North Beach
North Beach is a neighborhood in San Francisco, CA. There is no beach on North Beach, but it does have a thriving and strong Italian-American population that has led to wonderful restaurants and cafés in the area. The Italian American community gave birth to "Little Italy," as North Beach has come to be called. North Beach, located between Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown and overlooking San Francisco Bay, is a vibrant, music-loving community with a strong focus on the arts and culture. The neighborhood is also home to the Beat Generation, with Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg having been fixtures in the area in the 1950s.
Although it may appear odd that a neighborhood named North Beach is not located on the ocean, there is a reason for this. This region was originally on the bay in the nineteenth century, but the shoreline has been artificially expanded over time as new land has been created. A stretch of today's North Beach was once part of the famed red-light district known as Barbary Coast, which included dance halls, taverns, clubs, and brothels and grew as a result of the Gold Rush and following population development.
The neighborhood has Italian origins, as seen by a large number of Italian restaurants, and this is because many Italian immigrants relocated to the region during the 1906 earthquake, including Joe DiMaggio's family, who, in addition to being reared on these streets, also resided here for a time with Marilyn Monroe.
Popular Places
Mara’s Italian Pastry
Makes some of the best cannoli in the city. It's open late in the evening for those who want to pick up some sweet treats on their way home from a night out.
The Beat Museum
After WWII, the Beat Generation was a group of authors whose work inspired and influenced American society. Through their creative movement, the group contributed to the shaping of American and San Francisco culture. The Beat Museum was established to recognize their contributions and to preserve the writers' memory. The museum features artifacts, documents, and recordings from the era.
Alcatraz
The forbidding sight of America's most notorious old prison is an unnerving sight, even when you know it's now a decommissioned tourist attraction. Alcatraz, once one of the most secure prisons in the US, operated from 1934 until 1963. The prison was designed to hold some of the nation's most hardened criminals. Today, tours depart from Pier 33 and begin with a live narrative of Alcatraz history. You can take an audio tour, wander the jail, and take in the sights of the Golden Gate Bridge lit up at night after being led to the cell house.