The Mission
The Mission is one of the only neighborhoods in San Francisco that has been largely successful thus far at resisting massive gentrification and becoming a tourist attraction. It has largely a Latino population, and the main streets are dominated by colorful murals with Latino imagery, and markets specializing in Latino food specialities with piles of fruits and vegetables on display. Bakeries, various clothing, electronics, music and video stores, as well as restaurants line the streets. Most of the restaurants feature Mexican food, but there's also El Salvadorean, Peruvian and others. A couple of hip new restaurants directly on Mission near 21st Street appealing to the younger crowd are Bruno's, a retro classic diner which features live music, and Foreign Cinema, an upscale, roomy Euro-tech style space, which features outdoor dining with movies projected on the wall, a large inviting indoor dining room with an excellent wait staff, and a full bar. There are many nightclubs and bars here and there on Mission Street. (Hint: It's a good idea to put The Club on your car's steering wheel!)

Valenica Street is one of the hippest streets in The City, and becomes really alive at night. There are so many fine and fun restaurants to choose from, from funky to fabulous, to suit a wide range of budgets, and most of them are located on Valencia between 16th Street and 24th Streets. One of my very favorites, that I can highly recommend, is Picaro Café on 16th at Valencia : great atmosphere, delicious tapas and good wine, at very reasonable prices and usually it's just a short wait, if any, for a table, since it has a sizable dining room. You may be entertained by wandering flamenco dancers or mariachis while dining here and at some of the other restaurants nearby. There are all kinds of restaurants around here, from Spanish, to Arabian, to Chinese, to Provencal, East African to whatever! Explore! Enjoy! There are also many intriguing little boutiques to browse through.

On 24th Street between Mission and Bryant Streets you'll find many Latino markets and bakeries. Check out the Flor de Jalisco, where you can go in, pick up a tray and tongs, and select from many offerings of delicious traditional Mexican baked goods, and be very pleasantly surprised at the nominal price you are requested to pay for your pile of goodies.

The neighborhoods behind the stores are mostly Victorians. Mission Dolores, at Dolores and 18th Streets, completed in 1791, is the oldest intact Mission (church built by the Spanish missionaries), and one of 21 Missions built throughout California. Next to it is a large, beautiful church still in use today.
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