Civic Center
Museums and concert venues fill this stately neighborhood, full of striking architectural styles and wide pedestrian plazas.
Civic Center is a neighborhood that inspires awe.
The grandeur of early 20th-century Beaux-Arts architecture is showcased in the gorgeous City Hall on Van Ness Avenue. Across the street rises the ornate War Memorial Opera House, home of the San Francisco Opera and the San Francisco Ballet. Also nearby are the War Memorial Veterans Building and Davies Symphony Hall. The historic Bill Graham Auditorium is still frequented by top musical acts and performers, as is the intimate SFJAZZ Center on Franklin Street.
East of Civic Center Plaza is the Asian Art Museum, home to artifacts spanning 6,000 years of history. You can also see great public works, including light art, in the neighborhood.
Neighborhood Highlights:
Where to Eat In Civic Center and Hayes Valley
Civic Center and Hayes Valley boast world-renowned restaurants, from fine dining to casual cafes.
Your Guide to San Francisco's Performing Arts Events This Spring
Here's a helpful round-up of the must-see performances in San Francisco this season.
Your Guide to San Francisco's Museums and Galleries This Spring
Explore inspiring exhibitions from esteemed creators of the past and present at these San Francisco institutions.
Trip Inspiration
From diverse dining to world-class museums and culture, here are some ideas to inspire your visit to San Francisco's Civic Center neighborhood.
All Trip Ideas
Full of artifacts and artworks from multiple cultures across 6,000 years of history, the Asian Art Museum is a must-visit attraction in SF.
Neighborhoods known for their great restaurants and fun nightlife now have added attractions: incredible light art!
To help you plan ahead and get the most out of your visit to the San Francisco Ballet, we offer you these tips and essential information.
One of the oldest and most esteemed opera companies in the country is here in San Francisco. Find out how to see a breathtaking performance.
Our motto: there are a farmers' markets happening somewhere in the city. With fresh produce year-round and with farms nearby, it's farm-to-table every day.
Explore San Francisco's Hayes Valley neighborhood with chefs Evan and Sarah Rich and see what their local favorites are.
One of the buzziest neighborhoods in San Francisco is full of fantastic and fashionable boutiques where you'll find items not available anywhere else.
Explore some of the best spots in San Francisco for pre- and post-show dining and drinks.
Explore More
San Francisco Neighborhoods
Explore the map to get a closer look at San Francisco's 19 major neighborhoods.
Union Square
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping in Union Square. Indeed, in a town with abundant citywide shopping, Union Square is the most renowned source of retail therapy.
Fisherman's Wharf
If there's one part of town that visitors — both first-timers and many-timers — equate with San Francisco, it's Fisherman's Wharf.
SoMa / Yerba Buena
In the 1970s, industry moved out and artists moved in. Now, SoMa has so much to experience, including the country's most beautiful ballpark.
North Beach
Old Italy, the New Deal, memories of Kerouac and the Beats and echoes of the waterfront Bohemianism meet of-the-moment eateries in North Beach.
Nob Hill
Those little cable cars that climb halfway to the stars in Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco’’ are climbing Nob Hill, the historic and iconic neighborhood of San Francisco.
Downtown / Financial District
From captains of the high seas to captains of industry, downtown has often been where people first began their San Francisco journey.
Civic Center
Museums and concert venues fill this stately neighborhood, full of striking architectural styles and wide pedestrian plazas.
Marina
Home to bars, boutiques, and bayside views, the Marina is where San Francisco's young people come to shop, dine, and mingle.
Japantown
San Francisco’s Japantown is the oldest in the U.S. From its famous Peace Pagoda to a variety of great eats, learn about this vibrant historic neighborhood.
Fillmore
A neighborhood full of music history, fine dining, and upscale shopping, The Fillmore packs more into a few city blocks than you can believe.
Mid-Market
A combination of enterprise zones, high tech, arts groups, retail, and restaurants, Mid-Market is witnessing a boom.
Chinatown
With its pagoda-style architecture, ornate lamp posts, exotic menus and other distinctive elements, a stop here can feel more like a trip abroad than a neighborhood stroll.
Bayview
Bayview is the sunniest neighborhood in San Francisco, home to 35,000 residents, nesting ospreys and some of the most urban, diverse sights and bites in the city.
Mission District
The Mission District is one of San Francisco’s most of-the-moment neighborhoods, packed with trend-setting boutiques, restaurants, and more.
Castro
Regardless of your sexual orientation, no trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to the world-famous Castro District, one of the country's first gay Neighborhoods.
Haight-Ashbury
Start your Summer of Love experience on the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets, where 1960s flower power blossomed.
Sunset District
San Francisco's Sunset District is where the hustling innovators go for a slice of traditional California surfer style.
Richmond
The Richmond used to be San Francisco's best-kept secret—but the word is out! It may move at a slower pace, but the Richmond is not to be missed.
Treasure Island
This gem of an island offers a bustling urban winery scene, terrific music festivals, and photo ops of San Francisco's downtown skyline.