North Beach

Ahh North Beach or Little Italy depending on who you are talking with. It’s between China Town and Fisherman’s Wharf.
It’s a nice neighborhood to explore. It doesn’t feel as touristy as the grand Street in China Town or Fisherman’s Wharf.
I usually get a pastry at one of the bakaries and there are also great shops, bars and restaurants.
Don’t miss the big white church. It’s hosted famous weddings. It’s just a great area to take a break from the tourist rush.

Great neighborhood! We somehow missed this part of town the last time we were in San Francisco. For us, we fit right in. Great Italian food, lots of interesting local shops (book stores, candy stores, etc) and of course Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower nearby.
We found ourselves coming back to North Beach for just about everything — dining, shopping, tourism. I would LOVE to live in this neighborhood someday!

Oh North Beach, how I adore you, you provide me with so many places to eat, drink and have fun at. The possibilities are kinda endless here. That is why North Beach will be my «150^th» review and «3^rd» milestone review that involves The City of San Francisco or a landmark in or around the city. Plus I’m here every other Sunday if not every Sunday. So that should be a testament of how much I like this place. North Beach is where it’s at, and let me brag a little about why…
2 — 28 — 2016
Getting ready for my usual SF nightlife activities. I had to stop and think to myself…“why haven’t I did a review of a place that I like to visit so much? Well now is better than never right? So as my slogan says «I took one bart train, and later stopped at a bar and had my two shots» Sorces say, that after you walk past the Transamerica Building you officially step into «Little Italy» or «The Church of Scientology» and for the record… they are annoying people trying to get you to take a survey or sorts. moving along. Before you cross the street after the Transamerica building, you would see the first street post at the end of Montgomery where the lamppost is adorned with the signiture «Italian Flag» also letting you know that you have made it to the right place. Also where Montgomery turn into my favorite street (aside from Broadway) Columbus Street!
North Beach is home to the North Beach towers which sit on Kerney St and aside from the «Little Italy» aspect that North Beach is known for, lets not forget that Asian influence and Irish influence here as well, with that being said Chinatown SF and Irish Section (I don’t know if that is the proper term) is here as well, and trust me… I’ve made my mark at those spots respectivly. North Beach is the part of SF that I feel has a lot to offer anyone that happens to come and visit, you have those down home places, and those posh places if that happens to be your thang! (yes I said thang instead of saying thing) «Everyday is a Weekend Here» my bartender @ Grant and Green (off Grant and Green Streets) told me. Here you would find aside from the bars and lounges and fantastic little eateries, nice little art studios and trendy clothing shops, coffee and boba joints and old churches and sightseeing galore here oh and if you’re really wanting to get a nice view of SF… the Coit Tower is located in North Beach as well.
Let me break it down to you a little by what you would find on some of the streets here.
Kerney St — Here you would find some of those seedy massage parlors and little oriental shops and such that didn’t make it in Chinatown, also at the end of the street you would find Larry Flints Hustler Club right before you hit the redlight district which is called…
Broadway Street — Well I have to say, I have two dukedoms here at two places… The Condor and Penthouse SF, and yes they are Gentelmens Clubs. Hey don’t judge me, they are fun places! Deja Vu Centerfolds, Garden of Eden and the Hungry Eye are also on this street, yea you have all the fake ballers and wanna be pimps that walk up and down this street, but if you wanna dance and not get a lapdance per say: D You have Hue Nightclub (formerly Atmostphere Ultra Lounge) and Monroe Lounge that would provide you with a night of calorie burning and drunken fun also instagram memes. Let’s not forget Noc Noc on Broadway and Bamboo Hut is located here if you want to drink something intresting but if not you also have.
Grant St — Now this is where I think you would find the Bar, Saloon, Pub, or Lounge of your dreams and me of course! this is my go too street when i’m here. When you see the «Gold or sometimes Silver Chains and Yankees Hat» you would know that you’ve spotted me and in that case… don’t be afraid to say hello and have a shot with me! anywho, Grant and Green, Tope, Maggie McGarry’s, The Saloon Blues Bar, Tupelo and other drinking establishments adorn this street, and you can’t sometimes leave this street without being sober, i’m guilty most of the time i’m here, but if you wanna eat then you must visit the main street.
Columbus Street — Here you would find that this street is like the official connection to all the hotspots here in North Beach, The Stinking Rose, Busters Cheesesteak, Taqueria Zorro, Yan’s Chinese Kitchen, and Pizzelle di North Beach and let’s not forget Molinari Delicatessen all sit on this street, it’s like… impossible to walk on this street and not get hungry and that is only half of what’s here, I still haven’t named everything else but you have to see for yourself.
In closing, if you come here make sure you have some money to spend (or throw if you hang on broadway) you will need it for the Food, the Drinks, and the Über or Lyft ride home or BART fair, because here you will indeed eat, drink and have a good time! As always Unilocal your own experiences and opinions and Check In! I already have dukedom battles going on here! :D

