thriving center of San Francisco's fishing industry. Many fishing boats still dock at the Wharf, but Fisherman's Wharf today is more of an extended tourist trap. Pier 39 is fun thanks to the delightful colony of sea lions which annexed its boat marina. Aquatic Park features a beach, of sorts, and a long pier spiraling well out into the Bay. Old sea-dogs will enjoy adjacent Hyde Street Pier, where the tall ship Balclutha and other historic ships are docked, and the Maritime Museum. Ghirardelli Square, a chocolate-factory-turned-shopping-and-restaurant-complex, features some of the city's better dining and views. Nice for an evening stroll.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Jim Ellwanger
Photo: Jim Ellwanger
Fisherman's Wharf photo by grandreaganx
Photo: grandreaganx
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Top Tripster
Photo: Top Tripster
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Jessica Nola Hang
Photo: Jessica Nola Hang
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Chris Marshall
Photo: Chris Marshall
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Axel Magard
Photo: Axel Magard
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Anthony Oberle
Photo: Anthony Oberle
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Christina Truelove
Photo: Christina Truelove
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Tim Wahlstrom
Photo: Tim Wahlstrom
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Stéphane Lee
Photo: Stéphane Lee
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Fusko
Photo: Fusko
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Yun Huang Yong
Photo: Yun Huang Yong
Fisherman's Wharf photo by smazh
Photo: smazh
Fisherman's Wharf photo by zhuyunyue
Photo: zhuyunyue
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Stephen Minton
Photo: Stephen Minton
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Billy Teng
Photo: Billy Teng
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Ursula Steck
Photo: Ursula Steck
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Anish Parikh
Photo: Anish Parikh
Fisherman's Wharf photo by Mike Davis
Photo: Mike Davis
 

 
Golden Gate Park


San Francisco
United States
With 1000 acres of gardens, meadows, lakes, golf, archery, and internationally recognized art and science museums, Golden Gate Park offers endless recreational possibilities for visitors and locals.

The M.H deYoung Memorial Museum, the California Academy of Sciences and the Japanese Tea Garden, are the main attractions of the famous park, drawing millions of visitors each year. At the western edge of the park, Ocean Beach, although unappealing for swimming, attracts hard-core surfers with its rough, frigid and unpredictable waves.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Golden Gate Park photo by Steven Isaacson
Photo: Steven Isaacson
Golden Gate Park photo by Matthias Book
Photo: Matthias Book
Golden Gate Park photo by Aaron Cole
Photo: Aaron Cole
Golden Gate Park photo by Jeremy Stashewsky
Photo: Jeremy Stashewsky
Golden Gate Park photo by vespadisco
Photo: vespadisco
Golden Gate Park photo by Damien Newman
Photo: Damien Newman
Golden Gate Park photo by Jez and Brooke Hildr
Photo: Jez and Brooke Hildr
Golden Gate Park photo by Tom Gidden
Photo: Tom Gidden
Golden Gate Park photo by Kimberly Day
Photo: Kimberly Day
 

 
Haight Ashbury


San Francisco
United States
This small, but densely concentrated cradle of the hippie movement, has tried to retain much of its flower-power, peace-and-love appeal. While real Summer-of-Love generation hippies may be hard to find, young people, dreadlocked, skinheaded, or skateboard-crazy have continued to come to the Haight to break boundaries. The colorful bars and restaurants of upper Haight Street, however, are always packed with job-holding, going-places twenty-somethings. The annual Haight-Ashbury Street Fair is quite a scene. Architecture buffs will want to take a look at the regal Victorians on the Panhandle--the grassy, tree-lined strip extends east from Golden Gate Park along Fell and Oak Streets.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Haight Ashbury photo by Mark Gould
Photo: Mark Gould
Haight Ashbury photo by Arash Mostaghimi
Photo: Arash Mostaghimi
Haight Ashbury photo by Belinda Racasa
Photo: Belinda Racasa
Haight Ashbury photo by Desmond Perrotto
Photo: Desmond Perrotto
Haight Ashbury photo by Melissa Kilbride
Photo: Melissa Kilbride
Haight Ashbury photo by Steve Woolf
Photo: Steve Woolf
Haight Ashbury photo by Hans and Carol Giesler
Photo: Hans and Carol Giesler
Haight Ashbury photo by Sébastien Dégeorge
Photo: Sébastien Dégeorge
Haight Ashbury photo by Susan Webner
Photo: Susan Webner
Haight Ashbury photo by Allison Tenn
Photo: Allison Tenn
Haight Ashbury photo by James Davies
Photo: James Davies
Haight Ashbury photo by Paul O'Shannessy
Photo: Paul O'Shannessy
Haight Ashbury photo by Antares Pacheco
Photo: Antares Pacheco
Haight Ashbury photo by Brian Carlson
Photo: Brian Carlson
Haight Ashbury photo by Diana Nunes
Photo: Diana Nunes
Haight Ashbury photo by Daniel Schwabe
Photo: Daniel Schwabe
Haight Ashbury photo by lilahwild
Photo: lilahwild
Haight Ashbury photo by James Maggs
Photo: James Maggs
Haight Ashbury photo by Darius Capulet
Photo: Darius Capulet
 

