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.
A hub for culture, Civic Center and Hayes Valley is home to stately concert halls, renowned museums, and expansive public plazas.
The grandeur of early 20th-century Beaux-Arts architecture is showcased in the gorgeous City Hall on Van Ness Avenue. Across the street rises the ornate War Memorial Opera House, home of the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Ballet. Also nearby are the War Memorial Veterans Building and Davies Symphony Hall. The historic Bill Graham Auditorium is still frequented by top musical acts and performers.
East of Civic Center Plaza is the Asian Art Museum, home to artifacts spanning 6,000 years of history. You can also see great public works, including light art, in the neighborhood.
The SFJAZZ Center glistens on Franklin Street. The African American Art & Culture Complex is just a few blocks west on Fulton Street.
Neighborhood Highlights:
Where to Eat In Civic Center and Hayes Valley
At the heart of the city, Civic Center and Hayes Valley boast world-renowned restaurants from fine dining to casual cafes.
Shopping & Dining
Try the tasting menu of California-inspired cuisine at Rich Table. For Brazilian fare, step into Espetus Brazilian Steak House and experience the art of grilling as once practiced by 18th-century gauchos. Head to Rambler inside Hotel Zeppelin for pre-show craft cocktails and small bites. More great dining options can be found up and down Gough and Franklin streets.
Along Hayes Street, you'll find excellent local retailers selling clothing, leather goods, footwear, and more.
The neighborhood is well connected by public transit, meaning that you can easily begin or end your day in Civic Center.
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Your Guide to San Francisco's Museums and Galleries This Spring
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ExploreTrip Inspiration
From diverse dining to world-class museums and culture, here are some ideas to inspire your visit to San Francisco's Civic Center / Hayes Valley neighborhood.
All Trip Ideas
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At the heart of the city, Civic Center and Hayes Valley boast world-renowned restaurants from fine dining to casual cafes.
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San Francisco Neighborhoods
Explore the map to get a closer look at San Francisco's 19 major 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.
Mid-Market
A combination of enterprise zones, high tech, arts groups, retail, and restaurants, Mid-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 / Dogpatch
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, terrific music festivals, and photo ops of San Francisco's downtown skyline.