South of Market, San Francisco Overview

In the beginning, there was nothing. Then there was the Dot-Com Boom, then there was the Ballpark, then there was the Dot-Com Bust, then the Ballpark changed names 3 times, and eventually, SOMA leveled out. Now, it’s one of San Francisco’s genuinely cool neighborhoods and the city’s tech pulse.

The beauty of SOMA is that it’s full of hip, young web companies. As a result, there are lots of hip, young restaurants, bars, clubs, and events. Unlike the Marina or Union Square, most of the bars in SOMA sidestep attitude in favor of authenticity. Go to COCO 500 for some of the best drinks and appetizers in town, and check out 333 Ritch for a club that books new, trendy bands and hires DJs who know how to pack a dance floor. Blue Bottle Coffee in the Mint Plaza near Market Street is packed at all hours of the day, but die hards will make the trek down 4th street to the Creamery by Caltrain for a cup of Ritual Coffee. San Franciscans will hotly debate the issue of Blue Bottle vs. Ritual; head to SOMA and decide for yourself.

In the past, SOMA wasn’t easily accessible by MUNI, but the ground beneath 4th street will soon be home to the new Central Subway extension of the T Light Rail. This new MUNI extension isn’t slated for completion until 2016 but will eventually connect SOMA with Union Square and North Beach. For potential buyers, this could make property in SOMA especially appealing.

Of course, it’s impossible to talk about SOMA without mentioning the Giants. AT&T park is one of the best stadiums in professional sports and really brings a lot to the neighborhood. Bay Area sports fans are a different breed and SOMA reflects this. Wine Bars outnumber Sports Bars and the game traffic that could be a burden in some cities is actually mild-mannered in San Francisco. The Neighborhood also offers the Museum of Modern Art, LIMN (a gallery in its own right), and the Moscone Center– home of all of Apple’s product launches. Is there anything more San Franciscan than an iPhone? SOMA says “no”.