Each of San Francisco’s major neighborhoods has its own culture and charm. And some would add, climate. The Mission District is known for its sunny disposition; however, as you get closer to the Pacific, temperatures can drop and fog is common. Here’s an introduction to the city’s most prominent locales. Discover more about these San Francisco neighborhoods and many others at sftravel.com/neighborhoods. 6 SCAN THE PAGE WITH LAYAR TO EXPLORE SAN FRANCISCO’S NEIGHBORHOODS ONLINE. CHINATOWN Rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in North America. This thriving Chinese American community’s restaurants, gift shops and grocery stores make it an irresistible attraction. And the pagoda roofs and dragon lampposts serve as great photo backdrops. CIVIC CENTER/ HAYES VALLEY 13 Civic Center is home to some of the city’s largest governmental and cultural institutions, while bustling Hayes Valley has antique and book shops, restaurants, galleries and the SFJAZZ Center. 7 14 CENTRAL MARKET A bustling combination of enterprise zone, tech businesses, arts groups, retail and restaurants, Central Market is witnessing a boom. EMBARCADERO/ FINANCIAL DISTRICT 14 Lined with deep-water piers, this historic area boasts views of soaring skyscrapers; the Ferry Building, a public space housing a food hall and farmers’ market; and The Exploratorium, a future-forward learning laboratory. 19 8 FILLMORE One of the primary incubators for the city’s revitalized music scene, Fillmore is where musical greats like Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington headlined jazz clubs back in the day. Catch a concert at the famed 1960s Fillmore music emporium. 15 NOB HILL 9 17 FISHERMAN’S WHARF Known not only as a geographic high point but an economic one, too, with a history of wealthy residents, Nob Hill is now home to luxury hotels, beautiful gardens and impressive homes. The waterfront markets, fishing boats, kitschy souvenir shops and famous sea lions make Fisherman’s Wharf one of San Francisco’s most popular destinations. 16 NORTH BEACH Rich in Italian heritage, North Beach has Italian restaurants, cabarets, jazz clubs, galleries, inns, boutiques and gelato parlors. 10 HAIGHT-ASHBURY The Summer of Love is immortalized in Haight-Ashbury’s vintage clothing, book and record stores, while Alamo Square’s tight formation of Victorian homes is one of the most photographed scenes in San Francisco. 17 SOMA/YERBA BUENA This neighborhood is one of the densest neighborhoods for art outside New York and has nightclubs, “pocket parks” and AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. captions here 11 JAPANTOWN 18 UNION SQUARE The oldest of only three Japantowns left in the country, the area is packed with cultural gems, including Sundance Kabuki Cinema and Benkyodo, which has supplied the city with handmade rice confections since 1906. Union Square is the center of San Francisco’s shopping scene with art galleries, restaurants and small boutiques, designer shops and name-brand stores. 19 MARINA/ PACIFIC HEIGHTS 12 From the posh plateau of Pacific Heights to the bayside Marina Green, these neighborhoods offer views, scenery and a restored “palace” from 1915. TREASURE ISLAND Views of downtown San Francisco, several urban wineries, special events and weekend flea markets are the draw to this mid-point for the Bay Bridge. Neighborhoods . 33
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