North Beach Neighborhood (94111 & 94133) (8d)
North Beach known as "Little Italy" is famous for its Italian restaurants, cafes, delicatessens and shops. It was also the center for the Beat movement and contains many old haunts of Kerouac and Ginsberg. It contains some of the best night life around with plenty of bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and Broadway with its strip clubs and neon lights. There are also several small boutique shops specializing in such items as imported goods and hand crafted clothing.
North Beach was originally part of the old Barbary Coast and its North Point Docks served as the gateway for immigrants from all over the world. In the 1800s Italian immigrants turned the area into a local Latin Quarter. North Beach is also where baseball legend Joe DiMaggio grew up. North Beach was home to the beat movement. Writers like Kerouac and Ginsberg lived and worked in this neighborhood and used to hang out at Caffee Trieste.
Street parking is notoriously hard to come by in the area so it is best to park at one of the local parking garages or take public transportation to this area of town.
City Lights is probably San Francisco's best known bookstores, the original publisher of Allen Ginsberg's "Howl." They are located at 261 Columbus and Broadway.
Joe DiMaggio Playground and North Beach Pool offers a playground area, basketball courts, tennis courts, two baseball fields, Bocce ball, a lap pool and heated recreation pool. It is located at 651 Lombard St. at Powell. Parkscan Info. Review: Yelp.
San Francisco Public Library North Beach Branch is located at 2000 Mason St. near Columbus.
Washington Square Park was set aside as a public square in 1850 and is s a large green grass park surrounded by trees and park benches. Locals walk their dogs here, groups of people practice Tai Chi in the mornings, and artists display their works on Sunday mornings. It is located at Columbus St between Union and Filbert. Parkscan Info. Review: Yelp.
Restaurants and specialty food destinations in North Beach include the following:
Cafe Trieste was the first spot to offer espresso on the West Coast. They are located at 609 Vallejo at Grant (415) 392-6739. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Capo's is a restaurant specializing in Italian cuisine with a bar stocked with one of the largest whiskey selections in the City going back to its Prohibition era roots. The food is served in large portions reflecting what pasta portions used to be in earlier times. They also prepare excellent pizza. Note the bar is cash only. It is located at 641 Vallejo St near Columbus. Reviews: SFGate/Lucchesi and Yelp. For Reservations call (415) 986-8998.
Graffeo opened in 1935 and is one of the oldest artisan coffee roasters in the United States. They offer only 3 varieties of coffee, Light, Dark and 50/50. They have some of the best coffee in the city and are located at 735 Columbus Ave Via Buffano & Filbert St. (415) 986-2420. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
The House has offers an Asian fusion American style cuisine that offers fantastic appetizers and entrees. The House is located at 1230 Grant Ave. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp. For Reservations call (415) 986-8612
Mama's provides one of the best breakfasts in the City with fresh baked goods. Lines start early so be prepared to wait 30 to 45 minutes to get in but it is worth it. They are located at 1701 Stockton at Filbert. (415) 362-6421. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp. They don't take reservations.
Molinari Delicatessen is a family owned business that has been making air dried salami since 1896. This Italian delicatessen offers some of the best sandwiches in North Beach. They are located at 373 Columbus Ave near Vallejo (415) 421-2337. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Original Joe's offers comfort food and inexpensive cocktails. Menu items you should be sure to try include Joe's Special (ground beef, onions, spinach and scrambled eggs), Joe's Famous Hamburger Sandwich, fork tender pot roast, and roast beef. They are located at 601 Union St. at Stockton St. (415) 775-4877. Reviews: Google/Zagat, SFGate/Bauer, and Yelp. For Reservations.
Churches, Temples, Mosques and other Religious Institutions:
Sts. Peter and Paul Church is a neo-Gothic Catholic church bordering Washington Square Park. It was consecrated in 1924 and originally served a parish of Italian fisherman. It is now a beautiful cathedral with marble statues and one of the most beautiful altars. It is located at 666 Filbert Street.
Schools:
Francisco Middle School (6-8) is public school located at 2190 Powell St near Francisco St. SFUSD Info. Reviews: Greatschools Rated 3 in 2012 and Yelp.
Jean Parker Elementary School (K-5) is a public elementary school located at 840 Broadway St near Powell St. SFUSD Info. Reviews: Greatschools Rated 6 in 2012 and Yelp.
Sts. Peter and Paul School (K-8) is a private Catholic school located at 660 Filbert St. Reviews: Greatschools and Yelp.
