North Beach & Little Italy – San Francisco’s best dining
Looking for a little slice of Italian life? Find it at North Beach & Little Italy. Nestled between Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, you can really sense the diverse and exciting mix of cultures in this district.
It’s the food here that’s the real draw. Love to eat? Then you’ve come to the right place. Following the Gold Rush, a steady stream of Italians arrived from Liguria, bringing their incredible skills for creating stunning seafood dishes.
Hop off our San Francisco Bus Tour to discover why Little Italy is the culinary heart of San Francisco.
Dance to a different beat
North Beach & Little Italy was also home to some of the 20th century’s biggest literary names. The Beat Generation found a spiritual home here, with writers like Kerouac, Ginsberg and Ferlinghetti making this the epicenter of the movement – kickstarting San Francisco’s rebellious and countercultural streak.
Other interesting facts about North Beach & Little Italy
- North Beach was once an actual beach but, after redevelopment of the city’s waterfront, the beaches were moved to the northern end of the city
- The area is home to Lombard Street, the self-styled ‘crookedest street in the world’
- Visit the Coit Tower, San Francisco’s 70 meter (210 foot) exclamation mark
- North Beach’s newest attraction is the Beat Museum, located near to legendary literary hangout the City Lights Bookstore
- Prominent Italian Americans from the neighborhood include Joe DiMaggio, who briefly returned to live here with wife Marilyn Monroe
