San Francisco is one of the greatest cities in the world to live. Cost of living is high, but for good reason. The views are gorgeous, there is always so much going on, and the surrounding areas offer incredible experiences just waiting for you around the corner. The city is active and fit, excitement runs high, and the food scene is out of this world. One thing about living in San Francisco is that the neighborhoods define you. The differences from neighborhood to neighborhood are less than subtle, though ease of getting around in San Francisco means you can explore easily. Let's take a look at three popular San Francisco neighborhoods.
Bordering Golden Gate Park and just three miles from the Pacific Ocean, this neighborhood boasts some of the worst weather in San Francisco, drenched in fog and often chilly. But Inner Sunset is one of the most beloved neighborhoods in the city. Why? Inner Sunset is a unique pocket that has retained San Francisco's laid back, friendly small town feel despite rampant gentrification throughout nearly all of San Francisco as a whole. Inner Sunset has a fun, exciting feel to it, a great ethnic mix in its population, and some of the best low key restaurants in the city, highlighted by its abundance of authentic Asian food. The hub of grad student life with UCSF sitting right at the center of it, Inner Sunset has low crime and is great for families looking for a more affordable place to live in the city. Proximity to Golden Gate Park is a convincing tradeoff for the fog, and public transportation, particularly the N-Judah line passing right through, makes it easy to get to other parts of the city.
Located at the edge of the bay with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marina district is one of the hippest and trendiest in San Francisco. This neighborhood is absolutely brimming with young, fit, beautiful, and well off 20 and 30 somethings. The Marina offers amazing food, incredible shopping, and a buzzing nightlife. Known as a yuppie haven, the Marina is affluent and home to many young, single professionals. The architecture is beautiful, the neighborhood is particularly clean and well kept, and with Chrissy Field and Fort Mason between here and the bay, the natural beauty is endless. Bustling and bright, Chestnut Street is the hub of shopping and dining in the Marina. Chestnut Street is home to fun restaurants, lively wine bars, pubs, and cocktail lounges, and dozens of boutiques, specialty shops, and markets. There are plenty of corporate retail stores as well, so on the weekends, you may see a flood of shoppers avoiding the masses at Union Square to get their retail therapy in this most serene and beautiful environment.
Pacific Heights has a certain old world charm punctuated by its outrageously beautiful architecture, including prestigious and buildings and Victorian mansions. This neighborhood is particularly prim and proper, so it typically attracts a fancier, more suburban dweller. Pacific Heights is relatively slow paced and quite reserved. Fillmore Street attracts visitors with its upscale, but eclectic shopping, and idyllic sidewalk cafes line the beautiful streets for those craving a peaceful moment in a decadent environment. Alta Plaza Park offers one of the most gorgeous, panoramic views and a serene getaway from the bustling city life of downtown San Francisco. You'll find happy dogs off leash, boisterous children enjoying the sun, and the health conscious of Pacific heights out for a jog through the pristine park.