At the heart of the city, you’ll find a neighborhood of contradictions in Van Ness/Civic Center. Pulsing with urban activity and traffic at all hours, you’ll also find quaint cafes, great halls of culture, a bustling farmer’s market and perched above it all, the striking outline of St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Several of the City's major cultural and governmental buildings are located in the Van Ness/Civic Center neighborhood, along with the Civic Center Plaza and United Nations Plaza. The United Nations Charter was signed in the Herbst Theatre in 1945, and in 1987 was declared a national historic landmark. Other buildings of note include, the Supreme Court of California, War Memorial Opera House, Davies Symphony Hall and the Art Institute of California. The area is brimming with history. The Van Ness corridor is primarily commercial, but a recent boom in new housing construction has made the Mid-Market corridor a sudden destination. is a veritable smorgasbord of wining and dining, retail, hotel and cultural opportunities. While the neighborhood is mostly commercial, residential properties can be found in high-rise condos, apartments, and even a few single-family homes amidst the low-rise commercial edifices. It is the epicenter for culture and the arts.
Those who live here enjoy many conveniences, including incredible public transit access and myriad dining choices. This is the cultural hub of San Francisco, locals are within walking distance of the Asian Art Museum and the main outpost of California's first public law library. Of course, you can’t miss City Hall's gilded dome or the lines of ticket holders waiting for the latest show at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
Van Ness/Civic Center borders several other districts with more traditional housing options, including Hayes Valley, Western Addition, SOMA, Lower Pacific Heights, Downtown and if you are the daring type, the Tenderloin. Each of these districts offers its own distinct charms and opportunities, not least of which is nearness to this bustling, historic neighborhood.
Zipcodes
94102, 94109