Noe Valley stroll?
Nov 21st, 2005, 09:36 PM
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Noe Valley stroll?
Hi there,
Anyone out there a Noe Valley local? I'm looking for places that will make a stroll around the neighborhood fun and unique. I know 24th Street is supposedly the main drag. What's the best place for coffee? Are there any unusual shops here? What shouldn't I miss?
I've spent a lot of time in San Francisco, so I'm not necessarily looking for touristy things to do. (Are there even any sights here?)
Thanks for your suggestions!
Anyone out there a Noe Valley local? I'm looking for places that will make a stroll around the neighborhood fun and unique. I know 24th Street is supposedly the main drag. What's the best place for coffee? Are there any unusual shops here? What shouldn't I miss?
I've spent a lot of time in San Francisco, so I'm not necessarily looking for touristy things to do. (Are there even any sights here?)
Thanks for your suggestions!
Nov 22nd, 2005, 07:41 AM
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From downtown, take the J-Church and get off on 30th Street. Sit on the left side of the car (east side) to get a good view of downtown as you pass Dolores Park.
On the corner of 30th and Church, there is a great coffee shop - XO- with internet access, and very nice, clean restrooms. You can get a spot of breakfast or lunch there too.
Cross Church, and perhaps do a “once around” at the small produce market across the street from XO. Walk north on Church. You will pass a meat market, Greek restaurant, a Thai place, and a few others. On the corner of Duncan & Church is my favorite Italian restaurant - Incanto. Peruse the menu - it's a lot more creative & interesting than the normal Italian fare you find in the City. Head a block north & you will come to Erics - my favorite Chinese restaurant in this area. Kitty-corner is Lumberjack Sushi. Somewhere on the west side of Church, there is an interesting antique shop and another specialty store selling odds-&-ends.
Cross over the street (towards the Sushi place), and continue to walk north on Church. You will pass an interesting pet store (have anyone at home who might enjoy a treat?). On the corner of Church & 26th street is Chloe’s, my favorite place for breakfast or lunch – especially if it’s a nice day & you can sit outside. It’s quite simple, but very popular with the locals. A little further north is Fatouche (sp) – a mid-eastern restaurant. In the same block is Lovejoy’s tea room. It has a very beautiful interior and is quite popular - drawing tea crowds from the entire city. There is a Lovejoy’s antique shop across the street.
Proceed north on Church to 24th St. Head west (turn left) on 24th & walk along the south side. There are lots & lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants – I can’t possibly describe them all. On the south side of 24, there is a Starbucks – perhaps the only chain store in the Noe Valley (other than Rite Aid, Walgreens, & a few banks). Fresca is a Peruvian restaurant that opened up a few months ago. Le Zinc is a very nice French restaurant. When you get to Castro, turn left & walk up the block. There is a kitchen store along the way & also a Korean Restaurant. Cross the street at Jersey (1 blk south of 24th), and head back north towards 24th on Castro. There is a Sushi place, and a paint your own ceramics store. On the corner of Castro & 24th is an Ice Cream store. If you want to learn more about the Noe Valley, pick up a copy of the “Noe Valley Voice” at the ice cream store. Turn left on Castro and walk past two restaurants, a mystery bookstore, a bicycle shop, and another very small Chinese restaurant. Continue west till you come to Douglass. Cross the street to the small playground & look around. Head back east along 24th St. You’ll pass Firefly – a very nice restaurants that’s kinda out-of-the-way (We had dinner there last week).
