Mission Bay - San Francisco, CA

Mission Bay was created in 1998 as a redevelopment project on San Francisco’s waterfront. The land was originally a rail yard and eventually evolved into a place for luxury condominiums featuring gorgeous views of the bay.

AT&T Park, where the San Francisco Giants play, is located here, as are many area restaurants and a Caltrain railroad station. Once an industrial waterfront, this area has been developed as a destination for wealthy homeowners and tourists.

Since Mission Bay caters to tourists and wealthy residents, there are many culinary choices to be had here. Breakfast and brunch spots abound for those seeking a quick bite before a baseball game or a quick canoe around McCovey Cove. Many of the area's restaurants are clustered around 3rd Street and Townsend, close to AT&T Park.

Tsunami Mission Bay serves up some of the area's freshest seafood and sushi, perfect for a light lunch or an evening out with friends. Publico Urban Taqueria doesn't mess around when it comes to quality. Located near the UCSF Mission Bay campus, this mighty Mexican joint keeps locals coming back with chicken chili verde, Mexican tortas, and their California burritos.

A lot goes on after dark in the area of AT&T Park, especially at The Lot, which serves as a gathering place and concert venue for bands and experiences like Cirque du Soleil. The Pub also offers food and beverages to UCSF students and the general public on weeknights, and provides a cozy ambiance close to the campus and public transportation. Residents also tend to gather at local bars like Lucky Strike, where you can bowl, eat and drink with pals, or the Bay View Boat Club, offering cheap drinks, pool and live music.

San Francisco is definitely more of a walking city than a driving city. Because of that, parking can be very expensive. However, Mission Bay is served by the city’s excellent public transportation system. Muni trains and buses run throughout the area, and cabs are easily hailed. Uber also serves this area as well as the rest of San Francisco.

Mission Bay is very walkable and provide wonderful ways to see the waterfront area of the city. There are bike lanes in many areas of Mission Bay, and the area is considered safe for bikers. Slightly north of Mission Bay is Market Street, which can connect you to the 80, Bay Bridge and the East Bay. It’s also easy to access the 280 and 101 freeways heading south from this area.

Mission Bay has several parks for locals and visitors to enjoy. Mission Creek Park offers hiking and basketball courts along the waterfront. Watch the boats on the water, or just hang out on a sunny day with a good book and a cold drink.

China Basin Park has spaces for the dogs to run and bike paths to check out the water from up close. It’s a perfectly peaceful place for a picnic, too. Bay Front Park is another intimate spot by the water, with benches and jogging paths for the fitness-minded.

Lastly, Mission Creek Dog Park lets the puppies socialize in clean conditions, even respectfully providing plastic bags to help you pick up after your pooch.

All parks are kid-, dog- and exercise-friendly, encouraging visitors to hang out and enjoy all San Francisco has to offer. Though the area doesn’t host any annual music festival or events, periodic concerts after spring and summer baseball games provide plenty of opportunities to party.

Mission Bay's cost of living is higher than other areas of San Francisco. A typical one-bedroom apartment rents for about $3,200 per month. Gas is approximately 35 percent more expensive than the rest of the country. However, it only costs about $2.25 in each direction from the Powell Street BART Station to China Basin by Muni train. A beer will run you about $8 at a local pub.