Some nice favorite gems at the Inner Sunset [San Francisco] I don't come to the Inner Sunset often except for one thing... mainly FOOD. Inner Sunset is located south of Golden Gate Park next to the UCSF campus. Many of the businesses are clustered on Irving Street and 9th Avenue... there are a lot of amazing places to eat at the Inner Sunset, maybe not as hoity-toity as the Marina District but the following are some of the places we've enjoyed and visited: * Tartine Inner Sunset [Irving Street] - this Tartine location is open for delivery and takeout only. Online ordering was easy and my bag of goodies was ready in 30 minutes (notifying me by text). My daughter enjoyed both the Lemon Cream Tart and the Lemon Cranberry Pistachio Teacake. I was also happy to see the Pain Au Chocolat Croissant available. Fresh and yummy... but pricey. * Mahalo [9th Avenue] - we ordered the Hawaiian macaroni salad. It's a favorite in our household. Delicious and authentic! * 16th Avenue Tiled Steps - we stopped by this beautiful tiled steps just west of Grand View Park. This popular steps is popular among tourists. There are 163 steps... heading up has a nice view of stars and sea design. There are a few landings in between sections (to catch your breath). The plants alongside the steps are well maintained by the community. Street parking. * Hidden Garden Steps - beautifully tiled stairway. The stairway is between a Kirkham and Lawton Streets. It's easy to miss these steps because the stairs are narrow and very steep. We got lucky at the time... no tourists! I love these steps! The ceramic tiles are colorful with beautiful designs and once we reached the midpoint of the steps there were some great views to be seen of the city. Truly a hidden gem. Next on my list to visit (not necessarily in this order): Arizmendi Bakery Hometown Creamery San Tung "Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul." - Jaime Lyn Review #2061 read more

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When I moved to San Francisco, I spent a good month looking for a place to live. I knew where in the city I wanted to live (where I eventually ended up living), but more importantly, I knew where I didn't want to live. Or at least I thought I did. There were also plenty of places that I would live if I had to, but they weren't high up on my list of places to check out. One of those places was the Inner Sunset. At the time, I was generally a Richmond boy, if only because my brother had mostly lived there, except for when he first moved to San Francisco and lived in the Outer Sunset near Polly Ann's (https://www.yelp.com/biz/polly-ann-ice-cream-san-francisco). In my mind, if I were going to live in the Sunset, I needed to be closer to Polly Ann's, so the Inner Sunset didn't do anything for me. Well, I was wrong. So so so so very wrong. So wrong, in fact, that when I had to start apartment-hunting again this past winter and into spring because my San Francisco home of almost 20 years burned down, the Inner Sunset was a preferred neighborhood, not just one that I would put up with living in. Ninth Avenue by itself is worth everything. But there's so much more, and sometime between my moving to San Francisco and my flat burning down, my brother had moved to the Inner Sunset, and then he moved even innerer into the Inner Sunset. The one place I was interested in seeing during my 2003 housing search was on Irving Street, between either 9th and 10th, or 10th and 11th. This was back when photos on Craig's List either weren't allowed or were few and far between, so all I had to go by was the potential future roommates' descriptions of themselves and the apartment. It sounded wonderful, as did they. But when I showed up for my appointment five minutes early, no one was home. I dutifully called and waited 20 minutes outside, and then called again, but no one ever got back to me. This might seem like par for the course now, but it was the first time, I believe, I had ever been ghosted. I'd been stood up before, of course, but there had been subsequent fake apologies or whatever. This time? Nope, neither of the potential roommates ever called or emailed me or responded to my polite email asking whether they need to reschedule. Ghosted. In 2003. By people I'd never met in person but had had a nice phone conversation with. It bothers me to this day, and sadly, I think I've held that aggravating experience against the neighborhood, if only a little bit. But you know what? Even if Canvas Gallery is long gone (and that's OK, because I really used to like Pacific Catch before it got so corporate), there's still Gordo and Green Apple and Arizmendi and Hometown Creamery and Sunflower Garden and the gelato place and so many other favorites, and again, that's just on a three-block stretch of 9th Avenue. I also love Hugo Street. And here's an important San Francisco-locals-only question for you: Is Hugo the "H" street of the Avenues, or is Hayes? Or maybe it's Haight? I have serious history with Hayes, but despite that, I vote for Hugo. What do you say? Compliment or message me with your true and final answer. read more

