North Beach
Old Italy, the New Deal, memories of Kerouac and the Beats and echoes of the waterfront Bohemianism meet of-the-moment eateries in North Beach.
North Beach doesn’t have an actual beach. It does, however, have a vibrant and strong Italian-American community that, for generations, has seeded the neighborhood with fantastic restaurants and cafes.
On the east side of Washington Square, vintage wooden houses climb Telegraph Hill, crowned by Coit Tower. Built in the 1930s, it’s decorated inside with murals depicting scenes from California’s history. Grant Avenue is rich with one-of-a-kind shops, while Broadway is lined with music clubs, restaurants and bars.
The beat generation is showcased in the City Lights bookstore on Columbus Ave. Look up to see “Language of the Birds” at Broadway and Columbus Ave. These illuminated books flying overhead are a permanent public art installation by Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn.
Get an award-winning pizza at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana or tuck into Café Zoetrope for a wide selection of Italian and California wines. Original Joe’s is a neighborhood staple serving San Francisco for over 100 years. To get a guided taste of the neighborhood, try Local Tastes of the City Tours.
Trip Inspiration
From great bites to legendary independent businesses, here are some ideas to inspire your visit to San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood.
All Trip Ideas
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San Francisco Neighborhoods
Union Square
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping in Union Square. Indeed, in a town with abundant citywide shopping, Union Square is the most renowned source of retail therapy.
Fisherman's Wharf
If there's one part of town that visitors — both first-timers and many-timers — equate with San Francisco, it's Fisherman's Wharf.
SoMa / Yerba Buena
In the 1970s, industry moved out and artists moved in. Now, SoMa has so much to experience, including the country's most beautiful ballpark.
North Beach
Old Italy, the New Deal, memories of Kerouac and the Beats and echoes of the waterfront Bohemianism meet of-the-moment eateries in North Beach.
Nob Hill
Those little cable cars that climb halfway to the stars in Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco’’ are climbing Nob Hill, the historic and iconic neighborhood of San Francisco.
Embarcadero / Financial District
From captains of the high seas to captains of industry, the Embarcadero has often been where people first began their San Francisco journey.
Civic Center / Hayes Valley
This central city district encompasses everything from stately concert halls and museums to animated restaurants and wide-open public plazas just west of Downtown.
Marina / Pacific Heights
The Marina's boutiques and restaurants attract a hip, younger crowd, while the views and stately homes of Pacific Heights take your breath away.
Japantown
San Francisco’s Japantown is the oldest in the U.S. From its famous Peace Pagoda to a variety of great eats, learn about this vibrant historic neighborhood.
Fillmore
A neighborhood full of music history, fine dining, and upscale shopping, The Fillmore packs more into a few city blocks than you can believe.
Central Market
A combination of enterprise zone, high tech, arts groups, retail and restaurants, Central Market is witnessing a boom.
Chinatown
With its pagoda-style architecture, ornate lamp posts, exotic menus and other distinctive elements, a stop here can feel more like a trip abroad than a neighborhood stroll.
Bayview
Bayview is the sunniest neighborhood in San Francisco, home to 35,000 residents, nesting ospreys and some of the most urban, diverse sights and bites in the city.
Mission District
The Mission District is one of San Francisco’s most of-the-moment neighborhoods, packed with trend-setting boutiques, restaurants, and more.
Castro / Noe Valley
Regardless of your sexual orientation, no trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to the world-famous Castro District, one of the country's first gay Neighborhoods.
Haight-Ashbury
Start your Summer of Love experience on the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets, where 1960s flower power blossomed.
Golden Gate Park / Sunset
Within Golden Gate Park, you'll find lakes, gardens, museums, golf courses and a herd of bison. The Sunset offers a zoo, views of the Pacific Ocean and tasty eats.
Richmond / Presidio
The southern anchor of the Golden Gate Bridge, the verdant, scenic Presidio, artfully reclaimed Crissy Field, and the Civil War-era Fort Point are just a few of the attractions in the northwest corner of town.
Treasure Island
This gem of an island offers a bustling urban winery scene, popular flea markets and photo ops of San Francisco's downtown skyline.
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