Welcome to San Francisco County
Hip neighborhoods, diverse communities and all-inclusive luxury within an iconic city
Despite being the smallest county in California, the city and county of San Francisco is one of the most iconic in the world. To live in this hip, urban-suburban city is to be part of the culturally diverse fabric and commercially bustling thread woven into San Francisco’s rich tapestry of history—from the California Gold Rush to the Summer of Love. It’s home to some of the best national parks and most highly ranked universities, internationally renowned tourist destinations, and culturally diverse neighborhoods in the country. San Francisco is both birthplace and mecca to culture-shifting artists, world-class cuisine, tech and medical industry pioneers, sports champions, and history-making advocates. It’s a realm of urban and natural aesthetics blended together in picturesque harmony. To live in this city is to own a slice of cultural affluence and a mash-up of luxurious lifestyles that earn the City by the Bay its reputation as one of the greatest in the world to call “home,” year after year.
Serviced by multiple major freeways, along with one of the most efficient public transportation systems in the country, San Francisco is one of a small handful of cities in which one doesn’t need to own a car to commute. Despite quad-busting hills, it’s also a highly walkable city, and one can hop on a cable car at any given point to catch a breather. Every neighborhood in San Francisco is as unique, colorful, and celebrated as its culturally diverse residents—and each neighborhood tells its own story in that way. A walk through any given neighborhood along the city’s landscape can transport you from communities of young professionals, hipsters, software engineers, and blue-collar workers to university students, blended families, and nightlife all thriving in unison. Each neighborhood is distinguished by architectural designs unique to the area’s historical relevance and cultural influence. One neighborhood may garner residents elegant rows of Victorian and Edwardian-era homes, while others highlight tree-lined streets of custom-built Craftsmans, grand Mediterranian-style estates, or sleek, modern high-rise condos.
What to Love
• Hip, culturally diverse and inclusive neighborhoods
• Unique architecture with historical value
• World technology hub and bustling commercial opportunities
• Iconic landscapes, weather, food, and attractions
People & Lifestyle
The City by the Bay is one of progressive values, forward thinking, technological advancement, and community acceptance. It’s difficult to narrow down a sole essence of lifestyle residents enjoy because the soul of San Francisco itself encourages residents to be whoever and whatever they wish—a core value forged during the hippie movement in the summer of ‘67 and refined throughout the years. This essence of lifestyle spotlights San Francisco as a luxurious city of acceptance with amenities that are accessible to all. San Franciscans embody a spirit of giving and nurturing, and the city celebrates all that arrive at its golden gates.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Tartine Bakery & Cafe is a carb lover’s paradise. With five decadent locations servicing the Bay Area, and international recognition among food critics and foodie tourists, Tartine’s reputation precedes itself as an award-winning institution of classic artisan bread and pastry making. On any given day, it’s not uncommon to find a line of guests waiting to experience the unparalleled flavor and craftsmanship of the cafe’s wood-fired, brick oven creations—and it’s 110% worth the wait. So much so, that locals often strategize best times of day to visit in order to maximize their fresh-from-the-oven options—weekdays and early mornings are an insider’s tip.
House of Prime Rib in Nob Hill has been a San Francisco landmark of old-school tradition and English-style dining, served in mid-century comfort, for both residents and out-of-town visitors since the 1940s. Critically acclaimed for its 21-day aged prime rib, carved at the table, dining at this refined chophouse comes with a bevy of accompaniment dishes—and a devilish assortment of sweets and wines that offer a perfectly paired experience. The ambiance is cozy, warm and casually dignified, enhanced by rustic fireplaces throughout the restaurant.
The golden burrito icon in the Mission District, La Taqueria is a no-frills, delicious adventure of spot-on traditional Mexican fare. In a city that boasts a squadron of high-quality taquerias, La Taqueria has a long-standing reputation of leading the pack with unwavering rave reviews and a dedicated local foodie fandom that spans generations. The burritos are famously served without rice, so as not to distract from the quality of meats served in each creation.
Tony’s Pizza Napoletana brings the passionate heart of Italian cuisine to the equally passionate heart of San Francisco’s Little Italy district in North Beach. Thirteen-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani crafts a menu that uses authentic ingredients imported from Napoli, and that menu is not limited to mouthwatering pizza alone—a variety of genuine Italian dinner entrees and savory pasta can be paired with any of Napoletana’s extensive imported and domestic wine selection.
Things to Do
The Golden Gate Bridge is synonymous as a breathtaking symbol of welcome for San Francisco residents and visitors, like the Statue of Liberty is to New York. With the second-longest main span in the United States, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is a top destination in the Bay Area to enjoy an Instagram-worthy walk, bike or hike with family and friends, and take in epic views of the Bay, downtown, and the lush green hills leading to Sausalito and Napa. As if the natural beauty surrounding this one-mile-wide suspension bridge isn’t enough, a recent wind retrofit to the bridge now brings an ethereal hum that transports you to another world entirely—when the winds are high, the Golden Gate Bridge sings its ghostly lullaby to its beloved City by the Bay.
Constructed in order to exhibit fine works of art for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts is itself a masterpiece. With a stunning Greco-Roman rotunda and intricately detailed colonnades, immaculately landscaped grounds surrounding a lagoon, and breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace is home to many a wedding, gala, and private event. Along with its spacious exhibition center, theatre, and cafe for patrons to enjoy, it’s a hot spot for locals to simply stop, sit, and enjoy luxury living in the city with friends.
Once a U.S. Army airfield, Crissy Field is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco’s Presidio—with picturesque views of the Bay, welcoming beaches, hiking and picnic areas, and wild open spaces for play and epic kite flying. On any given day, you’ll find kiteboarders and windsurfers catching the breeze as joggers, dog owners, and families watch on from the grassy lawns. Crissy Field is a staple area for viewing Fleet Week’s Blue Angels as they soar overhead, as well as the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration over the Bay.
Schools
The city and county of San Francisco are zoned within the San Francisco Unified School District. Highlights include:
• University of California, San Francisco