I feel that it's almost unfair to review an entire neighborhood sometimes, but hey, we do that with a lot of the restaurants/businesses we go to, so I guess it's still fair. I think of it as one snapshot in time and a personal experience of that moment which is why I always laugh when people take it so personal when they don't agree with whatever a reviewer is saying. Write your own review then! Hayes Valley is an ever evolving place. Besides a place I spent a lot of time at currently, it's a vibrant, a tad rowdy, attractive to slightly younger crowd, expensive and slightly hipster. Nearby to lots of museums, governments buildings, boutiques, and restaurants. read more

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great facilities. conor is a great guy, very attentive and professional. Still need to try the steam room

Come on Forget Your Troubles..... Admire all the brand new apartment buildings....mingle with the moneyed, eavesdrop on the techies glued to their phones, relax with the homeless or enjoy a sandwich in Patricia's Green, admire the sculpture, take your kids to the playground, eat some ice cream, impulse shop at several shoe stores, designer eyeglasses, spendy clothing for all, lots of spandex, natural foods, gourmet restaurants, trendy bars, pizza!, fancy parklets, shopping bags. Enjoy read more

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Another epic weekend coming up. We're talking Memorial Day weekend. Where are you going to be folks? The hipster crowd will be here in Hayes Valley. Millennials as well. And others in the know about this enclave with cute boutiques, restaurants and outdoor space. Hanging out here is fun but sometimes the crowds can be overwhelming. Take a chill with some wine, healthy juice, a pastry, whatever will help you get through the discomfort. Jazz is nearby in the Jazz Center too. Or the symphony, ballet or opera. Enjoy an hour or the entire day in Hayes Valley and you may meet a local resident who is happy to share this space with you. read more

Hayes Valley - Art installation along Patricia's Green on Octavia Street. - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ah, Hayes Valley... I moved here 20 years ago on October 3, 1994 when the taxi driver, taking me to meet my moving van, warned me to tell United Van Lines to take my stuff to a storage facility until I found another place to rent. The cops stopped me on the street and berated me, "If you don't have to live here- MOVE!" A week after I moved in, 50 flyers pushed under the front door of my apartment building warned, "We're gonna kill all the white people one by one!" Three blocks away, an elderly woman was beaten and duct-taped to a chair and her house (on Webster and Grove) set on fire. Yep, it was a rough 'hood, no doubt about it. The sound of gunfire three times a night, sirens and 100 cops running into Alamo Square cocking shotguns (cops carry shotguns?!) and klieg lights beaming like an ironic movie premiere had me crying on the phone to my friends that I didn't know whether to hit the ground- or move. Only my crazy 17-page lease crafted by a paranoid landlord and his greasy attorney that warned I'd have to pay to fulfill it- and no takers I could see- and cover a second rental kept me here the first year. The year went by. I realized if you were city-smart and didn't wander around Alamo Square and its environs after dark you'd probably be alright. Punctuated by neighbors getting clocked in the face by a brick 40 feet from the front door, I hoped I wasn't being dangerously naive. Little by little, stores would open, many would close. Bulo and Gimme Shoes made a very early stake, Hayes Street Grill and Stelline established a beachhead before that and are still there, Suppenkuche very early moved into a dicey, dark corner yet thrived and Ivy's gave way to Absinthe. The Central freeway that ramped off Oak and tore upward, cutting across the roof of Hayes and Gough, was demolished because of seismic instability. The "Pink Palace" of Section 8 housing and its dangerous gangways full of heroin deals and hookers plying their trade (or very open drug dealing in the middle of Hayes Street at Steiner at 8:30 some weekday mornings) was torn down and replaced with 1-strike, low-income housing. And they meant business. Suddenly, the neighborhood found its footing but it's not without growing pains: now the Mecca of techies and hip urban dwellers (its central location always so prime that you'd tolerate the steep downside), rents quadrupled and parking disappeared as roommates doubled and tripled to bear the new and highly increased rents. Twitter, Square, One King's Lane and Dolby's HQ are just 12 blocks down the hill, Google busses now stop every morning across the street starting at 5:30 am and hip restaurants and boutiques populate "Hayes Valley." It's been the most coveted neighborhood for several years amid its sunny spaces and beautiful Alamo Square park with its off-leash dog run on the western edge and opposite on the eastern slope, the panoramic city skyline view framed by the famous "Postcard Row" houses. In short, it's the perfect urban oasis. A mile up Hayes Street you'll find yourself in Golden Gate park if more open space is calling you. Dining, shopping, the Symphony, Opera, Ballet and SF Jazz, all of the arts have always been here and crime is under control. And I thank rent control for allowing us to stay and thrive in a neighborhood whose beautiful architecture and parks drew me in almost 20 years ago. But there are moments I miss the grittiness, the sense you were making a stake in a new frontier, the badge you smugly wore as colleagues who lived in the Marina thought you were absolutely crazy living here. Maybe it's time to move to Ingleside or the Excelsior before they're completely gentrified too? read more

