As the name implies, the '''Civic Center''' is the primary center of government within [[San Francisco]], housing many important civic institutions. Aside from its official duties, it also moonlights as a cultural center with many fine museums, theaters, opera houses, and symphony halls located here. Over the years however, it has developed a reputation for attracting many of the city's drug-addicted and homeless to its open plazas. Next door is the '''Tenderloin''', one of San Francisco's lowest income neighborhoods with an unfortunate reputation for poverty, drugs, and crime, particularly violent street crime. However, it also has a rich history and an eclectic community, with treasures for those who know where to look. The Civic Center-Tenderloin area is bounded roughly by Market St to the southeast, Taylor St to the east, Franklin St to the west, and Sutter St to the north.
'''Chinatown-North Beach''' in [[San Francisco]] combines two adjoining neighbors, both of which are among the city's most popular immigrant neighborhoods. Culturally and aesthetically, they could not be more different yet their streets mesh seamlessly together. Chinatown is the oldest and largest Chinese community outside of Asia. More than just a tourist destination, it is a functioning, living, and breathing Chinese community that can offer intriguing cultural experiences even to the most jaded old China hand. Its tiny and crowded streets bustle with activity and energy. North Beach, on the other hand, is much more laid back. This "Little Italy," with its cafes and alfresco dining, has a real European charm and flavor reminiscent of the romance of Europe and Italy. The area runs from roughly Bay Street to the north, Powell Street south of Filbert Street and Columbus Avenue north of Filbert on the west, the Embarcadero on the east, and Washington Street on the south with an extension to Bush Street between Kearny and Powell Streets to encompass the rest of Chinatown.
==Understand==
==Understand==
===Civic Center===
[[Image:Chinatown2 SF.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Chinatown's Grant Avenue]]
The '''Civic Center''' is on Van Ness Ave, north of its intersection with Market St. The city began developing the area in 1913, and most of the buildings there are of a "Classical Style", with their development being heavily influenced by the "City Beautiful Movement". Most of the city's integral governmental institutions are located here; like City Hall which dominates the Civic Center with its impressive "Beaux-Arts" style dome. There are two main plazas in the area; Civic Center Plaza and United Nations Plaza. The Civic Center Plaza (in front of City Hall) has been a popular place for holding rallies, protests, and festivals. As well as being a hub for city government, the area is also a serious cultural center. "Culture vultures" flock here at night to see performances of the San Francsico opera, symphony, and ballet, as well as to attend theater, galas, concerts, plays, and special events. During the day you can get your "culture fix" by visiting one of the many excellent museums and galleries such as the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum, and the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery. There are also several other smaller private galleries in the area.
===Chinatown===
With pagoda-tiled roofs, Cantonese conversations, busy live-produce markets, mahjong players, and little old Chinese ladies confidently spitting on the pavement — '''[http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com Chinatown]''' is a unique part of San Francisco. Established in 1850, in the area around Portsmouth Plaza, San Francisco's Chinatown is reputed to be the oldest and one of the largest and most famous of all Chinatowns outside of Asia. Many of the Chinese who settled here were merchants or immigrant workers, working on either the transcontinental railroad or as mine workers during the Gold Rush. Today, it is home for more than 100,000 Chinese and Chinese-Americans, many of whom are low-income, elderly, and foreign born, living in dense tenements. It is also a cultural link for the hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Chinese-Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Chinatown holds a prominent position in the history of Chinese and Chinese-Americans in the United States, from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the present day. The residual "bachelor" society one finds in San Francisco's Chinatown today cannot be understood without some knowledge of these hostile decades. The tourist section of Chinatown is mainly along Grant Avenue, from Bush to Broadway. Grant Avenue was made famous by Rodgers and Hammerstein's ''Flower Drum Song''. The Chinatown market area is mainly along Stockton Street, one block above (west of) Grant Avenue, and the east-west streets crossing Stockton. Other San Francisco concentrations of Chinese shops and restaurants are located in the [[San Francisco/The Avenues|Inner Richmond District]], mainly along Clement Street, and the [[San Francisco/The Avenues|Outer Sunset District]], mainly along Irving Street.
Architecture aficionados will be happy to know that some of the most beautiful buildings in the city are cloistered within a few square blocks here. Examples include the War Memorial Opera House, the Asian Art Museum, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, and the War Memorial Veterans building with the Herbst Theater (where the U.N. charter was signed in 1945).
===North Beach===
Forming part of the old Barbary Coast (an extinct neighborhood infamous for its crime, prostitution, and general unruliness), and popular with both locals and tourists alike, '''North Beach''' remains one of the most popular and beloved neighborhoods in San Francisco. Nestled between Chinatown to the south and [[San Francisco/Fisherman's Wharf|Fisherman's Wharf]] to the north, North Beach is the Italian part of town and is known by the moniker "'''Little Italy'''." Telegraph poles, painted in the colors of the Italian flag (green, white, and red), delineate the boundaries between these two neighbors. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and is rich in both history and culture. The neighborhood derived its name as the bay shoreline originally reached as far as Taylor and Francisco streets, and the area was indeed a real beach until the city subsequently filled it in. The portion of Grant Avenue that runs straight through North Beach is the oldest street in San Francisco. Authentic old-world Italian cafes, restaurants, delicatessens and bakeries line the steep streets. North Beach was also the West Coast's capital for the '''Beatnik''' movement in the 1950s — you can still see many of the places where Jack Kerouac and the "Dharma Bums" hung out and wrote their dark poetry. Other literati celebrities that hung out there were; Alan Ginsberg, Neal Cassidy (Dean Moriarity in Kerouac's ''On The Road''), and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Alan Ginsberg wrote his most famous poem 'Howl' while living at 1010 Montgomery Street. Today, the neighborhood is also very well known for its happening nightlife scene. Nightclubs and bars abound — particularly at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Grant Avenue. At its base, Broadway is a mini red-light district, made famous in the 1960s by Carol Doda with her ''"twin 44s."'' The area is still full of adult bookstores and strip clubs; despite this, strangely, like everything in San Francisco, it retains a certain charm. Washington Square (another old Beat hangout), in front of the Saints Peter and Paul Church, is a very popular hangout with locals, and a great place to relax. North Beach has also some famous residents past and present, like baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and movie director Francis Ford Coppola.
There is also a popular farmers market held twice weekly in United Nations Plaza.
===Tenderloin===
Many guidebooks will tell you to avoid a large part of downtown — the '''Tenderloin'''. It's true that this "bad neighborhood" is rife with panhandlers, adult bookstores, and massage parlors, but it's also full of good, cheap ethnic restaurants and colorful dive bars. The 'Loin is probably the last area of downtown to experience real gentrification, a process that seems to be taking its time, but the early signs are already here. Culture vultures will find several cutting edge, alternative/experimental theaters and high-culture galleries, which are attracted by the neighborhood's low rents and proximity to downtown. Sleek lounges and trendy clubs are also increasingly making a home in this eclectic neighborhood, side by side with the traditional dive bars it has always been known for.
The name "Tenderloin" comes from the overall shape of the area's boundaries: triangular, like the cross-section of a tenderloin steak. According to a different explanation the area was originally called "The Tenderloin" by the police officers, since they were paid more to work there — the most notorious part of the town. There are many different ways to define its boundaries; the official and original three corners (making a Tenderloin shape) may be delineated by Market St and Larkin St to the south, Geary St and Larkin St to the northwest, and Market St by Geary St to the northeast. Today the area would be more better defined between Polk St, Sutter St, Mason St, Market St, and Golden Gate Ave.
Although it has a reputation as one of the tougher parts of town, in reality the Tenderloin is quite variegated and can change drastically from block to block. There are many different sub-neighborhoods within the 'Loin. Much of the area on the east side of Mason St (above O'Farrell St) is high-rent and more properly considered part of downtown [[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Union Square]]. The western area around Hyde and Larkin Sts, from Turk St to O'Farrell St, is a colorful Vietnamese neighborhood known as '''"Little Saigon"'''.
Geary St, Post St, and Sutter St, especially the blocks west of Jones St, are part of the so-called '''"Tendernob"''' or '''"Tenderloin Heights"''' bordering [[San Francisco/Nob Hill-Russian Hill|Nob Hill]]; sometimes this definition also includes southern Nob Hill as far north as California St or Sacramento St (especially the western blocks around Polk St). The Tendernob (at least on the 'Loin side) is considered a nightlife hotspot by some folks who like their drinking milieu a bit rough around the edges. It connects with Polk St on the western edge of the Tenderloin. Known variously as '''"Polk Gulch"''', '''"Polk Village"''', or the '''"Outer Tenderloin"''', this very lively area of Polk St, from Geary St to Union St, is populated with all types of restaurants, cafes, bars, venues, bookstores, and other shops. Finally, an area bordered by O'Farrell, Geary, Leavenworth, and Taylor Sts, is sometimes called the '''"Tandoor-loin"''' because of the high concentration of excellent and affordable Indian restaurants.
Dashiell Hammett's novel, ''"The Maltese Falcon,"'' was set in the Tenderloin, and the 1941 movie adaptation for the Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade, was also set in the Tenderloin.
{{infobox|Printable Maps|[[:File:Sanfrancisco chinatownnorthbeach map.PNG|Map of Chinatown-North Beach]]}}
{{infobox|Printable Maps|[[:File:San FranciscoCiviccenter4.png|Map of the Civic Center-Tenderloin]]}}
===By car===
===By car===
Directions for driving to the Civic Center are marked on the freeways. Once inside the City limits, two main arteries serve the area — Van Ness Ave and Market St.
Driving into the area is not recommended, but if you must, the closest parking garage to Chinatown is underneath Portsmouth Plaza, on Kearny Street (which is a one-way street north) between Clay and Washington. Other Chinatown garages are the Golden Gateway at 250 Clay Street, North Beach at 755 Vallejo Street, and St. Mary's Square at 433 Kearny Street. All garages are open 24 hours a day, except for Golden Gateway. There are also a few small parking garages scattered throughout North Beach, including Imperial Parking at 425 Broadway Street. Driving to the base of Coit Tower is definitely not recommended, as there is a very limited amount of parking at the top of the hill.
There are several garages, such as the Performing Arts Garage at Grove St and Gough St, an underground garage under the Civic Center Plaza (entrance on McAllister St), open from 6AM to Midnight, or 24-hour valet parking at Opera Plaza on Turk St just off Van Ness Ave. Where the freeway was prior to 1989 earthquake (between Grove St at Gough St and Turk St at Franklin St) there are several smaller open air lots, which will charge about $10 for all day or $6 for an evening. Those lots are gradually being displaced by new construction. Street parking in the Tenderloin is extremely difficult to find, but parking garages are plentiful.
===By cable car===
Each of the three Cable Car lines pass through Chinatown. If you exit BART or the MUNI Metro at the Powell St. Station you can catch the Powell-Mason or the Powell-Hyde cable car line at Powell and Market. Both routes will take you into Chinatown, but the Powell-Mason line is a better bet for getting to North Beach as the Powell-Hyde line turns west at Jackson and proceeds into [[San Francisco/Nob Hill-Russian Hill|Russian Hill]]. To reach Chinatown's famous Grant Avenue via the cable car, exit BART or the MUNI Metro at the Embarcadero Station and catch the California cable car line at California and Market.
===By MUNI===
The neighborhood is well-served by public transit, provided by '''[http://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/transit MUNI]''' in the form of the Metro system, the '''F-Line streetcar''' and various bus lines. All of the MUNI Metro lines ('''J''', '''K''', '''L''', '''M''', '''N''' and '''T''') serve the '''Powell/Market''' and '''Civic Center/United Nations Plaza''' stations under Market St along with the BART line. The MUNI Metro also serves the '''Van Ness/Market''' station, which is part of the same subway tunnel but is not shared with BART.
The historic '''F streetcar line''' runs on Market St between Castro St and the Ferry Building (where it turns north on The Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf), passing by both the Civic Center and the Tenderloin.
From the Caltrain station the '''47-Van Ness''' bus takes you to along the western border of the area (Van Ness Ave) to City Hall. Other frequent MUNI bus lines serving the area are: '''49-Mission/Van Ness''', '''9-San Bruno''', '''31-Balboa''', '''5-Fulton''', '''19-Polk''', '''21-Hayes''' and '''38-Geary'''.
===By BART===
'''[http://www.bart.gov/ BART]''' runs under Market St with two stops in the area; both the '''Powell/Market''' and '''Civic Center/United Nations Plaza'''. Both BART stations will put you well within walking distance of any Tenderloin attraction; the latter is the most convenient BART stop for the Civic Center.
===By bus===
===By cable car===
One or other of two [http://www.sfcablecar.com/routes.html cable car lines] — either the '''Powell/Mason cable car''' line or the '''Powell/Hyde cable car''' line — can take you from [[San Francisco/Fisherman's Wharf|Fisherman's Wharf]], [[San Francisco/Chinatown-North Beach|Chinatown]], [[San Francisco/Nob Hill-Russian Hill|Nob Hill]], or Russian Hill to the intersection of Market St and Powell St in [[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Union Square]] — near the '''Powell/Market''' BART and Muni station. From here it's just one block to the Tenderloin.
Of course, if you'd rather avoid the long lines and crowded trip that a cable car ride entails, there are several good '''[http://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/transit MUNI]''' bus lines that serve the area. To get to Chinatown from the BART/MUNI Metro, exit at the Montgomery Street Station, walk one block up Post Street, and catch the '''30-Stockton''' or '''45-Union''' bus line on Kearny near Post. The 30 or 45 bus will turn left onto Sutter and then right onto Stockton; after passing through the Stockton Tunnel, the bus will stop twice in Chinatown, on Stockton near Clay and on Stockton near Pacific. To get to North Beach from Market Street, the '''10-Townsend''', '''12-Folsom/Pacific''', 30, or 45 lines will do nicely. From the east, the '''1-California''' line passes through Chinatown. The '''39-Coit''' goes from Fisherman's Wharf up to the Coit Tower, but can be obstructed by traffic that clogs the parking lot there, but there are plans to change this.
===On foot===
===On foot===
Chinatown is alsoaneasywalkfrom [[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Union Square]] (walk north on StocktonthroughthetunnelornorthonGrantthroughtheChinatownGateatGrant and Bush).Similarly, North Beach can be easily accessed by walking northbound from MarketStreet,straight through the [[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Financial District]].Bothneighborhoodscanalsobeeasilyreached from Market Street by simply walking northbound on Grant Avenue. To get to the area from [[San Francisco/Fisherman'sWharf|Fisherman'sWharf]],walksouthboundstraightdownColumbusAvenue.
Given that the area is centrally located downtown, it is extremely accessible on foot. From the [[San Francisco/SoMa|SoMa]] area walk northbound on anywhere from Fifth St to 11th St. Market St forms its broad southern boundary and makes the area easily accessible from either the east ([[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Union Square-Financial District]]) or west ([[San Francisco/Castro-Noe Valley|The Castro]]), and from the north ([[San Francisco/Nob Hill-Russian Hill|Nob Hill-Russian Hill]]) it's just a 10-20 minute walk directly due south.
==Get around==
==Get around==
As this is a relatively small area, the best way to get around is on foot. To help you navigate around there is a {{marker|type=listing|name=Visitor Information Center|url=http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/|lat=37.7844|long=-122.4081}} located at 900 Market St on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza, next door to the cable car turntable at Powell and Market streets. The V.I.C. is open M-F 9AM-5PM; Sa, Su, and holidays 9AM-3PM, PST. Telephone inquiries may be made M-F from 8:30AM to 5PM PST, by calling +1-415-391-2000 or +1-415-392-0328.
There can be little doubt that once you have arrived in the Chinatown-North Beach area, by far the best way to get around is on foot. Due to the busy and cluttered nature of both neighborhoods, and also because of the lack of parking options, driving around is certainly not recommended — especially in Chinatown. Buses can also be a help, particularly when you are going in a north-south direction (or vice versa). [http://www.sfpedicabs.com/ Pedicabs] also operate a route along the Embarcadero and through Chinatown and then North Beach. Stop one of them if they're empty and negotiate a price. For a bit extra many of them do walking tours of Chinatown.
There are many more parks, public seating, and cafes with curbside tables in North Beach, so why not see Chinatown first. That way, by the time you'd made it through its bustling streets you'll be ready for a coffee and a sit down in North Beach.
==See==
==See==
''The listings in this article are geographically organized in roughly a south-to-north direction; meaning that they start with Chinatown first — then North Beach.''
| address=Stockton St | lat= | long= | directions=runsparallel to Grant Ave, one block west — between Sacramento St and Vallejo St
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=Larkin St between Eddy St and O'Farrell St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
| content=A tiny two block strip of Larkin St houses an active Vietnamese American community where the vast majority of shops and restaurants are Vietnamese owned and operated. Little Saigon functions as a both a Vietnamese commercial and cultural center, and there are some excellent restaurants and stores here.
| content=The fruit, vegetable, and live produce markets on Stockton Street are a must for any adventurous traveler. The greatest concentration of Chinese shops and Chinese shoppers can be found in the three blocks from Washington to Broadway. They are notoriously busy, and not for the faint of heart as locals deftly paw over each and every piece of fruit... you have to be quick! Tangerines are important during Chinese New Years. You may need a gut check as well in the live produce markets — there are all kinds of live fauna flapping about from frogs and turtles to chickens and ducks. The best time to explore Stockton Street is on weekdays; weekends are even more crowded, when Chinese families that have moved up to the suburbs return for shopping on Stockton Street. To avoid the crowds, explore the area in the morning or late afternoon. Many of the shops close around 6PM, but the eateries will remain open into the evening hours.
}}
[[Image:citylights.jpg|thumb|300px|right|City Lights Bookstore, with Jack Kerouac Alley and Vesuvio's Bar to the left]]
* {{see
| name=Chinatown Alleys | url= | email=
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| content=Though Grant Avenue has a lot to offer, it is quite touristy; thus, it is '''essential''' that you examine the more authentic areas in the alleys, such as Waverly Place, Pagoda Place, Spofford Lane, and Ross Alley, between Grant and Stockton. Ross Alley is the oldest alley in the city and many movies have had scenes shot here including ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom''. These alleys have got a real old-world feel and you will hear Cantonese conversations and the clicking sound of mahjong tiles being shuffled.
| address=56 Ross Alley | lat=37.7957 | long=-122.4073 | directions=between Jackson St, Washington St, Stockton St and Grant Ave
| phone=+1-415-781-3956 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=7AM-8:30PM daily | price=Free entry, $10 for a huge bag of cookies
| content=Opened in 1962, this tiny factory produces more than 20,000 fortune cookies a day. The factory is in a small alley and it is tiny with only 3 people making fortune cookies. Tourists are welcome to walk in off the street — you get a flat (un-bended) fortune cookie sample but photos cost 50 cents and the moment you walk in they are asking you in their broken English what cookies you want to buy. It is a must see though!
}}
[[File:SF Filbert St North Beach CA.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Looking west down Filbert Street, with Sts. Peter and Paul on the right]]
| content=Co-founded by Beat poet Lawrence Ferlenghetti, City Lights was one of the centers of the Beat community in the 1950s. It's iconic and has become synonymous with the literati Beat movement. Oh, don't forget to check out the books: they have a huge collection of Beat prose and poetry. Why not buy a copy of ''On the Road'' while you're there — you won't find a better place to get it!
}}
* {{see
| name=Jack Kerouac Alley | alt= | url= | email=
| address=Jack Kerouac Alley | lat=37.7975 | long=-122.407 | directions=at Columbus Ave and Broadway St
| content=This tiny paved pedestrian alley was named after the famous Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac who used to hang out in the alley a lot. It was intended to form a literary (and actual) connection between the communities of Chinatown and North Beach. There are plaques embedded into the street which are engraved with Chinese and Western poems from Kerouac, Confucius and John Steinbeck among others.
}}
* {{see
| name=Telegraph Hill | alt= | url= | email=
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Telegraph Hill, San Francisco | wikidata=Q1283754
| content=Telegraph Hill earned its name in the days of the Gold Rush when it was used as a signaling post to relay messages about incoming ships to the bay. Coit Tower was erected at its peak in 1933 and rewards a weary traveler with some wonderful views over the city. Over time a quiet residential neighborhood built up along the hillside, and their magnificent flowing gardens have always been something to admire on your way up or down. Other neighbors include a colony of colorful feral parrots, predominantly red-masked parakeets, which grew up as descendants of escaped domesticated pets. One can drive to the top, but it's better to take one of the narrow steps leading up and down the sides of the hill (including the Greenwich and Filbert Steps), as they offer better views over the Bay.
}}
{{infobox|The Lonely Meter|Similar to paved streets, the Filbert Steps have fire hydrants, road signs, and a solitary parking meter. The parking meter, numbered 568 47610, is hidden on a landing off the stairs. 568 47610 is notable for several reasons. Foremost, 568 47610 does not serve any apparent parking space; instead it tends a remote bench with which it shares a wooden platform. Together the platform, bench and meter offer visitors a welcome rest from the steps with a view of North Beach and the bay. The parking meter also boasts a small Buddha, which is glued to its top. 568 47610 is not a functioning unit: inserting quarters will not buy you any time.}}
| content=The Filbert Steps are the part of Filbert Street that runs between Battery Street and Telegraph Hill Boulevard in North Beach. The steps end next to Coit Tower, and offer a scenic — though some what strenuous — route for visitors of the tower. In fact, following the steps is at times faster than driving to Coit Tower due to the high demand for relatively few parking spots near the site. Visitors of the steps will see public gardens, stylish homes and views of North Beach and the bay; if a path is not gated or specifically signed with "No Trespassing," then it is most likely public. Also, it pays to be adventurous: some of the best gardens and views are off the stairs. Finally, there is more than one way up and down; if you make a round trip you should find a new route for the return leg. Just avoid private property.
| name=The Art Institute of California — San Francisco | alt= | url=http://www.aicasf.artinstitutes.edu | email=aicasfadm@aii.edu
| address=750Kearny St, 3rd floor | lat=37.7951 | long=-122.4046 | directions=From Portsmouth Sq: just walk across the footbridge that crosses Kearny St totheHiltonHotel
| address=1170 Market St | lat=37.7795 | long=-122.4143 | directions=at Civic Center Plaza
| wikipedia=The Art Institute of California – San Francisco | wikidata=Q7714367
| content=The institute holds public multimedia exhibitions in the fields of media arts, fashion, animation and design.
| content=The center was established in order to promote understanding of Chinese and Chinese American history, art, and culture in the US. They have a small gallery with changing Chinese art exhibitions.
