North Beach, San Francisco

Wander through the streets of North Beach lined with 1920s Victorian homes, Italian restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, and discover the secret spots of San Francisco's "Little Italy." This historical San Francisco neighborhood has been home to Italian American population and the hub of the beatnik subculture. Look for St. Peter and Paul Church, where Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe took their wedding photos, and the famous City Lights Bookstore, where Jack Kerouac used to come. Filled with restaurants, strip clubs, blues and jazz clubs, Broadway still boasts a vibrant nightlife. Time your visit around Father's Day weekend to enjoy one of the nation's oldest street fairs, the North Beach Festival. Plan your North Beach visit and explore what else you can see and do in San Francisco using our San Francisco online journey planner.