San Francisco
North Beach
Known as San Francisco’s “Little Italy,” North Beach is filled with Italian restaurants, cafés and bakeries. First settled by Italian immigrants in the 1870s, today its population features a range of nationalities, including a large Asian community. On the northern side of Washington Square sits the grand Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The neighborhood’s other attractions include its restaurants, ranging from fine dining to Italian delis, and Grant Avenue, the oldest street in San Francisco, where residents can find Barbary Coast saloons, secondhand shops and clothing boutiques.

Pacific Heights
Pacific Heights is an affluent neighborhood inside Bush Street, Presidio Avenue, Union Street and Van Ness Avenue where luxury is the name of the game as exemplified by the upscale shops on Fillmore Street the fashionable restaurants. This area is also the best place to see San Francisco’s renowned “painted ladies,” the Victorian- and Edwardian-era homes that have been restored in a variety of colorful pastels. The Fillmore Auditorium is a historic music venue now run and operated by Live Nation to host regional and national acts throughout the year.

Parkside
The community feel of Parkside comes from its playgrounds, including a meadow-like field at McCopping Square and several elementary schools’ properties. Situated parallel to Pine Lake Park and Stern Grove, the neighborhood is filled with single-family residences that appeal to families. The Sunset Neighborhood Coalition, the neighborly Sunset Beach newspaper, the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center and a number of other educational institutions offer a great community atmosphere close to an array of prime shopping conveniences.

Potrero Hill
South of 16th Street and framed by Potrero Avenue, Cesar Chavez Street and Highway 280, Potrero Hill offers pleasant window-shopping and café dining. The Potrero Hill Neighborhood House has been used residents for countless occasions for more than a century, and complements the rich history of the area, which was populated originally by Scottish, Irish and Italian farmers. Residences here include freestanding houses with Victorian architecture, townhouses and condominiums, lofts and multifamily buildings, many with outstanding views.

Portola Heights
Also known as University Mound because of street names, including Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and Harvard, Portola Heights is a neighborhood with a civic purpose. Landmarks here include a home for the elderly, the Convent of good Shepherd Home for Girls and McLaren Park.

Presidio Heights

Just west of Pacific Heights and adjacent to the historic Presidio, Presidio Heights is known as a small enclave of elegant homes just a short walk to the fashionable shops of Union and Chestnut streets. The neighborhood is notably home to some of San Francisco’s elite families and dignitaries, and its access to the woodsy Presidio makes it a great destination for joggers and cyclists.

Richmond
Home to many 1920s duplexes as well as a few spacious Edwardian homes with eccentric architecture, Richmond houses many of the city’s landmarks. Here, you will find the dome of the Reform synagogue Temple Emanu-El and the Russian Holy Virgin Cathedral. Equally diverse are its residents, who are reflected in the neighborhood’s rich selection of Chinese and Russian restaurants.

Russian Hill
Russian Hill is a warm, charming and picturesque residential neighborhood interspersed with boutique shops, antique furnishing stores and low-key restaurants as well as lovely gardens that create dazzling bursts of color. The hydrangeas in this area are a sight to behold on Lombard Street, which is one of the world’s most crooked streets with a series of hairpin turns that is a one-of-a-kind driving experience. Alice Marble Park and Ina Coolbrith Park are great places to enjoy the scenery.

Sea Cliff
Sea Cliff is located in northwestern San Francisco and is known for its large houses and oceanfront properties. Many houses in the Sea Cliff neighborhood offer impressive views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. The small but popular public beaches named China Beach and Baker Beach are located here as well.

Sherwood Forest
Located on the southwestern slope of Mt. Davidson, Sherwood Forest features elaborate ranch-style homes amid groves of eucalyptus, cypress and pine trees. Although densely populated, Sherwood Forest offers a feeling of spaciousness and is one of the quietest neighborhoods in San Francisco. Most homes offer incredible views and convenient access to the nearby Miraloma and West Portal shopping districts.

South of Market (SoMa)
South of Market (locally referred to as SoMa) describes the area that’s bordered by Market Street, South Van Ness Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street. SoMa is home to the headquarters of several software and technology companies and also features the Moscone Center, San Francisco’s largest convention and exhibition center. Also in SoMa is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, just one of the city’s large number of renowned museums.

   
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