}}
}}
* {{see
* {{see
| name=ChineseHistorical Society of America Museum | alt= | url=http://www.chsa.org/ | email=info@chsa.org
| name=Asian Art Museum | alt= | url=http://www.asianart.org | email=pr@asianart.org
| address=965Clay St | lat=37.7938 | long=-122.4088 | directions=between Stockton St and Powell St
| address=200 Larkin St | lat=37.780276 | long=-122.416577 | directions=between McAllister St and Fulton St
| hours=Tu-Su 10AM-5PM (with extended evening hours every Th until 9PM) Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day | price=Free first Sunday of every month, $15 adults, $10 seniors/students/youth ages 13-17, free for children 12 and under/military/SFUSD students. Th evenings at a reduced rate ($10) after 5PM. Special exhibitions cost extra
| hours=Tu–F noon–5PM, Sa 11AM-4PM | price=Free
| wikipedia=ChineseHistoricalSociety of America | wikidata=Q5100486
| wikipedia=Asian Art Museum of San Francisco | image=Asianartmuseumnight.jpg | wikidata=Q727277
| lastedit=2015-04-05
| lastedit=2015-04-05
| content=Built in 1917, and formerly the old library building, this building is a fantastic blend of "Beaux Arts" and modern design elements. It was designed by renowned architect Gae Aulenti (architect of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris). Inside, you'll find many interesting architectural details including the grand staircase, loggia, vaulted ceilings, the great hall, stone floors, period light fixtures, and inscriptions. The museum is one of the largest and newest museums of Oriental art. It has circa 15,000 artifacts covering 6,000 years of Asian history. The Asian Art Museum hosts many special exhibits as well.
| content=This is well worth a visit, with exhibits on the history and experience of Chinese immigrants to San Francisco over the past 150 years.
| content=This 8,000 square foot gallery exhibits art of the realism movement (particularly academic realism) as well as "Beat Generation" art works.
| content=Enjoy authentic Chinese artwork at this gallery. It has the biggest showroom (at basement level) for Chinese painting and calligraphy in China Town. They also offer classes in calligraphy for those who want to take their appreciation a step further.
| content=They organize exhibitions, performing arts events, arts education, and public art programs in order to encourage and facilitate the flow of artistic ideas between the different cultural and socio-economic stratums in society. They also host exhibits at the Luggage Store Annex (a.k.a. 509 Cultural Center) at 509 Ellis Street (near Leavenworth St).
| lastedit=2015-04-05
| content=Features quite an extensive collection of exhibits, books and manuscripts that focus on Jack Kerouac and the literary Beat Generation. Plenty of books and T-Shirts for sale here as well.
}}
}}
* {{see
* {{see
| name=NorthBeachMuseum | url= | email=
| name=San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery | url=http://www.sfacgallery.org | email=meg.shiffler@sfgov.org
| address=1435StocktonSt | lat=37.7991 | long=-122.4091 | directions=on the second floor of the Eureka Bank building, between Green St andVallejo St
| address=War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave | lat=37.7786 | long=-122.4207 | directions=at McAllister St
| hours=The Gallery at 401 Van Ness: W-Sa noon-5PM, The Window Site at 155 Grove St: 24 hours daily, Art at City Hall: M-F 8AM-8PM | price=Free
| content=The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery supports a diverse range of Bay Area "Visual Art" culture by supporting artists projects through collaboration with community organizations, commissioning contemporary art, and curated exhibitions. They also have window installations at 155 Grove St and another in City Hall.
| content=Photographs, pictures and artifacts that shed light on the rich history of North Beach.
}}
}}
===Temples and churches===
[[Image:OldSaintMarysCathedralSF.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Old Saint Mary's Cathedral]]
* {{see
* {{see
| name=OldSt. Mary's Church | alt= | url=http://www.oldsaintmarys.org/ | email=
| name=Tenderloin Museum | alt= | url=http://tenderloinmuseum.org/ | email=
| address=398 Eddy Street | lat=37.7839 | long=-122.4141 | directions=at Leavenworth St
| phone=+1-415-288-3800 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-830-4640 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Tu-Su 10AM-5PM; walking tours daily 11AM, 1PM, 3PM (no 11AM tour on Su) | price=$10 adults, $6 students/seniors/youth, free children 12 and under; walking tours $10, or $5 extra with museum admission
| hours=M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 8AM-3PM | price=Free
| lastedit=2015-07-21
| wikipedia=Old Saint Mary's Cathedral | image=OldSaintMarysCathedralSF.jpg | wikidata=Q7084891
| content=A newly opened museum dedicated to the history of the Tenderloin, with exhibits on the neighborhood's cultural history. Guided walking tours of the neighborhood are also available.
| content=This is a Chinatown landmark. A beautiful brick building, it is the oldest Roman Catholic church in San Francisco.
}}
* {{see
| name=Tin How Temple | alt=天后古廟 | url= | email=
| address=125 Waverly Pl, 4th floor | lat=37.7945 | long=-122.4071 | directions=between Washington St, Clay St, Stockton St, and Grant Ave
| wikipedia=Tin How Temple (San Francisco, California) | wikidata=Q2135574
| content=This tiny temple is the oldest Taoist temple in the country. It is dedicated to Matsu, the Taoist goddess of the Sea. Hundreds of gold and red colored lanterns adorn the ceilings, whose relative size depends on the size of the donation made. The lanterns are inscribed with the name of the donor, in the hope that it will bring them a long and fulfilling life.
}}
* {{see
| name=Norras Temple | url= | email=
| address=109 Waverly Pl | lat=37.7944 | long=-122.4070 | directions=between Washington St, Clay St, Stockton St, and Grant Ave
| phone=+1-415-362-1993 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=10AM-4PM daily | price=Free
| content=This is the oldest Buddhist temple in the city and was named after the Norras Buddhist Temple in Tibet. It has an impressive gilded-wood altar that was imported from China.
}}
* {{see
| name=Ma-Tsu Temple | alt= | url= | email=
| address=30 Beckett St | lat=37.7967 | long=-122.4063 | directions=between Pacific Ave, Jackson St, Kearny St and Grant Ave
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=Free, a small donation will get you a good luck charm to wear around your neck
| wikipedia=Ma-Tsu Temple (San Francisco, California) | wikidata=Q18351171
| content=Dedicated to Matsu, goddess of the Sea, but has only been around since 1986.
}}
* {{see
| name=First Chinese Baptist Church | url=http://www.fcbc-sf.org/ | email=office@fcbc-sf.org
| address=15 Waverly Pl | lat=37.7935 | long=-122.4068 | directions=at Sacramento St, between Stockton St and Grant Ave
| content=Established in the year 1880 as one of the oldest churches in the city, it is worth a visit. It was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, but rebuilt with the help of American Baptists across the US. It is known as a bilingual and bi-cultural church and its ministry has historically reached out to immigrants and newcomers.
}}
* {{see
| name=Buddhas Universal Church | url=http://www.bucsf.com/ | email=bucsf@sbcglobal.net
| address=720 Washington St | lat=37.7954 | long=-122.4054 | directions=between Kearny St and Grant Ave
| content=At five stories tall, this is the largest Buddhist church in the US and is home to the largest Buddhist congregation in San Francisco. The altar was shaped to represent the ship of the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha) and its teak-paneled walls are supposed to be the sails of the ship.
}}
* {{see
| name=Kong Chow Temple | alt= | url= | email=
| address=855 Stockton St | lat=37.7938 | long=-122.408 | directions=between Clay St and Sacramento St
| content=Founded in 1857, this is a Taoist temple in honor of the God of honesty and trust — the deity, Kuan Ti. It has many colorful altars, where color is used as metaphor — green for longevity, red warns off evil spirits, and gold projects majesty.
}}
* {{see
| name=St. Francis of Assisi Church | url=http://www.shrinesf.org/ | email=ShrineSF@flash.net
| content=Established during the days of the Gold Rush, this church does not host an active parish, however it still functions as a national shrine and tribute to St. Francis of Assisi. It also has a gift shop where you can purchase crosses, frescoes, rosaries, holy cards, as well as many other trinkets.
}}
* {{see
| name=Sts. Peter and Paul Church | alt= | url=http://salesiansspp.org/ | email=
| address=666 Filbert St | lat=37.801667 | long=-122.410278 | directions=overlooking Washington Square
| wikipedia=Saints Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco | image=Saints Peter and Paul Church.JPG | wikidata=Q251522
| content=A white statuesque, neo-Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral situated directly in front of Washington Square. After Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe wed at City Hall in 1954, they were famously photographed afterward at the this church.
}}
}}
===Architecture===
===Parks and monuments===
Much of the architecture in Chinatown and North Beach was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire. However, there are still some structures that are worth seeing including the Saints Peter and Paul Church and Old Saint Mary's Church, listed under [[San Francisco/Chinatown-North Beach#Temples and Churches|Temples and Churches above]]. Chinatown is a mix of Edwardian and Chinoiserie architecture that was built after the fire and it has some interesting pagoda buildings. It may not be authentic Chinese architecture, but it retains a certain charm. The Chinese here also eschewed the traditional grid system of American cities, and a whole series of interesting alleys permeate through Chinatown. Other architectural points of interest include:
[[File:SanFrancisco DownTown.jpg|thumb|250px|right|On the right, the copper-green Sentinel Building, with the Transamerica pyramid in the left background]]
* {{see
* {{see
| name=ChinatownGate | url= | email=
| name=Civic Center Plaza | url= | email=
| address=Grant Ave | lat=37.7907 | long=-122.4056 | directions=GrantAve and Bush St
| address= | lat=37.7795 | long=-122.4176 | directions=between Polk St and McAllister St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
| content=This grassy plaza is situated at the heart of the Civic Center and its tree-lined central avenue visually draws the eye to the imposing structure of City Hall. Protests and demonstrations of all political persuasions are frequently staged here. There is a parking lot underneath the plaza.
| content=Erected in 1970, this ornate dragon-crested gate, marks the southern entrance to Chinatown. The Gateway is inscribed with the saying ''"All under heaven is for the good of the people,"'' by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
| address=743 Washington St | lat=37.7951 | long=-122.4063 | directions=betweenKearnyStandGrantAve
| address= | lat=37.7797 | long=-122.41595 | directions=behind the Main Library branch, next to the Asian Art Museum
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-Th 9AM-5PM, F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-4PM | price=
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Pioneer Monument (San Francisco) | wikidata=Q14683658
| content=Built in 1891, it was destroyed and rebuilt in 1909, originally the building housed the country's only Chinese telephone exchange. The exchange closed in 1949 and the building was subsequently restored and turned into a bank in 1960. The building is arguably the first important building in Chinatown. It is a three-tiered pagoda style building.
| content=The monument is a tribute to California and its early pioneers like Sir Francis Drake. Atop sits a bear and a man carrying both spear and shied — all three objects are imagery that represent California.
| wikipedia=Large Four Piece Reclining Figure 1972–73 | wikidata=Q17016283
| content=Two great examples of multi-tiered pagoda buildings on opposite sides of the intersection. The Sing Chong Building was one of the first buildings rebuilt after the fire, and today it is one of the most photographed buildings in the city.
| content=This bronze sculpture was created by English artist Henry Moore in 1973. It poses happily outside Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall.
}}
}}
* {{see
* {{see
| name=BankofAmerica | url= | email=
| name=Sgt. John Macaulay Park | url= | email=
| address=701 Grant Ave | lat=37.7935 | long=-122.4063 | directions=atSacramento St
| address= | lat=37.7854 | long=-122.4182 | directions=Larkin St and O'Farrell St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-2PM | price=
| content=Pagoda style building with a three tiered roof and decorated with ornate gold dragons and medallions on the outside.
| address=451 Pacific Ave | lat=37.7972 | long=-122.4029 | directions=between Montgomery St and Samaome St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
| content=Named in honor of a police sergeant who died on duty, this vibrantly colored park and playground only allows adults in if they are accompanied by kids. It has become a bit of an urban oasis set amidst the grittiness of the Tenderloin.
| content=One of the original Fire Houses in the city, it used horse-drawn equipment and was built in 1868. It was ironically destroyed by the 1906 fire and was rebuilt in 1909 by architect Newton J. Tharp as a two-story building with large arched entrance. The new architecture was heavily influenced by the "City Beautiful" movement.
| address= | lat=37.7800 | long=-122.4137 | directions=at Market St and Hyde St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
| content=The UN Charter was signed in the Civic Center in 1945, and this plaza was constructed in honor of its ideology and is ironically over the site of the original San Francisco City Cemetery. Designed by architect Lawrence Halprin, and completed in 1975, this is a three acre red-bricked pedestrian plaza. Brick columns inscribed with UN members country names line the plaza, and the '''UN Fountain''' sits at its center. Intended to be a visual gateway to the Civic Center, it is often habituated by the city's homeless, but has a compact and diverse [http://www.hocfarmersmarket.org/ Farmers' Market] {{dead link|October 2017}} on Wednesdays and Sundays.
| wikipedia=Columbus Tower (San Francisco) | image=Columbus Tower, San Francisco.JPG | wikidata=Q5150141
| content=This flatiron (wedge shaped) copper-green building is an unmistakable San Francisco beauty. The "Grateful Dead" once recorded some of their songs there. Today it is owned by movie-director, Francis Ford Copolla. It now has a cafe on its ground floor, where you can grab a coffee whilst admiring its impressive setting, at the foot of North Beach.
}}
[[File:Coit tower.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill]]
| address=1 Telegraph Hill Blvd | lat=37.8025 | long=-122.405833 | directions=limited parking; or take #39 Muni bus from Washington Square
| phone=+1-415-249-0995 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=May–Oct: 10AM-6PM daily; Nov–Apr: 10AM-5PM daily | price=$8 for elevator to top floor ($5 seniors/teens, $2 children 5-11, children under 5 free); the rest is free
| content=Visible from much of San Francisco and the Bay Area, Coit Tower stands atop Telegraph Hill and gives an excellent view of the bay and the rest of the city. The tower was built by the Federal Works Projects Administration in 1933 with money bequeathed by eccentric San Franciscan Lillie Coit. Coit was said to have chased after firefighters as a young girl, and as an older woman sponsored her favorite fire company. A fan of the volunteer city firefighters, and local legend has it that the shape of the tower is supposed to simulate the end of a fire hose — although the architects denied this claim. The first and second floors house beautiful examples of New Deal-era idealist murals, and the top floor (reached by elevator) has featured paintings or other art. Artists put in their own signatures and messages in the murals, which interpretive plaques point out.
}}
}}
===Architecture===
===Parks, monuments, and public art===
The Civic Center with its "classical" architecture was declared a national landmark in 1978. It has several buildings that are of architectural interest including the Asian Art Museum, listed under [[San Francisco/Civic Center-Tenderloin#Museums and galleries|Museums and galleries above]], as well as the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the buildings that comprise the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center (SFWMPAC), the Orpheum Theater, Golden Gate Theater, the Curran Theater, and the interior of the Great American Music Hall, which are all listed under [[San Francisco/Civic Center-Tenderloin#Performing Arts|Performing arts below]]. Other architectural points of interest include:
| content=Built in 1917 in honor of the Shriners (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine); this Byzantine-style Islamic temple (now a 500 seat theater showing Broadway and off-Broadway shows), is now a historical city landmark. The architect was T Patterson Ross.
| content=This is the largest area of open space in Chinatown. It is known as the "Heart of Chinatown" because the neighborhood began along one of its sides and extended from there to become what is known as Chinatown today. The square bristles with activity, and here you find local residents playing cards or Chinese chess, and practicing Tai Chi. The square contains several memorials, statues, and plaques — including a bronze replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue and a marker commemorating Robert Louis Stevenson.
}}
}}
[[Image:City hall dome.jpg|thumb|300px|right|City Hall's "Beaux-Arts" Dome]]
* {{see
* {{see
| name=St.Mary's Park | alt=聖瑪利公園 | url= | email=
| name=City Hall | alt= | url=http://sfgov.org/cityhall/ | email=City.Hall.Building.Management@sfgov.org
| address=1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl | lat=37.7793 | long=-122.4193 | directions=between Van Ness Ave, McAllister St, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, and Grove St
| hours=Brochures are available for visitors to take a self-guided tour: M-F 8AM-8PM Docent led tours: M–F 10AM, noon, 2PM | price=Tours: Self guided and docent led tours are free unless you're a private group of eight or more persons
| hours=6AM-10PM | price=
| wikipedia=San Francisco City Hall | image=San Francisco City Hall 2.JPG | wikidata=Q1093944
| content=This park boasts an Art Deco statue of Sun Yat-Sen, created by sculptor Benny Bufano in the 1930s. It also has a plaque commemorating those soldiers of Chinese ancestry that died in both World Wars.
| content=Designed by Arthur Brown Jr., and opened in 1915, the architecture of the building was heavily influenced by the "City Beautiful Movement," which in turn reflected the American Renaissance style of the time. Its "Beaux-Arts" dome (the fifth largest in the world) was modeled after that of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy. The building itself is huge, 393 feet long, by 273 feet wide, and 307 feet high — occupying a full two blocks of San Francisco's downtown real estate. It is considered by many admirers to be the most impressive building in the city. Inside, it features a large rotunda with a grandiose staircase leading up to the second floor. The walls are adorned with oak paneling and the ceilings with crystal chandeliers. City Hall is the site of much history — In 1954 Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe wed here. In 1978, Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated here.
}}
}}
* {{see
* {{see
| name=WohHeiYuen Park | alt=和喜園 | url= | email=
| name=Federal Office Building | alt= | url= | email=
| address= | lat=37.7959 | long=-122.4103 | directions=atPowell St between John and JacksonSts
| address=50 United Nations Plaza | lat=37.7804 | long=-122.4145 | directions=just north of Market St, between Hyde St and Leavenworth St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=Free
| wikipedia=Federal Office Building (San Francisco, California) | wikidata=Q5440315
| content=Small park and recreation center that has some interesting public art like the ''Five Carved Stones'' by Marcia Donahue and ''Tectonic Melange'' by Lampo Leong. Its name translates to ''"Garden of Peace and Joy"''.
| content=Architect Arthur Brown Jr., who also designed City Hall and several other Civic Center landmarks, designed this building. It was completed in 1936, making it the last building to be completed in the seven-building complex of the Civic Center. It is an interesting six story, D-shaped, "Beaux Arts" building. It also has a 24,000 square-foot interior courtyard and many of its features such as the lobby and main stairway are subject to historical preservation laws. Unfortunately, the building is currently closed and can only be appreciated from the outside.
}}
}}
* {{see
* {{see
| name=PingYenMural | url= | email=
| name=San Francisco Public Library - Main Library | alt= | url=http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/ | email=webmail@sfpl.org
| address= | lat=37.7966 | long=-122.4083 | directions=at Stockton St and Pacific Ave
| address=100 Larkin St | lat=37.779 | long=-122.416 | directions=at Grove St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415 557-4400 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Su noon-5PM, M 10AM-6PM T-Th 9AM-8PM, F noon-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM; Tour Hours: Offered on the first Tuesday of every month at noon | price=Internet: Free Tours: Free
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=San Francisco Public Library | image=San Francisco Public Library Main Branch Facade.jpg | wikidata=Q2901530
| content=Created by Darryl Mar, this mural celebrates the history of Chinatown and what life is like there today.
| content=Completed in 1995 at a cost of $109 million, the main library branch is over 375,000 square feet of modern architecture. It has seven floors, over 2,000 seats, and an impressive foyer that has a five story high atrium. At the top of the atrium is a bright sky-light and a roof terrace.
| address=827 Stockton St | lat=37.7935 | long=-122.4079 | directions=on the Chinese Charity Cultural Services Center between Sacramento St and Clay St
| name=Dashiell Hammett Walking Tour | url=http://www.donherron.com/tour.html | email=dashdude@donherron.com
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| address=100 Larkin St | lat= | long= | directions=n.w. corner of the main library
| hours= | price=
| phone=+1-510-287-9540 | tollfree= | fax=
| content=A mural by Amy Nelder depicting the early Chinese workers who settled the area in the 1870s to work on the transcontinental railroad. Unfortunately, they were often the target of racism, ignorance, and intolerance.
| hours=May and Oct: Su noon-4PM | price=$10
| content=If you're a fan of mystery books, film, or would just like to recapture what San Francisco was like in the 1920s and 1930s; then you'll love this tour. It takes you round all the places where Hammett wrote his famous books. It also visits the exact locales where his famous characters like Continental Op and Sam Spade got into their storied adventures. The tour is about 4 hours long.
}}
}}
* {{see
* {{do
| name=WashingtonSquare| alt= | url= | email=
| name=Glide Memorial Church | url=http://www.glide.org/ | email=info@glide.org
| address= | lat=37.8009 | long=-122.41 | directions=atUnion St and Powell St
| address=330 Ellis St | lat=37.7852 | long=-122.4115 | directions=intersection of Taylor St and Ellis St
| content=Famous for its gospel music, as well as for its inner-city missions, the church is a pillar of this community and plays a vital role in Tenderloin day-to-day life; anyone truly trying to understand the area should visit here. Sunday services are a major musical event attracting crowds, and yes, even long lines to get in!
| wikipedia=Washington Square (San Francisco) | image=2011-08-14 San Francisco 120 Washington Square.jpg | wikidata=Q7972206
| content=Every day at around 8AM-10AM, locals practice tai-chi, the martial art and meditation practice. Different sections of the park will host everything from jazzercise to sword-play. Sunny days will bring out locals lounging on their blankets. Art fairs are frequent, and the [http://www.oreillysoysterfestival.com/ oyster-beer fair] in March is very popular. Note the sculpture to volunteer firefighters on the Columbus Ave side. The Sts. Peter and Paul church of the Salesians borders the northern side. Joe Dimaggio and Marilyn Monroe were photographed outside of the church, but they could not be married inside because she was divorced. Monroe and Dimaggio had their reception around the corner at a place which is now called "Pena Pacha Mama" (Powell St between Union & Green). The park used to be a favorite among the Beat poets as well — Jack Kerouac used to hang out here frequently enjoying the sunshine with a bottle of port.
| name=Heart of the City Farmer's Market | url=http://www.hocfarmersmarket.org/ | email=
| address= | lat=37.8012 | long=-122.4095 | directions=atStockton St and Filbert St
| address=United Nations Plaza | lat= | long= | directions=just north of Market St, between Hyde St and Leavenworth St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-558-9455 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours=Su 7AM-5PM, W 7AM-5:30PM | price=Free
| content=The farmer's market held Sundays and Wednesdays offers a less expensive alternative to the yuppie Ferry Building Farmer's Market, though it helps if you're seeking the ingredients for Asian food. On other days, there are often tents with vendors selling jewelry, scarves, clothing, snacks, house wares, and who-knows-what. The fun is in the surprises.
| content=See the monument erected in honor of this humanitarian and pioneer settler of Yerba Buena (now North Beach).
| content=This Catholic church features its original elaborately decorated interior from 1900, so why not come in and say a prayer! A Franciscan parish, it is also known for allowing the homeless to sleep in the pews on weekdays.
| wikipedia=Pioneer Park (San Francisco) | wikidata=Q7196747
| content=This park sits atop Telegraph Hill and surrounds the base of Coit Tower. It has some excellent 360 degree vistas around the city and there are some coin operated binoculars to help you enjoy the view.
| address=Main Library, 100 Larkin St | lat= | long= | directions=at Market St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-557-4266 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Tours are offered year round, times and dates vary by tour - see website for schedule | price=Free
| hours= | price=
| content=They offer walking tours of the Civic Center, the Tenderloin, the main library, and City Hall, free of charge. The tours highlight the history, architecture, culture, events, and folklore of the area.
| content=Small (one square block), well maintained park/square in the heart of the city, located right beside the Financial District. Tai Chi practitioners exercise here in the early morning hours.
