S.F. neighborhood among world’s 40 coolest
Most folks who live in or visit San Francisco’s Richmond District appreciate its wide variety of restaurants and its proximity to the Presidio, Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach. But it’s rarely been described as cool, except in reference to its breezy, often foggy weather.
Nevertheless, Time Out, a global travel publication, has ranked the Richmond District among the “40 coolest neighborhoods in the world” in its sixth annual survey.
The publication asked 12,000 readers to identify top neighborhoods in their cities, then had its editors and travel experts determine the cream of the crop, emphasizing “community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life.”
Despite its reputation as a fairly low-key and largely residential neighborhood in a city known for its eccentricities, the Richmond ranked 27th coolest in the world.
Last year, Dogpatch, a decidedly more hip San Francisco neighborhood, was ranked the world’s 36th coolest — down from its No. 31 ranking in 2019. Appearing at No. 34 in 2018 was another San Francisco neighborhood, Hayes Valley — which has made a comeback after it was hit hard during the pandemic.
Now the Richmond’s star seems to be rising, taking its place among a constellation of vibrant international locales — including No.1 Laureles in Medellín, Colombia, No. 2 Smithfield in Dublin, Ireland, and No. 3 Carabanchel in Madrid, Spain. The top-ranked U.S. neighborhood was No. 7 Mid-City in New Orleans.
Time Out cited the Richmond’s bakeries, shops, bars and restaurants, calling out Arsicault Bakery, Breadbelly cafe and Green Apple Books as well as dim sum hotspot Dragon Beaux and the independent Balboa Theatre.
The neighborhood, it says, is “a microcosm of what makes San Francisco so special: natural beauty, rich culture, and incredible cuisine from every corner of the world.”
And, no, Time Out doesn’t forget to mention the cool weather. The Richmond is “one of the most exciting places to eat and play in San Francisco right now. Just don’t forget your hoodie.”