Bernal Heights Neighborhood (94110 & 94112) (9a)
It is the neighborhood between Cesar Chavez to the north, 280 to the south, San Jose to the west and 101 to the east. Bernal Heights is serviced by only a few bus lines and is perched atop a steep hill. The main shopping strip is Cortland Avenue made up of cafes, fruit stands, barber shops and other small businesses. There are also a few trendy boutiques and restaurants scattered throughout. Bernal Heights is known for its artistic and progressive population. It is a popular spot for San Francisco's lesbian community and young families looking for a first time home on a quiet street. In a matter of fact Bernal Heights is sometimes referred to as "Maternity Heights."
Bernal Heights historically was a part of Rancho de Las Salinas y Potrero Nuevo. Its name derives from Jose Cornelio de Bernal, whom the land was granted by the Mexican government in 1839. The ranch was subdivided in the 1860s into small lots and was populated by many Irish immigrants who farmed the land and ran dairy ranches. In 1876 a miniature gold rush was triggered according to legend when a con artist planted traces of gold on top of the hill.
Much of the district survived the 1906 earthquake and fire due to the hill's bedrock foundation. Today some of the houses still remain that were constructed from the timber salvaged from all the wreckage. During World War II an influx of middle class workers resided in the community as they worked in the nearby China Basin naval shipyards. During the 1980s Bernal Heights had a reputation as a dangerous place due to crackheads. In the 1990s the Cortland small business owners banded together and cleaned up the neighborhood. Today it is one of the more affordable places to live with a bohemian homey atmosphere.
Bernal Heights Park is a canine free for all off the leash dog park. The top is a grassy dome with views of Noe Valley, the Mission, China Basin, downtown, the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin. It is located within Bernal Heights Blvd which encircles the park. Parkscan Info. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Bernal Heights Public Library is located at 500 Courtland Ave.
California Pacific Medical Center (Formerly St. Luke's Hospital) is located at 3555 Cesar Chavez Street.
Fire Station No. 32 is located at 194 Park St. near Holly Park.
Holly Park went under a major renovation in 2004 and now offers colorful playhouses, slides, swings, cargo ropes and a picnic area. There are basketball and tennis courts, and spectacular views at the top of the hill. It is located at 704 Holly Park Cir. Parkscan Info. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Precita Park boasts a deluxe playground with picnic tables at its southeast end. It is located at 348 Precita between Folsom and Alabama. Parkscan Info. Review: Yelp.
St. Luke's Hospital is located at 3555 Cesar Chavez St at Valencia. Review Yelp.
Some great restaurants, watering holes and food specialty shops in Bernal Heights include the following:
3300 Club is a dive bar run by the Keane family for over 50 yrs. It is a working class bar serving stiff drinks located at where else 3300 Mission St between 29th St and Virginia Ave. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Al's Cafe Good Food offers great breakfasts including a mouthwatering hash. They are located at 3286 Mission St at 29th St. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Blue Plate offers comfort food made with fresh ingredients. Be sure to try their grilled local sardines, fried chicken and meat loaf. It is located at 3218 Mission St. near Valencia (415) 282-6777. Reviews: Google/Zagat, SFGate/Morgan and Yelp. For Reservations.
Emmy's Spaghetti Shack is a local restaurant known for their pasta. They are located at 18 Virginia Ave between Coleridge and Mission St. (415) 206-2086. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp. No reservations.
Front Porch is known for their chicken and Dungeness crab grits. They are located at 65a 29th Street between Mission and San Jose. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp. For Reservations.
Good Life Grocery Store is a hybrid of living green and specialty goods. They offer recycled paper products, shade-grown coffee beans, and a butcher counter. They also offer excellent cheese, produce and wine sections. They are located at 448 Cortland Ave. between Wool St & Andover St. (415) 648-3221. Review: Yelp.
Goood Frikin Chicken just like the name implies does a perfect juicy chicken and they also have a good falafel for lunch. They are located at10 29th St between Tiffany Ave & Mission St. Reviews: Google/Zagat, SFGate/Gold, SFGate/Wach and Yelp.