}}
* {{see
| name=Levi's Plaza Park | alt= | url= | email=
| address=1160 Battery St | lat=37.8024 | long=-122.4014 | directions=at Filbert St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Levi's Plaza | wikidata=Q6535334
| content=Located in front of the Levi Strauss headquarters, this immaculately kept little park is perhaps the perfect spot for a picnic... especially if you're exhausted after climbing over Telegraph Hill! It has a soothing fountain as its centerpiece. Having said that, ever present security guards at the park can bring you down from your mellow moments here... just don't dip your feet in the water!
}}
}}
===Performing arts===
==Do==
[[Image:SFSymphony Hall.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall — take it away, maestro!]]
The Civic Center is the center of opera, ballet, symphony, and theater in the city. Even if one hasn't bought a ticket in advance, there are often returned tickets available at the box offices before a performance. Make a night of it when you are here; take a walk around the Civic Center, enjoy the architecture, sit for dinner, or just have a cappuccino in one of the cafes before the overture.
* {{do
* {{do
| name=JunYu'sBarberShop | url= | email=
| name=The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | alt= | url=http://www.billgrahamcivic.com/ | email=
| address=32RossAlley | lat=37.7955 | long=-122.4073 | directions=between Jackson St,WashingtonSt, Stockton St and Grant Ave
| address=99 Grove St | lat=37.7785 | long=-122.417 | directions=between Polk St and Larkin St
| hours=The auditorium is not open to visitors or for tours, but only during event times which vary | price=Price varies depending on act
| wikipedia=Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | image=Grahamauditorium.jpg | wikidata=Q4909197
| content=This four-story tall, "Beaux-Arts" style building occupies an entire city block in the heart of the Civic Center and has 7,000 seats inside. Large and small bands, exhibits, concerts, and galas are all hosted at the Civic Auditorium. Check [http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/229433 Ticketmaster] to see what's playing.
| address=80 Turk St | lat=37.7835 | long=-122.4103 | directions=at Taylor
| phone=+1-415-626-2060 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
| content=This hybrid theater is a hub for experimental art and activism. Online calendar boasts new and eclectic events year-round.
| content=Need a haircut? Why not let one of Chinatown's local celebrities cut it for you? Since 1963, this elderly Chinese barber has sheared the locks of some of Hollywood's best including Michael Douglas and Sinatra. The photos in the front window tell the story. When he has no customers to attend to, he breaks out a violin and Ross Alley fills with his tune.
| hours=W-Th8PM,F-Sa6:30PMand 9:30PM, Su 2PM and 5PM (Matinees) | price=$25-73
| hours=See website for exact hours | price=$6-9
| wikipedia=EXIT Theatre | wikidata=Q5324685
| content=This zany Steve Silver cabaret is the longest running musical revue in US theater history. The show is an internationally acclaimed San Francisco institution, and famous for its use of enormous hats, some of which are up to ten feet tall! It has even been seen by Queen Elizabeth.
| content=EXIT Theatre is a no-frills experimental/alternative theater in the Tenderloin. There are two performance spaces inside: Exit Theatre and Exit Stage Left; they have another theater "EXIT on Taylor" which is located at 277 Taylor St. They host productions like ''"Waiting for FEMA"'' and ''"Babylon Heights"'' by Irvine Welsh. They also host the Fringe Festival (listed under [[San Francisco/Civic Center-Tenderloin#Events and festivals|Events and festivals below]]), which is the largest grass roots theater festival in the San Francisco Bay Area.
}}
}}
===Walking Tours===
Walking is not only the most environmentally friendly way to see this area, it is also undoubtedly the best way, as it allows one to experience its rich ambiance and charms first hand. A knowledgeable guide can be a big help in this regard, and several companies offer different kinds of walking tours through both Chinatown and North Beach:
| hours=Shows: hours vary; Box office: M-F 10:30AM-6PM, show nights 10:30AM-9PM, closed Sa-Su (except during shows - opens 1 hour before show time) | price=Ticket prices vary by act but typically run from $10-30
| hours= | price=Free
| wikipedia=Great American Music Hall | wikidata=Q5598638
| content=Take an informative and free tour of either North Beach or Chinatown from the people who know it best — the locals.
| content=Reputed to be the city's oldest nightclub, this ornate 600 capacity music venue presents hip music acts, some well-known among the cognoscenti, some so cutting edge that there's blood on the pavement. In the 1930s, this was fan-dancer Sally Rand's "Music Box." The interior, which was designed by a French architect, is known for its ornate balconies and columns.
| name=The New Conservatory Theatre Center | alt= | url=http://www.nctcsf.org | email=boxoffice@nctcsf.org
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| address=25 Van Ness Ave | lat=37.7757 | long=-122.42 | directions=half a block from Market St and the Van Ness MUNI station
| phone=+1-415-454-2355 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-861-8972 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Box office hours: W-Sa 1:30PM-7PM, Su-Tu noon-3PM; show times: Performances are typically W-Sa 8PM, Su 2PM, year round | price=Tickets generally cost $18-40
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=New Conservatory Theatre Center | image=San Francisco New Conservatory Theatre Center entrance.jpg | wikidata=Q12063810
| content=Take a tour of San Francisco's historic Barbary Coast. A series of bronze medallions and arrows are embedded into the sidewalks and help you navigate through the Barbary Coast Trail's historic sites. You can either download a map ($8.95) or audio tour ($25) or take one of their guided tours which are available by appointment only ($22 per person with a $352 minimum).
| content=The three small New Conservatory theaters present novel, musical, comic, and educational plays.
| hours=Tour hours: M 10AM-2PM — on the hour | price=Free
| wikipedia=San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center | wikidata=Q3471445
| content=This 7.5 acre complex comprises the War Memorial Opera House, Memorial Court, the War Memorial Veterans Building (including Herbst Theatre and the Green Room, which is a classically styled reception hall), the Harold L. Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall, and Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The opera house and the veterans buildings (which are for the most part identical), along with the court, were intended to be appreciated in unison, and to compliment the surrounding architecture of the Civic Center. Their "Beaux-Arts" structures employ the Roman Doric Order and were designed by architect Arthur Brown, Jr. Both buildings were completed in 1932. Guided tours of the buildings are available.
| content=Herbst Theater, next to the Opera house in the similarly-styled War Memorial Veteran's building is host to a wide variety of activities. One can find plays, readings by well-known authors, chamber music, jazz performances, etc throughout the year. The monthly Friday evening talks of the [http://www.longnow.org Long-now Foundation], projecting the far future, are presented here or in the [[San Francisco/Golden Gate|Fort Mason Center]]. Inside the theater it has impressive foyer, chandeliers, beaux-arts murals (symbolism for the different aspects of mankind), and over 900 seats. The UN Charter was signed here in 1945.
}}
:* {{do
| name=San Francisco Ballet | alt= | url=http://www.sfballet.org | email=sfbmail@sfballet.info
| address=War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave | lat=37.7785 | long=-122.4210 | directions=at Grove St
| hours=Box office: M-F 10AM-4PM (10AM until start of performance on performance dates); Performances: Tu-Su usually 8PM or 7:30PM with Sa-Su matinee 2PM | price=$18-250
| wikipedia=San Francisco Ballet | wikidata=Q1150942
| content=The repertory season begins in January and continues through May.
}}
[[Image:SFOperaHouse.jpg|thumb|370px|right|War Memorial Opera House]]
:* {{do
| name=San Francisco Opera | alt= | url=http://www.sfopera.com/ | email=
| address=War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave | lat=37.7785 | long=-122.4210 | directions=at Grove St
| hours=Box office: M 10AM-5PM, Tu-F 10AM-6PM; Performances: Tu-F usually 7:30PM or 8PM, Sa 12:30PM or 8PM, Su 1PM, 2PM, or 3PM. See website for exact schedule | price=$15-290
| wikipedia=San Francisco Opera | wikidata=Q390354
| content=There are Fall, Spring, and Summer seasons. The summer season focuses on lighter and popular operas. Performances are in the War Memorial Opera House on Van Ness Ave which has over 3,000 seats. The interior has a grandiose entrance hall with marble floors and a 38 foot high barrel vaulted ceiling. Two wide marble stairways at either end of the foyer, take you up to the main floor. The proscenium arch inside the theater is ornately decorated with gilded sculptures. In December and late spring the Opera House is used by the San Francisco Ballet.
}}
:* {{do
| name=San Francisco Symphony | alt= | url=http://www.sfsymphony.org/ | email=info@sfsymphony.org
| address=Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave | lat=37.7776 | long=-122.4205 | directions=at Grove St and Van Ness Ave
| hours=Box office: M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa noon-6PM; Performances: W-Su usually 8PM or 8:30PM with Sa-Su matinee 2PM, See website for exact schedule | price=$10-50
| wikipedia=San Francisco Symphony | wikidata=Q933993
| content=San Francisco has an excellent symphony orchestra, with Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) as the principal conductor. The Season goes from September to April, with a break in the middle of December and January. When the San Francisco Symphony is on tour, other orchestras visit to fill the void. In July there is a "Summer in the City" program of light music; August is quiet. Opened in 1980, the building's sweeping wraparound architecture was elegantly designed to compliment the other buildings in the War Memorial complex. Inside, the building was designed to maximize acoustical tones with the exterior glass wall being used as a backdrop to capture sound. To further enhance and refine the sound it has adjustable acrylic acoustical panels around the stage area. There are circa 2,700 seats inside.
| address=1192 Market St | lat= | long= | directions=at Hyde St
| phone=+1-415-551-2000 (recorded information) or +1-415-551-2075 | tollfree= | fax=+1-415-431-5052
| hours=Show times: varyl Box office hours: vary, See website for details | price=$25-99
| wikipedia=SHN (theatres) | wikidata=Q7390221
| content=SHN runs three theaters in the area (two in the Tenderloin and the Curran near [[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District#Performing arts|Union Square]]) that focus on the usual Broadway classics like ''A Chorus Line'', ''Grease'', and of course ''The Phantom of the Opera''.
| address=1 Taylor St | lat=37.7822 | long=-122.411 | directions=at Golden Gate Ave
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours=10AM, 2PM daily (except December 25, 26, January 1, and Easter) | price=Adult, $89; Child (14 & under), $69 — Included: Narration, Food Not Included: Gratuities
| wikipedia=Golden Gate Theatre | image=San Francisco Golden Gate Theatre 2.jpg | wikidata=Q12058772
| content=North Beach is famous for its food and cafe culture, so why not take a four hour guided tour of its family bakeries, sidewalk cafés and traditional Italian pastry shops. The tour includes an authentic Italian meal as well as a narration of North Beach history.
| content=Built in 1920 and influenced by the "Art Deco" and "Gothic Revival" styles, this theater has over 2,800 seats. It was designed by architect Gustave Albert Lansburgh.
}}
:* {{do
| name=The Orpheum Theater | alt= | url= | email=
| address=1192 Market St | lat=37.7793 | long=-122.4145 | directions=at Hyde St
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| wikipedia=Orpheum Theatre (San Francisco) | wikidata=Q7103971
| content=Over 80 years old, this official historical landmark theater received another facelift in 1998; it now has over 2,400 seats. The theater has hosted everything from silent films to Broadway theater, and special shows such as "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." It is modeled in the style of a 12th century Spanish Cathedral, being heavily influenced by both "Spanish Moorish" and "Spanish Baroque" architecture. It has ornate architectural detailing inside and was designed by architect Benjamin Marcus Priteca.
| address=982 Market St | lat=37.7826 | long=-122.4104 | directions=between Mason St and Taylor St
| phone=+1-415-302-5898 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-567-2060 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=$80allinclusive
| hours=Hours vary but shows usually start at 8PM | price=Prices vary depending on act
| wikipedia=The Warfield | wikidata=Q7773549
| content=Every Saturday, restaurant critic and radio personality GraceAnn Walden conducts a walking tour of North Beach. The tour includes a historical narration, and it takes you to see a 125 year old brick-oven bakery, a stylish restaurant, and an Italian bakery. Lunch accompanied by wine is included. Reservations are necessary. Private tours of North Beach are available on weekdays for 12 or more.
| content=This historic theater on Market St has a balcony and approximately 2,700 seats. Built in the 1920s, it was renovated in 1969 and today it is as popular as ever hosting some major acts like Velvet Revolver and Bill Maher.
| name=Black and White Ball | url=http://www.sfsymphony.org/ | email=
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| address=Civic Center Plaza | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-864-6000 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=JanorFeb | price=Free
| hours=Takes place once every two years in May | price=$200-3,000
| content=If you have the budget, why not "hob-nob" at San Francisco's classiest party? Taking up four entire blocks of the Civic Center, this ball attracts a well-heeled crowd, as well as those who are just splurging. The ball began in 1956 and features several high profile bands (the Grateful Dead played here in 1969), and includes a performance by the San Francisco Symphony orchestra. $200 gets you in the door, feeds you, and lets you enjoy the music, dancing, and entertainment. If you want to formally dine at the Patrons Dinner, you'll have to shell out a lot more.
| wikipedia=San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade | wikidata=Q7413973
| content=Celebrated for over 5,000 years, the San Francisco version of the Chinese New Year dates back to the Gold Rush Days. The parade is colorful, vibrant and loud, with decorative costumes, lions, deafening firecrackers, "lucky-money" envelopes, colorful banners, over 100 ornately themed floats, martial arts groups, stilt walkers, acrobats, and of course a 200 foot Golden Dragon that has a six foot-long head.
}}
}}
* {{do
* {{do
| name=Autumn Moon Festival | url=http://www.moonfestival.org/ | email=info@moonfestival.org
| name=Fringe Festival | url=http://www.sffringe.org/ | email=mail@sffringe.org
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=
| address=156 Eddy St | lat= | long= | directions=between Taylor St and Mason St
| phone=+1-415-982-6306 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=12 Days, beginning the Wednesday after Labor Day. See website for exact performance hours | price=$7-8 per performance, Frequent Fringer Pass (all 10 Days): $55
| hours=Mid-late Sep for two days, 11AM-6PM each day | price=Free
| content=This bohemian 10 day festival is all about theatrical experimentation and having fun... even if you don't know what you're doing exactly. Chaos rules here; even the list of performers are selected randomly at the last minute and participants are effectively given "carte blanche" to be as artistically free as possible. This leads to a lot of wackiness and of course a healthy dose of good old nudity! It takes place in several theaters but it is run by the EXIT Theater in the Tenderloin.
| content=Commemorating the autumn equinox, a full moon, and Chang O (an immortal Goddess that lives in the moon), this festival is an important event in the Chinese lunar calendar. It has parallels with America's Thanksgiving Day, as it encourages contemplation and giving thanks for the rich bounty of the summer harvest. The festivities include Chinese acrobats, lions, music, dance and Chinese opera among other things.
}}
}}
* {{do
* {{do
| name=NorthBeach Festival | url=http://sfnorthbeach.org/NBFestival/ | email=
| name=San Francisco Pride Festival | alt= | url=http://www.sfpride.org/ | email=info@sfpride.org
| address= | lat= | long= | directions=All streets between Van Ness Ave, Market St, Golden Gate Ave, and Hayes St
| address=Washington Square Park, 1200-1500 blocks of Grant Avenue and adjacent streets in North Beach | lat= | long= | directions=
| hours=Final full weekend in June: Sa noon-6PM, Su noon-7PM | price=Free (donations encouraged)
| wikipedia=San Francisco Pride | wikidata=Q2005290
| content=A North Beach tradition that celebrates its Italian heritage. It features live music and entertainment, poetry readings, classical concerts, dancing, ArtE di Gesso (chalk art on the street), and varied arts and crafts exhibitions.
| content=Known as "San Francisco Pride" for short, it's one of the largest gay pride festivals in North America, a huge, happy, chaotic celebration of diversity, politics, sexuality, and San Francisco wackiness. The two day festival grew up around the parade (below) which takes place on Sunday. Some seven city blocks between City Hall and Market St are closed to vehicles, and about a dozen stages and spaces offer everything from square dancing to hip-hop, from a family garden to Leather Alley. Hundreds of businesses, community groups, non-profits, and political groups attempt to connect with hundreds of thousands of celebrants. It's a movement, it's a market, and it's a party. Car and bus traffic is interrupted during the celebration, and parking is even worse than usual; take BART or Muni trains (which run underground, and put on extra cars to carry the load) instead. Both parade and celebration are for everyone — straight as well as gay are welcome.
| hours=Final full weekend in June: Su only 10AM-2PM (approx) | price=Free
| content=San Francisco's annual "Gay Pride Parade" long ago grew into a two-day "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration" (see above). The parade itself, which takes place on the Sunday, features over a hundred contingents, and takes over four hours from start to finish. Hundreds of thousands of people line the parade route to watch. If you want a good spot, arrive two hours before the 10AM start, and set up closer to Beale St than the Civic Center. Be careful about climbing on bus shelters, scaffolding, or light poles to get a better view: people do fall and injure themselves. The only thing better than watching the parade is marching in it. If you can make contact in advance, you likely can find some contingent with affinity which will welcome you.
| content=Taking place twice a year in Kerouac Alley (a beautiful, if tiny, cobble stoned alley that was named after Jack Kerouac), this is an open-air art exhibition that showcases the work of local artists.
| hours=Mid-Jan to mid-Feb 9:30AM–6PM | price=Free
| content=Celebrate New Year's Vietnamese style at this festival. It attracts almost 30,000 each year to the area. It's mostly Vietnamese-Americans in attendance, but everyone is welcome and it's a great opportunity to sample some of the delicious Vietnamese dishes that they have in the Tenderloin, and of course to throw around some "lucky-money."
| content=This parade, which celebrates Christopher Columbus and Italian heritage, attracts almost half a million spectators each year. The parade dates all the way back to 1869, making it the city's oldest civic event. Handmade floats run all the way from Fisherman's Wharf, and up Columbus Avenue as far as Vallejo Street, where the parade does a 180 finishing in Washington Square.
}}
}}
==Buy==
==Buy==
There are very few chain stores here and limited shopping opportunities. This has probably got more to do with socio-economic reasons than anything else. If you are looking for your more recognizable stores try its glamorous neighbor [[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Union Square]], and on the other side of Market St in the [[San Francisco/SoMa|SoMa]] neighborhood, you'll find plenty of large shopping malls. What this area does have however, is a varied collection of smaller esoteric stores.
Chinatown and North Beach are unique immigrant neighborhoods, and consequently there are almost no large chain stores to be found. In Chinatown, Grant Avenue is the main shopping thoroughfare for tourists. Here you will find Oriental handicrafts of all descriptions, from jade statues to Asian rugs and kimonos. It also has many souvenir stores and small market stalls that sell typical tourist knickknacks. Stockton Street runs parallel to Grant on its west, and has many fresh produce and household ware stores that are popular with locals. North Beach has predominantly small boutique stores selling mostly clothing and jewelry, arts and handicrafts, furniture and Italian wares. Here is a selection of the stores available:
| address=RossAlley | lat=37.7959 | long=-122.4074 | directions=on the left hand side of Ross Alley (when entering from Jackson Street) and nearthebeginning
| address=814 Post St | lat=37.7876 | long=-122.4154 | directions=at Leavenworth St
| content="Specializing in vintage collectible paperbacks from the 1940s to 1970s and esoteric books of all persuasions... " They have a large stock of rare and out of print books, many of which are of the lurid and sleazy persuasion.
| content=Tired of the same old souvenir stores? Looking for a more authentic souvenir? Down Ross Alley you'll sometimes find an old Chinese man in a doorway, who for a few dollars, will inscribe your name in Chinese onto a handcrafted bookmark.
}}
}}
* {{buy
* {{buy
| name=ChinaStation | url= | email=
| name=Napa Valley Winery Exchange | url=http://www.nvwe.com/ | email=wine@nvwe.com
| address=456-460GrantAve | lat=37.7913 | long=-122.4056 | directions=between Pine St and Bush St
| address=415 Taylor St | lat=37.7863 | long=-122.4116 | directions=between Geary St and O'Farrell St
| content=Well known wine store featuring hard to get and small production wines.
| content=If you like reasonably priced souvenirs, this is the place for you. They have a very broad selection, selling everything from Chinese exercise balls to Buddha statues.
| content=Sellsgenuine antiques and fine art from China,Japan, TibetandMongolia.
| content=Three times a week, over 100 vendors come together to sell antiques, gifts, and keepsakes from all over the world. Appropriately, the market is held at UN Plaza.
}}
* {{buy
| name=Peking Bazaar | url= | email=
| address=826-832 Grant Ave | lat=37.7946 | long=-122.4062 | directions=between California St and Sacramento St
| phone=+1-415-982-9847 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=10AM-10PM daily | price=
| content=Huge sprawling store selling a wide range of discount imported goods from Asia including lanterns, candles, sarongs, silk kimonos, geisha outfits and Chinese dolls.
}}
* {{buy
| name=A. Cavalli & Co | url=http://cavallicafe.com/ | email=
| address=1441 Stockton St | lat=37.79919 | long=-122.40912 | directions=between Vallejo St and Green St
| phone=+1-415-421-4219 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-6:30PM | price=
| content=This shop with its friendly proprietor sells everything Italian, from ornate imported espresso and pasta makers to Italian newspapers, magazines, CDs, and DVDs.
