Anza Vista

Anza Vista is a small plot of land, specifically about five square blocks between Geary Boulevard to the north and Turk Boulevard to the south. It is split between a residential and commercial neighborhood with some of the streets lined with lush green trees. Rents are rather expensive in this neighborhood with people paying upwards of $1200. Just as you’d imagine most of the residents are of upper middle class status, primarily of white or asian ethnicity.

For shoppers, the neighborhood offers a handful of chain stores including Best Buy and Payless Shoe Source. Moreover, there are plenty of big name grocery stores that lie within the district’s boundaries including a Trader Joe’s and a Safeway. Restaurants and fine dining are scarce, and consequently, most residents head outside the area. However, the area boasts KFH (Kaiser Foundation Hospital), one of the great hospitals in San Francisco with exceptional services and specialties.

While the neighborhood lies on a hillside, many of the high altitude locations offers sweeping views of downtown San Francisco. Bus lines come somewhat frequently while public parking is hit or miss. The houses look relatively boxy as if it was built during Picasso’s cubism period. But nonetheless, there is nothing too special about this area.

I never realized that this area was its own neighborhood, though I suppose I should have since it does have its own feel to it with the medical center and mall. Still, I have never heard of Anza Vista and I’ve lived in the Bay Area my whole life. I always just thought of this areas as the Western most point of Western Addition or the North of the Panhandle area.
I am actually fairly surprised at how expensive the rents are in the area. $4000 for a 2 bedroom, $3800 for a one bedroom. There was also a listing for a studio at $1100 which is okay I suppose. Perhaps they are getting a lot of doctors from the nearby school and medical center?
The homes are short and squat in this area, not the three story Victorians that you get in a lot of the city. There’s a little bit of a view, the neighborhood being on a bit of an incline in spots but it’s not the rolling views of places like Russian Hill.
Here is a couple of restaurant tips as well. The Bistro Centro Parc is great place (though a bit expensive) to go for breakfast. It’s French and has the feel of the kind of place your grandmother would open if she had a restaurant. A good place to take the girlfriend after a first night sleep over.
Also great is NOPA—it is a super classy, high-ceiled place serving a continental menu. Great for a date or double date after catching a live show downtown. Sort of a theater dress –up feel.
By the way, for the little tykes in this area, there is a Les Petit Canards—a French immersion school. So if you have the money and want to have your kids watching “le Spongebob” from an early age, you’re all set. I don’t really know what prices are like or space arrangements—but I am guessing, like everything else in SF—more expensive than average.

I never realized that this area was its own neighborhood, though I suppose I should have since it does have its own feel to it with the medical center and mall. Still, I have never heard of Anza Vista and I’ve lived in the Bay Area my whole life. I always just thought of this areas as the Western most point of Western Addition or the North of the Panhandle area.
I am actually fairly surprised at how expensive the rents are in the area. $4000 for a 2 bedroom, $3800 for a one bedroom. There was also a listing for a studio at $1100 which is okay I suppose. Perhaps they are getting a lot of doctors from the nearby school and medical center?
The homes are short and squat in this area, not the three story Victorians that you get in a lot of the city. There’s a little bit of a view, the neighborhood being on a bit of an incline in spots but it’s not the rolling views of places like Russian Hill.
Here is a couple of restaurant tips as well. The Bistro Centro Parc is great place (though a bit expensive) to go for breakfast. It’s French and has the feel of the kind of place your grandmother would open if she had a restaurant. A good place to take the girlfriend after a first night sleep over.
Also great is NOPA—it is a super classy, high-ceiled place serving a continental menu. Great for a date or double date after catching a live show downtown. Sort of a theater dress –up feel.
By the way, for the little tykes in this area, there is a Les Petit Canards—a French immersion school. So if you have the money and want to have your kids watching “le Spongebob” from an early age, you’re all set. I don’t really know what prices are like or space arrangements—but I am guessing, like everything else in SF—more expensive than average.

Anza Vista has a little shopping center that use to attract a lot of customers, but not so anymore. Shopping here is what I usually associate Anza Vista with. There are big name stores such as Best Buy, Office Depot, Payless Shoes, and a few others. Sadly Mervyns closed down a while back, which was one of the stores that would attract people to the area. The only place I really know to get food at is at Tony’s Cable Car. I’ve only eaten there once and the burger there was amazingly good, definitely worth a short stop to grab a bite there. There is also a Kaiser Hospital in the area.

What’s great and scary (well for me at least) is that Anza Vista is a super big hill. When you reach the top of Anza Vista you’ll get a great view and such. Once you pass the shopping center you’re literally going straight vertically downwards, it’s crazy. I use to ride my bike through Anza Vista to get to school, which was a really bad choice my part as my brakes burned out quickly. Definitely try to avoid taking a bike to Anza Vista.

In the vicinity is Wallenberg High. Beyond the school is a bunch of homes set up in like their own little community, I remember once going through this neighborhood and only finding a couple exits/entrances, there are only four I believe.