10 Great Neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area

By Ellen Lee, FrontDoor.com | Published: 11/26/2008

San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood houses the city's famous "Painted Ladies."

In the San Francisco Bay Area, home sweet home can range from an urban loft to a refuge in the hills.

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco is a melting pot of ethnicities, cultures and lifestyles, but it's also made up of distinct neighborhoods. The Castro is known as a haven for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The Sunset is residential, low-key and family-oriented -- not to mention foggy. Sea Cliff, with its large estates and sweeping, dramatic views of the ocean, is home to some of the city's wealthiest residents. The fun part about living in the city? Walk a few blocks and you could be in a completely different world, each with its unique collection of restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment. Here are some of the in-demand neighborhoods:

1. THE MISSION

This lively Latino immigrant community is also a trendy hotspot for nightlife. Mission Street, the community's main drag, includes hip restaurants such as Foreign Cinema (where patrons can watch a film projected onto the wall as they dine), mom-and-pop bodegas and hole-in-the-wall eateries that cook both Chinese and Peruvian dishes in the same kitchen. Its proximity to downtown, easy access to public transit and affordable housing -- at least for San Francisco -- have made it an increasingly popular neighborhood. Browse Real Estate Listings in Mission, CA

The Neighbors: A diverse mix of families, young professionals and blue-collar workers

Also Consider: Bernal Heights

Further from downtown, on the outer edge of the city, Bernal Heights is also one of San Francisco's more affordable neighborhoods. It's quiet, tree-lined and family-oriented -- parents chat online in an active Bernal Heights Yahoo group -- and has its share of gourmet restaurants, organic markets, yoga studios and shops.

2. THE MARINA

For better or worse, this waterfront neighborhood has a reputation as home to the city's yuppies. Its Safeway supermarket is known as a singles pickup spot. Cruise its retail corridor along Chestnut and Union Streets and it's sushi bars, high-end baby boutiques and one of the city's three Apple stores. In the early evening, Marina residents head to Crissy Field and the Presidio to jog and walk their dogs along the water. Marina, CA Waterfront Listings

The Neighbors: Trendsetters, singles, young families, young professionals

3. MISSION BAY

Mission Bay is one of the city's newest neighborhoods, with an estimated $4 billion spent to develop it. It's one of the few places in San Francisco where people can still get in on the ground floor as it is still under construction, with the building of new high-rise condominiums and lofts alongside hip restaurants, bars and stores. Its Caltrain station lets people live in the city but easily commute to and from work in Silicon Valley and the Peninsula. And its latest addition, a park that includes a basketball court, volleyball court and dog run, has only added to its appeal.

The Neighbors: Singles, young professionals, techies commuting to Silicon Valley
Listings: Mission Bay Real Estate

4. PACIFIC HEIGHTS

Beautiful, spacious and well-kept Victorian and Edwardian homes line this affluent, hilltop neighborhood. Most of the multi-million-dollar estates boast views of the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Bridge. Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison owns a home here, as does romance novelist Danielle Steele, among the celebrity neighbors.

The Neighbors: Longtime San Franciscans, socialites, executives, professionals
Browse Pacific Heights Real Estate and Lower Pacific Heights (Fillmore) Listings

5. NOE VALLEY

It's common to see parents pushing their strollers around Noe Valley, a modest neighborhood that includes children's boutiques, bistros and coffee shops.

The Neighbors: Young families, young professionals

Also Consider: Laurel Heights and Jordan Park

Strollers and babies are also in large supply in this family-oriented neighborhood. That may be due to the fact that the majority of babies born in San Francisco are delivered at California Pacific Medical Center's California campus in Laurel Heights. Its small shopping center, Laurel Village, also includes several baby and children's stores. The neighborhood is characterized by individual homes, many with lawns and yards, and some tenants-in-common, where a house has been divided into two or more units and owned by multiple people.

The Neighbors: Families, professionals, longtime San Franciscans

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