}}
* {{buy
| name=Biordi Arts | url=http://www.biordi.com/ | email=
| content=An accessible and real art gallery. On it white-washed walls it features its latest raw art — "Low Brow" (school/gutter-punk art) and also erotic art.
| content=These guys are determined to bring hats back in a big way. Along the way they've had many famous customers including Tom Cruise and JayZ. How big is your head?
}}
}}
==Eat==
==Eat==
{{Eatpricerange|$10 or less|$10–20|$20 or more}}
The area is a veritable smörgåsbord of dining opportunities, enough for even the most discerning palette. Chinatown is famous for its cheap eats (like Dim Sum) and "family style" eating in restaurants. You can fill up for as little as $3, but there are more expensive full service restaurants here as well. North Beach is generally pricier and the focus is mainly on Italian favorites like pizza, pasta, and risotto accompanied by a nice bottle of wine. With many of its restaurants situated directly on Columbus Avenue, it's a great place for alfresco style dining. There are however more affordable options in North Beach, including several great cafes, delis, and American diner style restaurants, where you can get a good quality meal at a more reasonable price.
{{Eatpricerange|$10 or less|$10 - 20|$20 or more}}
The localized Chinese cuisine has its feet in Hong Kong and America, and is different from what many visitors are accustomed to — it is common to hear complaints from Chinese visitors that Chinese food here is not like the food back home. There are several main types of Chinese restaurants in San Francisco: those primarily serving immigrants from Hong Kong ("Hong Kong style") which commonly have signs on the wall in Chinese characters, live fish and shellfish tanks and some exotic main ingredients, such as pig's blood or sea cucumber; those primarily serving San Franciscans who are not Asian immigrants ("California Chinese") which commonly have Westernized table service, low fat content and more emphasis on fresh vegetables; those primarily serving tourists or other people accustomed to Chinese food as it is commonly served in the United States ("Americanized Chinese"); and those primarily serving immigrants from other areas or a particular dietary need or interest (regional cuisines, vegetarian, Muslim). There may be some mixing between these various classifications and each category may influence the others, for instance, the Americanized dish known as '''Chop Suey''' is often not served even at Americanized Chinese restaurants in San Francisco, while Chinese vegetables such as bok choy and pea sprouts may turn up on your plate at California Cuisine style restaurants.
Given the grittiness of the area, much of the food is very affordable. Vietnamese, Thai, and Indian restaurants are well represented in the Tenderloin. One of the best options for a cheap lunch is picking up a "Vietnamese sandwich" from any of a number of corner delis in the area (they're packed especially thick along Larkin St). For about $2.50 you can expect to get a generous helping of your choice of meat and shredded vegetables sandwiched into a quarter of a baguette and dressed with a thin, tangy sweet and sour sauce. Be sure to bring cash, as these places don't take any credit cards. There is actually a decent selection of restaurants in the area, but if you are not satisfied, there are many other excellent eateries just west of the Civic Center, around [[San Francisco/Western Addition|Hayes St]], and northeast of the Tenderloin around [[San Francisco/Chinatown-North Beach|Chinatown]] and North Beach. Generally speaking, for mid-range to high-end restaurants in the area seating is easier around 8PM, when opera and symphony patrons depart.
===Budget===
===Budget===
[[Image:Food 99804749.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Anyone for lunch? Chinese BBQ style]]
====Chinese====
The cheapest meal you can have on the go is to partake of the numerous take-out places along Stockton Street in Chinatown. The most dense parts of the Stockton Street Market stretch from Washington Street north to Broadway Street, filled with BBQ shops, dim sum shops, and other stores. Consider the Stockton Street Market as a progressive meal. Be patient, it is very crowded during the lunch hour. If you don't like crowds, try some of the restaurants off Stockton Street.
Although the many restaurants in Chinatown advertise themselves as Hong Kong or Guangzhou style, their offerings are by chefs from provincial towns in Guangdong, the quality of which is generally considered by Hong Kong or Guangzhou diners to be subpar to authentic Hong Kong or Guangzhou food.
| hours=M-Tu, Th-Sa 8AM-8PM, W 8AM-3PM | price=$6-11
| content=This vegetarian restaurant is a little different as it's run by an Indian religious order called 'Sri Chinmoy'. Ananda Fuara means the "Fountain of Delight" and their food is intended to harmonize you both inside and out.
| content=For excellent ''dim sum'' at a price that's a bargain compared to the touristy joints on Grant, this is a great place to eat. Most, if not all, of the clientele are Chinese, and this is a good thing.
}}
}}
* {{eat
* {{eat
| name=BowHon | alt=寶漢 | url= | email=
| name=Bang San | url=http://www.bangsanthaicuisine.com/ | email=
| address=850GrantAve | lat=37.7949 | long=-122.4063 | directions=between Clay St and Washington St
| address=791 O'Farrell St | lat=37.7851 | long=-122.4175 | directions=between Larkin St and Hyde St
| phone=+1-415-362-0601 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-928-2772 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=11AM-10:30PMdaily | price=$3.95-10
| hours=M-W and Su 11AM-11PM, Th-Sa 11AM-2AM | price=$5-8
| content=This tiny hole-in-the-wall serves up some of the best darn Thai food this side of the Mekong River. They have 12 categories of dishes from which to choose. Sit down, order, and watch as delicious food is cooked before your eyes.
| content=This small restaurant serves traditional clay pot dishes. Cash only.
| content=Affordable and excellent selection of authentic Indian food. Speedy service and filling portions, and free Chai tea for all customers. A recent addition and a neighborhood favorite.
| content=Inexpensive but good Chinese food served in a comfortable setting for Chinatown. Not too many small tables; ample large tables for family and friends.
| content=What is a laundry doing under 'Eat'? Joey's serves Mitchell's Ice Cream, widely recognized as the best in the Bay Area. If you're bored with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, try the green tea or macapuno ice creams. For the launderer seeking more solid sustenance — or if you get hungry while using their internet access ($7.50 per hour) — there are breakfast pastries, pizza slices, and coffee.
| content=Formerly "Hong Kong Dim Sum," this restaurant serves great dim sum and traditional noodle dishes and is frequented by Chinatown locals.
| address=620Broadway St | lat=37.7980 | long=-122.4075 | directions=nearGrant and Columbus Ave
| address=887 Geary St | lat=37.7860 | long=-122.4178 | directions=Larkin St
| phone=+1-415-788-7034 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-928-0158 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=9AM-3AMdaily | price=$3.50-10
| hours=M-Sa 7AM-2PM, Su 7:30AM-2PM | price=$3-7
| content=If you can't stomach the line (or the hipster clientele) at Dottie's, the Moulin Rouge Breakfast Cafe around the corner on Geary offers solid grub at much cheaper prices. The elderly couple who run the place are always friendly and never hurry you, and the shabby faux-French decor is weirdly charming despite liberal amounts of duct tape holding the place together.
| content=Situated right next-door to Sam's (and another Vietnamese restaurant), this is a healthier late night option to the burger and fries. The place is tiny (the open grill is right behind the cash-register), the decor dated, and the three Vietnamese ladies who run it are about as friendly as a poke in the eye, but the food is excellent, fresh, well seasoned, and very cheap. The crab soup is a favorite as is the inimitable $3.50 pork sandwich.
}}
}}
* {{eat
* {{eat
| name=Sam'sPizza | url= | email=
| name=Olympic Flames Cafe | url= | email=
| address=618Broadway St | lat=37.7980 | long=-122.4074 | directions=nearGrant and ColumbusAve
| address=555 Geary St | lat=37.7867 | long=-122.4125 | directions=between Taylor St and Jones St
| phone=+1-415-391-1539 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-885-0984 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-F5PM-9PM | price=$5-10
| hours=6AM-4PM daily | price=$4.50-8.50
| content=Spacious, affordable and home-cooked breakfast joint. Excellent omelettes. This is a viable alternative of Dottie's True Blue Cafe which almost always seems to have a line.
| content=If you like greasy but very tasty fast food then you've come to the right place. Sam's is a small dingy late night diner; the sign says pizza, but they do a mean burger and fries. It's very popular with locals from the busy Broadway area.
| content=Pakistani food featuring curries, tandoori fish, and piping hot naan. Unlike some of the local eateries in the "tandoor-loin," the seating is clean, comfortable, and fairly new (possibly the results of some other restaurant's going-out-of-business sale). The restaurant tends to be comparatively quiet, as well as offering an excellent view of police actions on Jones St.
| content=Excellent little budget taqueria with good quality food at a very reasonable price. It's clean, the portions are generous and the service is excellent. They can sometimes put together a large burrito in less than a minute from time of order to time of eating. Juke box and large screen TV in the back.
| content=Northern Indian/Pakistani food, they have a tandoor (clay oven) which means excellent ''naan'' (flat breads) and ''murgh boti'' (barbecue chicken). The curries and rice pilaf are also worth checking out for their unique combination of spices.
| content=Another classic late-night spot for the inebriated and starving. The sign outside says that they have the best Philly-cheese steaks in the city... almost certainly not true, but with its fresh ingredients, it's pretty good nonetheless. They also do a very good burger at a reasonable price. Friendly staff and open late to cater to the party crowd.
| hours=Restaurant: 11AM-1:45AM, Bar: 10AM-1:45AM | price=$4-10
| content=Open since 1947, Tommy's is a classic San Francisco eatery and bar. You can't miss this place — on both the inside and out it's colorful and quirkily decorated. They serve wholesome, filling food like "hand-carved" sandwiches, stews, and mash potatoes.
| content=Excellent and varied selection of burgers at a reasonable price. Inside it has typical retro American-diner decor and the service is fast and friendly. This place is very popular and was voted "Best Burger 2007" in San Francisco by the readers of SF Weekly.
| content=In Vietnamese ''Bo''-''de''-''ga'' in Vietnamese means ''beef''-''lamb''-''chicken'' — all popular Vietnamese dishes. The menu also draws equal inspiration from French cuisine making this an unusual dining experience.
| content=Basque restaurant in North Beach, good champagne and rose wine selection. Menu favorites: Serrano ham, crab fritters. Tapas, small plates, moderately priced. Modern decor with windows onto Washington Street. Bubble Lounge is next door, also specializing in huge champagne collection. Gets very well-dressed crowd in after work and later evening. No line (yet) and serves parties up to 10, but small space.
}}
}}
* {{Eat|name=The Douglas Room|alt=|url=http://www.tildenhotel.com/dine|email=|address=345 Taylor Street|lat=37.785635|long=-122.411289|directions=Between O'Farrell and Ellis Streets, inside the Tilden Hotel|phone=+1 (415) 673-2332|tollfree=|fax=|hours=|price=|lastedit=2017-04-06|content=Restaurant with well-stocked bar and simple pub fare. Italian Hoagie on the menu strives for authenticity -- the Douglas Room insists on importing Amoroso Rolls from Philadelphia for their hoagie.}}
| content=Check out the aquariums in the window if you want to know what's for dinner. If you've never seen a geoduck, you will not soon forget it.
| content=Owned by the film director Francis Ford Coppola, Zoetrope is an elegant Italian restaurant located in a historic landmark, the Sentinel Building, in the shadow of the Transamerica Pyramid.
| address=1233 Van Ness Ave | lat=37.7872 | long=-122.4220 | directions=at Post St
| phone=+1-415-989-7033 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-351-1234 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=6AM-midnightdaily | price=$9-15
| hours=M-Th 11AM-10:30PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 4:30PM-10:30PM | price=$11-23
| content=With the multitude of sushi places it is hard to say which is best, but this one rates at the top for taste, freshness, and authenticity.
| content=Puccini serves a mean cappuccino and a delicious homemade lasagna. The walls are adorned with opera posters, and the sounds of Verdi and spoken Italian are in the air. Excellent tiramisù, the Italian layered custard and chocolate dessert.
| address=430 Columbus Ave | lat=37.7991 | long=-122.4082 | directions=between Green St and Valejo St
| phone=+1-415-397-3600 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=11AM-1AM daily | price=$13-20
| content=You can't miss this restaurant — it's the one with the large awning and all the curbside tables that overlook Columbus Street. They make great fresh mojitos here and the pizza is pretty good too.
}}
* {{eat
| name=House of Nanking | url=http://houseofnanking.net/ | email=
| address=919 Kearny St | lat=37.7964 | long=-122.4054 | directions=Cross Street — Jackson St
| phone=+1-415-421-1429 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-9:30PM | price=$6-12
| content=The most famous Chinese restaurant in San Francisco and justifiably so. Let the waiter order for you. The Moo Shu Pork is sublime.
}}
* {{eat
| name=L'Osteria del Forno | url=http://www.losteriadelforno.com/ | email=
| address=519 Columbus Ave | lat=37.7997 | long=-122.4096 | directions=at Green St
| content=No reservations. A charming, crowded, locally known date restaurant, L'Osteria has a line out the door after 5PM, so arrive early. The small semi-surly staff cooks up wonderful, affordably-priced dishes in the kitchen's one oven, so things can take a little while... specials on the menu: the roast pork, baked penne, and salmon carpaccio are favorites. Excellent Italian wine selection by the glass and bottle. Cannot seat more than 4 in a party.
}}
* {{eat
| name=Michelangelo Cafe | url= | email=
| address=579 Columbus Ave | lat=37.8001 | long=-122.4102 | directions=between Green St and Union St
| phone=+1-415-986-4058 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-Th 5PM-11PM, F-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10PM | price=Entrees $15-25
| content=Small, cozy and ornately decorated Italian restaurant in the heart of North Beach. Great service!
| address=1322 Grant Ave | lat=37.7992 | long=-122.4072 | directions=between Vallejo St and Green St
| phone=+1-415-788-3779 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Su-Th 9AM-10:30PM, F-Sa 9AM-11:30PM | price=Burgers, fries and a coke around $12
| content=American style diner that definitely has one of the best burgers in San Francisco. Mo's has a unique rotary-style grill in the front window to lure unsuspecting hungry people in. When you leave though, you will not be hungry — Mo's burgers are ''HUGE'', and are best complimented with a frosted cold glass of beer!
}}
* {{eat
| name=Mama's | url=http://mamas-sf.com/ | email=
| address=1701 Stockton St | lat=37.8015 | long=-122.4096 | directions=On Washington Sq
| phone=+1-415-362-6421 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Tu-Su 8AM-3PM | price=Breakfast and lunch go for about $9-11
| content=Unbelievably popular place with locals, you only need to see how long the lines are outside at breakfast to understand the popularity of Mama's — it has become a North Beach institution. In 2007, it won Zagat's "Best Breakfast in San Francisco."
| hours=M-F 11:30AM-3PM, 4:30PM-midnight; closed Sa & Su | price=$9-14
| content=Great sandwiches in the reincarnation of an old saloon built atop the buried remains of a merchant ship that was blown ashore by a storm in 1849.
}}
* {{eat
| name=Yuet Lee | url= | email=
| address=1300 Stockton St | lat=37.7979 | long=-122.4084 | directions=at Broadway St
| phone=+1-415-982-6020 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=W-M 11AM-3AM | price=$8-25
| content=No-nonsense Chinese restaurant with an eclectic but authentic menu, with offerings like stir-fried Watercress and Fresh Frog Rice Soup.
| content=Traditional Brazilian food, very affordable, but mixed reviews on service.
| content=This Chinese restaurant has a ''HUGE'' menu that focuses primarily on the fruits of the sea like Dungeness crab, oysters and giant prawns. They are also known for doing a pretty good duck.
| content=With 30-foot high ceilings supported by pillars, sunken tables, sculptures, and artwork adorning the walls, it's not hard to see that this place was once an elegant ballroom. Today it's an elegant dining room where they serve excellent French cuisine.
| content=This quirky Chinese restaurant has a "prix-fixe" menu and reservations are required. It serves excellent ornate Shanghai style dishes with a "no-fuss" style table service. By the way, there is no fixed menu — it changes based upon what the chef selects that day.
}}
}}
* {{eat
* {{eat
| name=R & G Lounge | url=http://www.rnglounge.com/ | email=info@rnlounge.com
| hours=DSu-W 5PM-10:30PM, Th-Sa 5PM-11:30PM, hours are extended to accommodate neighborhood performances | price=$50-150
| content=French food in American style, quite pricey, great decor, appetizers, deserts, mixed reviews on entrees. They have both an "à la carte" and a "prix-fixe" menu.
| content=An authentic upscale Cantonese Restaurant and Lounge. All types of seafood including Salt and Pepper Crab.
| content=Serves up Asian and Italian inspired dishes using fresh American ingredients in an ornately decorated dining room. They also have live piano playing most nights of the week.
| content=Reservations recommended. The home of Asian fusion cuisine. The dining space is tiny, but the possible ensuing wait is worth it. Don't miss the scallop-topped Caesar salad or the often-imitated seared Ahi tuna.
| content=The California version of a New York deli.
| content=Italian food meets hippie bus. Plates of pasta served family style. Some very nice seafood pastas. They may bring what you order, or perhaps what the chef thinks would go together better. They have house wine, served in water tumblers. Small, a little noisy, and a lot of fun. Opens special hours for World Cup faithful. Cash only.
}}
}}
* {{eat
* {{eat
| name=TheStinking Rose | url=http://www.thestinkingrose.com/ | email=sfcomments@thestinkingrose.com
| content=This is an environmentally friendly vegetarian/vegan restaurant that does its best to source local, organic and non-genetically modified food. If you're one of those people who think veggies can't be tasty... you need to go here, the food is delicious — very pricey — but delicious!
| content=This is the place if you love garlic, and only if you really love garlic. The original in what has become a chain of garlic restaurants offering sumptuous, contemporary California-Italian cuisine prepared and adorned with garlic. Motto: "We Season Our Garlic With Food!" Be warned, people might be reluctant to be near you the next day.
| content=Fine dining from the Tuscany region of Italy. This restaurant has a lavish interior with cherry wood walls, high ceilings and Florentine tiled floors. There are four dining rooms in total and there is a cigar room and wine cellar in the basement.
| hours=11:30AM-10:30PM daily | price=Entrees from $16-36
| content=Set a few blocks back from the Wharf area, this is one of the nation's oldest Italian restaurants, and it has been open since 1886. A favorite among locals and visitors alike, it serves authentic Northern Italian cuisine.
}}
}}
==Drink==
==Drink==
These days the Tenderloin is on the "up-and-up," and with this urban gentrification has come a surprisingly eclectic and artistic nightlife scene. It now has a decent selection of trendy lounges and hip clubs, as well the musical venues (many of which are listed under [[San Francisco/Civic Center-Tenderloin#Performing arts|Performing arts above]]), strip-clubs, and "dive bars" that were the more traditional staples of the area. In fact, many of the modern "faux-dive" and "dive bars" used to be illegal ''speakeasies'' during the prohibition era of the 1920s. Given the areas long and storied association with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community (the "Polk Gulch" was the city's first openly Gay neighborhood, before the emergence of the Castro in the 1970s), many of the bars, clubs, and entertainment are geared toward this crowd, although typically everyone is welcome.
[[Image:vesuvio.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Bottoms up! — The legendary Vesuvio's Bar]]
Chinatown has less drinking establishments, but North Beach with its abundance of bars and clubs is one of the major nightlife hotspots in the San Francisco. It attracts revelers from all over the city who are looking for a good time and somewhere to party into the wee hours of the morning... so put your drinking cap on!
===Bars===
===Bars===
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=LiPo's | url= | email=
| name=21 Club | url= | email=
| address=916GrantAve | lat=37.7953 | long=-122.4064 | directions=at Washington St
| address=98 Turk St | lat=37.7834 | long=-122.4106 | directions=at Taylor St
| phone=+1-415-982-0072 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-771-9655 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=2PM-2AM daily | price=
| hours=10AM-2AM daily | price=
| content=Old time dive bar that has been around since the time the neighborhood was full of sailors. They have a ''HUGE'' window that overlooks the Turk/Taylor intersection, and it probably delivers more entertainment than any TV you'll ever buy, showing all kinds of Tenderloin action going down; like prostitutes milling about, ambulances flying around, and Vietnam Vets just looking for a break. They serve cheap drinks and the patrons range from surly full time alcoholics, to friendlier neighborhood personalities... but hey, that's the 'Loin!
| content=This dive bar is great to pop into while in Chinatown. Although it has nothing on tap, bottled beer is available. Check out the seedy booths in the back lit by a single red bulb. Or catch a live act in the dimly-lit basement on the weekends.
| address=1155GrantAve | lat=37.7975 | long=-122.4071 | directions=nearthe intersection of Kearney St and Columbus Ave
| address=1121 Polk St | lat=37.7871 | long=-122.4202 | directions=at Hemlock St
| phone=+1-415-421-6730 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-567-1918 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=3PM-2AM daily | price=
| hours=4PM-2PM daily | price=
| content=Upscale, lush, candlelit bar in the Polk Gulch. It's dark and romantic and they have a good selection of cocktails... try the strawberry margarita. They also have free pizza on Monday nights.
| content=Little hole in the wall dive bar, run by the irrepressible hostess/owner Candy Mama, a 50-something woman originally from Taiwan. She's a spitfire and a complete rock star. She'll end up doing shots with you, sneaking shots into your drinks, force-feeding you endless peanuts and making adorable and incessant conversation. The crowd's an eclectic mix, which makes for great people-watching, especially when the karaoke is broken out.
}}
}}
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=BuddhaLounge | url= | email=
| name=Bourbon and Branch | url=http://www.bourbonandbranch.com/ | email=
| address=901GrantAve | lat=37.7952 | long=-122.4066 | directions=at Washington St
| address=501 Jones St | lat=37.7859 | long=-122.4132 | directions=O'Farrell St
| phone=+1-415-362-1792 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-673-1921 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Noon-2AMdaily | price=
| hours=M-Sa 6PM-2AM | price=
| content=This hard to find cocktail/spirit themed bar is a throwback to the prohibition days of the 1920s — this address used to be an thriving illegal "speakeasy" known as the "JJ Russell's Cigar Shop." Inside it's ornately decorated with dark woods giving the place a real cozy feel. It being a prohibition themed bar, they also have some strange house rules posted on the walls like ''"no photography"'' and ''"Please speak easy"'' They have an exhaustive selection of spirits and cocktails.
| content=Another favorite dive bar in Chinatown, this is a cramped yet lively place that's great for people watching.
