San Francisco is a city of neighborhoods each with it's own lifestyle. Pacific School of Dentistry is located in Pacific Heights. Listed below are descriptions of the major neighborhoods in order of where the majority of our students live. Pacific Heights, the Marina, Cow Hollow, and Laurel Heights are all within walking distance or a short bus ride from school. You may want to begin your search in these areas.
Perched above the Marina is San Francisco's most upscale neighborhood. The mansions of Pacific Heights offer a spectacular bay view. The City's growth led to construction of luxury towers and art deco apartments. Expect to pay for this exclusive location; quality of life has its price.
The Presidio of San Francisco offers a spectrum of housing options in twenty-one distinct and beautiful neighborhoods. Units range in size from one to seven bedrooms. Many Presidio homes are contributing features to the Presidio's National Historic Landmark designation. More than half of the park is open space, including such significant features as Baker Beach, the historic Presidio Forest, Mountain Lake, El Polin Spring and Los Lobos Creek. With housing units available throughout the park, the Presidio is a great place to live.
Laurel Heights is known for it's charming homes located between Pacific Heights and the Inner Richmond District. It's upper middle class neighborhood houses young professionals and families. Rent is comparable to the Pacific Heights & the Marina.
Cow Hollow is a charming neighborhood tucked between Pacific Heights and the Presidio. The Union Street eight block stretch is the central hub of Cow Hollow, with classic Victorians, which have been transformed into stylish restaurants, boutiques & bakeries.
Framed by the Pacific Ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge, the Richmond District is within driving distance to almost any corner of the city. Rents in this middle-class district vary from affordable apartments and in-laws to flats at top dollars. Divided by Golden Gate Park, the Richmond reflects San Francisco's ethnic diversity.
The Marina is a quiet & clean neighborhood known for its Mediterranean influenced architecture. The Marina is mostly residential with Chestnut Street being the most popular among the young professionals. The Marina Green, overlooking the bay, is where you will see joggers, runners, and bikers.
Sunset District is located in the southwestern section of the City and offers some of the City's best priced rentals. It's an ethnically diverse neighborhood, with the largest Asian population outside of Chinatown. Sunset is usually referred to as a peaceful, family-orientated area. Students love the area around 9th Avenue and Irving Street, which bustles with bookstores, cafes and restaurants.
This area "The Haight" famous for the Summer of Love, is still the place for hippies, and in recent years, has exploded with vintage stores, boutiques, bars and cafes. The location near Golden Gate Park makes this neighborhood beautiful. Rents can literally fluctuate from block to block, the best strategy is to walk around this neighborhood and look for "For Rent" signs and check bulletin boards in local stores. Access to public transportation is very good in this area.
Just a few blocks from the Haight Street scene is this charming neighborhood of renovated Victorians and small shops. Residents value their homes and gardens, and the area retains a quaint, small town feel. Bakeries, markets, bars, and small gourmet restaurants add to a mix that makes this neighborhood, a resident's dream. Again, the "walk around" approach may be the best way to locate available rentals.
Hilly streets, cable cars, and stunning views make these areas the quintessential address' in San Francisco. Parking is nearly impossible here, but with the close proximity of downtown and a great transit access, this is a good area to live without a car. While apartments are not necessarily expensive, their desirability makes them rare.
