Find your San Francisco neighborhood

Each distinctive neighborhood has a main drag, from which smaller streets radiate, and San Francisco’s compact dimensions mean each rolls into the next without vast stretches of city to traverse in between. An efficient public transport system of buses, streetcars, and the BART subway makes it even more visitor-friendly.

The Castro

The home of equal rights champion Harvey Milk, the friendly, flamboyant around-the-clock party that is the Castro neighborhood is also located at the spiritual and physical heart of San Francisco.

Richmond

Leave historical Chinatown for the amateurs. The Richmond District in the northwest corner of the city has a huge Asian population, and it’s where the best dumplings and other Asian-influenced food can be found.

North Beach

Before San Francisco became a city, it was known as the Barbary Coast, for its lawless nature and saloons frequented by sailors. A little of this maritime flavor remains in the old North Beach neighborhood, adjacent to Fisherman’s Wharf and home to the city’s petite Little Italy.

The Mission

Historically, the Mission District is a Latin neighborhood, anchored by San Francisco’s oldest surviving structure, the Mission Dolores — one of 21 religious outposts originally established by Spanish Franciscan priests dotted up the Californian coast. With Silicon Valley pushing up property prices and the attendant process of gentrification.

Financial District

The Financial District is the neighborhood that serves as the main central business district in San Francisco. This is where you'll fint the largest concentration of corporate headquarters, insurance companies, savings and loan banks, real estate firms, law firms, and other financialinstitutions.

Oakland

Also consider taking a short trip across the bridge to Oakland, the area’s new bastion of cool and home to new restaurants, bars, and venues that have opened their doors in recent years. A short walk from the harborside Jack London Square, there’s the legendary Everett & Jones barbecue restaurant, and old Oakland, with its several-square-block area of Victorian buildings housing up-and-coming and heritage eateries, such as Ratto’s market and deli, and facing it across the street, vintage-style Italian bistro Desco.