}}
}}
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=Red'sPlace | url= | email=
| name=The Brown Jug | url= | email=
| address=672Jackson St | lat=37.7962 | long=-122.4065 | directions=at Beckett St
| address=496 Eddy St | lat=37.7837 | long=-122.4157 | directions=at Hyde St
| phone=+1-415-956-4490 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-441-8404 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=11AM-2AM daily | price=
| hours=6AM-2AM daily | price=
| content=Another classic dive-bar in the 'Loin. Again, a friendly atmosphere permeates throughout, and it's got its own set of die-hard locals who come down for a bit of fun and some cheap booze. It has an internet juke box and a small pool table to liven things up.
| content=It is the oldest operating bar in Chinatown. It's a quiet place, ideal for conversations.
| address=15RomoloPl | lat=37.7981 | long=-122.4064 | directions=at Broadway St, half block in from Columbus Ave intersection
| address=950 Geary St | lat=37.7862 | long=-122.4190 | directions=at Larkin St
| phone=+1-415-398-1359 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-885-4074 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=5:30PM-2AM daily | price=
| hours=5PM-2AM daily | price=
| content=Expatriates from the British Isles are often to be found at this Scottish pub, which on Thursdays through Saturdays becomes a hipster mecca. The interior is warm and shadowy, a comfortable place of dark wood and golden lantern light, and the beer selection is good; you can get pints of Belhaven or Newcastle as well as the ubiquitous Guinness, and it's all available by the pitcher. The Edinburgh Castle also has a relationship with a local fish and chips fryer, so you can order from their menu and have it delivered to you at the pub. The jukebox is well stocked with punk rock, Irish folk/rock, and American roots music, and live bands also play regularly (which can unfortunately make it impossible to carry on a conversation). A trivia contest is held on Tuesday nights. And on Burns Night (January 25th), the Edinburgh Castle is ''the'' place to be, with ribald poetry readings, music, and a public haggis.
| content=The hidden bar has a lovely dark red decor. Formerly the "Basque Hotel" this historic hotel and bar becomes quite crowded on one of the busiest blocks during a Friday and Saturday night in North Beach. It's also positioned on a steep street, with a side entrance that seems furtive and secret.
}}
}}
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=NorthStarCafe | url= | email=
| name=The Gangway | url= | email=
| address=1560Powell St | lat=37.7992 | long=-122.4104 | directions=at GreenSt
| hours=6AM-2PM daily | price=$2.50 domestic beer, $3.50 well drinks
| content=This nautically-themed dive bar is home to a group of chatty regulars, mostly gay middle-aged men, who are friendly to newcomers of any age, gender, or sexual orientation. Many of them have lived in San Francisco for decades, and they have great stories.
| content=The North Star is a standard bar that you will find almost everywhere in the U.S. It has pool tables, a bar, and as the evening goes on becomes standing room only. This is a good bar for hanging out with friends and making new ones.
}}
}}
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=Specs | url= | email=
| name=Hanaro | url= | email=
| address=12WilliamSaroyan Pl | lat=37.7976 | long=-122.4060 | directions=down a small alley off of Columbus Ave, around the cornerfromTosca
| address=939 Geary St | lat=37.7859 | long=-122.4187 | directions=at Larkin St
| phone=+1-415-421-4112 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-928-4066 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Su-Th 4:30PM-2AM,F-Sa 5PM-2AM | price=
| hours=Noon-2AM daily | price=
| content=Just across from the Edinburgh Castle is a shadowy hole-in-the-wall festooned with Korean lettering: Hanaro. Though the bar is wallpapered with "No Smoking" signs (as California law demands), you need only loiter outside the bar for a few minutes with a cigarette before you are beckoned inside and offered an ashtray. In fact, Hanaro's great charm is it that it's accommodating in every respect; stay for a bit and you will be offered various bar snacks, and there is usually a hostess on hand whose only job is to chat with the patrons. This is done, however, with taste and tact; if you wish to drink in silence, you won't be disturbed. The jukebox is stocked with Asian pop singles.
| content=Mariner's hangout and general dive bar in North Beach, this is a hidden gem.
| content=Standard but friendly dive-bar in the Tenderloin that serves cheap drinks. It was co-founded by pro-wrestler Hank Hanastead and boxer Ralph Figari. Great place if you're into the 'Loin's no nonsense dive bars.
| content=Another landmark North Beach Cafe/Bar, Tosca is dark but atmospheric interior complete with some cool red-leather booths. The bar is named after the opera Tosca and has an intense list of operas on the jukebox. Willie Brown, former mayor, hangout. It's known for its specialty "Coffeeless Cappuccino" — steamed milk with brandy and chocolate. There are about 15 cappuccinos lined up on the bar ready to serve since they are so popular.
| content=Situated in the area known as the "Polk Gulch," this ever entertaining little rocker bar has a music room in the back where rock-and-roll bands play. It's nicely decorated wooden interior makes it feel cozy and inviting and they also have a heated smoking lounge.
| content=This quirky and historic bar was founded in 1948, and is famous for its association with jazz, poetry, and the Beat Generation. Neal Cassidy first made a pit stop here in the mid fifties, and ever since it became a favorite hangout for literati celebrities, including Jack Kerouac. While you're there, why not order "The Jack Kerouac" — a healthy dose of tequila, rum, and cranberry juice. The bar is located next-door to the iconic City Lights Book store and what is now known as "Jack Kerouac Alley".
| content=Stylish cocktail bar in the Tenderloin. It has reasonably priced drinks and food (pizza, tapas and the like) in an informal yet trendy atmosphere. Not surprisingly they specialize in martinis, like the ''"Ultimate Olive Martini."''
| content=Old Blues/Jazz bar that has survived the raucous Barbary Coast and the 1906 earthquake. This is the oldest bar in San Francisco and it certainly looks like it too — it's grotty and rough looking inside and out, and it's extremely loud, but it can also be great fun and a must if you love the Blues.
}}
}}
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=Savoy-Tivoli | url= | email=
| name=The Owl Tree | url=http://www.theowltree.com | email=
| address=1434GrantAve | lat=37.8002 | long=-122.4073 | directions=between Green St and UnionSt
| address=601 Post St | lat=37.7877 | long=-122.4119 | directions=between Taylor St and Trader Vic Aly
| phone=+1-415-362-7023 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-776-9344 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Tu-F 5PM-1:30AM,Sa 3PM-1:30AM | price=
| hours=5PM-2AM daily | price=
| content=A small, quiet upscale bar that's great for conversation and relaxation after a long day of wandering around San Francisco. What used to be a dive bar with walls adorned with tacky owl memorabilia, is now another upscale watering hole in the 'Loin, where cocktails have replaced draft beers as the drink of preference. There's still a mosaic owl on the outside though.
| content=Roomy, fun open-air bar on Grant Avenue, this bar is a favorite with both tourists and locals alike. It has been around since 1906 and attracts an eclectic yet discerning crowd.
}}
}}
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=ColumbusCafe | url= | email=
| name=R Bar | url= | email=
| address=562Green St | lat=37.7997 | long=-122.4084 | directions=ColumbusAve and Green St
| address=1176 Sutter St | lat=37.7880 | long=-122.4198 | directions=at Polk St
| phone=+1-415-274-2599 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-567-7441 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-F 2PM-2AM, Sa-Su noon-2AM | price=
| hours=M-F 6PM-2AM, Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 10AM-2AM | price=
| content=A rumbly, simple dive-esque bar in the upper Tenderloin neighborhood. Popular with the bar crawl crowds that make their way around the corner from Polk Street.
| content=Great bar situated in a huddle of bars around the intersection of Grant Avenue and Green Street. It draws a lively and predominantly young crowd. It does a two-for-one happy hour on beers and also $3 Fernets. Watch out though, it can get crowded.
}}
}}
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=Grant and Green Saloon | url=http://www.myspace.com/grantandgreensf | email=
| address=1371GrantAve | lat=37.7995 | long=-122.4075 | directions=at Grant Ave and Green St
| address=441 Jones St | lat=37.7855 | long=-122.4131 | directions=
| phone=+1-415-693-9565 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-Th 4PM-2AM, F noon-2AM, Sa-Su 10AM-2AM | price=
| hours= | price=
| content=A dive bar (originally the 441) which was bought and renovated by the same people who own Bourbon & Branch. Featuring house made alcohols and unique mixes, while not cheap, it's a unique experience in a classy wood paneled environment.
| content=Named after the intersection it resides on is this popular if slightly dingy bar. They have live bands playing every night.
| address=570Green St | lat=37.7998 | long=-122.4086 | directions=ColumbusAve and Green St
| address=115 Mason St | lat=37.7846 | long=-122.4095 | directions=between Ellis and Eddy
| phone=+1-415-362-4400 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-345-8484 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=5PM-2AM daily | price=
| hours=11AM-2AM daily | price=
| content=Crowded and loud, but you can catch just about any game here. This place thinks flatscreen TVs are a type of wallpaper. Food offerings are limited to hot dogs and potato chips.
| content=Trendy bar with sumptuous decor, high ceilings and lots of open spaces. It's a little bit pricier than other bars in the area and attracts a younger well dressed crowd.
}}
}}
* {{drink
* {{drink
| name=Gino& Carlo Cocktail Lounge | url= | email=
| name=Vertigo Bar | url= | email=
| address=548Green St | lat=37.7998 | long=-122.4081 | directions=ColumbusAve and Green St
| address=1160 Polk St | lat=37.7875 | long=-122.4199 | directions=at Sutter St
| phone=+1-415-421-0896 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-674-1278 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=6AM-2AM daily | price=
| hours=Tu-F 5PM-2AM, Sa 7PM-2AM | price=
| content=Fun and trendy bar in the Polk Gulch. It's exotically decorated and attracts mostly partying twentysomethings looking to get enebriated on strange cocktails. They have DJs, dancin, a smoking patio, and are known for their lengthy happy hour which runs until 9PM.
| content=One of a trilogy of bars that line up on Green Street, it's a classic North Beach neighborhood bar. It's colorful, has a great juke box, and attracts lots of locals looking to socialize.
}}
* {{drink
| name=Kells Irish Restaurant & Bar | url=http://www.kellsirish.com/sfc/index.php | email=
| address=530 Jackson St | lat=37.7965 | long=-122.4041 | directions=at Columbus Ave
| phone=+1-415-955-1916 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-Th 11:30AM-midnight, F 11:30AM-2AM, Sa 5PM-2AM | price=
| content=On a secluded narrow street, this is more of an upscale Irish bar and attracts twenty and young thirty-something workers from the nearby Financial District who are looking to unwind. It has another bar upstairs which tends to be quieter.
}}
* {{drink
| name=International Sports Club | url= | email=
| address=1000 Columbus St | lat=37.8039 | long=-122.4151 | directions=at Columbus Ave and Chestnut St
| content=Nice little bar with a well worn-in interior, moderately loud jukebox and friendly bar staff. They have cheap prices, a pool table and a couple seats by the door for the smokers. Nice mix of locals and tourists, very low key and down to earth. A very good place to make new friends and gets a good young crowd after about nine.
| address=800 Greenwich St | lat=37.8020 | long=-122.4130 | directions=
| phone=+1-415-440-8727 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=6PM-midnight daily | price=$15-20
| content=A great beer bar and restaurtant hidden in the lower part of North Beach. Out of the way of most tourists because of its low profile. Huge Belgian Beer selection, and other craft brews from around the world. Restaurant offers mussels and frites - classic Belgian combo. Be prepared to splurge if you go, you can easily drink your way to a hefty bill.
| address=493Broadway St | lat=37.7982 | long=-122.4053 | directions=atKearny St
| address=133 Turk St | lat=37.7829 | long=-122.4114 | directions=between Jones St and Taylor St
| phone=+1-415-788-2706 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-441-2922 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=8PM-2AM daily | price=
| hours=M-F noon-2AM, Sa 10AM-2AM, Su and Holidays 10AM-midnight | price=
| content=If you haven't already guessed from the name, "Aunt Charlie's" is a transvestite dive bar. It hosts a wide variety of entertainment shows and drag shows that are popular with gays, lesbians, transsexuals, and indeed straight patrons. Cheap, stiff drinks accompanied by endearing, harmless, and vocal co-drinkers, provides for fantastic people-watching.
| content=Catering to a musical taste that leans towards electronica, Fuse regularly features DJs that spin a variety of house and down tempo. This being San Francisco, the crowd tends to show up on the late side, but when they turn out they arrive in force. Fuse isn't that big, so if you arrive after everyone, be prepared to wait in line. The dance floor is minimal, establishing a space that's more for drinking and enjoying the music than getting funky. However, the quality of music is fun, and the bar staff is very friendly.
| address=447Broadway St | lat=37.7979 | long=-122.4047 | directions=betweenMontgomery St and Kearny St
| address=1081 Post St | lat=37.7867 | long=-122.4195 | directions=at Polk St
| phone=+1-415-788-0188 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-474-3482 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Tu-Su9PM-2AM | price=
| hours=6AM-2AM daily | price=
| content=This colorful transexual nightclub/bar has three floors of bars, drag shows, and erotic dancing. It attracts a lot of transgender people and that is what the shows predominantly showcase, but everyone is welcome. It advertises itself as "the premiere transgender nightclub on the West Coast."
| content=Upscale and trendy new lounge and nightclub with DJs and a reasonably sized dance floor. It gets a young crowd.
| address=1025ColumbusAve | lat=37.8037 | long=-122.4156 | directions=at Chestnut St
| address=895 O'Farrell St | lat=37.7848 | long=-122.4193 | directions=at Polk St
| phone=+1-415-474-0365 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+1-415-776-6686 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-Sa 11:30AM-1:30AM, Su 5:30PM-1:30AM | price=$20 before 6PM, $40 after 6PM, girls demand large tips for anything more
| hours=Box office: M-F 10AM-4PM, Club hours: Vary | price=
| content=Tourists have flocked here for live, nude girls and dirty movies since 1971, when porn star Marilyn Chambers followed her performance in a Mitchell Brothers' film by becoming an Ivory Snow model. The venue is large, clean, and the biggest rip-off in adult entertainment this side of Paris. If possible, avoid this over-priced, over-hyped tourist trap for the Crazy Horse on Market (next to the Warfield) or any of the clubs on Broadway in [[San Francisco/Chinatown-North Beach|North Beach]].
| content=Bimbo's is a glamorous upscale event venue and nightclub that holds up to 700 people. It has three bars, a dance floor and stage. Robin Williams did his act here quite regularly.
}}
}}
* {{drink
| name=Penthouse Club | alt= | url=http://www.penthousesf.com | email=marketing@penthousesf.com
| content=Upscale topless club is part fine dining, part dance club.
}}
===Entertainment===
Back in the days of the Gold Rush, Osgood Street (''O-So-Good Street!'') in North Beach used to be considered the red-light district. Today, the section on Broadway Street between Columbus and Samsome Street is an area that many consider to be the city's red-light district. It has many exotic-dance clubs like Larry Flynt's Hustler Club, Roaring 20s, and the more famous Condor. Carol Doda made this place famous in 1964 by injecting silicone into her chest and creating what would become known as "the new Twin Peaks of San Francisco." A plaque on the ouside commemorates the venue; ''The Condor; Where it all began; The birthplace of the world's first topless & bottomless entertainment; Topless — June 19, 1964 Bottomless — September 3, 1969 Starring Ms. Carol Doda; San Francisco, California''
The undiscriminating heckles from over-zealous doormen enticing customers into the shows can be a bit tacky and off-putting, especially for those who enter the area to go to the other non-strip clubs. Consequently, many people are put off from even entering the area.
===Coffee===
===Coffee===
Due to the lower rents and what was a general lack of options, there has been a recent revival of the coffee shops in the Tenderloin. The new, charming cafes provide relaxing shelter from the general hustle and bustle of the neighborhood.
North Beach in particular is famous its "caffe culture." It has an excellent variety of cafes, many of which serve award winning coffee, sometimes imported all the way from Italy. Here is a selection of the more popular ones;
| hours=M-F 7:30AM-4PM, Sa 8AM-4PM, Su 9AM-2PM | price=
| content=Very tiny spot with one large "farm table" (thus the name) and limited outdoor seating/standing bars. They serve coffee from nearby Santa Cruz roaster, Verve and have their own delicious sweets and other foods that they make daily. Very popular with the locals.
| content=Has become a North Beach landmark. Although a little bit scruffy, it has excellent coffee — certainly one of the best cups of coffee in North Beach, and it's very popular with the locals. One famous local patron was Jack Kerouac and reportedly Francis Ford Copolla wrote part of the ''Godfather'' here.
| hours=M-Th7:30AM-7PM, F-Sa 7:30AM-midnight, Su 8:30AM-7PM | price=
| hours=M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM | price=
| content=Great spot to pick up handmade chocolate caramels, bread pudding, and coffee from local roaster, Sightglass. Very cute interior decorated in an antique style and owned by a Louisiana native.
| content=Small elegant cafe/bakery that serves fresh affordable coffee with delicious treats like cannoli and tiramisù available on the side.
| content=Nicely decorated modern spot along the Polk corridor with good coffee and tea selections.
| content=Probably North Beach's most popular cafe, especially with locals. It has a real European atmosphere and imports its coffee from Italy. Curbside tables add to the ambiance.
| content=Decent, but basic spot for a cup of coffee where a lot of locals in the neighborhood go, especially while using the laundromat next door.
| content=Excellent bohemian corner cafe/eatery that is right on the edge of Washington Square. It has a relaxed coffee-house atmosphere and is a great place to refuel with a panini, a salad or one of their excellent cheese platters. Often features live entertainment and old movies on a big screen.
| address=754 Columbus Ave | lat=37.8018 | long=-122.4120 | directions=between Filbert St and Greenwich St
| phone=+1-415-421-4814 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=M-Sa 9AM-6PM | price=
| content=Run by local Chef Jean-Marc Gorce, this teeny-tiny place is more of an award-winning truffle vendor than coffee shop. However, the coffee is fresh and even if you just order a small house-blend for just $1 you'll get a free truffle (worth 75 cents).
}}
}}
==Sleep==
==Sleep==
{{sleeppricerange|under $100| $100–200| $200 and over}}
{{sleeppricerange|under $100| $100 - 200| $200 and over}}
Many "hotels" in the Tenderloin do their major business as single-room occupancy (S.R.O.) lodgings for permanent residents, many of whom live from welfare check to welfare check. These hotels also rent rooms to frightened-looking tourists lured by bargain rates ''"just off Union Square."'' Both the rates and the location are true: the management merely neglected to mention the urine-stained mattresses or the drunk lurching in the lobby. Use caution: if a rate seems too good to be true, it probably is. There are more normal hotels in the area as well, ranging from large chains to tiny boutique hotels with fashionable decor and chi-chi prices. If you plan to park a car, scrutinize the hotel listing for parking information. Free parking is not a given, and at peak times, even paid garages overflow onto the sidewalks. There are also several backpacker's hostels in this area, particularly on Taylor St that attract both backpackers and those traveling on a budget.
Many of the hotel accommodations in the area are of the S.R.O (Single Room Occcupancy) variety, especially in Chinatown. These are of less interest to tourists as they usually rent them out by the month ($600-800 p.m.). There are more traditional hotels however including:
===Budget===
===Budget===
* {{sleep
* {{sleep
| name=GrantPlaza Hotel | url=http://www.grantplaza.com/ | email=info@grantplaza.com
| price=Dorms: $23 and up, Private rooms: $60 and up | checkin=1PM | checkout=11AM
| checkin=2:30PM | checkout=noon | price=$70-95
| content=This is a popular backpacker hostel just two blocks from [[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Union Square]].
| content=Good for 1 or 2 night stay. Rates are reasonable. Make sure you ask for one of the outside rooms that overlook Grant Avenue, the inside rooms are small, dark and dingy. Close to parking garages and walking distance to many restaurants, bars and attractions. Staff is friendly.
}}
* {{sleep
| name=Hostelling International-City Center | url=http://www.sfhostels.com/city-center | email=
| address=685 Ellis St | lat=37.7841 | long=-122.4174 | directions=at Larkin St
| content=Clean, cheap, safe, fun. The hostel has 75 beds in total, some are 4 or 5 bed dorms and others private rooms. All rooms have their own private bathroom. They offer a free breakfast and free wi-fi.
| checkin=2PM | checkout=11AM | price=dorms from $25, private from $59
| content=An elegant 5 story hotel that was built after the 1906 earthquake, it has 164 guest rooms. They have a gym, laundry facilities, and all access to free wi-fi.
| content=A favorite of backpackers world-wide, price includes free internet and wi-fi, free breakfast every morning and dinner 3 nights a week, a 24-hour sauna, pool table, common room, free beer at the Beer Olympics on Tuesday nights and free live music on Sundays. An ideal location, right between Chinatown and North Beach and a short walk from downtown.
| name=Rodeway Inn Civic Center | alt= | url=https://www.choicehotels.com/california/san-francisco/rodeway-inn-hotels/ca228 | email=rodewaysf@yahoo.com
| address=2237Mason St | lat=37.8043 | long=-122.4136 | directions=nearLombard St and Columbus Ave, three blocks south of the main tourist area and near the other cable car line
| address=860 Eddy St | lat=37.7830 | long=-122.4218 | directions=between Franklin St and Van Ness Ave
| checkin=2PM-10PM and 11PM F-Sa | checkout=11AM | price=$75-85
| checkin=3PM | checkout=11AM | price=$60-110
| content=This is a pretty standard but comfortable inn near Van Ness. They offer some free limited parking and a complimentary breakfast.
| content=At the other end of the spectrum is the San Remo Hotel, All rooms except a rooftop suite are under $100. It was built right after the 1906 earthquake, became apartments later, and has been nicely reconverted to a hotel. It appears to be a favorite place for European tourists. It is quiet, all non-smoking, has no room phones nor TVs, and shared baths. A nice and large Italian restaurant, Fior d`Italia, self-proclaimed "The oldest Italian restaurant in the United States," has moved into its street floor.
}}
}}
* {{sleep
* {{sleep
| name=Castro Hotel | url= | email=
| name=Taylor Hotel | url=http://www.sanfrancisco-budgethotel.com/ | email=info@sanfrancisco-budgethotel.com
| address=705Vallejo St | lat=37.7984 | long=-122.4090 | directions=betweenEmery Ln and Stockton St
| address=615 Taylor St | lat=37.7881 | long=-122.4120 | directions=at Post St
| content=This is an older building and the rooms are in need of paint, but it's relatively clean. There is a nice Indian couple who runs the place, they have wireless internet and a community computer in the lobby and a continental breakfast each morning. It's in a great location, just 2 blocks from [[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Union Square]].
| content=Fancy a short stay at an S.R.O., well here's one that rents by the week. The rooms are clean, it's in the heart of North Beach, it's safe — being directly opposite the police station, and it gets good reviews.