Hands down, Hayes Valley is my favorite neighborhood in the city. It truly is an underrated gem of a place, and reminds me of remnants of small-town America with a trendy kick. The boutique shops are so cute and feature some of the cutest items to shop for self, baby, husband, or any other person of importance. This neighborhood is very walkable and easy to access from Market Street (Muni or BART). This neighborhood has a great outdoor space that is great for late night movies or hanging out with friends. Restaurants and shops are also relatively moderately-priced (hey, it's San Francisco, and at least it's cheaper than the tourist spots) and lack the tourist crowds that sometimes flock to other parts of the city. If you're into wine, there are several wine bars that are low-key and chill. There's also a relatively new ice cream place (smitten) that's opened, for that sweet-tooth craving. Great for date night or just a quick walk down the main drag. Check it out now before this secret catches on! Likes: -quaint, small town feel -diverse restaurants -pet-friendly Dislikes: -parking can be somewhat challenging read more

Hayes Valley - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Hayes Valley! I have spent very much time hanging out in Hayes Valley, San Francisco. An elderly woman I helped out one time was talking about the change in Hayes Valley. It used to be an offshoot of the San Francisco highway near Oak and Laguna. And then it became highly gentrified. It is very gentrified. It's near Van Ness and the cultural centers like the Symphony, Jazz, Opera, and some other venues. It could have a couple art galleries, but this is not where the art galleries are. There are many restaurants, hair salons, and shopping boutiques. It's a hipster area, but it's upscale hipster. It's like a new SOHO for San Francisco. Young people like to rent in Hayes Valley. I've been to many restaurants at Hayes Valley. I have been running around Hayes Valley for so many years of my young adult life. I have had company and been on my own. It's really vibrant and fun to spend time in this part of town. The parking lot near Smitten sometimes has the film festival, festival gatherings, and exercise gatherings. This is really gentrified and I am happy I have gotten to enjoy it. Thin crust pizza, ice cream, Absinthe, Souvla...everything and everyone is in Hayes Valley these days! read more

I used to live here when I lived in San Francisco and this little neighborhood has a very special place in my heart. We used to be over on Van Ness and Market and it was a perfect little neighborhood to grab a nosh in or grab some ice cream. Smitten is arguably still one of the best in my book. If you want a croissant, Boulangerie is always a great go to. Souvla is spectacular for a great little Greek fair and if you want a down home German suppenküche is phenomenal. The Biergarten is fun. We were there when it opened. The park, small but yet inviting....so many more great restaurants, Zuni, Domo. If you are in the area, don't kiss this little gem of a neighborhood. read more

Neighborhood has really come up in the last two years. You can spend your day and evening here. Plenty of shopping (pricey), bars, cafes, and people watching. More and more outside dining is available. Two or three dessert locations. Some of my favorite shops are Lux SF (great nail shop Thanks Tracy!) Arlequine for wine or yummy breakfast, Two Sisters for custom cocktails and plenty of books. Lunchpad during the weekdays is a great PopUp inside Noir. Biergartens and bike rentals, with the beautiful little Patricia's Green where you can get your doggie fix. Headlights is my go to hair treatment spot. Jessica is amazing and the shop is very inviting. Service is impeccable. The burgers are good at Flippers, but not impressed with breakfast. Salads are good too. Great neighborhood. read more

Hayes Valley - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Pretty sweet area. I've been living here for a few months and I really love it. It's a small area that mostly just has a ton of restaurants and bars. During the day, there's a park at Octavia/Hayes intersection area that is great for people watching, and the food options here are so varied--Stacks and Straws for brunch, Brass Tacks or Two Sisters Bar and Books for bars, Miette and Chantal Guillon for macarons, Absinthe for higher-end dinner, Smitten for dessert, etc. You'll never run out of food options if you're in this area. The Proxy is also this pretty neat area right in the middle that they have some cool artwork in. Hayes Valley is also super close to the Van Ness Muni stop, making transportation around SF very accessible. tldr; cute hipster area of SF with tons of good restaurants read more

A great neighborhood to walk around and explore. This was my first time in this area and I just loved it. I hope I have the opportunity to go back again to get to know the area better. read more

Hayes Valley - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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WONDERFUL neighborhood. Great place to go shopping and grab a bite to eat. There are plenty of trees to help shade you from the hot sun. It is a must explore area. read more