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    North Beach

    4.4 (144 reviews)

    North Beach Photos

    Recommended Reviews - North Beach

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    Denise C.

    North beach is awesome ..Grant St at union and near coit tower ..I always enjoy it ..u would too

    Random building in north beach
    Stefan T.

    My favorite neighborhood in San Francisco. Always a great experience here. The the people are friendly, the location is great, and there are so many bars and stores and coffee shops around. Friendly happy people are here. Locals and tourists alike enjoying life. So many neighborhoods all across the United States are bedroom communities where there streets are lifeless. Almost oppressive - people get home from work, park their cars in their driveway and run into their houses like something was out to get them. This part of town would be the opposite - and I think its becoming more rare to find something like this these days. The location is great. Little Italy is in the middle and Fisherman's Wharf is nearby along with China Town. Tons of bars, coffee shops, restaurants and girlie bars add flavor and entertainment all throughout the day and night. Some shops are open very late too - I think partly because its a safe area and the police station is right there.

    Phil A.

    North Beach might be my favorite area to hang out in when I'm in the City!! Now, you have all the popular places here, Coit Tower, Lombard Street, the TransAmerica Building, Washington Square Park. And it's sandwiched between Fisherman's Wharf and SF Chinatown. North Beach is also known as Little Italy, mostly because of all the Italian restaurants here. And to fully enjoy yourself here, you have to be on foot walking around. Everything is relatively closer that way to me. The view down Columbus Ave of the TransAmerica Building never gets old. Joe DiMaggio Playground has basketball courts and tennis courts with lights so you can play at night. Washington Square Park is the perfect place for people watching, and it's right across the street from Saints Peter and Paul's Church. It is more touristy now than it used to be, but this is still a great district to me!!

    Nadav M.

    This is my favourite neighbourhood in San Francisco. The vibe clicks and you are in the middle of everything. You got Chinatown at walking distance, Little Italy surrounding you, Russian Hill, downtown, the Embarcadero, Coit Tower, and a whole bunch of local shops to relax or hang out with friends. One can see families, couples, people with dogs, and people alone, around the area, especially around Washing Park and the DiMaggio playgrounds. Nothing beats a nice random day at North beach, getting some Chinese food, and grabbing a coffee at an Italian cafe. For dessert go for some gelato or boba. While leaving food on the side, go to a bookshop, the Beat museum, and the Farmer's Market on Saturdays. Plenty of bars and nice restaurants for a nice late evening. The Closest MUNI station is the new Chinatown one. BART would be Embarcadero and even Montgomery station. Powell/Mason Cable Car. MUNI buses 8, 8Bx, 30, 91, 39, 45 go through the zone.

    Sherwin C.

    Neat neighborhood with lots of fun options of Italian food and stores. It's great for a walk even if you don't stop by the shops as there's plenty to see and many great aromas in the air.

    Erich L.

    Great part of San Francisco with lots of good restaurants, cafes and shops. They have a lot of Italian culture too like churches and community centers. I would definitely recommend this neighborhood for anyone visiting San Francisco especially for the restaurants.

    Somewhere in San Francisco, do you know where this is?!!!!
    Randy L.

    North Beach is just one of the best places to walk around and enjoy. Coffee, food, cuisine (different then food HA!), ambiance, the park, the church, the small businesses in the side streets ........ etc. Nice thing about North Beach (NB) is the location: Chinatown, Lombard Street, and Fisherman's Wharf surround NB with Little Italy smack dap in the middle of NB. Walking is the best way to see SF in this area. OR Use the bus line to get here from the Financial District or from Powell St. If there is one hidden-gem for SF is North Beach. Once you visit, you will know why. This place gets a 5-Star because it truly is As Good As It Gets!

    La Roccas Corner in the heart of Little Italy... where you "Drink with Dignity" (taken from the 30 Stockton)
    Eric R.

