I spent the most miraculous summer living on top of Telegraph Hill in the sweet, sweet neighborhood of North Beach in San Francisco. I can almost smell the fresh aroma of Golden Boy Pizza wafting through my window as I I practice yoga in my living room.
Baker Beach
In 2018 I had the opportunity to intern at an independent Advertising Agency and immerse myself in some New Business Development work. The people I worked with there were nothing short of kind-hearted and adventurous (a common theme among SF folk), and before long, they were showing me the ropes. I will go into more detail regarding SF hotspots as I continue to develop my blog, but here are a few of my favorites areas to highlight:
North Beach
North Beach was my little, safe haven amidst the hustle-bustle of the city. I lucked-out by finding a one-bedroom for rent on Zillow. It was charming and quiet. I never saw my neighbors, and it was just up the hill from all the shops and restaurants. I could even see Coit Tower from my kitchen window.
This neighborhood is special. It’s filled with puppies, babies and fairly normal people (tough to come by in SF). I spent most afternoons laying on the soft grass in Washington Square Park. The local grocery was right around the corner and stocked just about any organic item you could think of. The liquor store was just a couple blocks down the street. Every building harmoniously butted up against another. After a few weeks of exchanging greetings with the same, familiar faces and having my picture added to the famous Grant & Green Market wall, I realized I officially become part of the neighborhood.
North Beach is one of those places where you can feel at home, even if you are a longs ways from it. It’s Italian charm warms you from the inside out. I can’t say enough about it, honestly.
The Financial District
Just because people call it the Financial District, don’t judge. The Financial District is loaded with—you guessed it—money, so naturally it’s a breeding ground for sophisticated restaurants. It reminds me of New York; busy streets filled with people dressed in suits and AirPods in their ears. I always felt a little out of place when I’d pass through in my dress and tennis shoes.
It’s a convenient place to get to, since it’s located in the heart of the city. A great spot for lunch or dinner would be Wayfare Tavern. It’s a modern, twist on American Food. Although I’m vegetarian now, I highly recommend their famous fried chicken. Samovar Tea lounge in Yerba Buena Gardens is one of my all time favorite places to relax. They offer quite the curated selection of exotic teas and their food is more than impressive. Again, although now vegetarian, I highly recommend the duck sandwich. Lastly, if you enjoy the arts, SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) is a must see. It’s very walkable, as most everything here is fairly condensed. Just keep in mind, on weekends this place is a ghost town and most places are closed.
Mission District
The Mission Neighborhood gets its Latin influence and name from the Dolores Mission built back in the 1700’s. It’s an ever-evolving area filled with culture. You’ll find just about everything you’re looking for either on Mission or Valencia Street.
Mission Street is home to a few notable places including El Techo and Foreign Cinema. These are both fantastic places for grabbing a bite to eat or for catching happy hour. Foreign Cinema’s swanky environment, which includes actual movie screenings throughout the establishment, easily contributes to it’s popularity. El Techo is the perfect place to grab an empanada and Pina Colada while catching the sunset on the rooftop. During a good clear-sky day, this place can stack up quite a line, so be prepared to wait.
The shops on Valencia Street are incomparable to any other place I’ve been. A couple notable ones are Paxton Gate and 826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store. Paxton Gate is a strange, yet enchanting store that somehow manages to combine plants, candles and jewelry with most exotic taxidermy. Seriously a great place to pick up a gift or some home decor. 826 Valencia is originally a non profit , but once you step inside, you find yourself in a pirate store, surrounded by pirate flags, treasure and all kinds of trinkets. Again, a very peculiar shop if you ask me, but fascinating nevertheless.
Summing it all up
If you can’t tell, I have a million great things to say about the different pockets of San Francisco. Each neighborhood and district has its own, unique flavor that is so vastly different from the one next to it. I tell my friends and family that San Francisco is its own world. From the homely hippy to the boujee billionaire, there’s a lifestyle for every type of person.
A word of advice: If there’s one thing I learned while living in San Francisco, do not refer to it San Fran or you will be deemed an outsider. If you’d like to abbreviate, you say “SF” or “The City.”