 
Lower Haight


San Francisco
United States
The area around Haight and Fillmore feels at once more bohemian and less unsavory than the Haight Ashbury to the west. Ethnic restaurants, unpretentious cafes, and independent bookstores are mushrooming in this neighborhood that as recent as the early 1990s was dangerous. The youngish street life is lively on nights and weekends. The Haight Ashbury Street Fair is also popular.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Lower Haight photo by Thor Muller
Photo: Thor Muller
Lower Haight photo by Thor Muller
Photo: Thor Muller
Lower Haight photo by Thor Muller
Photo: Thor Muller
Lower Haight photo by megan penmann
Photo: megan penmann
Lower Haight photo by Giselle G Gyalzen
Photo: Giselle G Gyalzen
Lower Haight photo by brainsik
Photo: brainsik
Lower Haight photo by Noel
Photo: Noel
Lower Haight photo by Deana Setzke
Photo: Deana Setzke
Lower Haight photo by Mae Magsalin
Photo: Mae Magsalin
Lower Haight photo by blupics
Photo: blupics
Lower Haight photo by susan jennings
Photo: susan jennings
 

 
Nob Hill & Russian Hill


San Francisco
United States
On impossibly steep Nob Hill, California's early industrialists built fabulous mansions that looked down upon the rest of San Francisco. While only the imposing Flood Mansion remains--now the Pacific Union Club--the area's five-star hotels bear the names of other Nob Hill denizens: The Mark Hopkins, the Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel, and the Huntington. Facing Huntington Park is Grace Cathedral, a 3/4 replica of Paris' Notre Dame. Adjoining Nob Hill is Russian Hill, where San Francisco's old money has a great view of the Bay. The "Crookedest Street in the World" resides here and snakes down Russian Hill for the 1000 block of Lombard. The traffic is generally impossible--walk it!

Review © 2007, Wcities
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Steve Ray
Photo: Steve Ray
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Steve Ray
Photo: Steve Ray
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Mathew Spolin
Photo: Mathew Spolin
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Matt Campbell
Photo: Matt Campbell
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Brian Putnam
Photo: Brian Putnam
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Jamieson Teo
Photo: Jamieson Teo
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Pete Burzynski
Photo: Pete Burzynski
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Sara Robertson
Photo: Sara Robertson
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Irena Macri
Photo: Irena Macri
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Allison Sherrill
Photo: Allison Sherrill
Nob Hill & Russian Hill photo by Per Håkansson
Photo: Per Håkansson
 

 
North Beach


San Francisco
United States
Originally settled by Italians, North Beach became a magnet for Beat Generation writers and poets in the 1950s. City Lights Bookstore and the cafes and shops on upper Grant Avenue still exude Beatnik funkiness. A new wave of entrepreneurial Italians has brought a sense of Roman style to exciting new restaurants along Columbus Avenue. On Broadway, barkers still pull tourists and sailors into charmingly seedy strip joints. Clapboard sea captains' cottages and mossy flower gardens seem to dangle in space from the cliffs of Telegraph Hill. Coit Tower, at 210 feet, commands a stunning panorama from the hilltop. The boardwalk Filbert Steps leads from the Tower down through the Grace Marchand Gardens to Levi's Plaza Park at the base of the Hill.

