San Francisco’s neighborhoods

San Francisco’s 36 neighborhoods are truly special. There’s a lot packed into the hilly Golden City’s 49 square miles, and it’s the combination of these neighborhoods that makes San Francisco one of the most culturally rich and famous places in the world.

Whether it’s the wonderful traditional food of Chinatown, the attractions of Fisherman’s Wharf or psychedelic 60’s nostalgia in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco really does have it all.

In this guide, we’ll round up the top five San Francisco neighborhoods and reveal why they’re on so many people’s bucket lists. 

Fisherman’s Wharf

San Francisco is full of tourist attractions, but Fisherman’s Wharf deserves special mention for family fun. Stand on the waterfront and breathe in the sweet smell of sourdough bread, which has been made here since the Gold Rush. You can take a stroll and watch bakers at work inside Boudin Bakery, take a picture or two of those lovable sealions at Pier 49, and maybe catch a ferry to the legendary prison island of Alcatraz.

Alcatraz, also known as the Rock, was once home to some of the United States’ most notorious prisoners. ‘Birdman of Alcatraz’ Robert Stroud, Al Capone and George ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly all spent time locked up there.

History is all around you in Fisherman’s Wharf. You could pay a visit to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. The past comes to life each fall around this collection of vintage ships, with a sea music concert series taking place on board the Balclutha.

Children and the young at heart can grab some quarters and sample the delights of the Musee Mechanique on Pier 45. This fascinating fun house is jam-packed with games of yesteryear, from hand-operated music boxes to modern video games.

Chinatown

Many cities can boast of a Chinatown district, but the Golden City’s is one of the most famous – and one of the largest outside of Asia. It’s also steeped in history, having survived many Gold Rush booms and busts, bootlegging wars and even riots. The people of Chinatown also helped build America’s first cross-country railroad, which connects Iowa with San Francisco Bay.

Easily reachable via North Beach and the Financial District, the main streets of Chinatown have to be seen to be believed. ‘Bustling’ doesn’t begin to describe this cultural delight, featuring restaurants, karaoke bars, tea shops and galleries as far as the eye can see.  

Take an Insta-worthy pic by Dragon’s Gate at the southern end of this popular San Francisco neighborhood. It’s the only authentic Chinatown gate in the States, and its three entryways are protected by a trio of stone lions.

From there, be sure to check out China Live, a two-story market-style restaurant, bar, tea cafe and shopping space, with a reservation-only restaurant upstairs too.

Thinking about picking up some souvenirs for people back home? There’s plenty here – including Kim + Ono. This modern boutique sells gorgeous handcrafted silk and charmeuse kimonos, emblazoned with hand-sketched and hand-printed birds and flowers.

Haight-Ashbury

Think of The Haight and the Summer of Love springs to mind. That heady season of hippie optimism lives on in a San Francisco neighborhood that’s perfect for anyone interested in counterculture. As the song says, if you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair, and visit Haight-Ashbury.

As you’d expect, the streets of The Haight are awash with shops selling tie-dye clothes, posters and hippie merchandise. Amoeba Music is the perfect hangout for music lovers who might want to pick up some vinyl and a vintage poster or two. Your visit there might even coincide with a free gig, too.

If you want to pay tribute to the icons of the psychedelic era, don’t miss a chance to see where some of rock’s biggest stars lived at the time. Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin all fell in love with – and set up home in – Haight-Ashbury.

You can travel even further back in time, as many buildings in this San Francisco neighborhood date back to the Victorian era. And if you’re feeling tired after 30-minute climb to the top of Buena Vista Park, you can turn on, tune in and drop out at Golden Gate Park, featuring botanical gardens and boat rides.

Nob Hill

San Francisco is renowned for its scenic hills, and among the best is this affluent neighborhood. In a city full of Instagrammable shots, Nob Hill takes some beating – especially if you want to see the sun set around the Golden Gate Bridge.

To brave the steep San Franciscan streets, you’ll need lots of energy. Fortunately, Nob Hill is full of top-notch restaurants, bistros and bars. Highlights include Del Popolo on Bush Street. It started life as a pizza truck in 2012, dishing out Neapolitan-inspired fare, before expanding to a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in 2015.

Located on Van Ness Avenue, House of Prime Rib has been a Bay Area institution since 1949, renowned for its 21-day aged prime rib. Or why not settle yourself down by the cozy fire here and tuck into their delicious roast beef?

For an authentic tiki lounge experience you should head down Mason Street and sample the Fairmont hotel’s Tonga Room. Its look was created by a Hollywood set designer[BR(S2]  and, boy, does it show. A band plays from a floating boat while you eat delicious Polynesian-fusion food such as coconut curry and fried veggie spring rolls. Just watch out – a tropical storm could blow through at any time…

Financial District

Also known as Downtown, the Financial District is The Golden City’s business center. But it’s not just the place to be for businesspeople. There are historic sites too, such as the Flood Building, which survived an earthquake in 1906. And it’s home to the largest selection of hotels in San Francisco. From hostels and cool, independent hotels to some of the luxurious lodgings in the state, there’s no shortage of places to stay.

Shoppers will also love Downtown. The central shopping district, Union Square, is home to some of the world’s biggest chains, as well as designer boutiques. And this San Francisco neighborhood is home to the Embarcadero, a boulevard along the city’s waterfront, so you can take in some of The Golden City’s highlights.

If you want to dive into the rich history of San Francisco, The Wells Fargo Museum down Montgomery Street is a small but fun place to learn more about its fascinating past. And what better than to wind up your trip around San Francisco then with a night of comedy? The Punch Line Comedy Club on Battery Street regularly puts on shows by the hottest comics in the US.

As you can see, there’s so much to do in the neighborhoods of San Francisco, the only problem is cramming everything into one trip. But if this much fun can happen within 49 square miles, anything’s possible in The Golden City.

Want to learn more about San Francisco?

If you’re getting ready for a trip to San Francisco, check out more guides to The Golden City.

• Best restaurants in San Francisco
• San Francisco driving guide
• Best things to do in San Francisco
• Best hotels in San Francisco