    "Little Italy" is the name many call the district of North Beach. Like some have mentioned at one time this was actually a beach before the development of San Francisco in the 1800's. The Barbary Coast! Essentially it came down to property value, and land is worth more money than ocean, honey, so humankind of the 19th century rearranged the coast to create what we know today. And we wonder why seals crawl all over the piers! Despite human intervention the district of North Beach is one of my favorites in the city. Main intersections are Union & Columbus, the southwest corner of Washington Square, Grant Avenue & Vallejo Street. I love the rich history, the cluster of victorian buildings, the Italian Restaurants, pizzerias, gelato shops, bakeries, euro-inspired coffee cafes, and even the sexiness of the Italian Athletic Club that has been there a century before the legendary Italian Stallion (visions of a young Stallone). The history is rich with Italian tradition hence the popular "Little Italy". I mean you'll see more green, red, white colors here than you'll find in Naples. Back in the day, the DiMaggio brothers would practice playing wiffle ball in the streets, led by baseball legend, Joe DiMaggio. Dominic was the goofy brother, but still good enough to make it to the big leagues. There's even a Christopher Columbus statue in the area, the famous Italian explorer who was actually of Spanish blood, alas my love, Antonio Banderas wouldn't mind. I adore Little Italy where I can wear my Italian flag proudly while riding my classic Lambretta, Armani snuggly on, bouffant flapping in the wind. I love the Stinking Rose, Roma Coffee, and a Clean Well Lighted Books on the corner are some of my favorites. Ahhh that's amore! "don't want a boy I've got a man of steel Don't come any closer I don't wanna feel, OOH! Your breathing, your touching But nothing's for free I never want this to happen to me Don't try to change me you're wasting your time Now I've got something much better in mind Robert De Niro's waiting Talking Italian Robert De Niro's waiting Talking Italian Robert De Niro's waiting Talking Italian (Talking Italian) Robert De Niro's waiting..."

    Jim W.

    Like a moth to a...burning shot of whiskey, I am drawn to North Beach every time I am in town. Dining, drinks, coffee, people watching, whatever...this is my favorite place to wind up (or wind down) an evening. You owe it to yourself to spend some time hanging out here...it worked for Kerouac.

    Mark B.

    Ahh North Beach or Little Italy depending on who you are talking with. It's between China Town and Fisherman's Wharf. It's a nice neighborhood to explore. It doesn't feel as touristy as the grand Street in China Town or Fisherman's Wharf. I usually get a pastry at one of the bakaries and there are also great shops, bars and restaurants. Don't miss the big white church. It's hosted famous weddings. It's just a great area to take a break from the tourist rush.

    The Transamerican Pyramid is the starting point of North Beach if you're coming from the Financial District.
    Gerald R.

    "LITTLE ITALY" MY FAVORITE DISTRICT OF SAN FRANCISCO I was born in San Francisco but I moved to the East Bay when I was two years old. I'm not an expert in San Francisco far from it. Ever since I graduated from college I have been working in the Financial District of San Francisco. I've never worked full time outside of San Francisco. Throughout the years I visited certain parts of San Francisco. There are several districts in San Francisco that have their own unique flavor. Chinatown is the largest Chinese community of China. The Mission District has Latin influence through its eateries and street food stands. The Financial District, where I work, is the business hub in the city. Of all the districts my favorite is North Beach. There's something about North Beach that attracts locals and tourists alike. As you walk in Columbus Avenue and head toward Broadway you see the Beats influence through City Lights Bookstore. Feel naughty? On Broadway you can feel the seedy environment through the strip club and adult entertainment. Want to feel holy? There are two churches are in North Beach. The first is the Saint Francis of Assisi National Shrine. That church isn't a practicing church however the patron saint for of San Francisco is Saint Francis. The second church in North Beach is the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church that situates on Washington Park and conducts services in several languages. Want a quick bite to eat? Then go to Golden Boy Pizza where locals flock to eat a Sicilian-style pizza with its foccacia bread crust. Ever inspire to be a writer? Have a sip of espresso at Caffè Trieste where Francis Ford Coppola wrote the script for "The Godfather". People mostly go to North Beach to eat at the Italian restaurants hence why North Beach is referred as "Little Italy". These restaurants don't feature just Italian food. What makes these restaurant charming is that each restaurant specializes in their own regional cuisine whether they are Roman, Tuscan, Neapolitan, or Sicilian. (On my profile I created a list titled North Beach Eating - Italian Regional Cuisine Restaurants). The blending of different regional cultures from the same country is another example why San Francisco is considered a melting pot. When I see Italian restaurants struggling on shows such as Kitchen Nightmares or Restaurant Impossible I feel like either the owner or manager of those restaurants should come to North Beach to see how Italian restaurants thrive. It is stated that San Francisco is the most European city in this country. I've been to Europe and when you eat at one of those Italian restaurants along Columbus Avenue it is reminiscent of eating at cafés in Europe. The food scene at North Beach while maintaining its identity is also evolving. One example is fine dining as Michelin Star restaurants such as Gary Danko, Quince, and Coi are located in North Beach. In fact Coi is located close to a strip club. Where else can you find a fine dining restaurant next adult entertainment? That's why you have to love North Beach. I heard that North Beach in the 1970s was rough and tough. If you ever saw "Dirty Harry" starring Clint Eastwood you get a feel what North Beach was like back then. Throughout the hardened years North Beach has maintained its charm. When Tony Bennett sings his signature song "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" I feel part of the character of San Francisco is North Beach. There are a lot of tourist sites to see in San Francisco such as Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, and Alcatraz. If you're tired visiting tourist sites unwind by eating Italian regional cuisine and sipping espresso at North Beach.