Continue east on 24th & you’ll encounter more shops, restaurants, café’s etc. Lots of interesting places to stop. When you get to the east side of Diamond St, walk a ½ block north & check out the Italian restaurant. There is a burger place along the way on 24th (between Castro & Diamond St) that has nice outside seating. Continue east on 24th. Between Castro & Noe street, there is a real estate office owned by perhaps the only Republican in the Noe Valley – you’ll know it when you get there. Lots of pictures of Ronald Reagan in the window & other placards proclaiming the “looney-ness” of other Noe Valley residents. I moved to the Noe Valley in ’75, and that real estate office was there then – I guess he likes the “loonies” in the Noe Valley enough to want to stay there. All the artifacts in the window are interesting to read. Someone “defaced” his storefront a few years back, and all the “loonies” were quite outraged that someone would do such a terrible thing.
Continue east on 24th till you get to Church where you can hop on the J-Church & head back to where you came from.
If I get some time tomorrow, I’ll describe an interesting “stairway” walk through the Noe Valley. The walk has some nice views, and will take you to some places that you probably did not know existed.
Stu Dudley – ex-Noe Valley resident
On the corner of 30th and Church, there is a great coffee shop - XO- with internet access, and very nice, clean restrooms. You can get a spot of breakfast or lunch there too.
Cross Church, and perhaps do a “once around” at the small produce market across the street from XO. Walk north on Church. You will pass a meat market, Greek restaurant, a Thai place, and a few others. On the corner of Duncan & Church is my favorite Italian restaurant - Incanto. Peruse the menu - it's a lot more creative & interesting than the normal Italian fare you find in the City. Head a block north & you will come to Erics - my favorite Chinese restaurant in this area. Kitty-corner is Lumberjack Sushi. Somewhere on the west side of Church, there is an interesting antique shop and another specialty store selling odds-&-ends.
Cross over the street (towards the Sushi place), and continue to walk north on Church. You will pass an interesting pet store (have anyone at home who might enjoy a treat?). On the corner of Church & 26th street is Chloe’s, my favorite place for breakfast or lunch – especially if it’s a nice day & you can sit outside. It’s quite simple, but very popular with the locals. A little further north is Fatouche (sp) – a mid-eastern restaurant. In the same block is Lovejoy’s tea room. It has a very beautiful interior and is quite popular - drawing tea crowds from the entire city. There is a Lovejoy’s antique shop across the street.
Proceed north on Church to 24th St. Head west (turn left) on 24th & walk along the south side. There are lots & lots of shops, cafes, and restaurants – I can’t possibly describe them all. On the south side of 24, there is a Starbucks – perhaps the only chain store in the Noe Valley (other than Rite Aid, Walgreens, & a few banks). Fresca is a Peruvian restaurant that opened up a few months ago. Le Zinc is a very nice French restaurant. When you get to Castro, turn left & walk up the block. There is a kitchen store along the way & also a Korean Restaurant. Cross the street at Jersey (1 blk south of 24th), and head back north towards 24th on Castro. There is a Sushi place, and a paint your own ceramics store. On the corner of Castro & 24th is an Ice Cream store. If you want to learn more about the Noe Valley, pick up a copy of the “Noe Valley Voice” at the ice cream store. Turn left on Castro and walk past two restaurants, a mystery bookstore, a bicycle shop, and another very small Chinese restaurant. Continue west till you come to Douglass. Cross the street to the small playground & look around. Head back east along 24th St. You’ll pass Firefly – a very nice restaurants that’s kinda out-of-the-way (We had dinner there last week).
Continue east on 24th & you’ll encounter more shops, restaurants, café’s etc. Lots of interesting places to stop. When you get to the east side of Diamond St, walk a ½ block north & check out the Italian restaurant. There is a burger place along the way on 24th (between Castro & Diamond St) that has nice outside seating. Continue east on 24th. Between Castro & Noe street, there is a real estate office owned by perhaps the only Republican in the Noe Valley – you’ll know it when you get there. Lots of pictures of Ronald Reagan in the window & other placards proclaiming the “looney-ness” of other Noe Valley residents. I moved to the Noe Valley in ’75, and that real estate office was there then – I guess he likes the “loonies” in the Noe Valley enough to want to stay there. All the artifacts in the window are interesting to read. Someone “defaced” his storefront a few years back, and all the “loonies” were quite outraged that someone would do such a terrible thing.
