District 6: Central North

North Panhandle (NOPA) is a narrow strand located between Fell Street and Turk Boulevard, east of Golden Gate Park and just north of the Park’s Panhandle (it all makes sense now). Following rapid gentrification, NOPA has quickly become one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods. This pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhood is located near the Divisadero commercial corridor where trendy new restaurants, cafés, and boutiques seem to sprout overnight. If you’re not buying the bike-friendly part, check out the neighborhood’s Mojo Bicycle Café, which is part café, part bike shop, giving “greasy spoon” a whole new definition. Edwardian and Victorian homes file along NOPA’s tree-lined and parkside streets, many occupied by young professionals, families, and long-time residents. Neighbors are encouraged to meet and interact with each other, with events organized by the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association. NOPA enjoys adequate transportation via the 21-Hayes and 43-Masonic, and is located about 15 minutes walking distance from the Muni light rail at Duboce Park.

Historically, Western Addition was the westward of expansion San Francisco beyond Van Ness Avenue. Essentially, all of District 6: Central North was considered to be part of the Western Addition until each neighborhood emerged on their own. San Francisco’s Fillmore District is a microhood within Western Addition. This historic district was called “Harlem of the West” in the 1940s and 50s when it was the focal point of the American jazz scene. Jazz music can still be enjoyed in this neighborhood at The Addition, a music venue located in the old Yoshi’s building. Centrally located between Van Ness Avenue, Golden Gate Park, Upper and Lower Haight, and Pacific Heights, residents of Western Addition enjoy access to many of the city’s finest entertainment options and seamless transportation.

Anchored by its iconic park, Alamo Square is probably most known for the Painted Ladies (or “the Full House house”, though, you ought to know that the Tanners did not actually live in Alamo Square). Victorian homes line up along all sides of Alamo Square Park, which offers tennis courts, a playground, an off-leash dog park, and picture-perfect views. Though a relatively quiet neighborhood, Alamo Square is evolving quickly as its Divisadero commercial district evolves with exciting new restaurants, shops, and bars. If La Urbana, Madrone, or The Independent aren’t enticing entertainment options, livelier neighborhoods like Hayes Valley, Lower Haight, and Mid-Market / Castro are just steps away.

Defined by its bohemian charm, Hayes Valley is San Francisco’s answer to New York City’s SoHo or Greenwich Village. Lined with upscale boutiques, some of the city’s best restaurants, and exciting galleries, Hayes Valley has quickly topped San Francisco’s list of trendy neighborhoods. While Hayes Valley is now an haute couture heaven, it wasn’t always that way. Twenty years ago Hayes Valley was a symbol for the city’s drug and homeless problems, and the neighborhood we know and love today was inconceivable. The 1989 Loma Prieta gave Hayes Valley a second shot at life after the destruction and demolition of the Central Freeway, which passed right over the neighborhood. As Hayes Valley continues to experience a surge in growth, with several new development projects in the pipeline, its influence is spreading to surrounding neighborhoods, including the Mid-Market area, bringing in even more exciting new restaurants, shops, and housing projects.

Defined by its luxurious estates, Lower Pacific Heights is a neighborhood that has been trending up since the revitalizing housing boom of the 1990s. Borne out of the 1849 Gold Rush, many of the mansions that were once home to successful gold miners are now inhabited by Silicon Valley tech titans, including Salesforce founder and CEO, Marc Benioff. Locally referred to as “Lower Pac Heights”, this neighborhood features some of San Francisco’s best couture and designer shopping, as well as fine dining spots, which compete for space along the district’s portion of Fillmore Street. Lower Pacific Heights is also home to Japantown, which as one may assume, offers a variety of Japanese restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, banks, and shops. Most of these attractions are located in the large indoor shopping mall, which anchors the neighborhood. While both neighborhoods enjoy a quiet, low-key atmosphere, entertainment options are inexhaustible, especially with both Hayes Valley and the Marina nearby.