}}
* {{sleep
| name=USA Hostels San Francisco | alt= | url=http://www.usahostels.com/locations/san-francisco/ | email=sanfrancisco@usahostels.com
| address=711 Post St | lat=37.7874 | long=-122.4138 | directions=between Jones St and Leavenworth St
| content=Great hostel operating in two buildings just off Union Square. All rooms have their own bathrooms.
}}
* {{sleep
| name=Civic Center Hotel | url= | email=
| address=20 12th St | lat=37.7740 | long=-122.4200 | directions=between Franklin St and Van Ness Ave, just one block west of the Van Ness MUNI station
| phone=+1-415-861-2373 | tollfree= | fax=
| price=Single occupancy with a shared bath: $150/week. Add 14% tax for the first 4 weeks and a one time $15 key deposit | checkin= | checkout=
| content=Furnished rooms with a sink in each room (no televisions). Only metered street parking is available at the hotel.
}}
}}
===Mid-range===
===Mid-range===
* {{sleep
* {{sleep
| name=SW Hotel | url=http://www.swhotel.com/ | email=swhotel@swhotel.com
| name=Cova Hotel | url=http://www.covahotel.com/ | email=contact@covahotel.com
| address=615Broadway St | lat=37.7976 | long=-122.4073 | directions=nearColumbusAve
| address=655 Ellis St | lat=37.7840 | long=-122.4168 | directions=between Hyde St and Larkin St
| content=This hotel has 96 well decorated rooms in the heart of downtown. All rooms have 300 thread count sheets, high definition TVs, complimentary breakfast, and free wi-fi.
| content=Named after its owner Sam Wong, this budget hotel is decorated with everything Asian. The rooms are a bit smaller than standard but it is situated in a very central location in Chinatown and the price is reasonable.
| content=Hotel Bijou is inspired by San Francisco's rich cinematic history, adorned with movie palace stylings and Hollywood portraits, and features a mini movie theater in the lobby.
| content=Hotel Boheme is located in a popular Italian neighborhood with decorations that pay tribute to San Francisco's Beat Generation. The building may be hard to find, with only a single innocuous doorway covered by a small awning. You have to buzz at the door to enter but you get a key for this door on check in. Past the door is a steep and narrow staircase leading up to the next floor. On the second floor to the right of the landing is the hotel office. A bottle of Sherry surrounded by cordial glasses is set out for guests on the landing sideboard each night. Hotel staff are always friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about everything San Francisco.
}}
}}
* {{sleep
* {{sleep
| name=ColumbusMotor Inn | url=http://www.columbusmotorinn.com | email=
| content=It's on the eastern outskirts of the Tenderloin, but there can be people sleeping in stairways and panhandling right next to the hotel, so it's authentic enough. Inside it is perfectly clean.
| content=The Columbus Motor Inn is in the nice part of North Beach, on the border of the Fishermen's Wharf district, within easy walking distance of all Fisherman's Wharf attractions, and from Washington Square. Public transportation is very convenient, with the No. 30 bus stopping at the door, and the Bay and Taylor Cable Car Turntable a short walk away. Rooms are spacious, with good views and balconies on most Columbus Side rooms. Parking is limited, but covered: the first two floors of the building are parking, with all guest rooms above. No on-site food, but nearby restaurants cater to every budget and taste.
| content=This is a 460 room historic boutique hotel. An elegant, opulent building, it was first used as a temporary city hall after the 1906 earthquake. Italian marble, Austrian chandeliers, and a short walk to the Symphony/Opera and the Asian Art Museum. It also has a piano bar/wine bar.
}}
* {{sleep
| name=Inn At The Opera | url=http://www.shellhospitality.com/hotels/inn_at_the_opera/index.html | email=karinmerzenich@aol.com
| address=333 Fulton St | lat=37.7787 | long=-122.4223 | directions=between Gough St and Franklin St
| content=A luxury boutique hotel featuring a fresh design that bridges its Spanish Colonial Revival architectural roots to a clean and contemporary design aesthetic. 2½ blocks away from the Powell St Cable Car line, 6 blocks from the Moscone Convention Center.
| content=A stylish eco-friendly hotel, claiming to be San Francisco's "greenest" hotel, this lodging gets almost universally good reviews.
| content=A fun and hip boutique hotel. This is part of Kimpton Hotels, a San Francisco based hotel and restaurant company.
| content=This hotel has a spacious lounge, fitness center, pool, and 4 star dining room in a Beaux-Arts building. It has 336 guestrooms, including 60 suites.
}}
}}
* {{sleep
* {{sleep
| name=WashingtonSquare Inn | url=http://www.wsisf.com/ | email=info@wsisf.com
| name=Serrano Hotel | url=http://www.serranohotel.com/ | email=
| address=1660Stockton St | lat=37.8012 | long=-122.4092 | directions=at WashingtonSq
| address=405 Taylor St | lat=37.7861 | long=-122.4116 | directions=at Taylor St and O'Farrell St
| content=This is a deluxe boutique hotel in a 17-story Spanish Revival building. They have free high speed internet and a wine appreciation hour every evening.
| content=Modeled after boutique European hotels it offers many services including a complimentary breakfast, and evening hors d'oeuvres. Rooms are well appointed with European antiques, cable TV, private baths, and free wi-fi. Centrally located in North Beach, it has views over Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, and Washington Square Park.
}}
}}
==Connect==
==Connect==
Joey's Laundry listed under the [[San Francisco/Civic Center-Tenderloin#Eat|Eat section above]] has internet for a fee, and the Main Library listed under the [[San Francisco/Civic Center-Tenderloin#Architecture|Architecture section above]] has free internet facilities.
There are an abundance of coffee shops in North Beach that offer free wi-fi facilities upon purchasing a beverage. There are also two library branches that have internet computers.
* {{listing
| name=San Francisco Public Library — Chinatown Branch | alt= | url=http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/ | email=
| address=1135 Powell St | lat=37.7952 | long=-122.4102 | directions=between Jackson St and Washington St
| phone=+1-415-355-2888 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours=Su 1PM-5PM, M 1PM-6PM, Tu-Th 10AM-9PM, F 1PM-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM | price=
| lastedit=2015-04-03
| content=Free internet facilities.
}}
* {{listing
| name=San Francisco Public Library — North Beach Branch | alt= | url=http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/ | email=
| hours=Su closed, M 1PM-6PM, Tu 10AM-9PM, W 1PM-9PM, Th 10AM-6PM, F 1PM-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM | price=
| lastedit=2015-04-03
| content=Free internet facilities.
}}
==Stay safe==
==Stay safe==
The Tenderloin is one of San Francisco's lowest income neighborhoods and has all the socio-economic problems that stem from this including crime, homelessness, and drug addiction. In particular there is a lot of violent street crime like assault and theft. Parts of the Tenderloin are considered the most dangerous areas in San Francisco, with the exception of Hunter's Point and possibly a few areas in the [[San Francisco/Mission|Mission]] (such as Mission between 16th and 17th Sts). Turk St and Taylor St might be considered the heart of the "true" Tenderloin; the sidewalks teem at all hours with the homeless, people openly selling crack or heroin, derelicts, hustlers, and the mentally ill. This area spills directly into Mission St on the other side of Market St; Mission St between 8th and 5th St may be considered part of this truly seedy "core Tenderloin" area. Travelers should be aware of their environment and take an appropriate amount of care. The area is lively and safe until about 2AM (when the bars close); after that, it does get sketchy, and is best avoided by travelers walking alone.
North Beach remains busy with revelers and party-goers well into the early hours of the morning, but Chinatown, despite its crowds during the day, becomes eerily quiet after around 6-7PM. Chinatown has also had a somewhat of a poor reputation for pugnacious youngsters (as young as 12) that tend to hang around in groups, and also for bona-fide gangs. Therefore, a sensible amount of care should be taken when enjoying the sights and sounds of Chinatown.
==Go next==
==Go next==
Ontheroadagain?Well, if you are followinginthefootstepsof the Beatliteratithat loved this area so much, why not continue yourtourintootherareasofthecity?
[[San Francisco/Western Addition|Hayes Valley]] — If you are an art lover and liked the formal galleries in this area, then why not continue into neighboring Hayes Valley where you will find many smaller urban chic galleries.
[[San Francisco/Union Square-Financial District|Union Square]] — There are also many other smaller and more exclusive art galleries in Union Square that focus on selling the artwork of high profile artists like Renoir and Chagall. Union Square also has a good selection of galleries that exhibit the work of local and up-and-coming artists.
* '''29 Russell Street,''' at the bottom of [[San Francisco/Nob Hill-Russian Hill|Nob Hill]], is where Jack Kerouac lived and wrote during the 50s.
{{routebox
* '''The Six Gallery,''' 3119 Fillmore Street in the [[San Francisco/Golden Gate|Cow Hollow]] area, hosted a seminal moment in the history of the Beat movement — The Six Gallery reading. The gallery is of course long closed, but you can still visit this historic site.
As the name implies, the Civic Center is the primary center of government within San Francisco, housing many important civic institutions. Aside from its official duties, it also moonlights as a cultural center with many fine museums, theaters, opera houses, and symphony halls located here. Over the years however, it has developed a reputation for attracting many of the city's drug-addicted and homeless to its open plazas. Next door is the Tenderloin, one of San Francisco's lowest income neighborhoods with an unfortunate reputation for poverty, drugs, and crime, particularly violent street crime. However, it also has a rich history and an eclectic community, with treasures for those who know where to look. The Civic Center-Tenderloin area is bounded roughly by Market St to the southeast, Taylor St to the east, Franklin St to the west, and Sutter St to the north.
The Civic Center is on Van Ness Ave, north of its intersection with Market St. The city began developing the area in 1913, and most of the buildings there are of a "Classical Style", with their development being heavily influenced by the "City Beautiful Movement". Most of the city's integral governmental institutions are located here; like City Hall which dominates the Civic Center with its impressive "Beaux-Arts" style dome. There are two main plazas in the area; Civic Center Plaza and United Nations Plaza. The Civic Center Plaza (in front of City Hall) has been a popular place for holding rallies, protests, and festivals. As well as being a hub for city government, the area is also a serious cultural center. "Culture vultures" flock here at night to see performances of the San Francsico opera, symphony, and ballet, as well as to attend theater, galas, concerts, plays, and special events. During the day you can get your "culture fix" by visiting one of the many excellent museums and galleries such as the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum, and the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery. There are also several other smaller private galleries in the area.
Architecture aficionados will be happy to know that some of the most beautiful buildings in the city are cloistered within a few square blocks here. Examples include the War Memorial Opera House, the Asian Art Museum, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, and the War Memorial Veterans building with the Herbst Theater (where the U.N. charter was signed in 1945).
There is also a popular farmers market held twice weekly in United Nations Plaza.
Tenderloin
Many guidebooks will tell you to avoid a large part of downtown — the Tenderloin. It's true that this "bad neighborhood" is rife with panhandlers, adult bookstores, and massage parlors, but it's also full of good, cheap ethnic restaurants and colorful dive bars. The 'Loin is probably the last area of downtown to experience real gentrification, a process that seems to be taking its time, but the early signs are already here. Culture vultures will find several cutting edge, alternative/experimental theaters and high-culture galleries, which are attracted by the neighborhood's low rents and proximity to downtown. Sleek lounges and trendy clubs are also increasingly making a home in this eclectic neighborhood, side by side with the traditional dive bars it has always been known for.
The name "Tenderloin" comes from the overall shape of the area's boundaries: triangular, like the cross-section of a tenderloin steak. According to a different explanation the area was originally called "The Tenderloin" by the police officers, since they were paid more to work there — the most notorious part of the town. There are many different ways to define its boundaries; the official and original three corners (making a Tenderloin shape) may be delineated by Market St and Larkin St to the south, Geary St and Larkin St to the northwest, and Market St by Geary St to the northeast. Today the area would be more better defined between Polk St, Sutter St, Mason St, Market St, and Golden Gate Ave.
Although it has a reputation as one of the tougher parts of town, in reality the Tenderloin is quite variegated and can change drastically from block to block. There are many different sub-neighborhoods within the 'Loin. Much of the area on the east side of Mason St (above O'Farrell St) is high-rent and more properly considered part of downtown Union Square. The western area around Hyde and Larkin Sts, from Turk St to O'Farrell St, is a colorful Vietnamese neighborhood known as "Little Saigon".
Geary St, Post St, and Sutter St, especially the blocks west of Jones St, are part of the so-called "Tendernob" or "Tenderloin Heights" bordering Nob Hill; sometimes this definition also includes southern Nob Hill as far north as California St or Sacramento St (especially the western blocks around Polk St). The Tendernob (at least on the 'Loin side) is considered a nightlife hotspot by some folks who like their drinking milieu a bit rough around the edges. It connects with Polk St on the western edge of the Tenderloin. Known variously as "Polk Gulch", "Polk Village", or the "Outer Tenderloin", this very lively area of Polk St, from Geary St to Union St, is populated with all types of restaurants, cafes, bars, venues, bookstores, and other shops. Finally, an area bordered by O'Farrell, Geary, Leavenworth, and Taylor Sts, is sometimes called the "Tandoor-loin" because of the high concentration of excellent and affordable Indian restaurants.
Dashiell Hammett's novel, "The Maltese Falcon," was set in the Tenderloin, and the 1941 movie adaptation for the Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade, was also set in the Tenderloin.
Directions for driving to the Civic Center are marked on the freeways. Once inside the City limits, two main arteries serve the area — Van Ness Ave and Market St.
There are several garages, such as the Performing Arts Garage at Grove St and Gough St, an underground garage under the Civic Center Plaza (entrance on McAllister St), open from 6AM to Midnight, or 24-hour valet parking at Opera Plaza on Turk St just off Van Ness Ave. Where the freeway was prior to 1989 earthquake (between Grove St at Gough St and Turk St at Franklin St) there are several smaller open air lots, which will charge about $10 for all day or $6 for an evening. Those lots are gradually being displaced by new construction. Street parking in the Tenderloin is extremely difficult to find, but parking garages are plentiful.
By MUNI
The neighborhood is well-served by public transit, provided by MUNI in the form of the Metro system, the F-Line streetcar and various bus lines. All of the MUNI Metro lines (J, K, L, M, N and T) serve the Powell/Market and Civic Center/United Nations Plaza stations under Market St along with the BART line. The MUNI Metro also serves the Van Ness/Market station, which is part of the same subway tunnel but is not shared with BART.
The historic F streetcar line runs on Market St between Castro St and the Ferry Building (where it turns north on The Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf), passing by both the Civic Center and the Tenderloin.
From the Caltrain station the 47-Van Ness bus takes you to along the western border of the area (Van Ness Ave) to City Hall. Other frequent MUNI bus lines serving the area are: 49-Mission/Van Ness, 9-San Bruno, 31-Balboa, 5-Fulton, 19-Polk, 21-Hayes and 38-Geary.
By BART
BART runs under Market St with two stops in the area; both the Powell/Market and Civic Center/United Nations Plaza. Both BART stations will put you well within walking distance of any Tenderloin attraction; the latter is the most convenient BART stop for the Civic Center.
By cable car
One or other of two cable car lines — either the Powell/Mason cable car line or the Powell/Hyde cable car line — can take you from Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Nob Hill, or Russian Hill to the intersection of Market St and Powell St in Union Square — near the Powell/Market BART and Muni station. From here it's just one block to the Tenderloin.
On foot
Given that the area is centrally located downtown, it is extremely accessible on foot. From the SoMa area walk northbound on anywhere from Fifth St to 11th St. Market St forms its broad southern boundary and makes the area easily accessible from either the east (Union Square-Financial District) or west (The Castro), and from the north (Nob Hill-Russian Hill) it's just a 10-20 minute walk directly due south.
Get around
As this is a relatively small area, the best way to get around is on foot. To help you navigate around there is a 37.7844-122.40811Visitor Information Center located at 900 Market St on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza, next door to the cable car turntable at Powell and Market streets. The V.I.C. is open M-F 9AM-5PM; Sa, Su, and holidays 9AM-3PM, PST. Telephone inquiries may be made M-F from 8:30AM to 5PM PST, by calling +1-415-391-2000 or +1-415-392-0328.
See
Little Saigon (Sài Gòn Nhỏ) (Larkin St between Eddy St and O'Farrell St). A tiny two block strip of Larkin St houses an active Vietnamese American community where the vast majority of shops and restaurants are Vietnamese owned and operated. Little Saigon functions as a both a Vietnamese commercial and cultural center, and there are some excellent restaurants and stores here.
Museums and galleries
37.7795-122.41431The Art Institute of California — San Francisco, 1170 Market St (at Civic Center Plaza), ☏ +1-415-865-0198, fax: +1-415-863-5831, aicasfadm@aii.edu. Check their website for a schedule of exhibits. The institute holds public multimedia exhibitions in the fields of media arts, fashion, animation and design.
37.780276-122.4165772Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St (between McAllister St and Fulton St), ☏ +1-415-581-3500, fax: +1-415-581-4700, pr@asianart.org. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM (with extended evening hours every Th until 9PM) Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Built in 1917, and formerly the old library building, this building is a fantastic blend of "Beaux Arts" and modern design elements. It was designed by renowned architect Gae Aulenti (architect of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris). Inside, you'll find many interesting architectural details including the grand staircase, loggia, vaulted ceilings, the great hall, stone floors, period light fixtures, and inscriptions. The museum is one of the largest and newest museums of Oriental art. It has circa 15,000 artifacts covering 6,000 years of Asian history. The Asian Art Museum hosts many special exhibits as well. Free first Sunday of every month, $15 adults, $10 seniors/students/youth ages 13-17, free for children 12 and under/military/SFUSD students. Th evenings at a reduced rate ($10) after 5PM. Special exhibitions cost extra. (updated Apr 2015)
37.7878-122.41413John Pence Gallery, 750 Post St (between Jones St and Leavenworth St), ☏ +1-415-441-1138, fax: +1-415-441-1178, art@johnpence.com. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-5PM. This 8,000 square foot gallery exhibits art of the realism movement (particularly academic realism) as well as "Beat Generation" art works. Free.
37.782-122.41024Luggage Store Gallery, 1007 Market St (at 6th St), ☏ +1-415-255-5971, iaro@aol.com. W-Sa noon-5PM. They organize exhibitions, performing arts events, arts education, and public art programs in order to encourage and facilitate the flow of artistic ideas between the different cultural and socio-economic stratums in society. They also host exhibits at the Luggage Store Annex (a.k.a. 509 Cultural Center) at 509 Ellis Street (near Leavenworth St). Free.
37.7786-122.42075San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave (at McAllister St), ☏ +1-415-554-6080, fax: +1-415-554-6093, meg.shiffler@sfgov.org. The Gallery at 401 Van Ness: W-Sa noon-5PM, The Window Site at 155 Grove St: 24 hours daily, Art at City Hall: M-F 8AM-8PM. The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery supports a diverse range of Bay Area "Visual Art" culture by supporting artists projects through collaboration with community organizations, commissioning contemporary art, and curated exhibitions. They also have window installations at 155 Grove St and another in City Hall. Free.
37.7839-122.41416Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy Street (at Leavenworth St), ☏ +1-415-830-4640. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM; walking tours daily 11AM, 1PM, 3PM (no 11AM tour on Su). A newly opened museum dedicated to the history of the Tenderloin, with exhibits on the neighborhood's cultural history. Guided walking tours of the neighborhood are also available. $10 adults, $6 students/seniors/youth, free children 12 and under; walking tours $10, or $5 extra with museum admission. (updated Jul 2015)
Parks and monuments
37.7795-122.41767Civic Center Plaza (between Polk St and McAllister St). This grassy plaza is situated at the heart of the Civic Center and its tree-lined central avenue visually draws the eye to the imposing structure of City Hall. Protests and demonstrations of all political persuasions are frequently staged here. There is a parking lot underneath the plaza.
37.7797-122.415958James Lick (Pioneer) Monument (behind the Main Library branch, next to the Asian Art Museum). The monument is a tribute to California and its early pioneers like Sir Francis Drake. Atop sits a bear and a man carrying both spear and shied — all three objects are imagery that represent California.
37.7781-122.42019Large Four Piece Reclining Figure, 201 Van Ness Ave. This bronze sculpture was created by English artist Henry Moore in 1973. It poses happily outside Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall.
37.7854-122.418210Sgt. John Macaulay Park (Larkin St and O'Farrell St). Named in honor of a police sergeant who died on duty, this vibrantly colored park and playground only allows adults in if they are accompanied by kids. It has become a bit of an urban oasis set amidst the grittiness of the Tenderloin.
37.78-122.413711United Nations Plaza (at Market St and Hyde St). The UN Charter was signed in the Civic Center in 1945, and this plaza was constructed in honor of its ideology and is ironically over the site of the original San Francisco City Cemetery. Designed by architect Lawrence Halprin, and completed in 1975, this is a three acre red-bricked pedestrian plaza. Brick columns inscribed with UN members country names line the plaza, and the UN Fountain sits at its center. Intended to be a visual gateway to the Civic Center, it is often habituated by the city's homeless, but has a compact and diverse Farmers' Market[dead link] on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Architecture
The Civic Center with its "classical" architecture was declared a national landmark in 1978. It has several buildings that are of architectural interest including the Asian Art Museum, listed under Museums and galleries above, as well as the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the buildings that comprise the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center (SFWMPAC), the Orpheum Theater, Golden Gate Theater, the Curran Theater, and the interior of the Great American Music Hall, which are all listed under Performing arts below. Other architectural points of interest include:
37.7867-122.41412Alcazar Theater, 650 Geary St (between Jones St and Leavenworth St), ☏ +1-415-441-4042, fax: +1-415-441-9567. M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Built in 1917 in honor of the Shriners (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine); this Byzantine-style Islamic temple (now a 500 seat theater showing Broadway and off-Broadway shows), is now a historical city landmark. The architect was T Patterson Ross. Free.
