San Francisco; what are the different areas?

Question

Is there a part of San Francisco that is poorer than the rest? One that focuses around music and the arts? One that is very rich? One that has lots of malls or one with lots of parks?

Is there an area that lots of the hipsters live in? Is there a big drug dealing area and what are the really popular drugs around that area?

All help would be appreciated. Thanks :)

Answer 1

Stay out of the Mission District after dark.

Business district is boring.

North Beach sector is The Best, Little Italy.  Best Pizza in the world at North Beach Pizza.

China town is right next door to Little Italy; quite interesting.

Embarcadero Square must be seen...there and the Wharf sector you'll find people painting etc.  Great visual's, good food, things to do, busses to ride, tours, etc.

If you're so inclined, reserve a spot on the Alcatraz tour, worth every cent.  I hope you have a camera, SF is so interesting.

Go on top of the hill to Lombard Street; crookedest street in the world.

Be sure to ride a trolly and yell, Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat.

And you have to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge at least once.

All these things will lead u to so much more, plan on 3 days min.

Have a ball.  : )

Answer 2

Because it is so compact and densely populated, the neighborhoods in San Francisco all blur together. So, as with Manhattan, you can go from multi-million dollar penthouses to dreadful SRO slums within a few blocks.

For example, Nob Hill and the Tenderloin are right next to each other. But they're completely different.

Nob Hill is dominated by the elegant Grace Cathedral and historic hotels (the Fairmont, Stanford Court, Huntington, Mark Hopkins, and Ritz). The apartment blocks on top of the hill are, therefore, full of wealthy aristocrats. However, just below Nob Hill is the Tenderloin, which is an extremely poor, seedy neighborhood. There's certainly plenty of prostitution and drugs here. Incidently, the Tenderloin also hosts San Francisco's Theatre District and has a happening bar scene. Poverty apparently helps the creative juices.

If you're moving here, I would encourage you to come and gauge potential housing for yourself. There's no steadfast rule.

Even in so-called "bad" neighborhoods, such as the Mission District, there are some streets that are considered gentrified and hip (Valencia Street, Church Street). While others remain gang infested and undesirable (24th Street, South Van Ness Avenue).

Answer 3

Poor section: the Tenderloin

Rich: Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Presidio Heights

g*y: Castro

Touristy: Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, the Embarcadero

Hippie: Haight-Ashbury (but not so much anymore)

Park-like: anywhere surrounding Golden Gate Park

I'm not sure about the crime rate or anything... however, San Francisco is far from perfect. there is a huge homeless problem anywhere you go and i'm sure there is a big drug scene too.

Any other posters... feel free to correct me if I am wrong about something! I'm from San Jose :-)