Continue east on 24th till you get to Church where you can hop on the J-Church & head back to where you came from.
If I get some time tomorrow, I’ll describe an interesting “stairway” walk through the Noe Valley. The walk has some nice views, and will take you to some places that you probably did not know existed.
Stu Dudley – ex-Noe Valley resident
Nov 22nd, 2005, 09:37 AM
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>>Hey Stu -
Isn't that Amberjack Sushi?<<
Yes - of course. I rushed through that post - I wanted to finish ASAP so I could get to the grocery before the hords of people arrived to get their birds for Thanksgiving.
Also should mention that Firefly restaurant is next to a pet store ........hummmmm
Pomelo is a noodle place, where I had an excellent Paella (sp) a few weeks ago. Highly recommended. It is next to XO.
There are dozens of stairways in the Noe Valley. You would really be surprised at how many there are. Mainly at the south-west end.
At the Church/30th street end, there is the Noe Valley Rec center. On a weekday, there are always lots of moms, dads, & Nanneys taking the kids to the playground. Often on weekends, there is a basketball game in the indoor court, or a baseball game outside. It's an interesting place to wander through inside & out. Bathrooms are a little gross.
Stu Dudley
Isn't that Amberjack Sushi?<<
Yes - of course. I rushed through that post - I wanted to finish ASAP so I could get to the grocery before the hords of people arrived to get their birds for Thanksgiving.
Also should mention that Firefly restaurant is next to a pet store ........hummmmm
Pomelo is a noodle place, where I had an excellent Paella (sp) a few weeks ago. Highly recommended. It is next to XO.
There are dozens of stairways in the Noe Valley. You would really be surprised at how many there are. Mainly at the south-west end.
At the Church/30th street end, there is the Noe Valley Rec center. On a weekday, there are always lots of moms, dads, & Nanneys taking the kids to the playground. Often on weekends, there is a basketball game in the indoor court, or a baseball game outside. It's an interesting place to wander through inside & out. Bathrooms are a little gross.
Stu Dudley
Nov 22nd, 2005, 10:22 AM
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Stu,
I relate totally to the pre-Thanksgiving supermarket experience....every year.
Wandergrrl,
The couple of blocks along 24th where Firefly, (among others) is located, has seen a lot of restaurant history for one little neighborhood. I believe Firefly used to be La Barca, which served Spanish cuisine at a time when it was not au courant. Rin (Thai food) was explosively popular when it first opened because of its then-rare authenticity. Tom Peasant Pies is a favorite of mine, but then I like that funky-vegetarian thing.
If you feel like walking, or taking the 48 Quintara bus up the hill and getting off to walk back down the hill, the neighborhood is very conducive to strolling. Check out little streets like Hoffman or Fountain - you'll see why people fight to live in this area. Fountain Street, an old-timer told me, is so named because of the natural springs in the area. He said his childhood home there would often have a flooded basement in the springtime.
Stu and other long-time SF'ers:
Driving up Clipper Street, you will see a vegetable garden where Grandview ends at Clipper. How this lot remains open space is a miracle. Anyway, when I was a wee one back in the early 60's, someone kept a horse and a Shetland pony in that lot. I used to beg my dad to PLEASE drive up Clipper just so I could look at the horses. Great memories...
I relate totally to the pre-Thanksgiving supermarket experience....every year.
Wandergrrl,
The couple of blocks along 24th where Firefly, (among others) is located, has seen a lot of restaurant history for one little neighborhood. I believe Firefly used to be La Barca, which served Spanish cuisine at a time when it was not au courant. Rin (Thai food) was explosively popular when it first opened because of its then-rare authenticity. Tom Peasant Pies is a favorite of mine, but then I like that funky-vegetarian thing.