North Beach's Walk Score 95 in 2012
Additional North Beach Neighborhood and Blog Information from StreetAdvisor. Ranked 21st best Neighborhood in SF in 2012
North Beach NabeWise Schools and Stats
North Beach San Francisco Demographic Neighborhood Statistical Information from the 2009 Census
North Beach was originally part of the old Barbary Coast and its North Point Docks served as the gateway for immigrants from all over the world. In the 1800s Italian immigrants turned the area into a local Latin Quarter. North Beach is also where baseball legend Joe DiMaggio grew up. North Beach was home to the beat movement. Writers like Kerouac and Ginsberg lived and worked in this neighborhood and used to hang out at Caffee Trieste.
Street parking is notoriously hard to come by in the area so it is best to park at one of the local parking garages or take public transportation to this area of town.
City Lights is probably San Francisco's best known bookstores, the original publisher of Allen Ginsberg's "Howl." They are located at 261 Columbus and Broadway.
Joe DiMaggio Playground and North Beach Pool offers a playground area, basketball courts, tennis courts, two baseball fields, Bocce ball, a lap pool and heated recreation pool. It is located at 651 Lombard St. at Powell. Parkscan Info. Review: Yelp.
San Francisco Public Library North Beach Branch is located at 2000 Mason St. near Columbus.
Washington Square Park was set aside as a public square in 1850 and is s a large green grass park surrounded by trees and park benches. Locals walk their dogs here, groups of people practice Tai Chi in the mornings, and artists display their works on Sunday mornings. It is located at Columbus St between Union and Filbert. Parkscan Info. Review: Yelp.
Restaurants and specialty food destinations in North Beach include the following:
Cafe Trieste was the first spot to offer espresso on the West Coast. They are located at 609 Vallejo at Grant (415) 392-6739. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Capo's is a restaurant specializing in Italian cuisine with a bar stocked with one of the largest whiskey selections in the City going back to its Prohibition era roots. The food is served in large portions reflecting what pasta portions used to be in earlier times. They also prepare excellent pizza. Note the bar is cash only. It is located at 641 Vallejo St near Columbus. Reviews: SFGate/Lucchesi and Yelp. For Reservations call (415) 986-8998.
Graffeo opened in 1935 and is one of the oldest artisan coffee roasters in the United States. They offer only 3 varieties of coffee, Light, Dark and 50/50. They have some of the best coffee in the city and are located at 735 Columbus Ave Via Buffano & Filbert St. (415) 986-2420. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
The House has offers an Asian fusion American style cuisine that offers fantastic appetizers and entrees. The House is located at 1230 Grant Ave. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp. For Reservations call (415) 986-8612
Mama's provides one of the best breakfasts in the City with fresh baked goods. Lines start early so be prepared to wait 30 to 45 minutes to get in but it is worth it. They are located at 1701 Stockton at Filbert. (415) 362-6421. Reviews: Google/Zagat and Yelp. They don't take reservations.
Molinari Delicatessen is a family owned business that has been making air dried salami since 1896. This Italian delicatessen offers some of the best sandwiches in North Beach. They are located at 373 Columbus Ave near Vallejo (415) 421-2337. Reviews: Google and Yelp.
Original Joe's offers comfort food and inexpensive cocktails. Menu items you should be sure to try include Joe's Special (ground beef, onions, spinach and scrambled eggs), Joe's Famous Hamburger Sandwich, fork tender pot roast, and roast beef. They are located at 601 Union St. at Stockton St. (415) 775-4877. Reviews: Google/Zagat, SFGate/Bauer, and Yelp. For Reservations.
Churches, Temples, Mosques and other Religious Institutions:
Sts. Peter and Paul Church is a neo-Gothic Catholic church bordering Washington Square Park. It was consecrated in 1924 and originally served a parish of Italian fisherman. It is now a beautiful cathedral with marble statues and one of the most beautiful altars. It is located at 666 Filbert Street.
Schools:
Francisco Middle School (6-8) is public school located at 2190 Powell St near Francisco St. SFUSD Info. Reviews: Greatschools Rated 3 in 2012 and Yelp.
Jean Parker Elementary School (K-5) is a public elementary school located at 840 Broadway St near Powell St. SFUSD Info. Reviews: Greatschools Rated 6 in 2012 and Yelp.
Sts. Peter and Paul School (K-8) is a private Catholic school located at 660 Filbert St. Reviews: Greatschools and Yelp.
North Beach's Walk Score 95 in 2012
Additional North Beach Neighborhood and Blog Information from StreetAdvisor. Ranked 21st best Neighborhood in SF in 2012
North Beach NabeWise Schools and Stats
North Beach San Francisco Demographic Neighborhood Statistical Information from the 2009 Census