North Beach is a neighborhood in San Francisco I’ve grown familiar with because one of my good friends used to live nearby, specifically, in Telegraph Hill (he’s since moved to Russian Hill, so still in the same vicinity). In recent years, every time I visited the Bay Area, I’d always make it out to North Beach and we’d walk around, whether to a park, pier, bookstore, pub, café, or gelato shop, and hang out. This, like many other parts of San Francisco, is a cool area.
The neighborhood is popular with both tourists and locals. The touristy areas are to the north towards Fisherman’s Wharf and the piers, along the Embarcadero (with cruises to Alcatraz), in the center where Coit Tower is located, and along the western and southern edges where the neighborhood borders Russian Hill (Lombard Street), Chinatown, and the Financial District (downtown). Even though the neighborhood doesn’t touch any water, North Beach got its name because it used to be an actual beach. It’s since been filled with landfill.
Because of all the hills, there are great vistas of the city in all directions. The best places for views and photos are at and around Coit Tower and facing southward down one of the main drags, Columbus Ave, into the Financial District. The higher elevation you are, the better, of course. Filbert St, near Coit Tower, is one of the steepest streets in the city measuring in at 17.5 degrees (31.5% grade). For those not used to the steepness of the streets, they can be terrifying to drive and park on.
The southeastern part of North Beach around Telegraph Hill sits above the Financial District. Columbus Ave feeds directly into the Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco’s iconic and tallest skyscraper. Speaking of Columbus, there are a lot of things to see and do at Columbus and Broadway. North Beach is known as San Francisco’s Little Italy and there are numerous Italian restaurants and pizza joints in the vicinity. Not only that, but the area is known for its nightlife, littered in numerous bars and nightclubs, many with live entertainment. Most notably, at least as has been pointed out to me multiple times by different people, The Condor, which is supposedly the world’s first topless and bottomless strip club. Oh yeah.
Off the top of my head, a few good memories of places I’ve enjoyed and recommend in North Beach include:
* Walking around Washington Square Park (
)
* Grabbing pizza at North Beach Pizza (
)
* Indulging at Gelato Classico Italian (
)
* Eating garlicky food at The Stinking Rose (
)
* Checking out the historic City Lights Bookstore (
)
And while this place is technically not within North Beach boundaries, I highly recommend checking out Union Street Produce Company (
) for fresh produce, juices, and basic grocery store needs. The store is located just one block west of North Beach on Union St at Mason St.
Finally, see if you can spot the wild parrots on the Filbert Steps (
) and check out The Saloon (
), San Francisco’s oldest bar with live music and well-​priced drinks. Have a good time.

Had the pleasure to be seated at a square table for 8! It was a great setting because we all could talk with everyone without having to yell across the room. The service was great and the food was delicious. Started off with pasta della casa, salad, & minestrone soup… tasty! Then we all enjoyed our main courses: mini lobster tails, chicken, pasta and Petrale sole. All were prepared very good and all were very delicious. The only thing that I didn’t care for is the vegetable and potatoes that came with the entrees. They were a bit bland.

I have been coming here for over 25 years and I still consider it my favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco. The food is amazing and very consistent. The Fish dishes are great so are the pastas and the Veal. I have entertained many clients over the years and continue coming back for business and with my wife and kids. As a past restaurant owner in San Francisco I appreciate classics and this is definitely a classic.