If you feel like walking, or taking the 48 Quintara bus up the hill and getting off to walk back down the hill, the neighborhood is very conducive to strolling. Check out little streets like Hoffman or Fountain - you'll see why people fight to live in this area. Fountain Street, an old-timer told me, is so named because of the natural springs in the area. He said his childhood home there would often have a flooded basement in the springtime.
Stu and other long-time SF'ers:
Driving up Clipper Street, you will see a vegetable garden where Grandview ends at Clipper. How this lot remains open space is a miracle. Anyway, when I was a wee one back in the early 60's, someone kept a horse and a Shetland pony in that lot. I used to beg my dad to PLEASE drive up Clipper just so I could look at the horses. Great memories...
Nov 22nd, 2005, 02:02 PM
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Not a local, but my friend used to live on Fountain St. and I would visit her often.
there's the Noe Valley Farmer's Market on Saturdays....also love the bread at Noe valley Bakery.
mmmm, Stu, I love Eric's! I just went there. My friend's dad kept saying, "This ma bo tofu is like the deluxe version!"
there's the Noe Valley Farmer's Market on Saturdays....also love the bread at Noe valley Bakery.
mmmm, Stu, I love Eric's! I just went there. My friend's dad kept saying, "This ma bo tofu is like the deluxe version!"
Nov 22nd, 2005, 02:52 PM
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There is a book titled “Stairway Walks in San Francisco” written by Adah Bakalinsky. I really enjoy many of the walks in the book, because they take you to nooks & crannies in the City that most people don’t know about – longtime residents included. The book, however, does not include a Noe Valley walk, although there is a section titled “List of Stairways” that includes several stairs in the Noe Valley. With this list and an AAA map, I set out one day several years ago to create my own stairway walk - in my favorite area of the City.
Get an AAA map so you can follow the route I’m describing – the map will make the walk much easier to follow.
The walk starts on Duncan, just west of Sanchez St. Park the car there, or take the J-Church to 27th street and walk 1 block west and 1 block south to the corner of Duncan & Sanchez. The 24 Divisadero also services this area.
Head west on Duncan & walk up the stairs at the end of Duncan, to Noe St. On Noe, turn right & walk 1 block to the steps heading “up” (west – to the left) on 27th. The steps are next to an apartment complex, and 27th is really just a right-of-way here. Walk up the steps to a “platform”, and enjoy the views from there. Continue west on 27th .
As you walk west on 27th (just after ascending the stairs), you will see some wooden stairs on the south side of the 27th. Proceed up these stairs – they are a public right-of-way. At the top, it will look like you’re near someone’s front yard. Notice the metal statuary around. Turn left and proceed south along a driveway and then up a hill. This is not private property – it’s actually Castro St right-of-way. There is a dirt knoll with a bench on top – try to walk there. Sit on the bench & rest a bit. There is a lovely view of downtown from here – if they would only chop down the tree that’s in the way. Walk down (south) on the other side of the knoll, to Castro St and follow Castro ½ block until you see the stairs going down – walk down the stairs to 28th St.
At the bottom of the Castro St stairs, turn right (west) on 28th and immediately cross the street to the south sidewalk of 28th. Continue to walk west on 28th, admiring the strange houses on the north side of the street. Turn left (south) on Diamond and walk 1 block to the stairs on the east side of Valley St. Walk down (east) the Valley St stairs and continue on to Castro St. Continue to walk on Valley (past Castro), and walk on the south side Valley – noting the strange street cut-away along Valley. Turn right (south) on Noe & go 2 blocks & turn right (west) on Day St. Continue on Day till you get to the end of Day & see two sets of stairs going up. Proceed up either set to Castro. Turn left (south) on Castro & walk to 30th St, & turn right on 30th. 30th St will dead end. 30th St is considered to be the southern boundary of the Noe Valley.
