SF: NoPa and Alamo Square
Photo by: Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash
NoPa Community Guide
NoPa is a trendy 5-by-6 block neighborhood, aptly located North of the Panhandle (NoPa). It’s primarily residential with most businesses along Divisadero. Check out The Mill, the most popular place for toast in San Francisco, and serving Four Barrel coffee. Go to Brenda’s Meat and Three for beignets, Che Fico for Italian and The Independent to catch live music in a small venue.
The name NoPa is relatively new. Historically, the area was often grouped with the Western Addition, a 500-block area developed during the 1870s. The invention of the cable car made this new part of the city more accessible. NoPa was technically just on the other side of the Western Addition’s Divisadero border. Residents would refer to it as North of the Panhandle but it wasn’t until the 1990s that it was shortened to NoPa. The new identity was sealed when Nopa, the restaurant, opened in 2006.
The neighborhood has an undeniably hip vibe. You’ll find a mix of young professionals, families and college students—USF, a private university with around 10,000 students is just next door. Bi-Rite, Trader Joe’s, Target, Lucky’s and Walgreens are all within walking distance And of course, being North of the Panhandle means Golden Gate Park is always just a few blocks away.
Alamo Square Community Guide
Alamo Square is home to some of San Francisco’s most famous real estate—The Painted Ladies. These Victorian homes were painted in bright colors when they were initially built. Over time, many were repainted in gray tones. The movement to return to brightness started in the 1960s when San Francisco artist, Butch Kardum, painted his Victorian blue and green.
Others followed the trend, and the Painted Ladies on Steiner Street rose to fame. They were used in the opening credits of the sitcom, Full House, and have been a must-have photo opp for tourists ever since. One of the iconic homes sold for $3.55 million in 2020. They aren’t the only notable architecture in the area. Take a stroll and look out for ornate fixer uppers and converted mansions like the Archbishop’s Mansion, now a co-living space with 19 guest rooms.
The Painted Ladies look out onto Alamo Square Park, a large hilltop park with an incredible view of Downtown. On weekends, stop at Lady Falcon Coffee Club, a vintage truck selling one of my favorite cups of coffee. Restaurants line Divisadero and there’s lots of trendy options to choose from, including spit-fired meats from Souvla, oysters at Bar Crudo and a back-to-basic diner breakfast from Eddie’s Cafe.