Pacific Heightsreal estate

Pacific Heights sits on a ridge in the north of San Francisco, above Cow Hollow and the Marina. From many of its streets the view runs north across the bay to the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the Marin Headlands.

Two hilltop parks anchor the neighborhood: Alta Plaza Park and Lafayette Park, both with lawns, tennis courts and city views. Fillmore Street is the main shopping street, lined with boutiques, cafés and restaurants, and Sacramento Street to the west is quieter.

Lower Pacific Heights covers the flatter blocks to the south, down toward Geary Boulevard, with more flats and condominiums and Japantown on its eastern edge.

What you'll find here

Some of the city's largest single-family houses, many on the northern slope facing the bay, together with Victorian and Edwardian homes, multi-unit buildings and condominiums. Many homes have been carefully restored and expanded over the decades.

Before you buy

Views, parking and permit history vary a great deal from one house to the next on the same block. With older homes, the inspection reports and the record of past work matter as much as the finishes.