«LITTLE ITALY» MY FAVORITE DISTRICT OF SAN FRANCISCO
I was born in San Francisco but I moved to the East Bay when I was two years old. I’m not an expert in San Francisco far from it. Ever since I graduated from college I have been working in the Financial District of San Francisco. I’ve never worked full time outside of San Francisco. Throughout the years I visited certain parts of San Francisco. There are several districts in San Francisco that have their own unique flavor. Chinatown is the largest Chinese community of China. The Mission District has Latin influence through its eateries and street food stands. The Financial District, where I work, is the business hub in the city. Of all the districts my favorite is North Beach.
There’s something about North Beach that attracts locals and tourists alike. As you walk in Columbus Avenue and head toward Broadway you see the Beats influence through City Lights Bookstore. Feel naughty? On Broadway you can feel the seedy environment through the strip club and adult entertainment. Want to feel holy? There are two churches are in North Beach. The first is the Saint Francis of Assisi National Shrine. That church isn’t a practicing church however the patron saint for of San Francisco is Saint Francis. The second church in North Beach is the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church that situates on Washington Park and conducts services in several languages. Want a quick bite to eat? Then go to Golden Boy Pizza where locals flock to eat a Sicilian-​style pizza with its foccacia bread crust. Ever inspire to be a writer? Have a sip of espresso at Caffè Trieste where Francis Ford Coppola wrote the script for «The Godfather».
People mostly go to North Beach to eat at the Italian restaurants hence why North Beach is referred as «Little Italy». These restaurants don’t feature just Italian food. What makes these restaurant charming is that each restaurant specializes in their own regional cuisine whether they are Roman, Tuscan, Neapolitan, or Sicilian. (On my profile I created a list titled North Beach Eating — Italian Regional Cuisine Restaurants). The blending of different regional cultures from the same country is another example why San Francisco is considered a melting pot. When I see Italian restaurants struggling on shows such as Kitchen Nightmares or Restaurant Impossible I feel like either the owner or manager of those restaurants should come to North Beach to see how Italian restaurants thrive. It is stated that San Francisco is the most European city in this country. I’ve been to Europe and when you eat at one of those Italian restaurants along Columbus Avenue it is reminiscent of eating at cafés in Europe.
The food scene at North Beach while maintaining its identity is also evolving. One example is fine dining as Michelin Star restaurants such as Gary Danko, Quince, and Coi are located in North Beach. In fact Coi is located close to a strip club. Where else can you find a fine dining restaurant next adult entertainment? That’s why you have to love North Beach.
I heard that North Beach in the 1970s was rough and tough. If you ever saw «Dirty Harry» starring Clint Eastwood you get a feel what North Beach was like back then. Throughout the hardened years North Beach has maintained its charm. When Tony Bennett sings his signature song «I Left My Heart In San Francisco» I feel part of the character of San Francisco is North Beach. There are a lot of tourist sites to see in San Francisco such as Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz. If you’re tired visiting tourist sites unwind by eating Italian regional cuisine and sipping espresso at North Beach.

The best of living in Europe, a west coast metropolitan neighborhood and an oceanside town… that’s North Beach. An eclectic blend of old and new… old world close-​knit community and new cool stores (like Cornology!). Nestled between iconic neighborhoods of Chinatown, Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill, Nob Hill, and the famous SF Wharf… North Beach is a conduit between cultures where you can take the dim sum you got in Chinatown across the street and sit at a parklet on Columbus St and have Italian Illy lattes (the best of Italy and China all in one place!). Where every Italian restaurant has fresh pasta and you can have regional types of pizza all within walking distance. This is the place where the «regulars» say hi and we have an annual parade where the neighbors party next to you and also jump on the floats to dance. THAT IS North Beach.

Someone once told me that the most important thing in a neighborhood is community.
This neighborhood is all about that.
This is San Francisco’s Little Italy. You’ll hear folks speaking Italian when you’re walking around; totally normal.
The cafes know your order, sometimes even before you do.
If your demeanor is looking off in any way, it’s not surprising for the barista/​manager/​owner to come over to you & ask, by name, if you’re ok.
Twice in the last week alone, someone quietly warned me to zip up my handbag. I run around w it unzipped all the time. They were both older ladies, & maybe they were just being maternal. But how sweet is that?
Long opposed to big businesses, NB petitioned against Starbucks opening on Columbus Avenue years ago.
No matter where you stand in this hood, you’re right by a café, a bakery, a restaurant, or a bar. Probably all 4.
This is where to find the best cappuccino, the best cannoli, the best red sauce joint, & the best veal saltimbocca in SF. Followed by pizza, carbonara, & gelato. Add a picnic in Washington Square Park w a sandwich from Molinari’s or Alimento, & a drive up to Coit Tower to take in the view on a clear day or night, & you’ve done quintessential NB.
That is, after you’ve had a nightcap at Tosca. Or Vesuvio’s. Or Specs. If you want to go all old school, it’ll be all 3.
Why do you think all the beatniks made this their home back in the day?
5 stars.

