SoMa
South of Market Street, or SoMa, is a San Francisco neighborhood that is home to many of the city's technology and media companies. The area has seen a lot of development in recent years, with new office buildings, persistent Internet enterprises, apartments, and restaurants popping up. SoMa is also home to some of San Francisco's best nightlife, with bars and clubs that stay open late into the night.
The SFMOMA, the Yerba Buena Gardens, and Folsom and Eleventh Street are all centers of activity where you can find the most people. SoMa, as it's called, has a strong downtown atmosphere with a growing number of residential units and office towers going up. Market Street is to the north, Harrison Street is to the south, 11th Street is to the east, and Townsend Street is to the west.
Historically, printing presses, welders, motorcycle repair shops, and late-night dance clubs occupied SoMa. Thanks to local IT giants like Twitter, which has offices in the region, the Mid-Market district of SOMA has seen a construction boom in recent years. The result has been a more polished and gentrified area that is home to young professionals, artists, and tech workers.
Popular Places
Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center
Anyone is welcome to strap on their skates and experience the thrill of flying across the ice. San Francisco's only public ice skating rink is located in the heart of SoMa, right next to Yerba Buena Gardens. The rink is open daily throughout the winter, offering both skating and bowling.
Crown Point Press
A San Francisco institution in the heart of SoMa. This fine arts publisher specializes in limited-edition, artist-made prints, and books. They also offer public programs, including artist talks and exhibitions in their on-site gallery. Crown Point has a rich art history, having housed several of the Bay Area's most well-known painters, including Richard Diebenkorn and William T Wiley.
The Contemporary Jewish Museum
The Museum's unique architecture is a reflection of its mission to challenge perceptions of Jewish culture, art, and history. The Museum houses exhibitions and public programming that explore the contemporary Jewish experience.
Barbary Coast
The Barbary Coast was the red light area of San Francisco in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The area was home to brothels, dance halls, and rowdy bars. Today, the Barbary Coast is a historic district with several bars and nightclubs. The Barbary Coast Trail is a walking trail that runs through the district, with historic markers that recount the area's colorful past.