The Mission District Neighborhood, one of the oldest in San Francisco, is a thriving community rich with diverse cultures, art and music scenes, and a mixture of businesses. Locals, neighbors, and tourists of all kinds flock to the Mission not just for its excellent food culture, but also for its typically warm, sunny weather and its electric energy.
The Mission District basics: What to know about the neighborhood
The vibe
The Mission is a vibrant, diverse area full of energetic restaurants, eclectic boutiques, cocktail bars, assorted nightclubs, and as a neighborhood with Latino roots, plenty of taquerias and Spanish-speaking shops.
Because of its thriving food scene and nightlife and its proximity to tech and business centers in San Francisco, the area is popular with young professionals and recent graduates. However, the further away from the two main streets in the area you go, the quieter it becomes and the more families you’ll find.
The Mission is also home to Dolores Park, one of the great parks of San Francisco, complete with a view, tennis courts, and plenty of space for friends and family to hang out.
Main streets and neighborhood borders
Two streets comprise the pulsing center of the Mission: Valencia and Mission Streets. Along Mission Street you’ll find a number of taquerias and retailers. Valencia is packed with restaurants, bars, and boutiques.
The Mission’s northern border runs along the edge of the South of Market (SOMA), a perfect entry to 101 North or South, which is excellent for any commuter. The neighborhood is bordered on the West by Church Street, to the East by Portero Avenue—the entrance to Potrero Hill, a beautiful area with fine dining options—and to the South by Cesar Chavez Street.
The Mission’s history and character
The Hispanic, Chicano, and Latino populations make up around 40% of the Mission District, bringing a vibrant spirit steeped in history and tradition. Carlos Santana, one of the greatest guitarists of all time, attended Mission High School in 1965. The legend goes that he played in a local band with no name that reached the top three in the final round of a radio station contest at the Cow Palace.
The Mission District’s name originated from Mission San Francisco de Asís, built-in 1776 by the Spanish. It’s still an active parish in the area that you can attend and tour.
When visiting the neighborhood, one can’t help but feel the electricity on the corner of 16th and Mission, one of the major transit hubs. There is always some kind of parade, festival, or fair happening. Walk off the train or bus, and find yourself in the perfect neighborhood for a night of dancing with friends, enjoying unique, late-night cocktails, or a quiet night on the town at famous literary landmarks like Dog Eared Books or Alley Cat Bookstore.
The Mission is also famed for its murals, which began popping up in the neighborhood in the 1970s and ’80s as a reaction to human rights abuses happening in Central America. Artists today carry on the tradition, adorning the area with murals centered on themes of cultural heritage and socio-political issues. Some of the most famous murals can be found on Balmy Alley, Clarion Alley, and on the side of The Women’s Building. For more history and information about self-guided tours, you can visit the Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitor Center.
Commuting from the Mission
There are various ways to get to and from the Mission District by public transit, so it is an excellent place to live for commuters. San Francisco has a number of transportation options, and they are readily available in the area.
Getting from the Mission to downtown via bus, Bart, or Muni can take up to thirty minutes, depending on delays.
Walking
Walking to 16th Street and Mission, one of the main transit centers (the second being 24th Street and Mission), is easy because of how central it is. Remember, San Francisco is precisely 47.355 square miles in size, small compared to other metro areas, and the Mission District itself is fairly flat compared to the rest of the city, so the neighborhood itself is very walkable.
MUNI
The MUNI’s Metro Light Rail Cars (J, K, L, M, N, T lines) run up Market Street from Embarcadero to Church, the closest stop within a 10-minute walking distance to 16th Street.
There is also the East-South 14R Bus that travels through Mission Street. A number of other buses run through the area, including the 14, 49, 12, and 27 buses, and the North routes 22, 33, and 48.
BART
There are BART stations at Mission and 16th St and Mission and 24th St. Depending on delays, getting to Downtown or the East Bay should only take you fifteen minutes.
Driving
Driving isn’t the worst experience in this neighborhood, but with confusing one-ways, and scarce parking and meter payments, taking an Uber or Lyft can be more convenient for those who are less comfortable behind the wheel. Owning or renting a car isn’t necessary if you’re visiting the Mission, but if you’re thinking of living in the neighborhood, it does make it easier to get to other parts of the city faster than public transit.
From the farthest part of San Francisco, the drive to The Mission should only clock you about thirty minutes. The area is also close to the entrance of the 101, which can make getting out of the city fairly easy.
Our favorite places to eat in the Mission
San Francisco is full of amazing eateries, and some of the best are in the Mission. A few top recommendations include (but are not limited to):
Address: 2950 24th St., 2779 Mission St., 4817 Mission St.