Hillside Supper Club is a quirky restaurant with a menu that is all over the board. It islocated at 300 Precita Ave near Folsom. (415) 285-6005. Reviews: SFGate/Bauer and Yelp. For Reservations.
Rock Bar is a hipster local dive bar located at 80 29th St. between Mission and San Jose Ave. Reviews: Google/Zagat, SFGate/Duggan, and Yelp.
Stray Bar which is a dog friendly bar where dogs share the chairs and sofas with their owners eating doggie cookies while their owners enjoy popcorn, a beer or other spirit. 309 Cortland ave near Bocana St. (415) 821-9263. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp.
Churches, Temples, Mosques and other Religious Institutions:
St. Anthony' of Padua Church is a Catholic Church originally from 1893 located at 3215 Cesar Chavez. St. Anthony of Padua's mass schedule.
St John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic Church located at 19 Saint Marys Ave. near Mission. Review Yelp.
Schools:
Junipero Serra Elementary School (K-5) is located at 625 Holly Park Cir. SFUSD Info. Reviews: Greatschools Rated 2 in 2012 and Yelp.
Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School (K-5) is a Spanish immersion and public elementary school located at 3125 Cesar Chavez between Harrison St & Folsom St. SFUSD Info. Review: Greatschools Rated 2 in 2012 and Yelp.
Oakes Children Center (K-9) is a private coed nonsectarian school located at 1550 Treat Ave. near Precita. Review: Greatschools and Yelp.
Paul Revere Elementary School (K-8) is a public elementary school located at 555 Tompkins Ave. Folsom St & Banks St. SFUSD Info. Review: Greatschools Rated 4 in 2012 and Yelp.
St. Anthony’s Immaculate Conception (K-8) is a private Catholic school located at 299 Precita Avenue. Review: Greatschools and Yelp.
Bernal Heights' Walk Score 87 in 2012
Additional Bernal Heights Neighborhood and Blog Information from StreetAdvisor Ranked 55th best Neighborhood in SF in 2012
Bernal Heights Archived NabeWise Schools and Stats
Bernal Heights San Francisco Demographic Neighborhood Statistical Information from the 2009 Census
Bernal Heights historically was a part of Rancho de Las Salinas y Potrero Nuevo. Its name derives from Jose Cornelio de Bernal, whom the land was granted by the Mexican government in 1839. The ranch was subdivided in the 1860s into small lots and was populated by many Irish immigrants who farmed the land and ran dairy ranches. In 1876 a miniature gold rush was triggered according to legend when a con artist planted traces of gold on top of the hill.
Much of the district survived the 1906 earthquake and fire due to the hill's bedrock foundation. Today some of the houses still remain that were constructed from the timber salvaged from all the wreckage. During World War II an influx of middle class workers resided in the community as they worked in the nearby China Basin naval shipyards. During the 1980s Bernal Heights had a reputation as a dangerous place due to crackheads. In the 1990s the Cortland small business owners banded together and cleaned up the neighborhood. Today it is one of the more affordable places to live with a bohemian homey atmosphere.
Bernal Heights Park is a canine free for all off the leash dog park. The top is a grassy dome with views of Noe Valley, the Mission, China Basin, downtown, the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin. It is located within Bernal Heights Blvd which encircles the park. Parkscan Info. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Bernal Heights Public Library is located at 500 Courtland Ave.
California Pacific Medical Center (Formerly St. Luke's Hospital) is located at 3555 Cesar Chavez Street.
Fire Station No. 32 is located at 194 Park St. near Holly Park.
Holly Park went under a major renovation in 2004 and now offers colorful playhouses, slides, swings, cargo ropes and a picnic area. There are basketball and tennis courts, and spectacular views at the top of the hill. It is located at 704 Holly Park Cir. Parkscan Info. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Precita Park boasts a deluxe playground with picnic tables at its southeast end. It is located at 348 Precita between Folsom and Alabama. Parkscan Info. Review: Yelp.
