Westwood Park - San Francisco, CA

Westwood Park was established in 1917, when developers decided to create a model community for middle-income families. The streets were intentionally plotted to minimize confusion when driving around the neighborhood.

Architects Charles F. Strothoff and Ida McCain were responsible for most of the home design here. Most of the homes were built between 1918 to 1923, following WWI. Bungalows were a very popular style of home at the time, so most were built in this style.

The neighborhood hasn’t been through many cultural shifts, but has welcomed more retirees and professional families looking for a quieter pace of life over the years.

Westwood Park doesn’t have any museums, galleries or annual festivals, but the Diego Rivera Mural Project at the City College of San Francisco makes its home in the neighborhood.

Most of Westwood Park’s restaurants are clustered along the neighborhood’s borders at Phelan Avenue to the east and Ocean Avenue to the south. Many types of cuisine can be found here, including Chinese, Latin, Italian, Vietnamese, Mexican, American and Hawaiian.

Wang Wah serves some of the area’s most popular Chinese fare, including lamb and ginger vegetable soup, prawns wonton noodle, fun in soup, and spare ribs with bitter melon, among others. With such a wide and varied menu, you’ll want to come back to try new things all the time. Locals say that the owners are friendly and happy to explain the ingredients in any dish.

The Mayflower Restaurant offers Westwood Park classic Vietnamese dishes such as BBQ chicken with vermicelli and imperial rolls. They also serve traditional American breakfast items such as pancakes, eggs and bacon during the morning, making this a convenient stop if you’re heading into the city. Residents say both the American and Vietnamese dishes are great.

If you’re in the mood for something simpler, Chasing Lions Café carries savory sandwiches and soups, as well as coffee, hot chocolate and other special blends. Located near the City College of San Francisco campus, Chasing Lions keeps it healthy for the student body, and the community in general, while keeping school spirit alive. Students especially love this place's friendly, outgoing vibe and flock there day and night for wonderful fare.

Nightlife in Westwood Park isn’t raging, given that it’s a quiet, residential area. But dive bars such as Randy’s Place provide a welcoming atmosphere alongside cheap drinks and friendly locals. The Ave also brings the nightlife, with a great jukebox, bottomless mimosas and dancing, if the spirit moves you. You may even find yourself meeting a new friend.

Though Westwood Park doesn’t support any live music venues, locals watch sports at The Ave, or check out the Diego Rivera Mural Project with friends before heading into the city or out to dinner.

Though finding a parking spot in San Francisco is notoriously difficult, Westwood Park tends to be a little easier than the rest of the city. Though you may have to look around for a space, particularly if you’re around the college, it’ll be less expensive than in other areas of the city.

Most still prefer to get around the area with public transportation, since BART trains run nearby, as well as several Muni bus and train routes. Uber pickups are easily arranged. Cabs can be a little tough to hail on the street, but you can find them, though having a backup plan may be a good idea if you’re in a hurry.

Public parking isn’t too expensive in Westwood Park, when compared to the rest of the city. Interstates 280 and 101 are just south and east, respectively, of the neighborhood, making it relatively freeway-accessible.

Since Westwood Park was designed to be friendly, it’s definitely walkable. There are some bike lanes throughout the neighborhood, and it’s considered safe for biking.

Despite its name, Westwood Park doesn’t have any public parks, so there aren't any venues to host outdoor music festivals or movie events. Locals meet their fitness needs at the City College Wellness Center, Elevate Group Fitness, or Hot Yoga on Ocean. Many parks and green spaces can be found in neighboring areas, however, if you're willing to travel a bit.

Westwood Park was originally designed to provide affordable housing to those of modest means, so rents are slightly lower than in other parts of the city. Food and entertainment costs are also slightly lower as a result, decreasing the overall cost of living. A typical 1-bedroom apartment rents for about $2,800 per month. It costs around $3 to get to the city center via public transportation, and a beer at a local pub will run you around $5. Gas is approximately 15% higher here than in the rest of the country.

Because of Westwood Park's small and relatively suburban nature, it doesn’t support any high-end or luxury shopping. What it does have in the way of stores tend to be clustered along Ocean Avenue, toward the neighborhood’s southern border.

National chains such as Walgreen’s and Sherman-Williams Paints co-exist with A-1 Shoe, Accessory & Luggage Repair Shop. If you’re looking for larger stores or boutiques, you may need to travel to neighboring Ingleside.

Several grocery stores serve the Westwood Park area, including Whole Foods, Fruit Barn, Winson Supermarket and Power Trading Company. Though the area doesn’t have an ongoing farmers market, Fruit Barn provides lots of fresh produce on a regular basis, as does Whole Foods, or you can head to the San Francisco Farmers Market in nearby Mission Terrace.