One of the city’s most stylish neighborhoods, Hayes Valley offers an eclectic mix of culture, dining, shopping, and nightlife. The architectural styles here are interesting and diverse, with Victorian and Queen Anne houses co-existing with Edwardian townhouses and some mid-century properties. Running through the neighborhood are an assortment of quaintly named alleys (Lily, Ivy and Rose Streets, to name a few) that give the area an old-fashioned charm. Nearby is popular Duboce Park, with its recently renovated playground and large grassy hilltop area, but the neighborhood’s top gathering spot is the wide, tree-lined boulevard and little park called Patricia’s Green, which includes a climbing structure for children and is popular with both families and dog owners.
Adjacent to Patricia’s Green, bustling Hayes Street and the surrounding blocks attract shoppers and diners with a plethora of stylish fashion boutiques, home-furnishings stores, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. The neighborhood’s proximity to fine-arts venues such Davies Symphony Hall and the War Memorial Opera House make it the city’s unofficial cultural hub, attracting fine-arts lovers from around the world. Nearby, the Fillmore Street Jazz district is home to the SFJazz Center and other appealing music venues. For commuters, easy freeway access and proximity to public transportation make Hayes Valley even more desirable, and cyclists appreciate the flat streets and proximity to a bike lane that runs along Market Street. ©2016 Maryann LoRusso