With its eponymous mission—the oldest intact building in San Francisco—and popular multi-block park, there are many reasons to adore Mission Dolores and Dolores Heights. For one, this side of the city is more often basked in the sun, with the city’s famous fog (known to locals as “Karl”) preferring the western half of the peninsula. For another, from a perch atop the park or from a home in the Heights, one can see clear across the city to the Bay and beyond. Down on Valencia and Mission streets, there are endless restaurants and clubs and cafés. From worldfamous coffee to five-star eateries to the best burrito you’ll ever fail to finish: it’s all available in the Mission.
As one of the more historic sections of the city, Mission Dolores and its surrounds boast classic Victorian and Edwardian single-family homes and more. Here, your neighbors might be anyone from tech billionaires to one of a diverse variety of transplants from across the globe. If you’re a commuter, the BART stations on Mission and 16th and 24th streets make getting downtown—or father—fast.