6.3 out of 10

Chestnut St, Marina

Ranked 8th best street in Marina
37.8008862682698 -122.435705533192
Great for
  • Internet Access
  • Pest Free
  • Eating Out
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Resale or Rental Value
Not great for
  • Cost of Living
  • Parking
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists

Reviews

5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
2yrs+

"One of my Favorites..."

With shops and restaurants galore and a culture unlike the rest of the city, one of my only issues with Chestnut Street is that I did not discover it sooner. This is truly a place where people can walk around at any hour and feel safe - not tourists, not late-night partiers, but locals, people who know San Francisco and know that this is the best.

Naturally, shopping here is one of the most common pastimes, with the standard chain stores as well as boutiques lining the street. Vendors often come here to hand out samples of free food - don't be surprised to receive a bag of chestnuts around Christmas time (how appropriate).

With all the restaurants and cafes around, it is really unnecessary to go to Peet's Coffee or Starbucks, although those are these for individuals who truly want their Frappucino or Freddo.

But it is really the friendly culture that differentiates the street. Case in point: I had a friend go to an ATM, withdraw $40, and proceed to leave it in there. A minute later, a little boy came running up to her and told her that she had left her money. This wasn't a family that happened to see her do this. These were people who found her spare cash and SOUGHT HER OUT. I'd like to say that I see this kind of honesty all the time, but that is simply not the case.

Aside from limited parking (a problem that can easily be resolved by exploring the nearby side streets just north) and corresponding $55 tickets for violations, I cannot think of too many better places in the city.
Pros
  • Great coffee shops
  • Very safe
  • Very friendly
  • Great restaurants
  • Close to Presidio
  • Nice Hillside Victorians
  • The Art Academy
  • Tons of shopping
Cons
  • Not a lot of parking
  • Dogs and Baby Strollers galore
  • Expensive
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 5/5
2yrs+

"For Artists and Bimbos"

One of the great spots on this street is where the art institute is. If you are into that sort of Spanish mission architecture, this is definitely the place to go. I also think that it is the perfect setting for an art institute because it is so aesthetically pleasing. This is a big improvement on some of the city’s other art institutes that are housed in what look like financial buildings—these least artistic of settings.

Much of the rest of Chestnut Street in North Beach is one of those great residential areas with three story Victorians that make great digs for young folks. In North Beach the street slopes gently and you are just close to the action so that you can get away from it and feel like you are at home. As you climb up onto Russian Hill the Victorians get a lot better kept, even idyllic at spots with colorful blooms spilling out from between them and you get some older style high rises that feel like they belong in a Hitchcock movie (some of them probably actually were in some of Alfie’s hits—he loved SF after all).

On the corner with Colombus you get one of the best known night spots in the city, Bimbo’s 365 where you can go to see rocking bands and a spot just big enough to so they can draws bands like the Raconteurs but not so big that you feel like you are in a stadium. Also has that great red carpeted bar and tables where you can dine by candle light while you listen. It has long been a Bay Area classic—maybe the best music venue in a city known for its music venues.
Pros
  • Nice Hillside Victorians
  • Bimbos
  • The Art Academy
  • Great restaurants
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Not a lot of parking
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Shopping, Eating, Drinking with the locals"

Chestnut Street is one of those quaint streets you find in a city that you always remember. With boutique shops lined on both sides along with bars, restaurants, movie theaters, yoga and gyms, it has virtually everything you would need to live; which is why parking is so tough. There are a couple of parking lots to park (meter) or attendant based. Otherwise you need to find street parking which can be tough.

Recently Chestnut added a second movie theater. Now there is one on each side of the street and not too far apart. They don't usually host the same movies so that makes it good variety.

Tons of restaurants such as A16, Tipsy Pig, Tacolicious, Mamacita, Bin38 just to name a few. Crunch Fitness or choice of a few yoga studios to work off that meal you just ate. For breakfast there is the popular The Grove, Squat & Gobble or Judy's Cafe.

What you'll find in the Marina are tons of thirty-somethings with strollers, people exercising, or singles hanging out trying to keep it from turning into suburbia. It's a mixed crowd and there is something for everyone. From Gap, Body Gap, Baby Gap, Apple store, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Papyrus to the small boutique shop
Pros
  • Close to Presidio
  • Tons of shopping
  • Great restaurants
Cons
  • Not a lot of parking
  • Dogs and Baby Strollers galore
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"A great street to take a walk and enjoy great food and shops."

Chestnut Street in San Francisco is a terrific place to take a walk. There are many cafes and restaurants that are reasonable in price and serve incredibly good food. Many of them feature outdoor seating which is especially nice if your dog is with you. Speaking of dogs, this is a very dog friendly area with several pet stores. Many merchants let you bring your pet in their stores while you shop and several offer treats and/or water bowls. The Marina Market features terrific produce as well as ready to heat store made entrees. There is an Apple store with hands-on demos, and Books, Inc. – a great place to pick up new books at a bargain price. In addition, there are retail clothiers and several banks with ATM’s.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"Great places to shop and explore"

While visiting the city by the bay Chestnut Street was one of the most interesting streets I visited. Chestnut was full of constant hustle and bustle, with a huge variety of great places to shop and dine. One of my favorite places to eat was a Chinese restaurant called Dragon Well. Their delicious and relatively inexpensive menu made for a great dinner. You can come to shop or eat and find almost anything you want. A must stop destination on your visiting to San Fran.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
2yrs+

"Might be my tops for streets I'd like to live on in San Fran."

