San Francisco Neighborhoods

Castro

Once a quiet suburb of row houses, the Castro is now synonymous with San Francisco’s gay culture, and home to a wealth of bars, restaurants, cafés, and trendy stores that cater to just about everyone, regardless ... more

Chinatown

It’s the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, the oldest in all of North America, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, so whether visitors demand traditional herbal remedies and ornate ... more

Civic Center / Tenderloin

Rumor has it the name “Tenderloin” harkens back to the turn of the century, when local cops who patrolled the area received enough hazard pay to afford a choice steak. The city’s first major brothel opened here ... more

Downtown / Financial District

While the high-rises and office buildings that dominate the Downtown skyline are unquestionably San Francisco’s business center, the shopping mecca tucked beneath them, and centered on Union Square, is easily the ... more

Fisherman's Wharf

The name “Fisherman’s Wharf” stems from the Italian fishermen who dominated the neighborhood during the mid-1800s – and the area is still home to San Francisco’s fishing fleet – but boats bursting with the ... more

Hayes Valley

As odd as it might be to say so, the argument can be made that Hayes Valley actually benefited from the Loma Prieta earthquake that rocked San Francisco in 1989. Previously, major entrance ramps to ... more

Marina / Cow Hollow

Originally built on sand dredged from the Bay, the Marina experienced major damage during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Despite the destruction, the area was quickly rebuilt – with developers ... more

Mission

Includes: Bernal Heights Like many of San Francisco’s neighborhoods, The Mission has undergone considerable changes over the last several decades. The 1940s saw waves of Mexican ... more

Nob Hill

Bordered by Downtown, Chinatown, and the perennial swank of Pacific Heights, Nob Hill has been popular with affluent denizens since San Francisco’s early days, when railroad tycoons and oil barons threw up ... more

North Beach / Telegraph Hill

A diverse crowd flocks to North Beach throughout the week, whether for San Francisco’s official Little Italy or for the historic bars, famed independent shops, and the high concentration of strip joints. ... more

Pacific Heights

Pacific Heights – apart from being both the name and setting of the greatest Michael Keaton movie ever behind Johnny Dangerously – would never make anyone’s Top 5 nightlife destinations list. ... more

Potrero Hill

Includes: Dogpatch Comprised largely of a mix of single-family dwellings and industrial zones, Potrero Hill boasts one of the most unhurried vibes in town, which, although great for reading a book ... more

Russian Hill

Named for a Russian cemetery discovered on its namesake peak during the 1800s, Russian Hill is an affluent neighborhood set directly above the always-bustling Fisherman’s Wharf. Mostly residential, ... more

SoMa

A long-time industrial district, South of Market (SoMa) saw a massive shift during the Internet heyday, when it exploded with hip and young CEOs and dreadlocked computer geniuses selling hundred-pound bags of dog ... more

The Haight

San Francisco’s Haight has come a long way since the flower-powered 60s, when it was the epicenter of the Summer of Love and overrun with free-spirited and freely fornicating hippies from all over the world. ... more

The Richmond

Stretching from Arguello Boulevard all the way to the Pacific Ocean, The Richmond is commonly broken into two sections: the inner Richmond, home to a bustling restaurant scene and a Chinese population large ... more

The Sunset

Separated right in the middle by 19th Street, the Inner and Outer Sunset districts are often referred to separately by locals, though it’s technically one large neighborhood running all the way from Stanyan ... more

Western Addition

Pinpointing the actual boundaries of Western Addition can be tricky, but most consider it to be the area sandwiched between Golden Gate Park, the main thoroughfare of Van Ness Avenue, The Haight, and Pacific ... more