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The Inner Sunset is one of my favorite San Francisco neighborhoods offering a wide variety of restaurants and local shops where you can share a great meal and run all your errands big and small. Yes, the parking can be a little tight but it tends to turn over quickly during the day. Because meters are at a premium, the DPT trolls non-stop: Set a timer on your mobile to avoid your meter running out before that little white truck pulls up to your bumper. Art's Cafe, a railroad building housing a perennially popular diner, serves up tasty breakfasts, sandwiches & bowls of BiBimBap (cash only). There's Perilla for 5-Spice chicken and spring rolls; Paxti's Pizza, Lavash, Pluto's, two newer poke restaurants, Poke Time and Poke Origin, and so much more. There's a cuisine for every taste from Brazilian to Persian and Japanese to Italian. Restaurant pricing in this centrally located, quintessentially San Franciscan neighborhood fits most pocketbooks, too. Practicality and a spectrum of service businesses populate this neighborhood making it a real time-saver for running a slew of errands without criss-crossing town. My favorite laundromat is here (Sunset Suds); outposts of Bank of America; inexpensive salons for a quick trim or mani/pedi; the city's best pediatric dentist (Park Smile); pilates studios and Golden Gate Park to get away from it all. I feel like I rediscover the convenience and overall excellence of the Inner Sunset every few months, like today wondering why I hadn't switched to BofA on Irving rather than deal with the insult of banking at Broderick and Fell. (Even in this digital age, you still need to go inside to get laundry quarters.) The Inner Sunset is a family-friendly yet hipster neighborhood offering a panoply of everyday conveniences and dining destinations. They even have a small but serviceable Farmer's Market on Sundays from 9-1pm. Board the N-Judah, walk, bike or drive- the Inner Sunset has it all. read more

The Inner Sunset - Streets so steep you'd think your car'd fall over! GG Bridge beyond the tree line (left). - Local Flavor Near Me

This 'hood isn't one I frequent very often when I'm in town, but I'm in town pretty frequently so we've spent some time together. Obviously, the first thing that most people think about here is UCSF and yes, that does tend to take a big role in the neighborhood, but I like the think of this part of town as a little nugget tucked away. It's not quite th Outer Sunset, so you still get a lot more diversity in architecture, but with some real suburban residential appeal. And you get those big ol' hills that makes for interesting driving, parking, and business setup. Plus, any neighborhood that borders Golden Gate Park is really high on my list of faves. I do love that park, and it does sort of seem to act as a buffer between you and the rest of that side of the city. Parking is tricky, but um, this is SF so I really dunno where that's not the case. But do brave that parking because coming out here for food has become pretty cool--if you don't have to be so close to the city, this is a prime place to put down some roots and explore those eats and shops near you. Transit is okay, but it's probably not a spot that many people from all over the city are going to come as a destination--in my mind, that's a big plus, too. read more

Really, Whats to say about the nicest, coolest and most chill area in the city? Born here, initially, Irish, Now Asian and mix. Still idiots around, just like anywhere in the City but they are palatable here.Safe for a city of this size but keep your third eye on. Incredibly Quiet for you old farts or chill peeps like myself. Family Friendly and near UC Med so lots of educated meat to entertain or go home with you. If you have game. Seriously, My Opinion, The nicest place on earth next to Disneyland. Can be foggy a lot. Its called the Sunset for a reason. F*#@ the Haters. read more

I lived in the Inner Sunset from the late 1970s until the mid-1980s and loved the neighborhood. There were so many local restaurants and shops, including a Swedish bakery on Irving Street near 9th Avenue. The bakery was ousted by Starbuck's and the neighborhood was less endearing afterward. I could very easily live here again. read more

It's very quiet and you never really see the sunset. In the Summer it is cold because it is permanently covered in fog. In the winter it is cold because it is winter. You can barely see the Outer Sunset and the Pacific Ocean. Culturally it is like an American Chinatown extension. Irving Street has a nice dim sum place. I go there often. read more

This neighborhood has it all. Great restaurant variety, shops, parklets, quirkiness, access to nature. Parking is ok. Transit is easy.

I'm starting to really really like this neighborhood. I live downtown and have ventured out here for .. food! First there was Lime Tree, then Curry Village, then Sheng Kee bakery.. I freaking love all those places!! I've also enjoyed the feel of the neighborhood walking on the main strip of Irving and 9th. I had originally wanted to live here due to cheaper rent, but just too far away from my work, which is right downtown. No worry, I'll keep visiting this area.. one of my favorites in SF! read more