Neighborhood Guide   San Francisco offers an incredibly diverse array of neighborhoods. It's advisable to narrow down your search to areas in which you truly can see yourself living. Click on any neighborhood below to get a snapshot that will help you better focus your home search. Marina: The place to be for young, single, and active dwellers. The Marina has a great cafe and shop corridor on Chestnut. If you're looking for diversity or an edgy, progressive neighborhood, the Marina probably isn't for you. But you can't beat this neighborhood for frollicking on the Marina Green on Saturday mornings and socializing at the Safeway on Buchanan. Retail District: Chestnut Street Commute: Great to Marin and Financial District; difficult to 101S/280 top Cow Hollow: Life in this neighborhood revolves around the eponymous Union Street,--arguably the toniest retail strip in the city. Cow Hollow is excellent for those who enjoy proximity to Marina recreation, as well as a busy nightlife that tends to cater to the fraternity set. Retail District: Union Street Commute: Great to Marin and Financial District; difficult to 101S/280 top Pacific Heights: The place to look for a mansion or sprawling condo with Bay views. Pacific Heights is generally quiet and residential, with its hilly location providing great views for many residents. Busy Fillmore Street offers an upscale array of restaurants and shops, and Alta Plaza Park is the destination for lawn lovers and dog walkers. Retail District: Fillmore Street Commute: Good to Financial District and 101N top Presidio Heights: One of the toniest neighborhoods in the city, Presidio Heights is home to tree-lined streets and gorgeous mansions. With the Presidio itself just steps away, Presidio Heights is another great neighborhood for great recreation access. Retail District: Upper Sacramento Street Commute: Great to Marin, Financial District top Russian Hill: This elegant neighborhood embodies Hollywood's vision of San Francisco, from Lombard's "crookedest-street-in-the-world" to the cable cars that run to and from it. Parking is particularly challenging in Russian Hill; don't buy a home without parking unless you can add a garage or snag a leased one. With North Beach to the east and Nob Hill to the south, Russian Hill is in walking distance of great restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Retail District: Polk St., Hyde St., & Columbus Avenue Commute: Great to Financial District, limited to 101 and 280 top Nob Hill: This buttoned-up downtown distict is one of San Francisco's signature neighborhoods, renowned for its city landmarks such as Grace Cathedral and famous hotels built where the city's Gold Rush millionaires once built their mansions. Housing is higher density here, and the small, often narrow streets can feel crowded. But if you like to walk to restaurants, shops in Union Square, and the financial district, you can't beat Nob Hill. Retail District: Restaurants and shops are scattered throughout Nob Hill. Commute: Excellent to Financial District top Telegraph Hill: Those drawn to this neighborhood usually appreciate its secluded, steep streets and rich history. But local residents are not alone; Coit Tower, the Filbert Steet steps and North Beach's nearby restaurants draw the tourists. Parking can be challenging, especially at night. Retail District: Columbus Avenue Commute: Great to Financial District; 280 and 101 top North Beach: Most famous for being the home of the beat generation and the city's Italian-American community, North Beach is the coffee-swilling center of San Francisco. For a genuine neighborhood feel and an active nightlife, North Beach fits the bill. But parking is notoriously difficult, so avoid homes without garages unless you can lease or plan to install one. Retail District: Columbus Avenue Commute: Good to Financial District; 101S; 80 top South Beach: With new condo developments breaking ground on a regular basis, South Beach has been carved out of some former railroad yards and light industrial warehouses. Noted high rises such as The Brannan tower over the Embarcadero, SBC Park, and the newly overhauled Ferry Building. All that plus weather that's notably warmer than most neighborhoods in the city. Retail District: Townsend Street Commute: Excellent to Financial District; 280; 101S; 80 top South of Market: Known for its lofts, clubs, and restaurants, largely industrial SoMa is a great area for singles and those who want to be in the center of a developing landscape. Yerba Buena Gardens provides a pleasant urban retreat. The SF Museum of Modern Art is also a wonderful cultural destination, and you can't beat the high-tech entertainment draw of the Metreon. Retail District: None yet Commute: Excellent to downtown; 280; 101S top Hayes Valley: This neighborhood has gentrified in recent years. Where the crack houses and tenements once stood, there are now funky shops and excellent restaurants. Nearby Alamo Square provides a bit of green for dog walking and sunning. The recent freeway ramp demolition on Octavia Street now lets residents see more blue sky, and the neighborhood will undoubtedly continue evolving. Retail District: Hayes Street Commute: Good to Financial District; great to 101S, 280 top Haight Ashbury: The Haight still hasn't shaken its 1960's hippie culture, especially along its main strip. But the exclusive boutiques and hip restaurants have done their part to gentrify the neighborhood. Huge flats and Edwardian mansions are the norm, and the Haight provides a fine sense of community. Nearby Buena Vista Park is also an excellent choice for buyers; homes in this area often enjoy views. Retail District: Haight Street Commute: Good to Financial District, 101 top Potrero Hill: Home to the true crookedest street in the city, Potrero is a mix of industrial space, lofts, and Victorians, many of which have views. It's a bit isolated from the rest of the city, but