Neighborhood Guide: The Marina
If you ask my mom what her favorite neighborhood I ever lived in is, she'll tell you The Marina without missing a beat. If you press her a bit more, she'll tell you it's because of the flat streets, uncommon in this city of hills.
However, The Marina offers much more than flat streets. Nestled against the San Francisco Bay to the north, the Marina stretches from Lyon Street at The Presidio wall to Van Ness Street and Fort Mason. Anchored by Chestnut Street, the neighborhood has any cuisine you crave and plenty of boutiques to shop.
The family-friendly district offers parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and a public library. Along the shoreline is a paved path that meanders from Fort Mason to the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge—perfect for running, strolling, cycling, or scooting. The streets are lined with a mix of condos, single-family residences, and large apartment buildings, most designed in the Marina style after the area was rebuilt in the 1920s and 1930s. This uniform style of architecture and the surrounding waterfront make The Marina a beautiful place to live.
The Lifestyle: Young professionals mix with young families and long-time residents. A condition of living in The Marina is that you have a dog or at least enjoy their company!
The Market: A mix of single-family homes, 2-unit flats, and large apartment buildings.
The Outdoors: National Parks surround The Marina with Fort Mason to the northeast, Crissy Field along the shoreline, and The Presidio to the west. Marin is an easy hop over the Golden Gate Bridge should you need to escape a foggy day.
The History: Once a muddy cove with a resort called Harbor View Park, The Marina as we know it today was built in the 1920s and 1930s after the area hosted the Panama Pacific International Exposition in 1915. The Palace of Fine Arts is the last remaining building preserved in its original location following the fair.
For Families: The Marina is a family-friendly neighborhood. Chestnut Street restaurants are welcoming to little ones, made clear with crayons and placemats to color. There are two playgrounds at the area's east end, easy access to the beach adjacent to Crissy Field, Friday night food trucks at Fort Mason's Off the Grid, and more to entertain kids and their parents.