El Farolito is a no-frills Mexican Taqueria and late-night haunt serving comfort food like tacos, burritos, and other Mexican dishes. Located at three different locations through the Mission Neighborhood, you can’t go wrong with the fast-paced, cheap, raw energy of El Farolito. They have a variety of classic meats like carne asada and chicken, to Lengua (tongue), Cabeza (cheek), and even Sesos (brain). If you’re feeling adventurous and hungry, try the Boss’s Burrito. El Farolito’s food is ample and quick to come out, so make sure to bring cash and stay on your toes.
Address: 974 Valencia St
For a more traditional, low-key experience, Lolo is a family-owned Mexican restaurant that offers inspired dishes utilizing local ingredients. Through the use of color, music, and great food, Loló gives its customers a glimpse into Mexican culture and cuisine.
Check out the Chicken Tinga Burrito with Mexican red rice, refried beans, salsa fresca, and pickled red onion, or try the Tacos Tropical: Spiced panko-crusted shrimp, tropical relish and chipotle aioli, served on jicama tortillas. They also have a great list of cocktails and beer.
Coffee shops for working, reading or hanging out
Whether you’re working remotely and looking for a place other than your apartment to spend the day, or just looking for a great cup of joe, there are plenty of coffee shops in the Mission to choose from. One of our favorites is Four Barrel Coffee.
Address: 375 Valencia St
Smack in the middle of 14th and 15th on famous Valencia Street, Four Barrel Coffee is a relaxed, innovative cafe that knows where a good cup of joe comes from. They source their coffee from third-generation farmers and mill-workers in Latin America, Indonesia, and East Africa. They also have a variety of locally sourced pastries from around SF. Four Barrell is a perfect place for reading, meeting clients, or simply enjoying the vibrant community.
Where to drink in the Mission
The Mission neighborhood is known for its eclectic variety of watering holes. From dive bars to sporting saloons, to inventive cocktail lounges, there is no shortage of spots to have a few glasses of the good stuff.
Address: 3286 22nd St
Latin American Club is one of those local haunts everyone new or old to the community should try. They are known for their infamous pint margaritas, as well as a wide variety of local beers.
Address: 3394 22nd St
Right up the block from Latin American Club is Lone Palm, a low-key yet fancy white-tablecloth martini bar that oozes class. The drinks are stiff, the clientele is real and gregarious, and everything is relatively cheap with price ranges around $10 or so. During happy hour, they offer bar snacks and, if you’re lucky, live music. Lone Palm is a perfect place to catch up with old friends at the long wooden bar or perhaps take a date.
Address: 2417 Mission St.
Grab your best Giants and Warriors gear and stop by Doc’s Clock Bar for beer, cocktails, and some great bar food. Doc’s provides both indoor and outdoor seating, shuffleboard, and awesome grub that couples perfectly with a night out on the town. They have specials almost every day of the week along with a happy hour. We highly recommend going on a Wednesday, when they have 25-cent wings that are perfection.
Things to do in the Mission
Alley Cat Bookstore and Gallery
Address: 3036 24th St.
There is something magical about getting an authentic taco or burrito at a local taqueria on 24th, underneath the shade of trees lining the street, and then stopping by one of San Francisco’s classic bookstores to see what’s new. Alley Cat offers a wide selection of literature and magazines that can satisfy every creative itch you may be feeling. The staff are warm, helpful, and always ready to discuss their favorite book or yours!
Dolores Park, lush, green, and a few blocks from Mission Street, is confined by 18th Street on the north, 20th Street on the south, Dolores Street on the east, and Church Street on the west. Dolores Park offers tennis courts, a basketball court, a soccer field, a children’s playground, and a dog play area. It’s great for parties or simply taking a break from the office or home.
Catch an event
There is no shortage of events in the Mission Neighborhood. From nightclubs and art walks, to literary readings, to restaurant grand openings, the Mission is active 24/7. There is also great comedy most nights and traditional or experimental theatre, as well. Two local media outlets and neighborhood websites, Mission Local and Mission Street San Francisco, are great places to find information on the neighborhood goings-on.
Renting in the Mission: Trends and rent prices
The average monthly cost for a 1-bedroom in the Mission is around $2,673, 5% lower than the city median. A 2-bedroom apartment in the Mission, on average, costs about $3,450 per month.
If you’re young and willing to live with a big group of people, a popular strategy is to find a four or five-bedroom apartment which has actually been decreasing in cost over the years.
The area is full of beautifully crafted homes featuring unique architecture, so you may find yourself moving into a historic home. Plus, there are some amazing schools in the area, like Mission High School and Sanchez Elementary.
For younger people looking to be more a part of the nightlife, we recommend looking for anything between 16th and 24th street close to Mission or Valencia Street.
For families, look for apartments or homes along with Bryant, Folsom, or Guerrero. These areas tend to be quieter but close enough to the magic of the Mission Neighborhood if you and the family feel like going out.
For more details on relocating to San Francisco, or other San Francisco neighborhoods, check out our San Francisco Moving Guide.
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