offers a family environment and warm weather with little fog. On the outskirts of Potrero are the up-and-coming Mission Bay and Central Waterfront areas, still largely industrial, but slowly incorporating residential developments. The Third Street rail promises a direct link from these areas to the rest of the city. Retail District: 18th Street Commute: Great to 280, 101S top Mission: Traditionally the Latino quarter of the city, the Mission was actually home base for the Irish community up until the 1950's. Today, it's a culturally diverse community with upscale restaurants and thrift shops. There's also a lively nightlife scene, particularly along Valencia. Lofts now dot the Mission, and residents enjoy the best weather in San Francisco. Retail District: Valencia Street; 24th Street Commute: Great to Downtown; 101S; 280 top Bernal Heights: Smaller homes dot the landscape of sunny Bernal Heights. Its narrow streets and grassroots feel haven't yet been penetrated by chain stores, and the neighborhood plays host to artists, writers, and first-time home buyers. But be warned that transportation to downtown is somewhat inconvenient. Many homes in Bernal enjoy views, especially up near Bernal Heights Park, which is a dog-walking mecca. Retail District: Cortland Avenue Commute: Great to 280; 101S top Cole Valley: This is a tucked-away enclave with tree-lined streets, offering a variety of mom-and-pop stores and many restaurants and cafes. Cole Valley residents are largely families and young professionals. A great place to live if you want the proximity to nearby bustling Haight Ashbury and Golden Gate Park. Retail District: Cole Street Commute: Okay to 101 and Financial District top Eureka Valley: What was once dirt roads and dairy farms is now home to one of the city's most vibrant communities. Streets can be a bit crowded and noisy--particularly during Gay Pride--the closer you live to Castro Street. But east of the main strip and up the hill lie bucolic streets lined with Victorian and Edwardian homes. With a few exceptions, the nightlife in the area caters to a predominantly gay crowd. Retail District: Castro Street; Market Street Commute: Great to Financial District; okay to 101S; 280 top Noe Valley: On weekends, it's a challenge walking down Noe's 24th Street retail strip without bumping into a baby stroller or a dog. Once a blue-collar neighborhood, Noe is home to well-heeled residents these days, with home prices that have quadrupled in recent years. It's also a favorite of the Peninsula commuters, who can easily jump on 101 or 280 to get to work. And the climate is one of the best in the city, letting residents enjoy warm, sunny days most of the time. Retail District: 24th Street, Church Street Commute: Excellent to 280, 101S; easy to Financial District top Glen Park: Many residents of this quaint neighborhood ended up there because they were priced out of Noe; however, Glen Park home prices have risen dramatically themselves. The intersection at Chenery and Diamond has gentrified considerably, and Glen Park Canyon is a favorite of dog owners. Probably the biggest benefit to the neighborhood is its easy commute for South and East Bay workers. Additionally, the BART station is highly convenient for those destined for downtown. Retail District: Chenery Street Commute: Great to 280, 101S; Financial District top Miraloma Park: A great place to live for those who want the convenience of the city but the comforts of a more suburban environment. Miraloma's rolling hills and manicured lawns are a favorite with families, and nearby Tower Market is a bastion of gourmet delights. Though Miraloma gets its share of the fog, it's not as thick as in some other San Francisco areas. Retail District: Portola Commute: Great to 280, 101S; okay to Financial District top Forest Hill: A fine neighborhood for those who need larger homes and want a more suburban setting. Many of Forest Hill's homes have been owned by the same families for years, so it's sometimes possible to find good values and a lot of space in houses that simply need updating. Retail District: West Portal Avenue Commute: Good to Financial District top Sunnyside: For those priced out of Glen Park, Sunnyside is the next best alternative. Most homes were built in the 1950s, and there is a strong sense of community in the area. Streets tend to be quiet, but Glen Park's downtown area is a healthy walk away for many Sunnyside residents. You can't beat the freeway access if you commute to the East or South Bays, and the BART station in Glen Park is a stone's throw away. Retail District: Monterey Avenue Commute: Great to 280; 101S; good to Financial District top Excelsior: An excellent neighborhood for first-time home buyers who have their heart set on a single-family house. The Excelsior is a mishmash of 1950s and Victorian architecture, and is one of the more transitional areas in the city. Retail District: Mission Street Commute: Great to 101S; 280 top Sunset: Enjoying close proximity to the ocean and Golden Gate Park, the Sunset enjoys fog on most mornings and evenings. But despite the sometimes iffy weather, the Sunset has a diverse ethnic mix and increasingly superior restaurants. There's a small-town feel to the neighborhood, with plenty of mom-and-pop diners, drug stores, shoe repair shops, and grocery stores. Retail District: Irving/Taraval/Noriega Avenues Commute: Across town from 280/101; Muni runs directly to downtown top Richmond: While the Inner Richmond is a restaurant haven and one of the city's more difficult parking areas, the Outer Richmond retains a neighborhood feel along its main shopping streets. A mix of ethnicities abounds, with Clement Street offering a great variety of restaurants, from Thai to Vietnamese. Weather can be notoriously unpredictable, ranging from full sun to winds and thick fog. Retail District: Geary, Clement Commute: Distant from 280/101; good to downtown top