Financial District - San Francisco, CA Area Guide

With the first town plan surveyed in 1839, the Financial District has existed for nearly 200 years. It boomed in 1848 due to the California Gold Rush and with the surplus of money, buildings popped up everywhere, as construction was non-stop. In 1906, the entire area was destroyed as a result of what is now known as the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. Reconstruction began in 1910, and today the area is fully rebuilt, with new construction continually occurring.

Several highly regarded museums blend in amidst all the skyscrapers and financial institutions, including the Contemporary Jewish Museum, which features breathtaking modern architecture, and the Cartoon Art Museum with its impressive 6,000-piece collection of original and animation cartoon art.

Across the street from the Contemporary Jewish Museum sits Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. A true cultural center, Yerba Buena offers visual and performing art programs, film and video, and community engagement opportunities.

From the corporatetype who wants to drop big bucks on a gourmet salad on his lunch hour to the hipster who wants a vegan sandwich, there truly is something for everyone and every price point. While no centralized restaurant location exists, the restaurants are evenly dispersed, so you can find something anywhere.

The Plant Café Organic, seated at Front and Pine Street, boasts a menu with 100-percent organic ingredients, many of which are locally sustained. This restaurant-café is popular among nearby businesspeople who want a quick, healthy lunch option. Customer favorites include the “Plant Burger,” a meat-free patty made from beets, nuts legumes and spices, and the “Raw Raspberry Cheesecake,” a rich, dairy-free dessert made from cashews, perfect for those looking for a vegan treat.

Nearby Perbacco also gets high food marks, although it is a bit pricier. Perbacco features an Italian-inspired menu with a selection of authentic Italian wines, housemade pastas and traditional Italian desserts. The pappardelle and burrata cheese are must-tries, as is the salted caramel gelato and panna cotta.

Perbacco’s next door “little sister” restaurant, Barbacco offers a similar menu but in a more relaxed and casual atmosphere. Barbacco is a great option for those wanting to share plates, similar to Spanish tapas. Go for the bruschette and salume plate.

The nightlife scene is just as vibrant as the food scene. From bars to clubs to music venues, you can find a little of everything. Many people in this area head to wine bars after the sun goes down. RN74, baby of award-winning chef Michael Mina, is consistently rated one of the best wine bars around. Press Club, located off Yerba Buena Lane, is rated highly not only for its nightly DJ and spacious dance floor, but for its full bar and four-star menu as well. The Barrel House is another fun option for those wanting some live music. It also serves food, but this underground brick-walled establishment is known first and foremost as a music venue.

The best way to access the Financial District is by train, bus or light rail. San Francisco’s two main public transportation companies — Bart and Muni — service nearly every nook and cranny of this area, making it very accessible.

Driving is also an option, as there are nearby freeways, but with costly parking garages that fill up quickly, public transportation is a better way to go. Once in the area, though, you will have no problem hailing a taxi or calling a cab service, such as Lyft or Uber.

Those without four wheels may choose to walk between destinations, which is very doable. Biking is another option, as streets have designated lanes, but with the speedy “FiDi” drivers, take extra precaution when navigating these streets.

Yerba Buena Gardens serves as the neighborhood's only legitimate park. The Gardens have a large outdoor grassy area dotted with trees, providing the perfect setting for picnic lunches and people-watching. Dogs and children are welcome, and kids will enjoy the outdoor carousel located on the nearby adjacent grounds. Yerba Buena Gardens is free and open to the public, as are many of the monthly events that occur there. Though it’s not particuarly large, Yerba Buena Gardens is a nicely manicured outdoor space with paved sidewalks lining the perimeter of the grassy area, making it appealing for both walkers and runners alike.

Like the rest of San Francisco, the Financial District has a high cost of living, about on par with the city average. Fortunately those who live in the city and don’t foresee needing to travel to the surrounding East or South Bay can buy an $80 monthly Clipper Card, which grants them access on Muni or Bart anywhere within the city.

For a one-bedroom residence in this area, you can expect to find places as low as $2,300 per month and as much as $4,500 per month. Many apartment buildings do not have good parking options, so most FiDi residents opt out of owning a car.

If you do insist on owning a car, though, you can expect to pay big bucks for gas. Compared to the national average, gas in the Financial District rests about 16 percent above the national average.

Shoppers have no shortage of options in the Financial District. Crocker Galleria, an outdoor mall of sorts, contains bakeries, boutiques, cafes, pop-up shops, a shoe-shining stand and even an orchid shop, all within one convenient space. On Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer, the ground floor of Crocker Galleria transforms into a bustling farmers' market, where you can find everything, including radish sprouts, zucchini squash blossoms, smoked salmon and German seeded bread. Aside from a Walgreens or two, no grocery stores exist in the Financial district, so farmers' markets like this provide excellent options for 9-to-5 workers who want to pick up some produce during their work day.

Those looking for something a little more high-end should definitely take a stroll down Market Street. Start at the Palace Hotel, which has a breathtakingly gorgeous lobby, and proceed down the street towards Union Square, where all of the big-name clothing, electronic and furniture stores are located.

Along the way, stop into Manika Jewelry to ogle the collection of modern, elegant, locally made jewelry. Afterwards, continue down the street towards the SFMOMA Museum Store. Like Manika Jewelry, the SFMOMA Museum Store sees the value in supporting local artists and sells locally made knits, housewares, watches, jewelry, light fixtures and furniture. There are, of course, more typical museum gift shop items as well, such as sticker books, postcards and artist books.