Believe it or not, North Beach used to be an ACTUAL beach! Eventually the beach underwent land reclamation in order to expand in the late 19^th century and has thus gone through a few transformations.
Destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire, it was rebuilt into what we know as Little Italy.
Buongiorno!
Left and right, you’ll see Italian cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and little Italian flags painted onto lamp posts throughout the neighborhood. Famous for having the oldest Italian restaurant in America and also associated to such popular names like baseball player, Joe DiMaggio; North Beach truly has a rich history.
Even home to Coit Tower and Pier 39, this location is a prime area for tourism and amazing food and sightseeing.
I always have a great time exploring this district. Doesn’t hurt that I can always count on scoring a good bowl of pasta either.

Italian food everywhere you turn. Visit Coit Tower with the amazing views of the city. Great wine.

This is a traditional Italian restaurant. I have been here more than 10 times and every dish is always done to perfection. They are very accommodating to any changes that you want to make to any dish. A few favorites of mine are veal Milanese, traditional lasagna and fettuccini with Alfredo and salmon steak. The staff is always very charming and they go out of their way to make sure my toddler is happy. Wonderful place.

Love.
Italian food everywhere you turn. Sotto Mare has some of the best Italian seafood I’ve ever had. Visit Coit Tower with the amazing views of the city. Great wine. Bars, restaurants, GELATO?! … so many places to visit, and so many foods that I was too full to try :(
I neeeed to come back here the next time I’m in town. It could just be my favorite neighborhood in San Fran!

What a treat this place was!
We stumbled in here on accident, and boy am I so glad we did. Greeted by amazingly friendly and attentive staff, we were seated promptly.
Our server Mel was an absolute delight. He was warm, kind, and made sure we had everything we needed without hovering or interrupting our dining experience unnecessarily.
The wine selection was great. I ordered the Chicken Scaloppini Piccata — delicious! The sauce was perfectly seasoned and so flavorful. Accompanied by potatoes and greens, it was a great meal overall.
My date ordered the Tortellini Supreme and had nothing but good things to say about it.
Five stars all around!

Someone told me to go here for the go-​go bars and all I can remember is agreeing to go to a back room with two girls who were about to suck me dry until the bouncer gave my an out and I took it. Good looking out. Saved me $ 500 bucks and regret in the morning. San Fran is a cool town, but the California law that doesn’t permit alcohol in nude bars is dumb. Make sure to go down to the pier and see Lombard street.

Order from the menu or not. We asked Nino for special orders and he delivered. The prosciutto room is amazing. The food is fabulous. The atmosphere is fantastic as is the service. Could not more highly recommend.

North Beach is the new food wasteland of San Francisco. The many bland tacky restaurants I will leave to the tourists. Tacos, pasta, Chinese food — none of which authentic. The endless construction is irritating. The lack parking is stomach-​turning. A walk around Washington Square might be enjoyable. I’ll by all means stay away from the restaurants.

I haven’t spent a huge amount of time here, but it’s a hip an diverse area for all kinds of reasons. My limited perception is that by day it’s filled with tourists, and in the evening locals wining and dining.
It’s cool just to walk around, and there’s contrast with the waterfront and hilly areas.

Pros:
(+) Cute little neighborhood
(+) Plenty of bars, boutiques, restaurants…
(+) Street fairs
(+) TVs to watch the games
Cons:
(-) Parking is a nightmare
(-) Our service was slow
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the heart of San Francisco. The pizza here is okay. Definitely nothing compared to New York pizza back home but hey… it was good enough. We came here to watch the World Cup while chowing down on some slices. The service here was slow but it was ok given that we were busy watching the World Cup anyways.

It’s an amazing neighborhood filled with character and history. I love driving down Columbus with the Transamerica Pyramid in full view the whole way. Stop for an espresso or a pastry and people watch for the afternoon or do a little research and find a great restaurant to dine at while soaking up the local vibe. Sotto Mare? This is Little Italy– San Francisco style.