Review © 2007, Wcities
North Beach photo by Dan
Photo: Dan
North Beach photo by David Maloney
Photo: David Maloney
North Beach photo by rooski
Photo: rooski
North Beach photo by WesternGulf
Photo: WesternGulf
North Beach photo by Romy Schneider
Photo: Romy Schneider
North Beach photo by redspotted
Photo: redspotted
North Beach photo by Nikolai Abrossov
Photo: Nikolai Abrossov
North Beach photo by Karl Coleman
Photo: Karl Coleman
North Beach photo by Erin Hopmann
Photo: Erin Hopmann
North Beach photo by Adriano Santi
Photo: Adriano Santi
North Beach photo by Monica Okubo
Photo: Monica Okubo
 

 
Pacific Heights


San Francisco
United States
Stately homes and high-rent apartment buildings line the ridge high above Cow Hollow in old-money Pacific Heights. Genteel, renovated Victorians ring the peaceful Alta Plaza Park. Washington Street between Presidio and Arguello features exceptionally palatial residences. Those fortunate enough to live here shop for antiques and dine in quiet refinement on a few understated blocks of nearby Sacramento Street. San Francisco's largest synagogue, Temple Emanu-el, is to be found on Arguello Street.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Pacific Heights photo by cascascas
Photo: cascascas
Pacific Heights photo by Demerval Arruda, Jr.
Photo: Demerval Arruda, Jr.
Pacific Heights photo by Jason Turim
Photo: Jason Turim
Pacific Heights photo by Renato Umali
Photo: Renato Umali
Pacific Heights photo by pipercat99
Photo: pipercat99
Pacific Heights photo by Beppe Vironda
Photo: Beppe Vironda
Pacific Heights photo by Doug McGovern
Photo: Doug McGovern
Pacific Heights photo by travellingzenwolf
Photo: travellingzenwolf
Pacific Heights photo by Cory Krug
Photo: Cory Krug
Pacific Heights photo by Graham and Sheila
Photo: Graham and Sheila
Pacific Heights photo by prudence yim
Photo: prudence yim
 

 
Richmond


San Francisco
United States
Fog-bound and quiet residential streets stretch to the Cliff House and Sutro Baths at the ocean, with the occasional Irish pub along the way. Some of the city's best Chinese restaurants are to be found in "Little Chinatown" on Clement Street, and Cyrillic lettering fills store windows around the imposing, gold-domed Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Cathedral on outer Geary Boulevard. Exclusive Seacliff, home to Robin Williams and other celebrities, gives onto the Golden Gate next to Lincoln Park, site of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor and a spectacular golf course.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Richmond photo by Thomas Hawk
Photo: Thomas Hawk
Richmond photo by Storm Bear
Photo: Storm Bear
Richmond photo by Sarah Krygier
Photo: Sarah Krygier
Richmond photo by ragnhildaas
Photo: ragnhildaas
Richmond photo by johnsonc725
Photo: johnsonc725
Richmond photo by Dianne de Guzman
Photo: Dianne de Guzman
Richmond photo by Felicity O'Meara
Photo: Felicity O'Meara
Richmond photo by Pete Johnson
Photo: Pete Johnson
Richmond photo by Jason Schepers
Photo: Jason Schepers
 

 
SOMA


San Francisco
United States
Once an unglamorous stretch of warehouses with a seedy undercurrent, an exciting new San Francisco has emerged in the area South of Market Street--SOMA. Conventions, art, and entertainment possibilities abound in the brand-new Moscone/YerbaBuena Center area. The dot-com businesses of nearby "Multimedia Gulch" spawn new twenty-something cyber-millionaires every week, although that tide is changing. Many of them can be seen at leisure at the South Park Cafe, Brain Wash (a cafe/performance space/laundromat), or other fashion-forward restaurants and watering holes.

Review © 2007, Wcities
SOMA photo by Dawn Endico
Photo: Dawn Endico
SOMA photo by Sam Bowman
Photo: Sam Bowman
SOMA photo by Robert Ennals
Photo: Robert Ennals
SOMA photo by Boris Chang
Photo: Boris Chang
SOMA photo by Tristan Crane
Photo: Tristan Crane
SOMA photo by Adam Anderson
Photo: Adam Anderson
SOMA photo by Heather Schoeppach
Photo: Heather Schoeppach
SOMA photo by Zuzana Fedorkova
Photo: Zuzana Fedorkova
SOMA photo by Samuel Stauffer
Photo: Samuel Stauffer
SOMA photo by David Siedband
Photo: David Siedband
SOMA photo by Megan Segle
Photo: Megan Segle
 

 
South Beach


San Francisco
United States
One of the city's most popular new residential areas for young professionals, South Beach arose from a virtual wasteland at the southern end of the Embarcadero and the western edge of SoMa. Apartment complexes and boat marinas squeeze together between the foot of the Bay Bridge and Pacific Bell Park, the San Francisco Giants' brand new waterfront baseball stadium. Warehouses and factories have either been converted into stylish lofts or are being razed in a swath of development extending down Third Street to the forthcoming Mission Bay development.