At this section of 30th between Castro & the dead end, there are some houses to the north and “Billy Goat Hill” to the south (yes – there were goats here). Try to find the dirt path that goes up Billy Goat Hill – and follow it up to a very interesting area with some neat views. There are several benches around Billy Goat Hill and an old tree with some ropes that kids probably use to swing in the trees. This is a fun area to explore. Find Beacon St on the “other” (south) side of Billy Goat Hill, & turn left on to Beacon after exiting the Billy Goat Hill area. Continue southeast along Beacon – there are interesting houses in this area with some great views. Continue along Beacon and find the Harry Street stairs between 200 and 190 Beacon St. Harry St is well marked (but not on the AAA map). These are the “neatest” stairs on this walk. Proceed down (east) the wooden stairs and admire the houses along the way, the gardens, and the wonderful ambience of this area – you won’t believe that you are still in a big city. The stairs end at Laidley St.
Laidley St has some very interesting architecture. If you are interested in unique architecture, turn right (southeast) at the bottom of the stairs & walk up & back “lovely” Laidley a bit. The views from inside these homes are fantastic (I’ve been inside a few). After admiring the homes on Laidley, proceed to 30th St. and turn east on 30th & walk two blocks to Sanchez St. At Sanchez, turn left (north) & walk back downhill 5 blocks (actually, 5 half-blocks) to Duncan where the walk started.
Stu Dudley
Get an AAA map so you can follow the route I’m describing – the map will make the walk much easier to follow.
The walk starts on Duncan, just west of Sanchez St. Park the car there, or take the J-Church to 27th street and walk 1 block west and 1 block south to the corner of Duncan & Sanchez. The 24 Divisadero also services this area.
Head west on Duncan & walk up the stairs at the end of Duncan, to Noe St. On Noe, turn right & walk 1 block to the steps heading “up” (west – to the left) on 27th. The steps are next to an apartment complex, and 27th is really just a right-of-way here. Walk up the steps to a “platform”, and enjoy the views from there. Continue west on 27th .
As you walk west on 27th (just after ascending the stairs), you will see some wooden stairs on the south side of the 27th. Proceed up these stairs – they are a public right-of-way. At the top, it will look like you’re near someone’s front yard. Notice the metal statuary around. Turn left and proceed south along a driveway and then up a hill. This is not private property – it’s actually Castro St right-of-way. There is a dirt knoll with a bench on top – try to walk there. Sit on the bench & rest a bit. There is a lovely view of downtown from here – if they would only chop down the tree that’s in the way. Walk down (south) on the other side of the knoll, to Castro St and follow Castro ½ block until you see the stairs going down – walk down the stairs to 28th St.
At the bottom of the Castro St stairs, turn right (west) on 28th and immediately cross the street to the south sidewalk of 28th. Continue to walk west on 28th, admiring the strange houses on the north side of the street. Turn left (south) on Diamond and walk 1 block to the stairs on the east side of Valley St. Walk down (east) the Valley St stairs and continue on to Castro St. Continue to walk on Valley (past Castro), and walk on the south side Valley – noting the strange street cut-away along Valley. Turn right (south) on Noe & go 2 blocks & turn right (west) on Day St. Continue on Day till you get to the end of Day & see two sets of stairs going up. Proceed up either set to Castro. Turn left (south) on Castro & walk to 30th St, & turn right on 30th. 30th St will dead end. 30th St is considered to be the southern boundary of the Noe Valley.
At this section of 30th between Castro & the dead end, there are some houses to the north and “Billy Goat Hill” to the south (yes – there were goats here). Try to find the dirt path that goes up Billy Goat Hill – and follow it up to a very interesting area with some neat views. There are several benches around Billy Goat Hill and an old tree with some ropes that kids probably use to swing in the trees. This is a fun area to explore. Find Beacon St on the “other” (south) side of Billy Goat Hill, & turn left on to Beacon after exiting the Billy Goat Hill area. Continue southeast along Beacon – there are interesting houses in this area with some great views. Continue along Beacon and find the Harry Street stairs between 200 and 190 Beacon St. Harry St is well marked (but not on the AAA map). These are the “neatest” stairs on this walk. Proceed down (east) the wooden stairs and admire the houses along the way, the gardens, and the wonderful ambience of this area – you won’t believe that you are still in a big city. The stairs end at Laidley St.
