north beach
Known as San Francisco’s “Little Italy” (notice the Italian flags painted on the streetlights), North Beach is a charming neighborhood punctuated by sidewalk cafes, chic boutiques and a vibrant nightlife scene with a distinctly Bohemian vibe. Nestled between bustling Columbus Avenue and Stockton Street, historic Washington Square is the crown jewel of the neighborhood, home to festivals, free movie nights and special events throughout the year.
north beach
Known as San Francisco’s “Little Italy” (notice the Italian flags painted on the streetlights), North Beach is a charming neighborhood punctuated by sidewalk cafes, chic boutiques and a vibrant nightlife scene with a distinctly Bohemian vibe. Nestled between bustling Columbus Avenue and Stockton Street, historic Washington Square is the crown jewel of the neighborhood, home to festivals, free movie nights and special events throughout the year.
North Beach was home to beat-generation greats including Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Neal Cassady and William S. Burroughs, whose countercultural and progressive ideas have become embedded in the values of San Francisco. Several of their most notable hangouts are still around today: Tosca Cafe, Vesuvio’s, and the landmark City Lights Bookstore. It was during this era also when Marilyn Monroe famously married neighborhood resident Joe DiMaggio (at City Hall after being turn away from Saints Peter and Paul Church).
Victorian flats on the hillsides blend into the restaurants, bars and shops below where brunch crowds gather by morning and storied adult venues keep their lights on well past dark. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, Original Joe’s, and Mama’s on Washington Square are local favorites.