Review © 2007, Wcities
South Beach photo by Bruno Furnari
Photo: Bruno Furnari
South Beach photo by Andrea T. Urmanita
Photo: Andrea T. Urmanita
South Beach photo by Nicole Gregory
Photo: Nicole Gregory
South Beach photo by Madika Bryant
Photo: Madika Bryant
South Beach photo by William Storage
Photo: William Storage
 

 
The Castro & Noe Valley


San Francisco
United States
The center of gay San Francisco, and a landmark for gay culture everywhere, the Castro's bars, dance clubs, restaurants, and one-of-a-kind shops abound in the commercial area around 18th and Castro Street. There's arguably more street life in the Castro than anywhere else in the city, especially on weekends. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence sometimes make an appearance at special events (they're really men in nun drag), and take it from us--this is the place to be on Halloween. Trek up Castro to Liberty Street to see exceptional Victorian homes. Over the hill lies Noe Valley and its main shopping strip, 24th Street. Cute and relatively quiet, Noe Valley has enough great restaurants and gourmet food shops to make it sophisticated, but not so many chromed-up bars and Italian clothing boutiques to make it stuffy.

Review © 2007, Wcities
The Castro & Noe Valley photo by heather
Photo: heather
The Castro & Noe Valley photo by Ryuji Morishita
Photo: Ryuji Morishita
The Castro & Noe Valley photo by jack jones foto
Photo: jack jones foto
 

 
The Marina


San Francisco
United States
Tanned, fit and energetic twenty-somethings run and rollerblade along the Marina Green, a vast expanse of grass fronting the Bay between two yacht harbors and a perfect spot for flying kites. Mountain bikers crowd cafes, restaurants, and brunch hangouts along busy Chestnut Street after Sunday morning rides to Mount Tamalpais. The graceful Palace of Fine Arts houses The Exploratorium, the one-of-a-kind, hands-on science museum--a must-see for those with kids. At the southern end of the Marina Green is Fort Mason Center, a waterside arts and cultural center.

Review © 2007, Wcities
The Marina photo by chrisada
Photo: chrisada
The Marina photo by Rachel Lyra Hospodar
Photo: Rachel Lyra Hospodar
The Marina photo by Danna Hudson
Photo: Danna Hudson
The Marina photo by Chelsea Groves
Photo: Chelsea Groves
The Marina photo by John Beebe
Photo: John Beebe
The Marina photo by Srikanth Srinivasan
Photo: Srikanth Srinivasan
The Marina photo by Matt Snow
Photo: Matt Snow
The Marina photo by higgsshelley
Photo: higgsshelley
The Marina photo by Rahim Rahman
Photo: Rahim Rahman
The Marina photo by Chris Brodell
Photo: Chris Brodell
The Marina photo by Margi Levin
Photo: Margi Levin
The Marina photo by Paul Tognotti
Photo: Paul Tognotti
The Marina photo by Jane Earle
Photo: Jane Earle
The Marina photo by Vincent
Photo: Vincent
The Marina photo by Brian Ellis
Photo: Brian Ellis
The Marina photo by Genghis Mendoza
Photo: Genghis Mendoza
 

 
The Mission


San Francisco
United States
The nexus of Hispanic culture, and more recently a mecca for edgy bohemians, this Mission now houses increasing numbers of young professionals and their sport utility vehicles. Mexican and Central American businesses line teeming Mission Street. Visit popular La Taqueria, and be assured that the wait is worth it. Along the Valencia Corridor, one block to west, bars, cafes, and restaurants of every description lead to the buzzing 16th and Valencia hub. The neighborhood draws its name from nearby Mission Dolores, founded in 1776. The dolled-up, postcard-perfect Victorians on Dolores Street are worth a look--in the daytime--from adjacent Dolores Park.

