Known to San Franciscans as the Gold Coast, Pacific Heights offers exquisite views and iconic architecture
The crown jewel of San Francisco’s glittering neighborhoods, Pacific Heights embodies elegance and quiet grace. Streets here are lined with architecturally significant mansions rather than rowdy bars and clubs, and it’s this tranquility and exclusivity that residents love most about living in this lovely neighborhood. Sophisticated Fillmore Street provides all the excitement residents desire in the form of cozy cafes, posh bistros, and upscale boutiques.
Containing some of San Francisco’s grandest estates, Pacific Heights does Victorian and Edwardian design like no other, with magnificent, meticulously restored mansions and condos. Pacific Heights comes by its Victorian styles honestly – the neighborhood was first developed in the 1870s when the ornate designs and varied styles of Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, and Italianate were in full swing. Today, the Gold Coast of Pacific Heights, also known as Billionaire’s Row, is home to some of the most opulent mansions in the nation.
Comprising a mixture of long-established, old money residents and tech titans, Pacific Heights boasts an impressive community of philanthropists and high-profile neighbors. Quiet and sunny, with stunning, architecturally significant homes, Pacific Heights is ideal for families, young professionals, and retirees craving the excitement of a sophisticated city while also enjoying the privacy of an elegant, demure residential oasis with views of the San Francisco Bay.
The refined and polished feel of Pacific Heights extends to its posh boutiques and eateries. Vegetable-forward dishes take center stage at Tailor’s Son. With a nod to Milan, this Italian bistro showcases the best of local farms and California’s freshest produce. Whether you stop in for an intimate dinner in the sleek dining room or a quick lunch with friends on the patio, Chouquet’s Restaurant shines with classic French fares, like mussels and escargot. Florio features a rustic cafe menu of Italian Mediterranean cuisine, as well as a sophisticated, cozy setting, while my friend Albert Rainer’s historic Palmer's Tavern delights with a retro style, New American gastropub fare, like the famous Palmer’s burger, and Old San Francisco vibes.
The minimalist design at Aesop is indicative of the ingredient list in the serums and spa products this highly sought-after beauty company sells. Silky and luxurious, the clean cleansers and serums make this Australian shop a coveted destination for high-end skincare. San Francisco turns to March for home decor. It’s endorsed by none other than GOOP, who calls this chic home goods boutique “the best kitchen and tabletop store in the country.” From Italian linens and fine china to handmade chandeliers and French tile, Sue Fisher King is an elegant shop for classic and modern interior decor.
Those with a taste for everything fashionable will delight in visiting Union Street and Fillmore Street, the intersection of which offers some of San Francisco’s best boutiques and most sartorially stylish shops. From minimalist home decor and vintage haunts to canine boutiques and handmade couture, this is one of San Francisco’s greatest treasures. Fillmore Street was once home to the most celebrated names in jazz, and today the neighborhood honors this mix of art and soul at the legendary Fillmore Jazz Festival. If the city’s natural beauty is more to your liking, head to the top of the hillside staircase in Alta Plaza Park, where you’ll find stunning panoramic views of the city. A playground, off-leash dog park, and strategically placed benches allow more opportunities to enjoy this lovely green space.
Beautifully landscaped and spilling over with flowers and plants, the famed Lyon Street Steps provide one of the most iconic sights in all of San Francisco. Climb to the top and your reward is sweeping vistas and breathtaking views of San Francisco and the stately residences of Pacific Heights. Standing out from the neighborhood’s colorful Victorians sits Spreckels Mansion, a masterpiece of French Baroque design built in 1913 by sugar baron Adolph Spreckles for his wife, Alma.
Pacific Heights is home to several notable schools, including:
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