Breathtaking views, palatial houses, and home to the Crookedest Street in the World: the Russian Hill neighborhood is as unique as it is beautiful. Russian Hill homes feature an eclectic mix of architectural styles and influences. From Spanish Colonial mansions to century old row houses and everything in between, there is a home or townhome for every taste and sensibility.
Surrounded by some of San Francisco’s most popular neighborhoods (Pacific Heights and Marina to the west; Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach to the north/east; and Nob Hill and Chinatown to the south), there is no shortage of fun activities and landmarks to explore when you live in Russian Hill.
Locals enjoy the hillside garden climbs, the exquisite tiny parks, and The First Swensen’s Ice Cream Store, the classic ice cream parlor found at the corner of Union and Hyde. There is a delicate European flair to many of the boutiques and restaurants found along the lushly green streets of Jackson, Union, and Hyde.
Both Green and Polk Streets offer exceptional international cuisine, including:
La Folie: Considered one of the best private dining restaurants by Zagat, this popular French restaurant is perfect for a celebratory date night.
Aux Delices: A beautiful, elegant upscale Vietnamese restaurant which has served incredible cuisine since 1987.
Fiorella: One of two San Francisco locations, Fiorella offers a scrumptious brunch, amazing entrees, and a fantastic wine selection.
If shopping is on your list, don't miss the many delightful boutiques dotting Polk Street between Union and Broadway. Between the great food and even better shopping, Russian Hill will never disappoint!
Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular place for both locals and tourists to spend their leisure time. A short walk from Russian Hill, many visitors like to start their day at Fisherman’s Wharf with a visit to the Maritime National Historical Park. Enjoy a walk through the Maritime Museum followed by a history lesson through the various historic vessels located along Hyde Street Pier. After a day of sightseeing, locals love to grab a bubble tea at Quickly or enjoy a delicious basket of fish and chips at Lou’s Fish Shack.
Despite the hairpin turns scattered throughout the neighborhood, Russian Hill remains a very walkable urban landscape. The Financial District and Civic Center are about a thirty-minute walk, depending on which part of the neighborhood you’re in. However, there are several Muni routes that pass through Russian Hill which can get you to these areas in about the same time with less walking.
"At the center of any description of San Francisco you'll find North Beach. Beginning at the juncture of Broadway and Columbus, North Beach spreads north to the bay, and down to Telegraph Hill. This most authentic San Francisco district is home to a vibrant Italian-American community. It also has the distinction of being the spiritual home of the beat poets who rose to fame in the 50s and 60s.
This exciting stretch of city brings a devil-may-care attitude to city life. While tourists thumbing their guidebooks mix with frat house style revelers each weekend, the real North Beach, and those who call it home, exists in the delightful hillside streets surrounding. Those lucky enough to live here, enjoy evening's awe-inspiring views from hilltop patios in the rows of exquisite family homes that line the elevated blocks.
It's in the dimly lit old-fashioned neighborhood haunts where one can still find the authentic life of North Beach. City Lights, the infamous rebel poet bookstore, is where Alan Ginsgerg's HOWL was first published. Some of the most extraordinary shopping in the city can be done along Grant Street in the upscale boutiques. And above all, don't miss your chance to have some of the best Italian food this side of the Amalfi Coast. A remarkable dining opportunity at your fingertips thanks to a history of immigrants who made this area home in the 1920's and 30s.
The ""beach"" in North Beach is no longer there. There was a time where the tides of the bay lapped up against Taylor and Francisco Street. Today that waterfront has long since been replaced by 19th century landfill, known now as the Barbary Coast."
