By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Francisco Blogger
San Francisco is truly defined by its neighborhoods. They are as distinct as the people who live there. Here is simplified look at these areas and while some residents may argue this isn’t perfectly precise, don’t be swayed; it’s close enough for our purposes.
Downtown/Financial District/Union Square – This heart of San Francisco’s business district. This is where the famous Pyramid building is located, Chinatown, shopping-friendly Union Square and Market Street. It’s also bordered by the Embarcadero.
SoMa – South of Market, or “SoMa” to locals, is home to San Francisco’s dot-com culture and most of its dance clubs. The Giants play, is in this area. The Mission District, with its many small restaurant/bars, is not too far away.
Marina District (“The Triangle”) – The young and fun party here. Trendy shops and restaurants line Union Street (not to be confused with Union Square) and includes the famous “Triangle,” so named because years ago it had three of the city’s hottest bars all located across the street from one another (of which only one of the originals remains). People from Los Angeles and other party-seeking visitors-in-the-know go here while in town.
Russian Hill – One of the city’s most desirable locations to live is this upscale community. It’s also where some of San Francisco’s most notorious hills are located. Russian Hill basically encompasses the area around Hyde, Columbus and Washington streets. There’s a small pocket of cool bars along the midsection of Polk Street.
Haight/Ashbury – Get lost in the 1960s in this former home of the Grateful Dead. This is a place of tie-die shirts, hippies, vintage clothing stores and an unusual collection of bars.
Castro Street – The city’s famous gay scene is centered here. By the way, some uneducated souls feel that San Francisco is all gay and that it’s not suitable for “straight” people. Or, they feel that straight guys will have a field day with the ladies because the town is all gay. Wrong!