St. Luke's Hospital is located at 3555 Cesar Chavez St at Valencia. Review Yelp.
Some great restaurants, watering holes and food specialty shops in Bernal Heights include the following:
3300 Club is a dive bar run by the Keane family for over 50 yrs. It is a working class bar serving stiff drinks located at where else 3300 Mission St between 29th St and Virginia Ave. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Al's Cafe Good Food offers great breakfasts including a mouthwatering hash. They are located at 3286 Mission St at 29th St. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Blue Plate offers comfort food made with fresh ingredients. Be sure to try their grilled local sardines, fried chicken and meat loaf. It is located at 3218 Mission St. near Valencia (415) 282-6777. Reviews: Google/Zagat, SFGate/Morgan and Yelp. For Reservations.
Emmy's Spaghetti Shack is a local restaurant known for their pasta. They are located at 18 Virginia Ave between Coleridge and Mission St. (415) 206-2086. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp. No reservations.
Front Porch is known for their chicken and Dungeness crab grits. They are located at 65a 29th Street between Mission and San Jose. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp. For Reservations.
Good Life Grocery Store is a hybrid of living green and specialty goods. They offer recycled paper products, shade-grown coffee beans, and a butcher counter. They also offer excellent cheese, produce and wine sections. They are located at 448 Cortland Ave. between Wool St & Andover St. (415) 648-3221. Review: Yelp.
Goood Frikin Chicken just like the name implies does a perfect juicy chicken and they also have a good falafel for lunch. They are located at10 29th St between Tiffany Ave & Mission St. Reviews: Google/Zagat, SFGate/Gold, SFGate/Wach and Yelp.
Hillside Supper Club is a quirky restaurant with a menu that is all over the board. It islocated at 300 Precita Ave near Folsom. (415) 285-6005. Reviews: SFGate/Bauer and Yelp. For Reservations.
Rock Bar is a hipster local dive bar located at 80 29th St. between Mission and San Jose Ave. Reviews: Google/Zagat, SFGate/Duggan, and Yelp.
Stray Bar which is a dog friendly bar where dogs share the chairs and sofas with their owners eating doggie cookies while their owners enjoy popcorn, a beer or other spirit. 309 Cortland ave near Bocana St. (415) 821-9263. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp.
Churches, Temples, Mosques and other Religious Institutions:
St. Anthony' of Padua Church is a Catholic Church originally from 1893 located at 3215 Cesar Chavez. St. Anthony of Padua's mass schedule.
St John the Evangelist Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic Church located at 19 Saint Marys Ave. near Mission. Review Yelp.
Schools:
Junipero Serra Elementary School (K-5) is located at 625 Holly Park Cir. SFUSD Info. Reviews: Greatschools Rated 2 in 2012 and Yelp.
Leonard R. Flynn Elementary School (K-5) is a Spanish immersion and public elementary school located at 3125 Cesar Chavez between Harrison St & Folsom St. SFUSD Info. Review: Greatschools Rated 2 in 2012 and Yelp.
Oakes Children Center (K-9) is a private coed nonsectarian school located at 1550 Treat Ave. near Precita. Review: Greatschools and Yelp.
Paul Revere Elementary School (K-8) is a public elementary school located at 555 Tompkins Ave. Folsom St & Banks St. SFUSD Info. Review: Greatschools Rated 4 in 2012 and Yelp.
St. Anthony’s Immaculate Conception (K-8) is a private Catholic school located at 299 Precita Avenue. Review: Greatschools and Yelp.
Bernal Heights' Walk Score 87 in 2012
Additional Bernal Heights Neighborhood and Blog Information from StreetAdvisor Ranked 55th best Neighborhood in SF in 2012
Bernal Heights Archived NabeWise Schools and Stats
Bernal Heights San Francisco Demographic Neighborhood Statistical Information from the 2009 Census