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    Ask the Community - North Beach

    Review Highlights - North Beach

    "Little Italy" has grown to not just a local community, but a thriving touristy area that is walkable.

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    San Francisco Chinatown - CA Lottery selling lotto tickets and doing promo prizes at the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair, Feb. 16, 2025.

    San Francisco Chinatown

    4.1(602 reviews)
    0.4 miChinatown

    A special place in SF…read more Love how many dim sum spots there are, grab and go. Lots of Chinese restaurants too And takeout spots. Really happy about the new businesses opening up here! Yes bring the energy and charm! Parking can be hard so park at Portsmouth Square garage

    San Francisco Chinatown: 2026 Feb 7 (5 of 5)…read more Rediscovering San Francisco Chinatown: It's been eleven years since I last visited the Chinatown in San Francisco. What I remember: Chinatown was a bustling, dense, and vibrant enclave. The atmosphere was unique, created by the combination of its architecture, street life, sounds, and smells. Human activity was electric. It was a rush, as ladies pulling shopping carts jostled their way through the crowds, while little children tugged at their sleeves, trying to catch up with their mothers. I remember elderly men playing chess with one leg bent, and ladies practicing tai chi in the park. Today's Chinatown seemed more subdued. The high-energy I once experienced has toned down quite a bit. The scenes looked different. The once triple parked streets and crowded walkways looked almost deserted. San Francisco Chinatown is easily walkable. We walked along Waverly, Montgomery, Grant, California, Jackson, Columbus, Broadway, towards North Beach. Along the hidden alleys, I noticed colourful arts and paintings on the walls. A queue has formed outside the fortune cookie shop, so we joined in to take a peek. We stopped and peeked at the menus posted outside eateries. The menus still looked exotic - some items I couldn't even pronounce. San Francisco Chinatown's historic charm still exists and the walk is still adventurous. Would I return to this walkable enclave? You bet I will. There's always something that's 'new' to fresh eyes.

    Photos
    San Francisco Chinatown - CA Lottery selling Lotto tickets and doing promo prizes at the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair, Feb. 16, 2025.

    CA Lottery selling Lotto tickets and doing promo prizes at the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair, Feb. 16, 2025.

    San Francisco Chinatown - Hang Ah's dilapidated signage

    Hang Ah's dilapidated signage

    San Francisco Chinatown - San Francisco Chinatown: 2026 Feb 7 (5 of 5)

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    San Francisco Chinatown: 2026 Feb 7 (5 of 5)

    Lombard Street

    Lombard Street

    4.2(852 reviews)
    0.6 miRussian Hill

    Like a real world Disneyland ride!!! I loved the thrill of careening down this curvy switchback…read moreroad! It was an unexpected glitch in our cross town trek and so much FUN! I immediately wanted to do it again! All the time I lived in San Francisco, I never drove down this crazy road with all the hairpin turns! Probably because my VW convertible had so little engine power, that I frequently had to turn around before I reached the top of some hills!! We were powering along in an SUV, and it was up to the task! Hopefully the pedestrians walking up the hill (use the sidewalks)! weren't too terrified.

