Potrero Hill

 

 

Potrero Hill is a family-friendly neighborhood harboring sunshine and skyline and bay views. The hilly area offers a mix of condos and classic Victorians, plus parks with sports facilities. 18th Street has quaint eateries and shops. Nearby are gritty music spots and the historic Anchor Brewing Company. On the neighborhood's eastern edge, industrial-cool Dogpatch, with hip bars and eateries, runs along the waterfront.

 

While a quieter neighborhood overall, it is also home to two punk/indie music venues and the California College of the Arts, which draws students and gives it fuller range of residents. It’s also a relatively racially diverse neighborhood.

 

Living in Potrero Hill offers residents a dense urban feel and most residents rent their homes. In Potrero Hill there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Potrero Hill and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Potrero Hill are highly rated. The neighborhood is relatively isolated by freeways and large tracts of industrial landscape, giving Potrero Hill its own pace and a feeling of distance from "San Francisco."

 

It’s a great place for those wanting a quieter, tucked away place, and the public library, bookstores, and cafes are perfect for anyone who loves to read and wants a break from the flashier neighborhoods to the north.

 

The location makes it convenient to leave the city for big shopping trips in suburban strip malls, but the northern section also offers convenient access to the Mission, its nightlife, and activities.

 

It is traditionally a little more affordable than other, more central neighborhoods. The neighborhood vibe changes from north to south, going from a lot of lofts and workspaces for fledgling startups to condos and a mix of Victorians and small homes heading up the hill. The north side is also seeing some larger apartment complexes being built to accommodate the interests of startup workers.

 

Potrero is absolutely rich with little surprises that require some dedicated exploration to find - lovingly cultivated mini-gardens and hidden stairways that someone cared enough to build and maintain.