North Beach | San Francisco Travel
Neighborhoods

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 during twilight

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 Cafe 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.

Artist Jeremy Fish explores North Beach

Heart of the City: North Beach

Learn from the residents and business owners of North Beach about why this neighborhood is the heart of the city.

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North Beach

Where to Eat and Drink in North Beach

With plenty of cafés, bars, parks, and restaurants to capture your attention, here are some of North Beach's can't-miss spots.

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