There were many places I wanted to live when I visited San Fran, but this one may top the list. It was close enough to the beautiful water for you to feel it on the breeze and really convenient to the hip parts of the city. But, it also had nice lawns, trees, parks, an elementary school (I think). It looked just about perfect for raising a family in a green-leafy version of an urban life.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5
2yrs+

"Be a part of the scene on Chestnut Street"

Chestnut Street runs from the Presidio to the Embarcadero. It passes through several neighborhoods, but the most bustling and frequently visited section is in the Marina. Primarily the four blocks between Fillmore and Divisidero. It doesn't sound like a very long stretch of street, but a whole lot is crammed into those blocks, and in the streets that cross Chestnut.

The Marina isn't the most integrated neighborhood in San Francisco. To but it bluntly, it's very yuppy-ish. There are a lot of well-to-do young people in that part of town, so the Marina is a happening 'hood on weekend nights. There are several popular nightspots in the immediate Chestnut Street visicinity, though not so much on the street itself.

Chestnut Street does, however, have excellent dining options on and around it. In fact, my favorite "cheap eats" restaurant in all of San Francisco can be found on Chestnut between Fillmore and Steiner. That would be Pacific Catch, the wonderful, if tiny, seafood grill. The food is fantastic and immenently affordable. If you're looking for a more upscale dining experience, Circa, right next-door, is a treat. From taquerias to sushi bars and Jamba Juice to Starbucks, you can find all manner of sustenance.

There's plent of shopping as well, but by and large, not quite as upscale as what you'll see in Pacific Heights or Cow Hollow. Mixed in with a handful of clothing boutiques, you'll see chain stores like The Gap. Nearby the fancy paperie is the decidedly downscale Walmart. The shops on Chestnut aren't as fabulous as some you can find nearby, but they're often more practical. Book stores, pet stores, bakeries, and so on.

With its proximity to Chrissy Field, the Marina, Fort Mason, and other gathering places, plus the availability of good dining, shopping, and night spots, it's a great part of town to while away some time.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
4/5
2yrs+

"A Nice Street"

Chestnut St. is just a great family street in my opinion. There are some great houses and apartments up and down Chestnut from North Beach to the Marina. There are also great shops, restaurants, and bars as well. Mainly in the Marina, there are some great drinking spots that are very diverse. From your divey watering hole to a more trendy spots like Circa, you can always have fun on Chestnut.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
5/5
2yrs+

"People watch anyone??"

You want to people watch this is the place and street to do so..Sitting at the cafe having a coffee or sandwich or even shopping it will bring you to watching the most fun people anywhere.It is very diverse and fun fun for families and kids..
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
4/5
2yrs+

"Cool place to hang out"

Chestnut street is home to a bunch of funky places to eat and shop. It is often really busy with pedestrian traffic, and can be a fun place to hang out with friends. It is a great place to people watch and feel the vibe of the city and neighborhood.I would definitely recommend spending a few hours here to shop, eat, and just enjoy the city.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"buetiful old fashioned living"

Chestnut st. is a very friendly welcoming street full of happy and active greeting people it has tons of cafes restaurants a movie theater and a apple store its also great for kids with a park basket ball and baseball field and a public library its very close to the golden gate bridge and Lombard st. the crookedest street in San Francisco and also has many hotels. there are always new things going on on this street as well as new businesses opening and events that are fun for every one but to live in this area it is a bit more costly then other places in San Francisco but is a great spot to visit
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5
2yrs+

"Take a stroll down Chestnut Street"

Chestnut Street is very calm and has a great vibe. Daily, many people can be seen walking up and down Chestnut Street visiting the restaurants, cafes, and clothing stores. This street offers a variety of stores and has something for everyone. From mexican food to italian food, banks, large retail stores, botiques, and much more. Everyone can leave this street satisfied with what it offers. It is located in a great area and is quite beautiful and clean. This area is also one of the sunniest areas in San Francisco which will add to your enjoyment. I have to mention, though, that since this area is so nice things are a bit on the pricier side. It's hard to find bargains on Chestnut Street, so if you plan to visit make sure you are willing to spend some money. Overall, this street is quite pleasant and I enjoy visiting it. I do not have any complaints.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
5/5
2yrs+

"San Francisco's Cool Cafe Row"

For some reason Chestnut St. between Baker St. and Fillmore St. Is just full of cool coffee shops, neat cafes, and shops full of diverse offerings. This is also a great area to people watch especially on weekend mornings. One of my favorites is A16 a resturant featuring the cuisine of Naples at 2355 Chestnut. If you have the kids you may wish to visit Johnny Rockets a recreated 1950's diner located at 1946 Filmore. I mainly like this street because it is colorful, lively and what a city should be.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

Travelling to Chestnut St?

Find Hotels

Best Streets in Marina

1

Scott St

4/5
"Lovely Area Close to Water Sports"
37.8036851014113 -122.441892132677
2

Marina Blvd

4/5
"A Beautiful Scenery"
37.8057996157827 -122.441663981874
"Always busy and right next to Kaiser"
37.8023027500402 -122.44331811494
4

Avila St

3.5/5
"Great community!"
37.8038825179237 -122.44103580759
5

Francisco St

3.5/5
"Quiet hide out"
37.8023757066999 -122.4314990735
6

Beach St

3.5/5
"Lots of Family Fun"
37.804079284712 -122.439275931778
7

Baker St

3.5/5
"Quiet, leafy, residential "
37.8017743904998 -122.446606125236
8

Chestnut St

3/5
"One of my Favorites..."
37.8008862682698 -122.435705533192
"Excellent Ocean view with plenty of parking"
37.8070038910684 -122.438565904912
"Located next to lots of stuff!"
37.8036027050398 -122.436893072943

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

Best Cities to Live In

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More