North Park - San Francisco, CA Area Guide

The North Park neighborhood was originally part of the Great Sand Bank in 1870. The area was composed of sand dunes, with the Pacific Ocean directly to the west. By the late 1800s, the area had become a recreational park. Developers found that by planting barley, the dunes could be stabilized and stop erosion, which helped development.

This neighborhood, filled with well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture, owes some of its fame to being the place Patty Hearst was held captive by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Although North Park doesn't have any museums, you can quench your thirst for art and beauty by visiting several galleries housed in the area, including Big Umbrella Studios, Lake Gallery, and Marco Finn Gallery. Love to watch mind-shattering performances at the Hella Fresh Theatre.

Since North Park caters primarily to a luxury crowd, a wide and varied choice of restaurants await you. No one central location hosts restaurants, but you can find pretty much any kind of delicacy, from French cuisine to Russian and German to Mexican, Middle Eastern, and American fare.

Locals head to Wow Wow Waffle for breakfast to enjoy a unique waffle experience and the establishment's famous lemonade. Waffle toppings such as candied bacon, whipped cream, avocado, fruit, and other fresh ingredients ensure amazingly flavorful waffles, and the reasonable prices and outdoor eating area make this a great stop for hungry families.

Barrel Head Brewhouse keeps locals coming back for classic comfort food dishes such as poutine, salisbury steak, risotto, and brisket. Regulars caution against overlooking the side dishes, noting the excellent Brussels sprouts and horseradish mash. Combine your meal with a draft beer for even more satisfaction.

Bistro Central Parc is a hot spot for special occasions, with reservations recommended. This beloved French restaurant serves standards such as magret de canard and duck confit alongside more adventurous fare, including braised beef cheeks with red beet puree and goat cheese. Save room for dessert because regulars say the chocolate lava cake is to die for.

Most of North Park's lively nightlife clusters along its eastern boundary, Divisadero Street. Upscale bars such as Madrone Art Bar, La Urbana, and Fly Bar share the street with the Independent, a live music venue with a great sound system and an intimate atmosphere. For dancing, the Independent and Madrone Art Bar also have lots of floor space.

San Francisco is a pedestrian-friendly, bicycle-friendly, mass-transit-friendly city. As such, getting around by car is more difficult, and parking can be challenging to find -- not to mention expensive. Locals prefer to take advantage of the city's excellent public transportation system. Muni has several bus and train routes in this area, hailing a cab on the street is not a problem, and calling for an Uber pickup is always an option.

North Park easily connects with the 101 and 280 Freeways, located just to the south and slightly east of the neighborhood. It's extremely walkable and very safe to explore. The area features many bike lanes on local streets.

The Panhandle is a narrow, linear park located at the south end of the neighborhood, separating North Park from the Haight. This park offers a playground, a basketball court, and bike trails for outdoor enthusiasts.

The park's varied wildlife and calm demeanor are perfect for laying around on a pleasant day, or getting your cardio in before work. The park is free, and both kid- and dog-friendly. Fitness aficionados love the open space for jogging, yoga, or Frisbee playing.

Although there are no outdoor or summer festivals in North Park itself, locals satisfy their need for large-scale socialization at the numerous annual San Francisco's festivals, concerts, and events, such as the St. Stupid's Day Parade in April or the San Francisco Marathon in August.

North Park's cost of living tends to be slightly higher than the city's average. A typical one-bedroom apartment in North Park rents for about $3,000 a month. Since the cost of housing trends upward, the cost of food and entertainment is generally higher a result.

Transportation costs around $2.25 to get to the city center from North Park, and a beer at a local pub will run you around $5 to $6. Gas prices are about 15 percent higher here than in the rest of the country as a whole.

Most of North Park's shopping is found along Divisadero Street, including the Perish Trust for antiques, Rare Device for home décor, and Hunted for jewelry. Downtown San Francisco -- especially Union Square -- offers a wide variety of shops, ranging from high-end boutiques to one-of-a-kind specialty shops.

North Park supports several options when it comes to grocery shopping, including chain stores like Lucky and Trader Joe's, as well as smaller purveyors such as Bi-Rite Market, Home Service Market, and Parkside Market. Many of the area's local markets exude a vintage flair reminiscent of the 1950s neighborhood.

The area's Divisadero Farmers Market happens year-round on Sundays. Fresh produce, seasonal specialties, and baked goods bring locals back week after week, along with a strong community vibe that makes this area famous.