Haight-Ashbury (also known as the Upper Haight) is a lively neighborhood full of interesting things to see and do. The Upper Haight was home to 60’s hippie counter-culture, and it's still one of the hippest and trendiest commercial centers in San Francisco. This is just one of the many reasons people are interested in Haight-Ashbury real estate. In the Upper Haight you’ll find several high-end boutiques and vintage shops, alongside thrift stores, record shops, cafes with music and poetry, and trendy restaurants. The neighborhood is adorned with dozens of murals that beautify buildings, doors, and alleyways alike. The Upper Haight is also known for its large concentration of beautiful and often colorful Victorian homes.
Family Friendly
Haight Ashbury real estate is popular for families because the neighborhood is one of the most kid-friendly places in San Francisco, with Cole Valley right next door as well. There are several parks, trails, playgrounds, and activities for families to enjoy together in this tight-knit neighborhood.
The Upper Haight is home to three major parks in San Francisco: Buena Vista Park, The Panhandle, and of course, Golden Gate Park.
Buena Vista Park is the third largest park in San Francisco and is known for its spectacular views. In fact, buena vista translates to "good view" in Spanish. Take your kids to the Buena Vista Park Playground. There are many trails to explore inside the park's expansive 37 acres, and it’s a great place to walk your dog, with large grassy stretches where you can safely go off-leash.
The Panhandle is a long and narrow park with two paved walking paths than run through it from Golden Gate Park. It has trails, basketball courts, and a playground for children as well.
Golden Gate Park is the largest man-made park in the world and is full of walking trails, beautiful gardens, thousands of lush trees, and lakes. While you're there, you can also check out the San Francisco Botanical Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, the De Young Museum of fine arts, the Academy of Sciences, and Hippie Hill. Hippie Hill can be found on the eastern end of Golden Gate Park, in between the Conservatory of Flowers and Haight Street. It’s a big hill with a great view. There you can relax and enjoy catching some sun with a book, toss a frisbee, people-watch, or even join the occasional drum circle!
For more spectacular views in Haight-Ashbury, climb Tank Hill, Corona Heights, or Mt. Sutro.
Excellent Location
The Haight neighborhood has great walkability. It has a bustling, lively core that’s concentrated with people, things to do, and places to go. If you need to get around, the 6 and 7 Muni buses run down Haight Street. The 33 and 43 can take you to other parts of the city, and there are numerous Zipcar, Getaround, and City CarShare spots available throughout the neighborhood. There’s also the N-Judah subway line to downtown that’s easily accessible.
You can find more quiet areas on the outskirts of Haight-Ashbury, where families and working professionals enjoy cozy, tree-lined streets. You’ll find that everyone who lives in The Upper Haight seems to know, or at least recognize, each other.
Shopping and Services
There are many unique boutique shops and restaurants along Haight Street which makes it a popular destination for tourists. When you live in Haight-Ashbury, this is something you’ll have to get used to. The Upper Haight is home to several unique thrift stores, bookstores, cafes, record stores, and more.
The Booksmith is a neighborhood hangout more than it's a retail store. Celebrating 50 years with strong roots in the community, it has become one of the oldest businesses in the Upper Haight. If you want to find the best local cafe, check out Coffee To The People or Central Coffee Cafe.
For an eclectic collection of vintage furniture, clothing, jewelry, knickknacks and more, you can visit Sunchild's Parlour, a new vintage shop near the Red Victorian (see nightlife). You can also check out La Rosa and Static.
The Upper Haight boasts a rich rock music history with three record shops in the area, including Ameoba Records, one of the largest independent record stores in the world.
If you’re looking to stock up your kitchen, there are two great options: Gus’ Market and Whole Foods. You can also stock up on alcohol at Liquid Experience.
Foodie Delights
Locals in Haight-Ashbury like their food. You can find anything from pizza to Thai, with several Asian fusion, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, and Caribbean restaurants offering a variety of cuisines to choose from. If you’re more of a pub person, check out Hobson’s Choice and Magnolia Gatropub and Brewery. For pizza, you’ll love Slice House and Escape From New York Pizza, which first opened on Haight Street in 1986.
Activities
There are a lot of fun local spots to spend your time. The Upper Haight is full of hidden galleries, eye-catching murals, and interesting multi-use spaces. If you enjoy independent and local film, check out The Red Victorian, a historic hotel transformed into a mixed-use space that includes a co-op movie theater. Got some time to kill? Have a pinball tournament at Free Gold Watch.
Check out The Bindery, which is an extension of The Booksmith and will be opening this summer. This space was previously known as the popular Second Act Marketplace. It will continue as The Bindery, a bookstore and community event space with live music, comedy shows, author readings, film screenings, kid-friendly events, classes, and more.
If you like to work on your fitness, there are several gyms in the Upper Haight including, Cole Valley Fitness, Midline Studio, Koret Health and Recreation Center (as part of USF), a boutique gym called BodyRok Studios, and The Firm, a new gym on Frederick Street. There are also several yoga studios including, Funky Door Yoga, Yoga Tree, and Soulful Pilates.
The Kezar Stadium, which is located near Golden Gate Park, hosts games for amateur and recreational sports leagues and is home to our soccer team, the San Francisco Deltas.
Nightlife
Haight-Ashbury comes with a lively nightlife. If you’re looking to enjoy specialty cocktails, Club Deluxe offers hosts live jazz every night and is a staple bar of the Upper Haight. Magnolia Gastropub and Brewing Co. offers all the perks of a pub and comes with fantastic local beer. For tapas-sized snacks, signature cocktails, and local brews, you can also head to Alembic Bar. The Milk Bar is a fun place to go for local music, comedy, and DJ dance sets. Trax is a great local gay bar to get drinks or play a round of pool.
The Upper Haight is its own special community, located right at the geographic center of San Francisco. As you wander the streets, you’ll see colorful Victorian single family homes situated close together. Many homes come with backyard space and are surrounded by trees. Haight-Ashbury real estate also offers condos which often have common gardens and patio space.
If you’re interested in buying or selling a home in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, or if you are interested in Haight-Ashbury real estate in general, please reach out to Danielle Lazier :: SFhotlist Team and Compass San Francisco and put our expertise to use!
