SoMa - San Francisco, CA Area Guide

SoMa was founded in 1847, when Washington A. Bartlett commissioned surveyor Jasper O'Farrell to extend the boundaries of the original pueblo southward. The new subdivision, called 100 Vara, was linked to the old pueblo by Market Street. SoMa began as part of the business district of San Francisco and the industrial waterfront.

During the 1906 earthquake, the SoMa area was completely destroyed. It was rebuilt, and the neighborhood eventually connected with the Bay Bridge and Route 101 during the 1930s.

In 1995, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art opened, beginning a time of development for arts and performance spaces in the neighborhood. Since that time, lofts and condominium development have catered to the upscale clientele of dot-com millionaires and tech start-ups. Though it took a hit following the dot-com bust, SoMa, or "South of the Slot," as old-timers call it, continued to thrive as one of San Francisco's most vibrant hubs.

SoMa offers a wide variety of museums to enjoy such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Cartoon Art Museum, and the Museum of the African Diaspora.

Many small theatre companies operate in this area, including Theatre Rhinoceros, Boxcar Theatre, Crowded Fire Theatre, Fools Fury Theatre, and Climate Theatre. A number of performance spaces contribute to a very lively arts scene happening nearly every night of the week.

Make sure to check out the How Weird Street Faire, a combination of art, dance, performance, and music that takes place every May.

Like San Francisco itself, the SoMa neighborhood has a wide array of food choices, leaning toward Asian foods of all kinds. SO, a favorite for the after-work crowd, serves up American Korean Chinese food. Mao pao tofu over noodles, chipotle sausage fried rice, and jajamyun noodles with black bean sauce leave patrons wanting more.

If you're in the mood for something a little more traditional, Garaje offers beer, tacos, and burgers in a gastropub environment. Though it can get loud, particularly during the dinner rush, the menu has a lot to offer such as the wild tuna tostadita and calamares fritos, which are designed to go with beer. Good thing they've got a big selection, from drafts to bottles. Just make sure to bring cash, because this is one place that doesn't do plastic.

Italian, seafood, deli, and French - it's all there for the taking in SoMa. Citizen's Band has carved out a niche for itself as a purveyor of new American food. Dishes such as lobster rolls, grilled flank steak, and chopped salads are fresh and tasty. The fact that they serve brunch is ideal for those weekends when you want to get a bite to eat before heading to one of the local museums.

After hours, you'll discover bars like Hotel Utah Saloon, live music venues such as the Barrel House, and dance clubs such as Monarch. Most bars and clubs are located a few blocks from Market Street. Hotel Utah Saloon encourages locals to hang out and watch a local band, with live music seven nights a week. Rock, folk, country, and gospel are served up with an indie twist, for those seeking a truly San Franciscan experience.

The Barrel House, an intimate venue, also offers the best in indie rock and local talent. Expect benefits, open mics, and creative panel discussions amidst the sound of ringing guitars.

Monarch has earned its reputation as one of the area's best dance clubs because of its multiple dance areas, which play popular house, techno, and chill beats from a variety of American and European DJs. A top-of-the-line sound system and spaces for private parties make this a place to see and be seen while dancing the night away.

San Francisco is a famously tough city to park in, and SoMa is no different. Though you can drive, traffic can be very congested in this area, and parking costs probably at least as much as what you're there to do, if not more.

BART, or the Bay Area Rapid Transit, offers one transportation solution, as do the well-run Muni buses and trains. Both are easily accessible from Market Street and very affordable. SoMa is pedestrian-friendly, and this area is easy to navigate on foot with wide sidewalks. It's easy to find a cab anywhere in San Francisco, and SoMa is no different. Uber is also an option.

This area is very freeway accessible, with the 80 freeway leading over the Bay Bridge to the East Bay, the 101 running south to San Jose and beyond, and the 280 offering another way to the airport and points south.

If you can brave the steep hills of San Francisco, this city is very bicycle-friendly and the San Francisco Bike Coalition is constantly working to make it more so. SoMa offers bike lanes throughout the neighborhood, so go ahead and bring your bike when you move to an apartment in SoMa.

San Francisco is a city of parks, even though it sits on relatively few square smiles of land. The SoMa area alone has several dozen parks, including the Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission Creek Park, Sun Terrace, Victoria Manalo Draves Park, and the Alice Street Community Gardens. Since many residents of SoMa are into fitness, you can find yoga classes and other fitness activities in the parks.

SoMa plays host to many annual events, including the Vegan Food & Beer Festival in October and the Dreamforce Music Fest.

Like most of San Francisco, living in SoMa is expensive. A typical one-bedroom apartment in SoMa costs around $3,500 per month. As one of San Francisco's hottest neighborhoods, the cost of living is higher in SoMa than in other parts of the city.

From the malls and chains on Market Street to the funky boutiques a little further south, SoMa has many opportunities for shopping. Westfield San Francisco Centre caters to a high-end clientele with Rolex, Michael Kors, Burberry, and Tourneau among smaller stores offering luxury goods.

Jeremys Department Store offers designer clothing at deep discounts, culled room sample sales, and window display castoffs from major department stores. Those seeking evening wear or top-of-the-line jeans find what they're looking for here.

Nomadic Arts, another gem, sells mahogany and teak wood furniture created with a craftsman's eye. Dressers, coffee tables, dining room tables, and nightstands have to be seen to be believed, and they come at reasonable prices considering the area.

Locals buy their groceries from local chain stores such as Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Safeway. Smaller specialty markets in the area include Bristol Farms, Harvest Urban Market, and Bayside Market.

SoMa offers several farmers markets, including the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Embarcadero, which operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and the Mission Bay Farmers Market at UCSF, open every Wednesday.