A Tour of San Francisco’s Mission District
The ever-changing Mission District has long been overlooked by San Francisco’s tourist crowds, but its current incarnation is a thriving arts sector and an ethnically rich enclave. In addition to its many galleries and creative strongholds, it houses some of the city’s best historical attractions and vintage architecture. Design a cultural walking tour around the sites, and then retire to the neighborhood’s authentic Mexican restaurants and moderately priced pubs.
Mission Dolores
The Mission District’s namesake structure is San Francisco’s oldest edifice, though today it’s dwarfed by a more photogenic basilica. Founded in 1776, the Mission housed generations of Franciscan monks and still offers daily worship services. The building’s presence itself is enough to draw in a more secular crowd; though it’s been refurbished, its interior is beautifully preserved.
Dolores Park
A popular site for sports, recreation, and the occasional ceremonial parade or political protest, Dolores Park is the Mission District’s bucolic center. A former refugee camp for earthquake victims, Dolores now boasts tennis and basketball courts, soccer fields, and playgrounds. Visitors are especially lucky to catch performance art or one of the yearly pride marches, and the park is SF’s place to be on Cinco de Mayo.
Precita Eyes Murals
Precita Eyes is an alliance of local artists dedicated to continuing the tradition of mural art in their predominantly Hispanic community. Their most famous work lines a tiny street called Balmy Alley, where residents encourage the painting of garages and walls for public enjoyment. In addition to its mural commitments, the Precita Eyes group offers classes in community art for locals of all ages.
Taqueria el Farolito
El Farolito is one of the Mission District’s best-reviewed Mexican eateries, offering an array of overstuffed burritos, homemade salsas, and tremendous platters. It has garnered a loyal local following, and while it’s not a typical tourist destination it offers the city’s finest in ethnic authenticity. Should you crave an inexpensive, potentially overwhelming burrito while touring the Mission, this is the place to get it.
Inner Mission Beer Parlor
Inner Mission’s international beer list focuses heavily on Belgian wheats, but also offers PBR for the discerning drinker. What’s more, the storied Wisconsin brew is only $2 a pint on Tuesdays. Stop in at happy hour while walking the Mission and you’ll likely encounter an impossibly good special on one of the bar’s many draughts. For the beer-reluctant, Inner Mission also offers a modest wine selection, assorted sake, and Korean soju cocktails.
Roxie Theater
Built in 1909, the Roxie is SF’s oldest working movie theater. Its many incarnations mimic the flux of the Mission District; in the 1960s, when the neighborhood declined, the Roxie became an adult cinema. Fortunately for today’s Mission, it utilized banned films and independent cinema to stage a resurgence and now hosts plenty of prestigious indies and documentaries. It’s also hosted several independent film festivals, much to the delight of the art-loving SF public.
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Categories: Destination Guides