City Hall's "Beaux-Arts" Dome
37.7793-122.419313City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl (between Van Ness Ave, McAllister St, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, and Grove St), ☏ +1-415-554-4933, fax: +1-415-554-4936, City.Hall.Building.Management@sfgov.org. Brochures are available for visitors to take a self-guided tour: M-F 8AM-8PM Docent led tours: M–F 10AM, noon, 2PM. Designed by Arthur Brown Jr., and opened in 1915, the architecture of the building was heavily influenced by the "City Beautiful Movement," which in turn reflected the American Renaissance style of the time. Its "Beaux-Arts" dome (the fifth largest in the world) was modeled after that of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy. The building itself is huge, 393 feet long, by 273 feet wide, and 307 feet high — occupying a full two blocks of San Francisco's downtown real estate. It is considered by many admirers to be the most impressive building in the city. Inside, it features a large rotunda with a grandiose staircase leading up to the second floor. The walls are adorned with oak paneling and the ceilings with crystal chandeliers. City Hall is the site of much history — In 1954 Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe wed here. In 1978, Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated here. Tours: Self guided and docent led tours are free unless you're a private group of eight or more persons.
37.7804-122.414514Federal Office Building, 50 United Nations Plaza (just north of Market St, between Hyde St and Leavenworth St). Architect Arthur Brown Jr., who also designed City Hall and several other Civic Center landmarks, designed this building. It was completed in 1936, making it the last building to be completed in the seven-building complex of the Civic Center. It is an interesting six story, D-shaped, "Beaux Arts" building. It also has a 24,000 square-foot interior courtyard and many of its features such as the lobby and main stairway are subject to historical preservation laws. Unfortunately, the building is currently closed and can only be appreciated from the outside. Free.
37.779-122.41615San Francisco Public Library - Main Library, 100 Larkin St (at Grove St), ☏ +1-415 557-4400, webmail@sfpl.org. Su noon-5PM, M 10AM-6PM T-Th 9AM-8PM, F noon-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM; Tour Hours: Offered on the first Tuesday of every month at noon. Completed in 1995 at a cost of $109 million, the main library branch is over 375,000 square feet of modern architecture. It has seven floors, over 2,000 seats, and an impressive foyer that has a five story high atrium. At the top of the atrium is a bright sky-light and a roof terrace. Internet: Free Tours: Free.
Do
Dashiell Hammett Walking Tour, 100 Larkin St (n.w. corner of the main library), ☏ +1-510-287-9540, dashdude@donherron.com. May and Oct: Su noon-4PM. If you're a fan of mystery books, film, or would just like to recapture what San Francisco was like in the 1920s and 1930s; then you'll love this tour. It takes you round all the places where Hammett wrote his famous books. It also visits the exact locales where his famous characters like Continental Op and Sam Spade got into their storied adventures. The tour is about 4 hours long. $10.
37.7852-122.41151Glide Memorial Church, 330 Ellis St (intersection of Taylor St and Ellis St), ☏ +1-415-674-6000, info@glide.org. M 7AM-2:30AM, Tu,Th 7AM-11:45PM, W,F 7AM-11PM, Sa-Su 7AM-1:30PM. Famous for its gospel music, as well as for its inner-city missions, the church is a pillar of this community and plays a vital role in Tenderloin day-to-day life; anyone truly trying to understand the area should visit here. Sunday services are a major musical event attracting crowds, and yes, even long lines to get in! Free.
Heart of the City Farmer's Market, United Nations Plaza (just north of Market St, between Hyde St and Leavenworth St), ☏ +1-415-558-9455. Su 7AM-5PM, W 7AM-5:30PM. The farmer's market held Sundays and Wednesdays offers a less expensive alternative to the yuppie Ferry Building Farmer's Market, though it helps if you're seeking the ingredients for Asian food. On other days, there are often tents with vendors selling jewelry, scarves, clothing, snacks, house wares, and who-knows-what. The fun is in the surprises. Free.
37.7816-122.4132St. Boniface, 133 Golden Gate Ave (just off Jones St), ☏ +1-415-863-7515, fax: +1-415-863-7602, stbonifacesf@aol.com. This Catholic church features its original elaborately decorated interior from 1900, so why not come in and say a prayer! A Franciscan parish, it is also known for allowing the homeless to sleep in the pews on weekdays. Free.
San Francisco City Guides, Main Library, 100 Larkin St (at Market St), ☏ +1-415-557-4266, tours@sfcityguides.org. Tours are offered year round, times and dates vary by tour - see website for schedule. They offer walking tours of the Civic Center, the Tenderloin, the main library, and City Hall, free of charge. The tours highlight the history, architecture, culture, events, and folklore of the area. Free.
Performing arts
Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall — take it away, maestro!
The Civic Center is the center of opera, ballet, symphony, and theater in the city. Even if one hasn't bought a ticket in advance, there are often returned tickets available at the box offices before a performance. Make a night of it when you are here; take a walk around the Civic Center, enjoy the architecture, sit for dinner, or just have a cappuccino in one of the cafes before the overture.
37.7785-122.4173The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St (between Polk St and Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-974-4060, fax: +1-415-974-4073. The auditorium is not open to visitors or for tours, but only during event times which vary. This four-story tall, "Beaux-Arts" style building occupies an entire city block in the heart of the Civic Center and has 7,000 seats inside. Large and small bands, exhibits, concerts, and galas are all hosted at the Civic Auditorium. Check Ticketmaster to see what's playing. Price varies depending on act.
37.7835-122.41034CounterPULSE Theater, 80 Turk St (at Taylor), ☏ +1-415-626-2060. This hybrid theater is a hub for experimental art and activism. Online calendar boasts new and eclectic events year-round.
37.7845-122.41025EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy St (between Mason St and Taylor St), ☏ +1-415-673-3847, fax: +1-415-931-2699, mail@sffringe.org. See website for exact hours. EXIT Theatre is a no-frills experimental/alternative theater in the Tenderloin. There are two performance spaces inside: Exit Theatre and Exit Stage Left; they have another theater "EXIT on Taylor" which is located at 277 Taylor St. They host productions like "Waiting for FEMA" and "Babylon Heights" by Irvine Welsh. They also host the Fringe Festival (listed under Events and festivals below), which is the largest grass roots theater festival in the San Francisco Bay Area. $6-9.
37.7848-122.41886Great American Music Hall, 859 O'Farrell St (between Larkin St and Polk St), ☏ +1-415-885-0750, fax: +1-415-885-5075, info@gamh.com. Shows: hours vary; Box office: M-F 10:30AM-6PM, show nights 10:30AM-9PM, closed Sa-Su (except during shows - opens 1 hour before show time). Reputed to be the city's oldest nightclub, this ornate 600 capacity music venue presents hip music acts, some well-known among the cognoscenti, some so cutting edge that there's blood on the pavement. In the 1930s, this was fan-dancer Sally Rand's "Music Box." The interior, which was designed by a French architect, is known for its ornate balconies and columns. Ticket prices vary by act but typically run from $10-30.
37.7757-122.427The New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave (half a block from Market St and the Van Ness MUNI station), ☏ +1-415-861-8972, boxoffice@nctcsf.org. Box office hours: W-Sa 1:30PM-7PM, Su-Tu noon-3PM; show times: Performances are typically W-Sa 8PM, Su 2PM, year round. The three small New Conservatory theaters present novel, musical, comic, and educational plays. Tickets generally cost $18-40.
37.7791-122.428San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, 401 Van Ness Ave, Room 110 (between Grove St and McAllister St), ☏ +1-415-621-6600, fax: +1-415-621-5091, info@sfwmpac.org. Tour hours: M 10AM-2PM — on the hour. This 7.5 acre complex comprises the War Memorial Opera House, Memorial Court, the War Memorial Veterans Building (including Herbst Theatre and the Green Room, which is a classically styled reception hall), the Harold L. Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall, and Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The opera house and the veterans buildings (which are for the most part identical), along with the court, were intended to be appreciated in unison, and to compliment the surrounding architecture of the Civic Center. Their "Beaux-Arts" structures employ the Roman Doric Order and were designed by architect Arthur Brown, Jr. Both buildings were completed in 1932. Guided tours of the buildings are available. Free.
37.7795-122.42099Herbst Theater, War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave (at McAllister St), ☏ +1-415-392-4400, fax: +1-415-986-0411, info@performances.org. Box office: Opens 1.5 hours prior to performance. Herbst Theater, next to the Opera house in the similarly-styled War Memorial Veteran's building is host to a wide variety of activities. One can find plays, readings by well-known authors, chamber music, jazz performances, etc throughout the year. The monthly Friday evening talks of the Long-now Foundation, projecting the far future, are presented here or in the Fort Mason Center. Inside the theater it has impressive foyer, chandeliers, beaux-arts murals (symbolism for the different aspects of mankind), and over 900 seats. The UN Charter was signed here in 1945. Adult: $18-81 Child: $10.
37.7785-122.42110San Francisco Ballet, War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave (at Grove St), ☏ +1-415-861-5600, fax: +1-415-865-0740, sfbmail@sfballet.info. Box office: M-F 10AM-4PM (10AM until start of performance on performance dates); Performances: Tu-Su usually 8PM or 7:30PM with Sa-Su matinee 2PM. The repertory season begins in January and continues through May. $18-250.
War Memorial Opera House
37.7785-122.42111San Francisco Opera, War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave (at Grove St), ☏ +1-415-864-3330, fax: +1-415-626-1729. Box office: M 10AM-5PM, Tu-F 10AM-6PM; Performances: Tu-F usually 7:30PM or 8PM, Sa 12:30PM or 8PM, Su 1PM, 2PM, or 3PM. See website for exact schedule. There are Fall, Spring, and Summer seasons. The summer season focuses on lighter and popular operas. Performances are in the War Memorial Opera House on Van Ness Ave which has over 3,000 seats. The interior has a grandiose entrance hall with marble floors and a 38 foot high barrel vaulted ceiling. Two wide marble stairways at either end of the foyer, take you up to the main floor. The proscenium arch inside the theater is ornately decorated with gilded sculptures. In December and late spring the Opera House is used by the San Francisco Ballet. $15-290.
37.7776-122.420512San Francisco Symphony, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave (at Grove St and Van Ness Ave), ☏ +1-415-864-6000, fax: +1-415-554-0108, info@sfsymphony.org. Box office: M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa noon-6PM; Performances: W-Su usually 8PM or 8:30PM with Sa-Su matinee 2PM, See website for exact schedule. San Francisco has an excellent symphony orchestra, with Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) as the principal conductor. The Season goes from September to April, with a break in the middle of December and January. When the San Francisco Symphony is on tour, other orchestras visit to fill the void. In July there is a "Summer in the City" program of light music; August is quiet. Opened in 1980, the building's sweeping wraparound architecture was elegantly designed to compliment the other buildings in the War Memorial complex. Inside, the building was designed to maximize acoustical tones with the exterior glass wall being used as a backdrop to capture sound. To further enhance and refine the sound it has adjustable acrylic acoustical panels around the stage area. There are circa 2,700 seats inside. $10-50.
SHN, 1192 Market St (at Hyde St), ☏ +1-415-551-2000 (recorded information), +1-415-551-2075, fax: +1-415-431-5052, feedback@shnsf.com. Show times: varyl Box office hours: vary, See website for details. SHN runs three theaters in the area (two in the Tenderloin and the Curran near Union Square) that focus on the usual Broadway classics like A Chorus Line, Grease, and of course The Phantom of the Opera. $25-99.
The historic Orpheum Theater
37.7822-122.41113Golden Gate Theater, 1 Taylor St (at Golden Gate Ave). Built in 1920 and influenced by the "Art Deco" and "Gothic Revival" styles, this theater has over 2,800 seats. It was designed by architect Gustave Albert Lansburgh.
37.7793-122.414514The Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market St (at Hyde St). Over 80 years old, this official historical landmark theater received another facelift in 1998; it now has over 2,400 seats. The theater has hosted everything from silent films to Broadway theater, and special shows such as "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." It is modeled in the style of a 12th century Spanish Cathedral, being heavily influenced by both "Spanish Moorish" and "Spanish Baroque" architecture. It has ornate architectural detailing inside and was designed by architect Benjamin Marcus Priteca.
37.7826-122.410415Warfield Theater, 982 Market St (between Mason St and Taylor St), ☏ +1-415-567-2060. Hours vary but shows usually start at 8PM. This historic theater on Market St has a balcony and approximately 2,700 seats. Built in the 1920s, it was renovated in 1969 and today it is as popular as ever hosting some major acts like Velvet Revolver and Bill Maher. Prices vary depending on act.
Events and festivals
Black and White Ball, Civic Center Plaza, ☏ +1-415-864-6000. Takes place once every two years in May. If you have the budget, why not "hob-nob" at San Francisco's classiest party? Taking up four entire blocks of the Civic Center, this ball attracts a well-heeled crowd, as well as those who are just splurging. The ball began in 1956 and features several high profile bands (the Grateful Dead played here in 1969), and includes a performance by the San Francisco Symphony orchestra. $200 gets you in the door, feeds you, and lets you enjoy the music, dancing, and entertainment. If you want to formally dine at the Patrons Dinner, you'll have to shell out a lot more. $200-3,000.
Fringe Festival, 156 Eddy St (between Taylor St and Mason St), mail@sffringe.org. 12 Days, beginning the Wednesday after Labor Day. See website for exact performance hours. This bohemian 10 day festival is all about theatrical experimentation and having fun... even if you don't know what you're doing exactly. Chaos rules here; even the list of performers are selected randomly at the last minute and participants are effectively given "carte blanche" to be as artistically free as possible. This leads to a lot of wackiness and of course a healthy dose of good old nudity! It takes place in several theaters but it is run by the EXIT Theater in the Tenderloin. $7-8 per performance, Frequent Fringer Pass (all 10 Days): $55.
San Francisco Pride Festival (All streets between Van Ness Ave, Market St, Golden Gate Ave, and Hayes St), ☏ +1-415-864-3733, fax: +1-415-864-5889, info@sfpride.org. Final full weekend in June: Sa noon-6PM, Su noon-7PM. Known as "San Francisco Pride" for short, it's one of the largest gay pride festivals in North America, a huge, happy, chaotic celebration of diversity, politics, sexuality, and San Francisco wackiness. The two day festival grew up around the parade (below) which takes place on Sunday. Some seven city blocks between City Hall and Market St are closed to vehicles, and about a dozen stages and spaces offer everything from square dancing to hip-hop, from a family garden to Leather Alley. Hundreds of businesses, community groups, non-profits, and political groups attempt to connect with hundreds of thousands of celebrants. It's a movement, it's a market, and it's a party. Car and bus traffic is interrupted during the celebration, and parking is even worse than usual; take BART or Muni trains (which run underground, and put on extra cars to carry the load) instead. Both parade and celebration are for everyone — straight as well as gay are welcome. Free (donations encouraged).
San Francisco Pride Parade (Along Market St from Beale St to 8th St), ☏ +1-415-864-3733, fax: +1-415-864-5889, info@sfpride.org. Final full weekend in June: Su only 10AM-2PM (approx). San Francisco's annual "Gay Pride Parade" long ago grew into a two-day "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration" (see above). The parade itself, which takes place on the Sunday, features over a hundred contingents, and takes over four hours from start to finish. Hundreds of thousands of people line the parade route to watch. If you want a good spot, arrive two hours before the 10AM start, and set up closer to Beale St than the Civic Center. Be careful about climbing on bus shelters, scaffolding, or light poles to get a better view: people do fall and injure themselves. The only thing better than watching the parade is marching in it. If you can make contact in advance, you likely can find some contingent with affinity which will welcome you. Free.
Tet Festival, Larkin St and Ellis St, ☏ +1-415-351-1038, fax: +1-415-351-1039, info@vietccsf.org. Mid-Jan to mid-Feb 9:30AM–6PM. Celebrate New Year's Vietnamese style at this festival. It attracts almost 30,000 each year to the area. It's mostly Vietnamese-Americans in attendance, but everyone is welcome and it's a great opportunity to sample some of the delicious Vietnamese dishes that they have in the Tenderloin, and of course to throw around some "lucky-money." Free.
Buy
There are very few chain stores here and limited shopping opportunities. This has probably got more to do with socio-economic reasons than anything else. If you are looking for your more recognizable stores try its glamorous neighbor Union Square, and on the other side of Market St in the SoMa neighborhood, you'll find plenty of large shopping malls. What this area does have however, is a varied collection of smaller esoteric stores.
37.7876-122.41541Kayo Books, 814 Post St (at Leavenworth St), ☏ +1-415-749-0554, kayo@kayobooks.com. Th-Sa 11AM-6PM. "Specializing in vintage collectible paperbacks from the 1940s to 1970s and esoteric books of all persuasions... " They have a large stock of rare and out of print books, many of which are of the lurid and sleazy persuasion.
37.7863-122.41162Napa Valley Winery Exchange, 415 Taylor St (between Geary St and O'Farrell St), ☏ +1-415-771-2887, fax: +1-415-441-9463, wine@nvwe.com. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 10AM-5PM. Well known wine store featuring hard to get and small production wines.
San Francisco Antique and Artisans Market, United Nations Plaza (at Market St), ☏ +1-415-255-1923, reservations@sfanamkt.com. M, Th, and F 8AM-6PM. Three times a week, over 100 vendors come together to sell antiques, gifts, and keepsakes from all over the world. Appropriately, the market is held at UN Plaza.
37.7863-122.41783Shooting Gallery, 886 Geary St (between Larkin St and Hyde St), ☏ +1-415-931-8035. Tu-Sa noon-7PM. An accessible and real art gallery. On it white-washed walls it features its latest raw art — "Low Brow" (school/gutter-punk art) and also erotic art.
Eat
This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget
$10 or less
Mid-range
$10 - 20
Splurge
$20 or more
Given the grittiness of the area, much of the food is very affordable. Vietnamese, Thai, and Indian restaurants are well represented in the Tenderloin. One of the best options for a cheap lunch is picking up a "Vietnamese sandwich" from any of a number of corner delis in the area (they're packed especially thick along Larkin St). For about $2.50 you can expect to get a generous helping of your choice of meat and shredded vegetables sandwiched into a quarter of a baguette and dressed with a thin, tangy sweet and sour sauce. Be sure to bring cash, as these places don't take any credit cards. There is actually a decent selection of restaurants in the area, but if you are not satisfied, there are many other excellent eateries just west of the Civic Center, around Hayes St, and northeast of the Tenderloin around Chinatown and North Beach. Generally speaking, for mid-range to high-end restaurants in the area seating is easier around 8PM, when opera and symphony patrons depart.
Budget
37.7779-122.41621Ananda Fuara, 1298 Market St (at Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-621-1994, fax: +1-415-934-1923. M-Tu, Th-Sa 8AM-8PM, W 8AM-3PM. This vegetarian restaurant is a little different as it's run by an Indian religious order called 'Sri Chinmoy'. Ananda Fuara means the "Fountain of Delight" and their food is intended to harmonize you both inside and out. $6-11.
37.7851-122.41752Bang San, 791 O'Farrell St (between Larkin St and Hyde St), ☏ +1-415-928-2772. M-W and Su 11AM-11PM, Th-Sa 11AM-2AM. This tiny hole-in-the-wall serves up some of the best darn Thai food this side of the Mekong River. They have 12 categories of dishes from which to choose. Sit down, order, and watch as delicious food is cooked before your eyes. $5-8.
37.786-122.41323Chutney, 511 Jones St (at O'Farrell St), ☏ +1-415-931-5541. Noon-midnight daily. Affordable and excellent selection of authentic Indian food. Speedy service and filling portions, and free Chai tea for all customers. A recent addition and a neighborhood favorite. $5-8.
37.7859-122.41354Joey's Laundry, 517 O'Farrell St (between Jones St and Leavenworth St), ☏ +1-415-567-4401. 6AM-9PM daily. What is a laundry doing under 'Eat'? Joey's serves Mitchell's Ice Cream, widely recognized as the best in the Bay Area. If you're bored with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, try the green tea or macapuno ice creams. For the launderer seeking more solid sustenance — or if you get hungry while using their internet access ($7.50 per hour) — there are breakfast pastries, pizza slices, and coffee. $4-10.
37.786-122.41785Moulin Rouge Breakfast Cafe, 887 Geary St (Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-928-0158. M-Sa 7AM-2PM, Su 7:30AM-2PM. If you can't stomach the line (or the hipster clientele) at Dottie's, the Moulin Rouge Breakfast Cafe around the corner on Geary offers solid grub at much cheaper prices. The elderly couple who run the place are always friendly and never hurry you, and the shabby faux-French decor is weirdly charming despite liberal amounts of duct tape holding the place together. $3-7.
37.7867-122.41256Olympic Flames Cafe, 555 Geary St (between Taylor St and Jones St), ☏ +1-415-885-0984. 6AM-4PM daily. Spacious, affordable and home-cooked breakfast joint. Excellent omelettes. This is a viable alternative of Dottie's True Blue Cafe which almost always seems to have a line. $4.50-8.50.
37.7856-122.41317Pakwan, 501 O'Farrell St (at Jones St), ☏ +1-415-255-2440. 11AM-11PM daily. Pakistani food featuring curries, tandoori fish, and piping hot naan. Unlike some of the local eateries in the "tandoor-loin," the seating is clean, comfortable, and fairly new (possibly the results of some other restaurant's going-out-of-business sale). The restaurant tends to be comparatively quiet, as well as offering an excellent view of police actions on Jones St. $6-10.
37.7862-122.41298[dead link]Shalimar, 532 Jones St (between O'Farrell St and Geary St), ☏ +1-415-928-0333, hammadje@aol.com. Noon-midnight daily. Northern Indian/Pakistani food, they have a tandoor (clay oven) which means excellent naan (flat breads) and murgh boti (barbecue chicken). The curries and rice pilaf are also worth checking out for their unique combination of spices. $3-10.
37.7855-122.42179Tommy's Joynt, 1101 Geary St (at Van Ness Ave), ☏ +1-415-775-4216, fax: +1-415-775-3322, joynt.tommys@gmail.com. Restaurant: 11AM-1:45AM, Bar: 10AM-1:45AM. Open since 1947, Tommy's is a classic San Francisco eatery and bar. You can't miss this place — on both the inside and out it's colorful and quirkily decorated. They serve wholesome, filling food like "hand-carved" sandwiches, stews, and mash potatoes. $4-10.
Mid-range
37.7835-122.417810Bodega Bistro, 607 Larkin St (at Eddy St), ☏ +1-415-921-1218, fax: +1-415-921-1216. Lunch: 11AM-3PM daily, Dinner: Su-W 5PM-9:30PM, Th-Sa 5PM-10PM. In Vietnamese Bo-de-ga in Vietnamese means beef-lamb-chicken — all popular Vietnamese dishes. The menu also draws equal inspiration from French cuisine making this an unusual dining experience. $8-23.
