Neighborhood Profile

In the West Portal neighborhood in southwest San Francisco, you will likely not encounter tourists—either from the other side of the world or other side of town. But, for the locals that live on the west side and rely on Muni’s K, L and M lines, West Portal, with its cozy, unassuming personality and small town charm, is the essential, do-everything, go-to hub for many of their daily needs.

Take a waltz through North Beach, and you may notice a few things: alleyways named after famed Beatniks. An entire avenue lit up by risqué neon signs. Street lamps displaying green, white, and red stripes. Young urban professionals and families (along with plenty of tourists) occupying sidewalk cafes and ristorantes.

According to the historians over at San Francisco’s Western Neighborhoods Project, the whole Sunset District of San Francisco was named in 1889 and was reportedly called “Great Sand Waste” when it was still just sand dunes instead of the lively avenues filled with homes and businesses that are there today.

A uniquely San Francisco phenomenon, the Mission is a place where taquerias, family bodegas, and thrift shops coexist next to sleek juice bars, designer clothing boutiques, and Michelin-starred restaurants.