Time: 10:27pm/57°F intermittent clouds
Purpose: Got call from a friend that I went to school with graduated from academy with flying colors. Now a Sergent with LA sheriff I thought he just wanted to chat. Was shocked to find out he was in town asking for directions to see me, actually in town for father’s day but since it’s only 4 cities away he wanted to say hi. Today is father’s day and what better to have him and his father to check out NB festival also, both events in one day.
What: North beach neighborhood and surrounding areas.
About: North beach is a neighborhood that’s within steps of chinatown, little Italy, Russian hill, and fisherman wharf. This area has been call home to large Italian American. People work, play, dine, shop here all the time. It’s pretty much similar to new york both chinatown and little italy are same as SF only different coast. Walk around and you’ll see people of all ethnicity young/​old doing their daily activities. Back in the 70’s Broadway was divided going through the tunnel west bound on the left it’s Chinatown on your right little Italy. Now a days it doesn’t matter any more as business of both Chinatown and Little Italy work in conjunction with each other to better the neighborhood and image.
Must do/​see: Annual North Beach Festival, Coit tower (now open), Lombard street, St. Peters and Paul church, Joe Dimaggio Playground, Cable car ride & museum, North Beach Festival (seasonal), transamerica building, city lights bookstore, fi-​di, fisherman wharf, embarcadero waterfront, art & wine art show (Washington Square Park), Grant Ave from Union Square to the end on Filbert & Grant all gifts/​trinket shops etc.
Must Try: Café Treiste, Soto Mare, Bohemian Cigar shop, Stinking Rose, Trattoria contadina, Romania Café, Amante, Restaurant Ideale, Firenzi By Night, Cavalis, La Giguria Bakery, North Beach Restaurant, Capo’s, Tony’s Pizza, Allegro Romano, BaoNecci Restaurant, Perbacco, Acquerello, Café Spore and Brioche Bakery & Café amongst others but these are my picks in this area.
Stays/​Hotels: The Hunan Hotel, Columbus Motor Inn, Castro Hotel, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Italian-​Ameriacn Hotel, Basque Hotel, SF Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf, SW Hotel, Holiday Inn Hotel SF-Fisherman’s Wharf, Grant Plaza Hotel, Balmoral Hotel North #2, & Hotel North Beach.
*The listed hotels are 2-​$$ or under however pricing can be different depending on events nearby or season. Check or call before booking, I’m not responsible for your actions. All hotels are within North Beach walking distances. Being a local I’ve never stay at any but did stay at one few years back, that’s SW Hotel. This is a hotel in the heart of both Chinatown & Little Italy located on Broadway between Stockton/​Grant street. Next choice is Basque Hotel literally across the street from SW both offers a nice comfortable decent place to stay. You can park your vehicle in their lot not worrying about meters/​tickets just have on a good pair of soles and you’re good to go.
Do’s/Don’t: Make sure to have a pair of sneakers, light fleece pullover hoodie, cap/​beanie, sunglasses, cash & loose change/​ID, a map of SF, camera/​cellphone, binoculars, pair of shorts, jeans, sweater. Do not park in yellow, white, green, red, blue zones risk of being towed or ticketed is high (read posted signs), turn wheels according to incline/​decline hills (possible ticket), buy a day pass for transportation if needed, always buy round trip Bart ticket this way loiters will not ask for change or bother you while you’re trying to figure out how to purchase. These panhandlers knows the system more than you do and can break you with all sorts of scams. Check for tolls and prices before crossing any bridges (fare evasion will not be tolerated) ticket goes to register owner of vehicle. Now if you have a rental you’re gonna be paying 4x’s the amount through their billing.
Final Thoughts: Again bundle up as SF is not known for it’s sunscreen, sandals, tank top, sunglasses, straw hat city. You don’t have to spend $ 15.99 for a fleece hoodie at a local Walgreen’s with the (I love SF logo) embroidered unless you want it as a souvenir then I can’t stop you. A family of 4 means $ 69.40 after taxes for the jackets that’s gonna be use probably once and sock away afterwards. SF is listed as most expensive city to visit according to a recent study beating out NY, so that $ 70 can be use elsewhere. Prepared to have fun, be street smart, shop around, always use your coupons from booklets located at hotel lobbys. I’m Albertino representing city by the bay (415).

I love that in San Francisco you are in the thick of screaming grandmothers throwing pieces of bok choy at each other, and then you walk two blocks and you get Italian grandfathers having a loud argument about bocce while slurping from a tiny espresso cup. Welcome to North Beach. My favorite part of North Beach are the gorgeous trees that line certain streets — not sure what they are, but they add such a wonderful «neighborhood» feel. So many places to eat and drink, convenient to some of the more famous places like the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf, etc.

Like a moth to a… burning shot of whiskey, I am drawn to North Beach every time I am in town.
Dining, drinks, coffee, people watching, whatever… this is my favorite place to wind up (or wind down) an evening.
You owe it to yourself to spend some time hanging out here… it worked for Kerouac.