    As we headed out for the day to explore Downtown San Francisco, we figured we needed to check out…read morethe iconic Lombard Street. Some claim, the "crookedest street in the world". Apparently, we were not the only ones looking to check it out. There was a short wait to get on the street, due to traffic. But once on it, yep, we can confirm it's pretty damn crooked. it was a cool drive, with lots of hair pin turns to drive one block, but not something I'd want to have to deal with every day. It was a fun detour, and worth checking out to say you did it. Side note - I can't imagine living on this street, paying San Francisco real estate pricing, having tourists driving down it 24 hours a day, I'm not even sure how these people get out of their driveways, there's got to be constant traffic.

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    Lombard Street - Lombard street 1/2025

    Lombard street 1/2025

    Lombard Street
    Lombard Street

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    Japantown - Cherry Blossom Festival vendor

    Japantown

    4.2(547 reviews)
    1.6 miLower Pacific Heights, Japantown

    Came to San Francisco during Super Bowl week and had the chance to explore Japantown and Lower…read morePacific Heights again, and it honestly reminded me why I love this city so much. After being in Washington, D.C., where it was much colder, the warm SF weather felt amazing and made walking around the neighborhood even better. The food was incredible! We tried several different restaurants, and every place had something special, from comforting ramen to fresh sushi. Japantown has such a great mix of authentic flavors, cozy spots, and unique little shops that make the whole experience feel lively and welcoming. Being back in San Francisco, enjoying great food, good weather, and the energy of Super Bowl week, was just an all-around great feeling. I truly believe this is one of the best Japantowns in the country, and I can't wait to come back and explore even more.

    Japantown has always been a go to spot for us when we miss Japan, of course there is no comparison,…read morebut Nijiya Market has always been a good spot for Bento boxes, sushi, Sashimi, anything you want- quality has always been good, and if you get there later before closing, they discount some of the items. It's located on Post and Buchanan, street parking if you can find it but they have a parking garage underneath the shops and restaurants. They have so many good spots for Sushi, Ramen, Sophie's Crepes is another fav, Boba, you won't be disappointed! We will be back!

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    Japantown - The last of the cherry blossoms

    The last of the cherry blossoms

    Japantown - 12/28/25 FYI. Food & drink options.

    12/28/25 FYI. Food & drink options.

    Japantown - Godzilla

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    Godzilla

    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill

    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill

    4.6(108 reviews)
    0.3 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill

    I've never actually seen 'the Parrots of Telegraph Hill' on Telegraph Hill but have seen them all…read moreover the Northeastern part of the city like Russian Hill, Pac Heights, North Beach, and the Embarcadero area. This is one of those things at least for me is that when I'm looking for them I won't find them but they turn up all the time when I least expect it. They are very distinct because these birds are LOUD. Especially if they are in a big group, they are really noticeable. It sounds like they are constantly arguing about something or chanting together with high pitched voices. The birds are quite pretty with a rich green hue and red head. If you are looking for them specifically the best bet would be to go to Ina Colbrith Park or across the street from Sue Bierman Park in the Embarcadero at the aptly named 'Parrot Park'.

    Dang! These guys are loud! (But adorable)…read more First of all, this neat group of animals have a documentary featuring them: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424565/ and a really cool website discussing their existence: http://www.markbittner.net/parrot_pages/wildparrots.html (by the author of a book bearing their name) Scoping out the parrots is one of my favorite free hobbies in San Francisco (free hobbies are few and far between in SF - hahaha!) The best way to hear and see them is in Sue Bierman Park, which is just west of the Ferry Building or on Telegraph Hill in and among the trees along the Greenwich and Filbert Steps. I find that they are loudest in the afternoons until sunset.

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    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill
    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill
    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill

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    North Beach - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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