Ever since humans have occupied the San Francisco Bay Area, the neighborhood known today as the Mission (map) has been a hub of activity. From the cafes and transit stops buzzing during the morning commute to the evening hum of sidewalk diners and happy hour imbibers, there’s never a dull moment in the Mission.
Vibrant street art adorns the walls throughout the neighborhood that features concert halls, quirky mini-golf courses, world-class bakeries and tasting menus. You could explore this the Mission in a few hours but there is enough to see and do that you might want to spend a few days.
The Mission District’s troubled history
Before Spanish settlers first came to the San Francisco Peninsula in the second half of the 18th century, Yelamu villages were established along Mission Creek in today’s Mission District. The Native Americans were pushed to convert to Catholicism and forced into labor, building the neighborhood’s namesake: the Mission San Francisco de Asís. Known today as Mission Dolores, it was completed in 1791 and is the city’s oldest intact building, but disease and inhumane treatment led to a swift and almost complete decimation of the Indigenous Peoples.
The area continued to evolve over the decades with the Gold Rush, waves of immigrants, and shifts in economic drivers. Eventually, the Mission emerged as a bustling mix of residential blocks and commercial activity.
In the mid-1900s, many Mexican immigrants who resided in Rincon Hill were displaced by the construction of the Bay Bridge and moved to the Mission. They were then followed by an influx of Central Americans in the 1960s. Since then, the neighborhood has served as the Latino cultural nexus of San Francisco, hosting the city’s Carnaval parade and Day of the Dead celebrations as well as countless cultural institutions and businesses.
The tech boom of the early 2000s sparked an influx of higher-paid residents, increasing rents and shifting the mix of businesses. Despite the sometimes tense and controversial demographic and economic changes, the Mission maintains its status as a fountain of energy and innovation.
Getting to and around the Mission District
The Mission District is located in the southeastern part of the city and is easily accessible by mass transit. The major commercial thoroughfares are Mission and Valencia Streets, running north-south, and 16th Street and 24th Streets, running east-west.
There are two BART stops in the neighborhood, both on Mission St., one at 16th Street and one at 24th Street. The area is also served by the J Church Muni Metro line, which runs along the western edge of the neighborhood on Church Street and San Jose Avenue, and the 14-Mission bus, which travels along Mission Street.
Where to Eat and Drink in the Mission District
It’s possible to spend an entire vacation sampling the incredible cuisine found in the Mission, but any food tour of the barrio should start with a burrito. Ask five San Franciscans where to get the best Mission burrito and you’re likely to get five different answers. That said, La Taqueria, El Farolito, Papalote, Taqueria Cancún, and the El Gallo Giro taco truck are all masters of the craft.
Beyond burritos, you can choose your own culinary adventure. The Mission is as bountiful as the Golden State itself, and you can enjoy a spectacular meal for $20 or $200. The genre-defying Good Good Culture Club serves up creative and original dishes—like a garlic-rice stuffed adobo-glazed chicken wing—that match the bright and fun decor. Sample the seasonally driven menu from acclaimed chef Brandon Rice at Ernest, or try one of the Italian restaurants from the pasta-powerhouse duo of Ryan Pollnow and Thomas McNaughton—Penny Roma and Flour + Water. For celebrations or memory-making meals at the top of the price scale, choose from the Michelin-starred tasting menus at Lazy Bear, Californios, or newcomer Osito.
Ready for a drink? At Trick Dog, every cocktail is accompanied by a poem; Wildhawk features a special vermouth program; and True Laurel offers weeknight bar bites and weekend brunch alongside more than a dozen classic cocktails with modern twists.
For hops hounds, Standard Deviant is a microbrewery with a selection of pinball machines and the Fort Point Beer Co. dishes up a seafood-focused menu along with the San Francisco brewery’s lineup of beers and ciders. For a wider selection, Crafty Fox Ale House beckons with three dozen rotating taps.
You can satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to Dandelion Chocolate to see how they make their bars with nothing but cane sugar and cocoa beans. (Their frozen hot chocolate is the perfect solution to a sweltering day.) Smitten Ice Cream serves up a handful of rotating flavors using a special liquid nitrogen method, and Garden Creamery scoops up delicious cones and sundaes with a variety of Latin American–inspired flavors.
Mission Dolores Park
With views of the downtown skyline, basketball and tennis courts, and big grassy lawns for frisbee-catching humans and dogs—is it any wonder Mission Dolores Park is a favorite neighborhood gathering place? More than $20 million of upgrades and renovations from 2010–2019 freshened up the fields, courts, and facilities, and on a sunny weekend the park will inevitably be packed. Dolores Park also regularly hosts events, including July 4th performances by the San Francisco Mime Troupe.
Enjoy the Mission's public art
The Mission District has been a center for arts for decades, and much of it can be enjoyed while strolling the streets. Numerous murals brighten up the neighborhood, many with political themes. The MaestraPeace mural adorning the Women’s Building (3542 18th Street) is one of the best-known works, while both Clarion and Balmy Alleys are one-block stretches lined with street art of varying styles and motifs.
For an in-depth art experience, take a tour with Precita Eyes, an artists’ collective that is responsible for many of the Mission murals. Tour guides point out historically significant works and share plenty of inside details on the meaning, creation, and sometimes controversy surrounding the various pieces.
More fun in the Mission
The food is fabulous and the art is inspirational but the Mission has much more to offer visitors. You can test yourself on the five-story walls at Mission Cliffs climbing gym, the city’s oldest. Or book one of the six lanes at Mission Bowling Club and grab a burger and an IPA while you knock down some pins. You can also practice your short game at Urban Putt, an incredibly inventive, indoor 14-hole mini-golf course. Then swing by The Chapel, an old church converted into a bar and music venue that hosts a consistent lineup of emerging artists and beloved local acts.
Hotels and bed-and-breakfasts in the Mission
If you choose to stay in the Mission District, there are several excellent hotel and bed-and-breakfast options. Converted Victorian residences such as Noe’s Nest, The Inn San Francisco, and 1906 Mission provide cozy atmospheres with a bed-and-breakfast vibe and historic decor. A more contemporary—but still vintage—option is the midcentury modern Beck’s Motor Lodge, a renovated low-slung accommodation on the neighborhood’s northern end that borders the Castro neighborhood. Free onsite parking here is a big plus, as is access to the regular streetcar service along Market Street.
More things to do in San Francisco
There's plenty to see and do to keep your San Francisco itinerary full. Indulge in standout wineries, breweries, and restaurants; revel in the outdoors while whale watching or exploring Lands End, a rugged stretch of shoreline in the northwest corner of the city; or discover awe-inducing art and science exhibits at one of the many museums that call San Francisco home. For more inspiration for things to do, check out how the founder of an LGBTQ+ travel site and a hospitality executive, both of the San Francisco locals,like to spend their downtime in the city they are proud to call home.