District 1: Northwest

Comfortable city living comes to mind when one thinks of Inner Richmond. Sandwiched between Golden Gate Park and the historic Presidio of San Francisco, the opportunities to enjoy urban nature with picnics, sporting activities and more are endless in this neighborhood. At the heart of the Inner Richmond is Clement Street, the main commercial street, where locals flock to dine and shop for ethnic foods. Amongst locals the Inner Richmond is known as the new Chinatown, just don’t let tourists find out about this well-hidden neighborhood’s offerings.

Similar to its southern counterpart, Outer Sunset, the Outer Richmond has an undeniably laid-back, beach town vibe. Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach and Land’s End are within walking distance for most areas, offering great waves for surfing, incredible hiking trails and endless opportunities for exploration. With a plethora of dining options, Outer Richmond is a popular destination for many San Franciscan foodies. Ethnic cuisine and markets are easy to find throughout the neighborhood due to large Russian and Chinese populations.

Laurel Heights is bordered by the Presidio of San Francisco to the north and Lone Mountain to the south. Like other neighborhoods that border the Presidio, Laurel Heights welcomes visitors with stately single-family homes, beautiful Edwardian and Victorian homes, as well as multi-unit buildings. Residents frequent the extremely convenient Laurel Village shopping center and boutiques on California Street between Spruce and Laurel, which offer two grocery stores, multiple coffee shops, retailers and eateries. Located next to the Presidio, Presidio Heights is an idyllic neighborhood where wide streets and single-family mansions are the norm. Most homes in the neighborhood have front and backyards and neighbors can enjoy hikes through the Presidio’s densely wooded trails.

Home to the University of San Francisco, Lone Mountain is buzzing with students and Don pride. USF’s St. Ignatius Church, which looks like it was brought here from ancient Rome, is at the heart of this neighborhood and can be seen from many points throughout the city. The Koret Center, the university’s sports and fitness facility, is open to the public and offers everything from workout equipment to batting cages and tennis courts. Lone Mountain borders, and is within walking distance of Haight-Ashbury, the Richmond, and Alamo Square/NOPA. Golden Gate Park and the Panhandle are close by for weekend entertainment, workouts and picnics.