District 8
Cathedral
Hill
The New St. Mary's Cathedral tops this hill and is surrounded by finely
crafted apartment buildings and retirement residences. The imposing
presence of the First Unitarian Church, St. Mark's and St. Paul's
help to explain the name of this neighborhood.
Chinatown
The heart of the Chinese community downtown since Cantonese immigrants
came as workers during the Gold Rush, Chinatown is filled with colorful
produce shops, herbalists, fish and meat markets and continues to
be one of the City's most popular tourist destinations. Despite severe
discrimination and the Oriental Exclusion Act in the 1880s, Chinese
Americans persevered in this neighborhood. Its wooden buildings were
destroyed by fire following the 1906 quake and replaced by stone and
brick structures.
Civic
Center
This is an area of great architectural, social and historical interest.
The San Francisco Civic Center, City Hall, the new City Library, Herbst
Theater and the War Memorial are all found in this grand area which
also contains some failed attempts at urban renewal. The open civic
spaces are sometimes home to many of the city's underprivileged and
elderly poor. The Tenderloin neighborhood is one of the City's poorest.
Community groups work to stabilize the area today, which seems still
in the flux of economic pressures and change.
Embarcadero
Center
Bordered by Battery, Davis, Sacramento and Pacific Streets, Embarcadero
Center is a large complex of residences, shops, movie theaters and
offices surrounding landscaped plazas.
Financial
District
Much of what is now the densest part of the city was once water. The
shoreline was roughly at Montgomery Street and the east west streets
ended in wharves. The Wall St. of the West, Montgomery St. and others
downtown streets are the financial and corporate headquarters of the
City. Some of the best commercial architecture can be found here including
skyscrapers and modern condominiums. This area was originally part
of the Bay, which extended to Montgomery St. At the time of the Gold
Rush, the wharves that extended out into the bay became streets and
buildings. Their foundations included the hulks of old sailing vessels!
The opulent Sheraton Palace Hotel is here along Market Street which
still has the spirit of the original Palace Hotel of 1873.
Fisherman's
Wharf
Real fishing boats and restaurants serving fresh crab, historic sailboats
and a new walk-through aquarium are here at one of the City's most
popular tourist attractions. Go on, grab a boat to visit Alcatraz,
or a ferry to Sausalito...
Jackson
Square
The largest collection of mid-19th Century brick buildings still standing
can be found in this historic district. Because the city was mostly
destroyed by fire from the 1906 earthquake, these vital traces of
local heritage have been designated an official historic district,
with architect and sign control. You'll see interior design shops
along with some advertising agencies, world class hotels and restaurants.
Nob
Hill
Many mansions used to sit atop this hill, but most were burned in
the 1906 fire. The well known Pacific Union Club (James C. Flood's
brownstone mansion) still stands and hotels, co-operative and apartment
buildings flank its slopes. Views from pent houses are exceptional.
Grace Cathedral is here as well as the Masonic Auditorium and a few
roof top cocktail lounges. No one knows for sure why the hill was
called Nob, but the neighborhood has always been a prime residential
area, which sprung up along with the City in the 1850s and 60s. One
of the city's most homogeneous stands of apartment houses occupies
the downtown slopes of Nob Hill.
North
Beach
Encompassing Telegraph Hill and parts of Russian Hill, North Beach
is known for interesting book stores, espresso bars, fine Italian
and Basque food, night life and sausage, wine and cheese shops, as
well as a few specialty clothing stores. It was the home of the Beat
Generation in the 60s and remains a popular tourist neighborhood.
North
Waterfront
The strip of land from the Ferry building to Fisherman's Wharf has
always been considered prime real estate. The condominium complexes
on the Northern tip are well maintained, offering excellent views,
amenities and a convenient location, including the Golden Gateway
which includes some hi-rise offices and condominiums, centered around
some elaborately landscaped plazas. Most recently, many loft and condos
have been built at is southernmost tip and more are in development.
Polk
Gulch
A valley built on an underground river, Polk Gulch includes an interesting
mix of restaurants and coffee shops. The first gay neighborhood, it
still includes gay bars among other shops and boutiques. Upper Polk
Street runs through Russian Hill and houses many condominium buildings
and small 2-4 unit buildings.
Russian
Hill
Steep hills, offering terrific views to the Bay and Alcatraz, houses
and other buildings built on the hillside, tall co-op buildings and
alley ways all add to the charm and character found on Russian Hill.
From Pacific to Bay St. and from Polk Street to Mason. Polk Street
is the main commercial street where you can find galleries, coffee
shops, specialty stores, ice cream shops and corner groceries.
Telegraph
Hill
Defined by the tall pillar of Coit Tower, Telegraph Hill has steep
cliff-side homes and angled thoroughfares. Houses and smaller condominium
buildings can be found here, as well as a secret park! Full of character
and charm, it extends along Broadway, Grant Ave., Stockton, Francisco
and Sansome Streets. A stones through from North Beach and Fishermans
Wharf and a 10 minute walk to Downtown, this area provides a great
location for many.
Union
Square
Union Square has been the heart of San Francisco's shopping and hotel
district since well before the 1906 earthquake leveled its first commercial
buildings. In 1942, the first ever underground garage, designed by
Timothy Pflueger was built. The concrete structure was meant to double
as a bomb shelter. Covering it is a landscaped square with pathways.
Nieman-Marcus, The St. Francis Hotel, and the Saks building surround
a central square where shoppers can enjoy the grand scale of Union
Square. A side alley off the square was once a red light district.
Now the modern shopping street is known as "Maiden Lane".
Ticket outlets and cultural events can be found on the square itself.
Street mimes and performance artists are here as well. The City's
most popular cable car line passes the square up and down Powell St.