A Walk Around North Beach
Morning
Start at the top of North Beach, on
Telegraph Hill
, admire the famous views, and visit
Coit Tower
, making sure to take in the murals. Next, walk down to Filbert Street and go right a couple of blocks until you get to lovely Washington Square, where, at
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church
, Marilyn Monroe and local baseball
great Joe DiMaggio had their wedding pictures taken. Continue on along
Columbus Avenue to the left and pay a visit at colorful
Caffè Roma
, where you can indulge in a bit of sidewalk ogling. Or, across the street, pay homage to the time-honored
US Restaurant
which serves some of the best pasta in town.
Afternoon
After lunch, take a left on Green Street and go over one block to
Upper Grant
, with its funky shops and bars, a regular
hangout since the 1950s. Turn right on to Vallejo Street, where a visit
to the famous
Caffè Trieste
for a coffee and the authentic Bohemian
atmosphere is a must. Continue on down Columbus to William Saroyan Place
and at No. 12 you’ll find Specs’, an exuberant bar filled with Beat
memorabilia. Finally, just across Columbus at No. 261 is the immortal
City Lights Bookstore
, where you can browse the Beat poetry written by owner Lawrence Ferlinghetti and friends.
North Beach Sights
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Telegraph Hill
Named
after the semaphore installed on its crest in 1850, the hill’s eastern
side was dynamited to provide rocks for landfill. Steps descend its
slopes, lined with gardens. At its summit stands Coit Tower.
-
North Beach Views
The
panoramic views from both the hill and the top of the Coit Tower are
justly celebrated. The wide arc sweeping from the East Bay and the Bay
Bridge to Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge is breathtaking.
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Coit Tower Murals
The frescoes were painted by local artists in 1934, to provide jobs during the Depression . The murals are socio-political commentary yet are also appealing for their details of life in California at the time.
Coit Tower
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Filbert Street Steps
The flowery descent down these rustic steps provides great views of the Bay.
Filbert Street Steps
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City Lights Bookstore
The
Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti founded City Lights in 1953. It’s a
great place to leaf through a few volumes of poetry or the latest free
papers to find out what’s on.
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261 Columbus Ave
-
415 362 8193
City Lights Bookstore
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Broadway
Made
famous in the 1960s for its various adult entertainments, the offerings
haven’t changed much, though today many venues are now more mainstream.
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Upper Grant
Saloons, cafés, and bluesy music haunts give this northerly section of Grant Avenue a very alternative feel.
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Caffè Trieste
If
you’re in the quarter on a Saturday afternoon, don’t miss the impromptu
opera that takes place here. But any time is right for this artists’
and writers’ gathering place (see Caffè Trieste).
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Washington Square
This pretty park is lined with Italian bakeries, restaurants and bars. Don’t be surprised to see practitioners of t’ai chi doing their thing on the lawn every morning.
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Saints Peter & Paul Church
Neo-Gothic
in conception, with an Italianesque façade, this church is also called
the Italian Cathedral and the Fisherman’s Church, since many Italians
who originally lived in the neighborhood made their living by fishing .
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666 Filbert St
-
Open daily
-
Free
Downtown Shopping
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Shreve & Co
A
San Francisco original and one of the city’s most elegant jewelers. In
addition to gems set in wonderful ways, you’ll also find fine
timepieces, Limoges porcelain, and Lalique crystal.
-
200 Post St at Grant
-
415 421 2600
-
Dis. access
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W. Graham Arader III
One of Jackson Square’s most appealing shops is like an art museum, featuring fine antique prints. You can marvel at Audubon’s Birds of America, ancient maps, and historic works.
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Wilkes Bashford
A San Francisco institution for deluxe apparel by up-and-coming local and international designers.
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375 Sutter St
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415 986 4380
-
Dis. access
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Jeanine Payer
An
innovative jewelry designer with a strong celebrity following who
creates pieces that combine Old World craftsmanship with contemporary
design.
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762 Market St
-
415 788 2414
-
Dis. access
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Serge Sorokko Gallery
If
you’re in the market for something by one of the modern masters, this
is an excellent place to browse. Important prints and other works by
Picasso, Matisse, Mirò, Chagall, and other 20th-century greats, such as
Tapiès, Bacon, and Warhol.
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231 Grant Ave
-
415 421 7770
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Christopher-Clark Fine Art
Another gallery for modern European masters. A good stock of Bay Area artists, too.
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377 Geary Blvd
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415 397 7781
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Dis. access
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Aria
This
hideaway is loaded with collectibles of all sorts. You’re likely to
discover anything from an old Buddha to an Art Deco lamp.
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1522 Grant Ave
-
415 433 0219
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Dis. access
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The North Face
Another San Francisco original, here you’ll find everything for the outdoor adventurer.
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180 Post St
-
415 433 3223
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Dis. access
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Wingard
If
you like the decor of your hotel, chances are some of the touches have
been supplied by this company. Lamps, bathroom accessories, and home
accents at wholesale prices.
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2127 Union St
-
415 345 1999
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Dis. access
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New India Bazaar
A
long-time local favorite for every sort of Indian-Pakistani spice and
foodstuff. They also carry an array of Hindu religious artifacts and
Indian videos.
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1107 Polk St
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415 928 4553