Review © 2007, Wcities
The Mission photo by Matt Jalbert
Photo: Matt Jalbert
The Mission photo by Francisco Cendejas
Photo: Francisco Cendejas
The Mission photo by Volker Neumann
Photo: Volker Neumann
The Mission photo by Volker Neumann
Photo: Volker Neumann
The Mission photo by kate at yr own risk
Photo: kate at yr own risk
The Mission photo by Ben Donley
Photo: Ben Donley
The Mission photo by Bailey Sampson
Photo: Bailey Sampson
The Mission photo by Tom I have one
Photo: Tom I have one
The Mission photo by Douglas Van Sant
Photo: Douglas Van Sant
The Mission photo by Lola P
Photo: Lola P
The Mission photo by Roy Watts
Photo: Roy Watts
The Mission photo by Monica Chavez
Photo: Monica Chavez
The Mission photo by carol rodríguez
Photo: carol rodríguez
The Mission photo by Amy L. Grude
Photo: Amy L. Grude
The Mission photo by jessyparr
Photo: jessyparr
The Mission photo by Michaela G Hackner
Photo: Michaela G Hackner
 

 
The Presidio


San Francisco
United States
Fourteen thousand acres of forests and beaches, seventy-five miles of bicycle-friendly roads, a golf course, and scenic grandeur without end make this the jewel of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The Presidio was a military base from 1776 to 1994; antebellum Fort Point, under the Golden Gate Bridge, is a favorite for cannon enthusiasts, as well as for surfers, sailboarders, and Hitchcock aficionados (it's the site of Kim Novak's attempted suicide in Vertigo).

Review © 2007, Wcities
The Presidio photo by ken mccown
Photo: ken mccown
The Presidio photo by Kevin L. Bacher
Photo: Kevin L. Bacher
The Presidio photo by at_for_all
Photo: at_for_all
The Presidio photo by David Gleit
Photo: David Gleit
The Presidio photo by Emma Harger
Photo: Emma Harger
The Presidio photo by Shawn Drew
Photo: Shawn Drew
The Presidio photo by K Christner
Photo: K Christner
The Presidio photo by James Moline
Photo: James Moline
The Presidio photo by Sarah H. Simpson
Photo: Sarah H. Simpson
The Presidio photo by Todd Van Hoosear
Photo: Todd Van Hoosear
The Presidio photo by J.D. Manuel
Photo: J.D. Manuel
The Presidio photo by Rebecca Shindel
Photo: Rebecca Shindel
The Presidio photo by Hamdel R. Tobias
Photo: Hamdel R. Tobias
The Presidio photo by Mark Halpert
Photo: Mark Halpert
The Presidio photo by Lorelei Monohon
Photo: Lorelei Monohon
The Presidio photo by D Raymond
Photo: D Raymond
 

 
Union Square


San Francisco
United States
Union Square is the heart of San Francisco's bustling and stylish downtown shopping district. Posh department stores such as Neiman Marcus ring the one-block square park. Hundreds of other exclusive stores and boutiques lie within a three-block radius of the square. If you've shopped till you've dropped, pick yourself up at an outdoor cafe in tiny Maiden Lane, and restore the soul at one of the many art galleries on Sutter and Geary Streets. This is also the home of San Francisco's modest Theater District.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Union Square photo by Mark Paciga
Photo: Mark Paciga
Union Square photo by Lars Augensen
Photo: Lars Augensen
Union Square photo by Rebecca Schmitz
Photo: Rebecca Schmitz
Union Square photo by linzstew
Photo: linzstew
Union Square photo by Maria Keays
Photo: Maria Keays
Union Square photo by Susie Marshall
Photo: Susie Marshall
Union Square photo by double vision
Photo: double vision
Union Square photo by David Knight
Photo: David Knight
Union Square photo by Matthias Smagghe
Photo: Matthias Smagghe
Union Square photo by Justin Dugyon
Photo: Justin Dugyon
Union Square photo by Benjamin Jones
Photo: Benjamin Jones
Union Square photo by Juliette Gibert
Photo: Juliette Gibert
Union Square photo by Francisc Stugren
Photo: Francisc Stugren
Union Square photo by Gail Balfour
Photo: Gail Balfour
Union Square photo by Larissa Busch
Photo: Larissa Busch
Union Square photo by Derek Mok
Photo: Derek Mok
 

 
Other Schmapplets in this city related to "San Francisco - Neighborhood Guide"
San Francisco
San Francisco - Historical Background
San Francisco - Where to Stay
San Francisco - Dining & Drinking
San Francisco - Art & Entertainment

Other nearby cities:
Berkeley (10 miles)
San Jose and Silicon Valley (50 miles)
Napa Valley (73 miles)
Sacramento (116 miles)
Monterey and Carmel (136 miles)
Yosemite (223 miles)
Lake Tahoe (247 miles)
Reno (292 miles)
Los Angeles (560 miles)
Las Vegas (680 miles)

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