Slung alongside lively and colorful Haight-Ashbury, Cole Valley remains much quieter and more august. Cole Street serves as its local hub, with bistros, cafés, and other essentials. And it’s here that the N-Judah streetcar ducks under Buena Vista Park to take commuters downtown and others all the way out to the beach. Surrounding this center, lovely single-family homes line the hillsides, ranging from classic San Francisco Victorians to modern idylls.
Walk a few blocks in any direction from Carl and Cole streets and you’ll arrive at an expansive park: there’s Buena Vista Park to the west, Tank Hill is to the south, and on the northeast and southeast corners you’ve got Golden Gate Park and Mt. Sutro Open Space. These vast green areas are perfect for pet owners, athletes, and picnickers of all ages.