Marina - San Francisco, CA Area Guide

After the 1906 earthquake and in preparation for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition, construction of what is today known as San Francisco's Marina District began. Appearance-wise, this area remains largely unchanged to this day.

The nearby Mexican Museum is a perfect stop for the culture buff, housing a 14,000-plus collection of ancient and modern Latin American art. The Museo Italo, located in Fort Mason, boasts an equally impressive collection of Italian-American art.

Each year, the Contemporary Crafts Market sets up shop at Fort Mason, featuring every kind of craft imaginable. Fort Mason is well known as a festival and event hub because of its prime location. Other annual occurrences at Fort Mason include the San Francisco Oyster and Music Festival, the San Francisco International Beer Festival, Eat Drink SF, the West Coast Country Music Festival, Friends of the SF Public Library Annual Big Book Sale and more.

From French to Pakistani, Thai to traditional American, you are sure to please your palate at any number of Marina restaurants. Some might break the bank while others will leave your wallet feeling happy.

Most of the restaurants in the Marina are near and along Chestnut, Steiner and Fillmore Street. Simply walk along these streets and let the abundance of restaurants overcome you. Reserve a table at Isa on Steiner Street for a more upscale night out. Isa earns its deserved praise for its tapas-style French cuisine, unique cocktails and super friendly service. Their desserts are not to be neglected either, though, so save room. Isa's creme brulee is like no other, and, once you've scraped away to the very bottom of your ramekin, speckled with only a few remnants of fresh vanilla bean, you will quickly need to order another.

A few blocks down on Chestnut Street and a little cheaper is Causwells, which dishes up traditional American fare. With menu items highlighting seasonal and locally acquired ingredients, you can find at Causwells dishes like butternut squash soup with radish, pumpkin seeds and almonds as well as an Americana burger made with meat from nearby Five Dot Ranch, and ground daily by Marina Meat Co. Check out the specialty ricotta, which locals rate highly.

The homemade cannoli at nearby Lucca Delicatessen is also otherworldly, so if, after stuffing yourself to the gills on creme brulee and ricotta, you still have room, definitely pick one up. Given that it is, in fact, a deli, Lucca Delicatessen also serves soups, sandwiches and items by the pound, including its famous slow-roasted free-range chicken from Petaluma.

Marina residents experience as vibrant a night scene as they do a food scene. Lounges, bars, dance clubs, music venues and more dot the streets of this neighborhood. A local favorite is Comet Club, which puts on Thursday night comedy shows. The rest of the weeknights, Comet Club operates as a dance club.

Save yourself the travel and expense of going to England and head on over to The Black Horse London Pub instead, where you can down a beer on tap in the comfort of San Francisco. Owner James is a true gentleman who makes everyone guest feel at home.

The best way to get to and around the Marina is by foot and or Muni bus. Parking is limited, so driving is a not-so-great option, and nearby notoriously steep and winding Lombard Street is probably best only for bikers with serious lower body strength.

Fortunately, once in the Marina, the area is very walkable. You will also find a prevalence of bus stops, so if commuting in to the area from another part of the city, pay the $2.00 and enjoy a carefree and effortless ride.

You can easily hail a cab in the Marina, although it is much more expensive than Muni, as well as employ the slightly less expensive services of Lyft or Uber.

Though parking is not easy to find, driving in to the Marina is, with nearby Highway 101, which leads directly to and from the Golden Gate Bridge. The Bridge and highway both have bike lanes as well, although proceed with caution when biking across the often traffic-heavy bridge.

Aptly named, Marina Green Park is the main park in this neighborhood. This park is the absolute embodiment of what a park should be: expansive, dog and kid-friendly, paved with sidewalks, and therefore well suited for athletes, located on the water, and within eyesight of a national landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge.

Locals and tourists go to this free park to picnic, run, play frisbee, sunbathe — weather permitting — and to people watch. Marina Green Park is on the water, though, so bear in mind that its temperature is often lower than the city average for that day.

After your park visit, check out the nearby Lyon Street Steps. A hidden gem that many locals do not know about, these steep steps lead up to a jaw-dropping view of the city. Though the ascent will raise your heart rate, the view from the top will make it all worthwhile.

Every year, at Little Marina Green Park, San Francisco welcomes Wanderlust. This annual event brings together new and old yogis and yoginis to practice yoga together under the California sun. Nationally known yoga teachers volunteer their time to be a part of this event.

The cost of living in a one-bedroom apartment in the Marina is on par with the city average at a whopping $3,000 per month. Renters can save a little, though, by choosing to take public transportation rather than own a car. A monthly Clipper Card costs $80 and is valid on Muni and Bart within San Francisco Proper.

Compared to the national gas average, choosing to fuel up in the Marina will cost you about 18 percent more, but the cost of a beer in this area is not too bad. A pint, on average, will run you around $5.00.

Chestnut Street in the Marina is the place to go for shopping. Boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, theaters and specialty shops line this iconic street. Because the area caters largely to the affluent, many of these stores are exclusively priced.

San Francisco-based clothing company, Marine Layer, is one such store. Marine Layer is best known for its soft T-shirts made from Pima cotton and MicroModal, which is sourced from beechwood. At about $40 per shirt or three for $90, these tops might seem steep, but customers praise the garments and justify every penny of the price.

For the little ones, pop in to Bubble, located just down the street. Equally high end but oh-so adorable, Bubble will easily transform your little one into the hippest, trendiest child on the block with its impressive collection of designer garments.

Dozens of grocery stores feed this neighborhood, but Marina Supermarket and Real Food Co. are favorites. Both sell high-quality produce and prepared items made in-house. Much of the meat is locally sourced too.

On Sundays, between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., stop by Fort Mason's weekly farmers market, and pick up some truly fresh and local produce from any one of the 40-plus vendors.