37.785635-122.41128911The Douglas Room, 345 Taylor Street (Between O'Farrell and Ellis Streets, inside the Tilden Hotel), ☏ +1 (415) 673-2332. Restaurant with well-stocked bar and simple pub fare. Italian Hoagie on the menu strives for authenticity -- the Douglas Room insists on importing Amoroso Rolls from Philadelphia for their hoagie. (updated Apr 2017)
37.7866-122.413412Kim Thanh, 607 Geary St (at Jones St), ☏ +1-415-928-6627, fax: +1-415-928-7821. M-F 11AM-11PM, Sa-Su 5PM-11PM. Check out the aquariums in the window if you want to know what's for dinner. If you've never seen a geoduck, you will not soon forget it. $7-12.
37.7872-122.42213Kyoto Sushi, 1233 Van Ness Ave (at Post St), ☏ +1-415-351-1234. M-Th 11AM-10:30PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 4:30PM-10:30PM. With the multitude of sushi places it is hard to say which is best, but this one rates at the top for taste, freshness, and authenticity. $11-23.
Splurge
37.7749-122.421114Minas Brazilian Restaurant & Cachaçaria, 41 Franklin St (at Oak St), ☏ +1-415-626-8727. Lunch: M-Sa 11AM-3PM; Dinner: Su-Th 5PM-9PM, F-Sa 5PM-10PM. Traditional Brazilian food, very affordable, but mixed reviews on service. Dinner: $14-21.
37.7868-122.411715Grand Cafe, 501 Geary St (at Taylor St), ☏ +1-415-292-0101, fax: +1-415-292-0150, frank.micalizzi@grandcafe-sf.com. Breakfast: M-F 7AM-10:30AM; Brunch: Sa-Su 8AM-2:30PM; Lunch: M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM; Dinner: Su-Th 5PM-10PM, F-Sa 5PM-11PM. With 30-foot high ceilings supported by pillars, sunken tables, sculptures, and artwork adorning the walls, it's not hard to see that this place was once an elegant ballroom. Today it's an elegant dining room where they serve excellent French cuisine. $30-100.
37.7781-122.421716Jardiniere, 300 Grove St (at Grove St and Franklin St), ☏ +1-415-861-5555, fax: +1-415-861-5580, info@jardiniere.com. DSu-W 5PM-10:30PM, Th-Sa 5PM-11:30PM, hours are extended to accommodate neighborhood performances. French food in American style, quite pricey, great decor, appetizers, deserts, mixed reviews on entrees. They have both an "à la carte" and a "prix-fixe" menu. $50-150.
37.778-122.414917Market Street Grill, 1231 Market St (between 8th St and 9th St), ☏ +1-415-487-4414, fax: +1-415-861-1460. Breakfast: 6:30AM-11AM daily, Lunch: 11AM-2PM daily, Dinner: 5PM-10PM daily. Serves up Asian and Italian inspired dishes using fresh American ingredients in an ornately decorated dining room. They also have live piano playing most nights of the week. $18-40.
37.7812-122.420818Max's Opera Cafe, 601 Van Ness Ave (Golden Gate Ave - in Opera Plaza), ☏ +1-415-771-7300, fax: +1-415-474-9780, MaxsOperaSF@maxsworld.com. Su-Tu 11:30AM-10PM, W-Th 11:30AM-11PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-11:30PM. The California version of a New York deli. Dinner $15-25.
37.7869-122.41319Millennium Restaurant, 580 Geary St (at Jones St), ☏ +1-415-345-3900, fax: +1-415-345-3941. Su-Th 5:30PM-9:30PM, F-Sa 5:30PM-10PM. This is an environmentally friendly vegetarian/vegan restaurant that does its best to source local, organic and non-genetically modified food. If you're one of those people who think veggies can't be tasty... you need to go here, the food is delicious — very pricey — but delicious! $30-75.
Drink
These days the Tenderloin is on the "up-and-up," and with this urban gentrification has come a surprisingly eclectic and artistic nightlife scene. It now has a decent selection of trendy lounges and hip clubs, as well the musical venues (many of which are listed under Performing arts above), strip-clubs, and "dive bars" that were the more traditional staples of the area. In fact, many of the modern "faux-dive" and "dive bars" used to be illegal speakeasies during the prohibition era of the 1920s. Given the areas long and storied association with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community (the "Polk Gulch" was the city's first openly Gay neighborhood, before the emergence of the Castro in the 1970s), many of the bars, clubs, and entertainment are geared toward this crowd, although typically everyone is welcome.
Bars
37.7834-122.4106121 Club, 98 Turk St (at Taylor St), ☏ +1-415-771-9655. 10AM-2AM daily. Old time dive bar that has been around since the time the neighborhood was full of sailors. They have a HUGE window that overlooks the Turk/Taylor intersection, and it probably delivers more entertainment than any TV you'll ever buy, showing all kinds of Tenderloin action going down; like prostitutes milling about, ambulances flying around, and Vietnam Vets just looking for a break. They serve cheap drinks and the patrons range from surly full time alcoholics, to friendlier neighborhood personalities... but hey, that's the 'Loin!
37.7871-122.42022Blur, 1121 Polk St (at Hemlock St), ☏ +1-415-567-1918, info@blursf.com. 4PM-2PM daily. Upscale, lush, candlelit bar in the Polk Gulch. It's dark and romantic and they have a good selection of cocktails... try the strawberry margarita. They also have free pizza on Monday nights.
37.7859-122.41323Bourbon and Branch, 501 Jones St (O'Farrell St), ☏ +1-415-673-1921. M-Sa 6PM-2AM. This hard to find cocktail/spirit themed bar is a throwback to the prohibition days of the 1920s — this address used to be an thriving illegal "speakeasy" known as the "JJ Russell's Cigar Shop." Inside it's ornately decorated with dark woods giving the place a real cozy feel. It being a prohibition themed bar, they also have some strange house rules posted on the walls like "no photography" and "Please speak easy" They have an exhaustive selection of spirits and cocktails.
37.7837-122.41574The Brown Jug, 496 Eddy St (at Hyde St), ☏ +1-415-441-8404. 6AM-2AM daily. Another classic dive-bar in the 'Loin. Again, a friendly atmosphere permeates throughout, and it's got its own set of die-hard locals who come down for a bit of fun and some cheap booze. It has an internet juke box and a small pool table to liven things up.
37.7862-122.4195Edinburgh Castle, 950 Geary St (at Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-885-4074. 5PM-2AM daily. Expatriates from the British Isles are often to be found at this Scottish pub, which on Thursdays through Saturdays becomes a hipster mecca. The interior is warm and shadowy, a comfortable place of dark wood and golden lantern light, and the beer selection is good; you can get pints of Belhaven or Newcastle as well as the ubiquitous Guinness, and it's all available by the pitcher. The Edinburgh Castle also has a relationship with a local fish and chips fryer, so you can order from their menu and have it delivered to you at the pub. The jukebox is well stocked with punk rock, Irish folk/rock, and American roots music, and live bands also play regularly (which can unfortunately make it impossible to carry on a conversation). A trivia contest is held on Tuesday nights. And on Burns Night (January 25th), the Edinburgh Castle is the place to be, with ribald poetry readings, music, and a public haggis.
37.7857-122.41826The Gangway, 841 Larkin St (at Geary Boulevard), ☏ +1-415-776-6828. 6AM-2PM daily. This nautically-themed dive bar is home to a group of chatty regulars, mostly gay middle-aged men, who are friendly to newcomers of any age, gender, or sexual orientation. Many of them have lived in San Francisco for decades, and they have great stories. $2.50 domestic beer, $3.50 well drinks.
37.7859-122.41877Hanaro, 939 Geary St (at Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-928-4066. Noon-2AM daily. Just across from the Edinburgh Castle is a shadowy hole-in-the-wall festooned with Korean lettering: Hanaro. Though the bar is wallpapered with "No Smoking" signs (as California law demands), you need only loiter outside the bar for a few minutes with a cigarette before you are beckoned inside and offered an ashtray. In fact, Hanaro's great charm is it that it's accommodating in every respect; stay for a bit and you will be offered various bar snacks, and there is usually a hostess on hand whose only job is to chat with the patrons. This is done, however, with taste and tact; if you wish to drink in silence, you won't be disturbed. The jukebox is stocked with Asian pop singles.
37.786-122.41768Ha-Ra Club, 875 Geary St (at Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-673-3148, fax: +1-415-564-0149. 9:30AM-2AM daily. Standard but friendly dive-bar in the Tenderloin that serves cheap drinks. It was co-founded by pro-wrestler Hank Hanastead and boxer Ralph Figari. Great place if you're into the 'Loin's no nonsense dive bars.
37.7874-122.42039Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk St (at Sutter St), ☏ +1-415-923-0923, tony@hemlocktavern.com. 4PM-2AM daily. Situated in the area known as the "Polk Gulch," this ever entertaining little rocker bar has a music room in the back where rock-and-roll bands play. It's nicely decorated wooden interior makes it feel cozy and inviting and they also have a heated smoking lounge. Bar: Free, Music Room: Cover charge varies.
37.7849-122.41810Olive Bar, 743 Larkin St (between O'Farrell St and Ellis St), ☏ +1-415-776-9814, unwind@olive-sf.com. M-W 5PM-11PM, Th 5PM-midnight, F 5PM-2AM, Sa 6PM-2AM. Stylish cocktail bar in the Tenderloin. It has reasonably priced drinks and food (pizza, tapas and the like) in an informal yet trendy atmosphere. Not surprisingly they specialize in martinis, like the "Ultimate Olive Martini."
37.7877-122.411911The Owl Tree, 601 Post St (between Taylor St and Trader Vic Aly), ☏ +1-415-776-9344. 5PM-2AM daily. A small, quiet upscale bar that's great for conversation and relaxation after a long day of wandering around San Francisco. What used to be a dive bar with walls adorned with tacky owl memorabilia, is now another upscale watering hole in the 'Loin, where cocktails have replaced draft beers as the drink of preference. There's still a mosaic owl on the outside though.
37.788-122.419812R Bar, 1176 Sutter St (at Polk St), ☏ +1-415-567-7441. M-F 6PM-2AM, Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 10AM-2AM. A rumbly, simple dive-esque bar in the upper Tenderloin neighborhood. Popular with the bar crawl crowds that make their way around the corner from Polk Street.
37.7855-122.413113Tradition, 441 Jones St. A dive bar (originally the 441) which was bought and renovated by the same people who own Bourbon & Branch. Featuring house made alcohols and unique mixes, while not cheap, it's a unique experience in a classy wood paneled environment.
37.7846-122.409514[dead link]Union Square Sports Bar, 115 Mason St (between Ellis and Eddy), ☏ +1-415-345-8484. 11AM-2AM daily. Crowded and loud, but you can catch just about any game here. This place thinks flatscreen TVs are a type of wallpaper. Food offerings are limited to hot dogs and potato chips.
37.7875-122.419915Vertigo Bar, 1160 Polk St (at Sutter St), ☏ +1-415-674-1278. Tu-F 5PM-2AM, Sa 7PM-2AM. Fun and trendy bar in the Polk Gulch. It's exotically decorated and attracts mostly partying twentysomethings looking to get enebriated on strange cocktails. They have DJs, dancin, a smoking patio, and are known for their lengthy happy hour which runs until 9PM.
Entertainment and clubs
37.7829-122.411416Aunt Charlie's Lounge, 133 Turk St (between Jones St and Taylor St), ☏ +1-415-441-2922, auntcharlies@artludesign.com. M-F noon-2AM, Sa 10AM-2AM, Su and Holidays 10AM-midnight. If you haven't already guessed from the name, "Aunt Charlie's" is a transvestite dive bar. It hosts a wide variety of entertainment shows and drag shows that are popular with gays, lesbians, transsexuals, and indeed straight patrons. Cheap, stiff drinks accompanied by endearing, harmless, and vocal co-drinkers, provides for fantastic people-watching.
37.7867-122.419517Divas, 1081 Post St (at Polk St), ☏ +1-415-474-3482, steve@divassf.com. 6AM-2AM daily. This colorful transexual nightclub/bar has three floors of bars, drag shows, and erotic dancing. It attracts a lot of transgender people and that is what the shows predominantly showcase, but everyone is welcome. It advertises itself as "the premiere transgender nightclub on the West Coast."
37.7848-122.419318Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater, 895 O'Farrell St (at Polk St), ☏ +1-415-776-6686. M-Sa 11:30AM-1:30AM, Su 5:30PM-1:30AM. Tourists have flocked here for live, nude girls and dirty movies since 1971, when porn star Marilyn Chambers followed her performance in a Mitchell Brothers' film by becoming an Ivory Snow model. The venue is large, clean, and the biggest rip-off in adult entertainment this side of Paris. If possible, avoid this over-priced, over-hyped tourist trap for the Crazy Horse on Market (next to the Warfield) or any of the clubs on Broadway in North Beach. $20 before 6PM, $40 after 6PM, girls demand large tips for anything more.
Coffee
Due to the lower rents and what was a general lack of options, there has been a recent revival of the coffee shops in the Tenderloin. The new, charming cafes provide relaxing shelter from the general hustle and bustle of the neighborhood.
37.7877-122.414419Farm:Table, 754 Post St. M-F 7:30AM-4PM, Sa 8AM-4PM, Su 9AM-2PM. Very tiny spot with one large "farm table" (thus the name) and limited outdoor seating/standing bars. They serve coffee from nearby Santa Cruz roaster, Verve and have their own delicious sweets and other foods that they make daily. Very popular with the locals.
37.785-122.41620Hooker's Sweet Treats, 442 Hyde St. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Great spot to pick up handmade chocolate caramels, bread pudding, and coffee from local roaster, Sightglass. Very cute interior decorated in an antique style and owned by a Louisiana native.
37.7857-122.419521Jebena, 990 Polk St, ☏ +1-415-409-1200. Nicely decorated modern spot along the Polk corridor with good coffee and tea selections.
37.7807-122.416522Soluna Cafe and Lounge, 272 McAllister St (at Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-621-2200. M-F 11:30AM-10PM, Sa 5PM-10PM. Just a stones throw from the performing arts buildings, it's a great place to grab a cappuccino just before the overture.
37.7771-122.417323Starbucks, 1390 Market St (at Fell St), ☏ +1-415-863-8332. M-F 5AM-8:30PM, Sa-Su 6AM-8:30PM. Ubiquitous Starbucks set just behind the Civic Center Plaza, so another convenient place to enjoy a coffee pre or post performance.
37.7871-122.416224[dead link]What a Grind, 881 Post St, ☏ +1-415-921-9800. Decent, but basic spot for a cup of coffee where a lot of locals in the neighborhood go, especially while using the laundromat next door.
Sleep
This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget
under $100
Mid-range
$100 - 200
Splurge
$200 and over
Many "hotels" in the Tenderloin do their major business as single-room occupancy (S.R.O.) lodgings for permanent residents, many of whom live from welfare check to welfare check. These hotels also rent rooms to frightened-looking tourists lured by bargain rates "just off Union Square." Both the rates and the location are true: the management merely neglected to mention the urine-stained mattresses or the drunk lurching in the lobby. Use caution: if a rate seems too good to be true, it probably is. There are more normal hotels in the area as well, ranging from large chains to tiny boutique hotels with fashionable decor and chi-chi prices. If you plan to park a car, scrutinize the hotel listing for parking information. Free parking is not a given, and at peak times, even paid garages overflow onto the sidewalks. There are also several backpacker's hostels in this area, particularly on Taylor St that attract both backpackers and those traveling on a budget.
Budget
37.7874-122.41211Adelaide Hostel, 5 Isadora Duncan Ln (between Geary St and Post St), ☏ +1-415-359-1915, fax: +1-415-614-1940, info@adelaidehostel.com. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. This is a popular backpacker hostel just two blocks from Union Square. Dorms: $23 and up, Private rooms: $60 and up.
37.7841-122.41742Hostelling International-City Center, 685 Ellis St (at Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-474-5721, fax: +1-415-776-0775. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Clean, cheap, safe, fun. The hostel has 75 beds in total, some are 4 or 5 bed dorms and others private rooms. All rooms have their own private bathroom. They offer a free breakfast and free wi-fi. Dorms: $27-42, Private Rooms: $89-129.
37.7855-122.4213The Opal San Francisco, 1050 Van Ness Ave (between O'Farrell St and Geary St), ☏ +1-415-673-4711, fax: +1-415-673-9362, lhufford@chrco.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. An elegant 5 story hotel that was built after the 1906 earthquake, it has 164 guest rooms. They have a gym, laundry facilities, and all access to free wi-fi. $60-110.
37.783-122.42184Rodeway Inn Civic Center, 860 Eddy St (between Franklin St and Van Ness Ave), ☏ +1-415-474-4374, fax: +1-415-775-9329, rodewaysf@yahoo.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. This is a pretty standard but comfortable inn near Van Ness. They offer some free limited parking and a complimentary breakfast. $60-110.
37.7881-122.4125Taylor Hotel, 615 Taylor St (at Post St), ☏ +1-415-775-0780, toll-free: +1-877-734-6835, info@sanfrancisco-budgethotel.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. This is an older building and the rooms are in need of paint, but it's relatively clean. There is a nice Indian couple who runs the place, they have wireless internet and a community computer in the lobby and a continental breakfast each morning. It's in a great location, just 2 blocks from Union Square. $66-90.
37.7874-122.41386USA Hostels San Francisco, 711 Post St (between Jones St and Leavenworth St), ☏ +1-415-440-5600, fax: +1-415-651-8802, sanfrancisco@usahostels.com. Check-in: Dormitory rooms: 10AM Private rooms: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Great hostel operating in two buildings just off Union Square. All rooms have their own bathrooms. Dorms: $25-30, Private rooms: $64-81.
37.774-122.427Civic Center Hotel, 20 12th St (between Franklin St and Van Ness Ave, just one block west of the Van Ness MUNI station), ☏ +1-415-861-2373. Furnished rooms with a sink in each room (no televisions). Only metered street parking is available at the hotel. Single occupancy with a shared bath: $150/week. Add 14% tax for the first 4 weeks and a one time $15 key deposit.
Mid-range
37.784-122.41688Cova Hotel, 655 Ellis St (between Hyde St and Larkin St), fax: +1-415-723-7877, contact@covahotel.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. This hotel has 96 well decorated rooms in the heart of downtown. All rooms have 300 thread count sheets, high definition TVs, complimentary breakfast, and free wi-fi. $85-300.
37.7845-122.40969Hotel Bijou, 111 Mason St (at Eddy), ☏ +1-415-771-1200, fax: +1-415-346-3196. Hotel Bijou is inspired by San Francisco's rich cinematic history, adorned with movie palace stylings and Hollywood portraits, and features a mini movie theater in the lobby.
37.7836-122.409410Hotel Metropolis, 25 Mason St (between Eddy St and Turk St), ☏ +1-415-775-4600, Reservations@PersonalityHotels.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. It's on the eastern outskirts of the Tenderloin, but there can be people sleeping in stairways and panhandling right next to the hotel, so it's authentic enough. Inside it is perfectly clean. $99-299.
37.7781-122.41511Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market St (between 8th St and 9th St), ☏ +1-415-626-8000, fax: +1-415-861-1460, info@hotelwhitcomb.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. This is a 460 room historic boutique hotel. An elegant, opulent building, it was first used as a temporary city hall after the 1906 earthquake. Italian marble, Austrian chandeliers, and a short walk to the Symphony/Opera and the Asian Art Museum. It also has a piano bar/wine bar. $89-109.
37.7787-122.422312Inn At The Opera, 333 Fulton St (between Gough St and Franklin St), ☏ +1-415-863-8400, fax: +1-415-861-0821, karinmerzenich@aol.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. This hotel has 29 guestrooms and 18 suites which are individually decorated. It is situated in an excellent location. $153 year round.
37.783-122.418113The Phoenix Hotel, 601 Eddy St (at Larkin St), ☏ +1-415-776-1380, fax: +1-415-885-3109, phoenixhotel@jdvhotels.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A boutique hotel, favored by musicians of all stripes, with free parking and breakfast. $119-169.
Splurge
37.787-122.412514Hotel Adagio, 550 Geary St (between Taylor St and Jones St), ☏ +1-415-775-5000, fax: +1-415-775-9388, info@jdvhospitality.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A luxury boutique hotel featuring a fresh design that bridges its Spanish Colonial Revival architectural roots to a clean and contemporary design aesthetic. 2½ blocks away from the Powell St Cable Car line, 6 blocks from the Moscone Convention Center. $189-289.
37.7867-122.411815The Hotel Monaco, 501 Geary St (at Taylor St), ☏ +1-415-292-0100, fax: +1-415-292-0111. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. A fun and hip boutique hotel. This is part of Kimpton Hotels, a San Francisco based hotel and restaurant company. $249-299.
37.7861-122.411616Serrano Hotel, 405 Taylor St (at Taylor St and O'Farrell St), ☏ +1-415-885-2500, fax: +1-415-474-4879. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. This is a deluxe boutique hotel in a 17-story Spanish Revival building. They have free high speed internet and a wine appreciation hour every evening. $239-329.
The Tenderloin is one of San Francisco's lowest income neighborhoods and has all the socio-economic problems that stem from this including crime, homelessness, and drug addiction. In particular there is a lot of violent street crime like assault and theft. Parts of the Tenderloin are considered the most dangerous areas in San Francisco, with the exception of Hunter's Point and possibly a few areas in the Mission (such as Mission between 16th and 17th Sts). Turk St and Taylor St might be considered the heart of the "true" Tenderloin; the sidewalks teem at all hours with the homeless, people openly selling crack or heroin, derelicts, hustlers, and the mentally ill. This area spills directly into Mission St on the other side of Market St; Mission St between 8th and 5th St may be considered part of this truly seedy "core Tenderloin" area. Travelers should be aware of their environment and take an appropriate amount of care. The area is lively and safe until about 2AM (when the bars close); after that, it does get sketchy, and is best avoided by travelers walking alone.
Go next
Hayes Valley — If you are an art lover and liked the formal galleries in this area, then why not continue into neighboring Hayes Valley where you will find many smaller urban chic galleries.
Union Square — There are also many other smaller and more exclusive art galleries in Union Square that focus on selling the artwork of high profile artists like Renoir and Chagall. Union Square also has a good selection of galleries that exhibit the work of local and up-and-coming artists.
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