The 10 Best Neighborhoods in San Francisco

Depending on your time and where you stay in the city, San Francisco is home to a diverse population spread out amongst many unique neighborhoods. The beauty of San Francisco is that no neighborhood is too far away as it is a very walkable and dense city. Below is our list of the top neighborhoods based off personal experience as well as advice from many of the locals we met during our latest trip to the city.

• Chinatown - the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest Chinatown in North America. It is one of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco. Some must see attractions include the famous Dragon's Gate, Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, Buddha Lounge, and China Live.

• Civic Center - Here you will find the heart of the city's Performing Arts & Arts District including world renown organizations such as the Asian Art Museum, Broadway Shows at the Orpheum Theater, the San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Symphony, and the San Francisco Orchestra! You'll also find daily concerts and live music while walking between the many locally owned shops and restaurants.

• Fisherman’s Wharf - Whether walking over to Pier 39 to see the Sea Lions or Pier 33 to catch the ferry over to Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf has something for everyone. Home to Ghirardelli Square and the famous Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, a fleet of U.S. historic ships including the USS Pampanito at the Hyde Street Pier, and the Cannery which is a massive indoor shopping mall! And no trip to Fisherman's Wharf is complete without a stop at Budin's Bakery for either breakfast or lunch.

• Haight-Ashbury - Popularized in the late 60s and early 70s during the "flower power" era, this neighborhood is full of colorful Victorian houses which dot the hillsides and streets. Scattered throughout the streets of Haight-Ashbury are many of the city's top restaurants and boutiques including multiple tattoo shops, vinyl record stores, and places such as Love on Haight, Black Sands Brewery, Mad Dog in the Fog, and Noc Noc.

• Mission District - The city's oldest neighborhood is still one of the best places to visit some nearly 250 years after it was originally founded! Today it is home to San Fran's Latin American community which boasts some of the best latin-style restaurants, shops, and music anywhere on the West Coast. Some must see spots include Mission Delores Park, Clarion Alley, Valencia Street, and the famed Carnaval Festival which is the last weekend in May.

• Nob Hill - Full of many of the city's famous landmarks and most prestigious hotels, Nob Hill is a quaint little neighborhood that is rooted in the history of the U. S. Industrial Age, particularly that of the big 4 railroad companies of the late 1800s. Here you will find many vintage barber shops, vinyl stores, cocktail lounges, and old corner coffee shops. Some unique experiences include the Cable Car Museum, Grace Cathedral Episcopal Church, Huntington Park, the Big 4 Restaurant, KAYO Books, Argonaut Book Shop, the Hyde Out, and the Bigfoot Lounge.

• North Beach - Nestled between Chinatown, the Financial District and Russian Hill, North Beach is the "Little Italy" of San Francisco due to it's large Italian American population and immigrant community. This vibrant, colorful district is the home of dozens of Italian restaurants as well as the famed Coit Tower and Washington Square Park.

• Russian Hill - Centered around the popular Polk Street, in this neighborhood you will find a diverse collection of shops and boutiques, bustling bars, and the famed San Francisco Art Institute. No drive through Russian Hill is complete without a twisty and curvy adventure through Lombard Street. Between Hyde and Leavenworth you will awe at the one of a kind architecture, gardens and brick-paved switchbacks that make this one of San Francisco's most picturesque stops. Before leaving, be sure to walk around the park to enjoy the sights of Coit Tower, the Bay Bridge and some of the most amazing views of the downtown skyline you'll ever come across.

• Telegraph Hill - Home of Coit Tower, you'll want to start your journey here at the top of The Filbert Street Steps, consisting of about 400 wooden steps that descend the east slope of Telegraph Hill. While making your trek to lower Filbert Street, you'll pass by some of the most beautiful private, residential gardens on the hill. You'll also pass through the Grace Marchant Garden, which resident Grace Marchant started in 1949 and is supposedly now tended to and paid for by the residents of the street. Once reaching the bottom of the steps you'll arrive at the eastern end of Filbert Street where you can then take the walkway through the plaza to Coit Tower at The Embarcadero.

• Union Square - Also known as the greater Union Square District. This district contains hundreds of department stores, luxury boutiques, art galleries, salons, fine food establishments, countless bars and cocktail lounges, and so much more. The Square itself is also a historical site, so if you are more of a history buff then this is a great place to explore as well. The Square gets it’s name from the fact that the space was used as a rallying post for the Union during the American Civil War. It now sits at the center of one of the most popular areas of the city!

The great thing about San Francisco and it's dense, walkable characteristics is that you can cover a lot of ground in much less time than most cities. This unique feature will hopefully allow you to enjoy many of these neighborhoods the next time you visit the great city of San Francisco!

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