Laidley St has some very interesting architecture. If you are interested in unique architecture, turn right (southeast) at the bottom of the stairs & walk up & back “lovely” Laidley a bit. The views from inside these homes are fantastic (I’ve been inside a few). After admiring the homes on Laidley, proceed to 30th St. and turn east on 30th & walk two blocks to Sanchez St. At Sanchez, turn left (north) & walk back downhill 5 blocks (actually, 5 half-blocks) to Duncan where the walk started.
Stu Dudley
Nov 22nd, 2005, 03:03 PM
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Speaking of stairways, Stu and anyone else interested - I rode the bus past the 16th Ave. stairs in the Inner Sunset this weekend. This is the staircase facing west to the ocean which was recently re-surfaced in mosaic tiles. The designs are wildly colorful and the stairway is a cohesive, site-appropriate work of magnificent art. I was impressed.
Nov 22nd, 2005, 03:43 PM
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Streetlight Records on 24th St is one of my favorite music shops. Collectors go for their rare vinyl, but I always looked through the racks for used CD bargains. Great hard-to-find stuff, too!
Savor is also one of my favorite breakfast spots, although late morning-time often means a wait (worth it!). Their savory crepes are excellent.
Savor is also one of my favorite breakfast spots, although late morning-time often means a wait (worth it!). Their savory crepes are excellent.
Mar 9th, 2009, 08:38 AM
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Mar 9th, 2009, 08:48 AM
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I don't, but I just realized this thread was four years old, so I will add that there is now a branch of Henry's Hunan on the block of Church Street Stu described -- maybe between Day and 29th? I haven't eaten there yet.
Mar 9th, 2009, 09:46 AM
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I picked up a take-out menu from Harry's yesterday. There is a new "Clay Oven" Indiain restaurant across the street from Harry's. Sadly, Streetlight Records closed on 24th st. Whole Foods is opening a store in the former Bell Market location.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
Mar 9th, 2009, 10:35 AM
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Nope - but we spend a LOT of time in the Noe Valley. As you know, we can be on 24th st in about 15-20 mins from where we live now. So going out to restaurants in the Noe Valley for lunch or dinner, shopping, browsing, doing nothing, doesn't involve a lot of wasted drive time. We think there is more "buzz/electricity" to SF restaurants than peninsula restaurants. On Burlingame Ave, it is hard to find a non-"shopping mall" type store - but there are none at all in the Noe Valley (except Starbucks, BofA, & Walgreens) which I view as a "plus".
If they could just improve the weather in summer !!!
Stu Dudley
If they could just improve the weather in summer !!!
Stu Dudley
Mar 9th, 2009, 11:08 AM
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Funny you should mention that, because we moved to Noe Valley (our last stop in the city before Burlingame) because it had GOOD weather compared to Twin Peaks, where we lived before that.
And when we moved to Burlingame, the only chain stores were Waldenbooks and Burger King (both now gone). Things have certainly changed. I love 24th St. (should have kept my house, but we couldn't afford two...we lived across from the Rec Ctr almost at the corner of Day and Sanchez).
And when we moved to Burlingame, the only chain stores were Waldenbooks and Burger King (both now gone). Things have certainly changed. I love 24th St. (should have kept my house, but we couldn't afford two...we lived across from the Rec Ctr almost at the corner of Day and Sanchez).
Mar 9th, 2009, 11:23 AM
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We lived on Jersey, directly across from the Library. Our daily jogging route took us by your house (if you were on Sanchez). Were you there when it snowed - or did we already discuss this??
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
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