Noe Valley

Welcome to Noe Valley

Family-friendly neighborhood with a welcoming vintage feel
Noe Valley is a historic San Francisco neighborhood with a friendly small-town feel. Framed by the dramatic hillsides of Diamond Heights and Twin Peaks, Noe Valley’s wide, stroller-friendly streets are lined with distinctive row houses form the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The neighborhood is centrally located, being bordered by the lively Castro to the north and the Mission District to the northwest and west. Despite its proximity to these bustling areas, Noe Valley has a peaceful atmosphere of its own that has made it very popular with young families. Diamond Heights and Twin Peaks insulate Noe Valley from the famous San Francisco fog, giving the area its unique atmosphere apart from the city while also making it one of its sunniest districts.

The community’s main commercial strip is 24th Street’s charming stretch of shops and restaurants with a classic Main Street America feel. Businesses here include stylish women’s fashion boutique Two Birds and 24th Street Cheese Co., which carries more than 300 cheeses plus other gourmet groceries, wines, and charcuterie.

Dining options include Firefly Restaurant, specializing in eclectic, internationally-inspired dishes made with fresh and sustainably sourced ingredients. La Ciccia a few blocks away on 30th Street is an intimate Italian restaurant serving delicious Sardinian dishes prepared by a husband and wife chef team. This delightful eatery pairs its meals with an all-Italian wine list comprised of 180 labels.

Noe Valley Farmers’ Market is held on 24th Street each Saturday morning all year-round. Vendors here sell organic produce, meats, and authentic Mexican and Indian eats with live music from talented local acts. There is also a Whole Foods Market on Elizabeth Street.

Upper Noe Recreation Center has outdoor tennis courts, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a baseball diamond, a dog park, and a children’s playground. Other local recreation spots include Douglass Park, which has picnic lawns, basketball and tennis courts, and a children’s playground. Smaller gardens, parks, and green spaces are dotted throughout Noe Valley.

Community-oriented local events include the Laidley Street 4th of July Parade featuring a brass band, children’s race, and hot dogs. June’s Summerfest is another popular annual celebration, with family-friendly games and contests and activities such as a petting zoo and horse-drawn wagon rides. Local favorite Mitchell’s Ice Cream provides free ice cream scoops to all Summerfest attendees. The sweet shop is located on San Jose Avenue just beyond Noe Valley’s southwest border and has been a staple of life in the area since the 1950s.