Hayes Valley

Welcome to Hayes Valley. To stand on these pristine, boutique-lined streets today is to witness one of the most remarkable urban resurrections in American history. …

We begin at Patricia's Green, the physical and social heart of the neighborhood. This narrow, rectangular park sits exactly where the concrete pillars of the Central Freeway once stood. …

Let us turn our attention to the historic housing stock that lines the side streets. Hayes Valley is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, and it features an incredible concentration of original Edwardian flats. …

Hayes Valley is renowned as a culinary destination, and we must pause at one of its longest-running and most beloved institutions: Absinthe Brasserie and Bar. Opening in the late nineteen-nineties, Absinthe was a pioneer, taking…

Just a short distance away, we encounter another culinary pillar with a drastically different vibe: Suppenküche. This establishment translates literally to 'soup kitchen' in German, but it is actually a phenomenal Bavarian…

Walk along Hayes Street, the primary commercial artery. You will immediately notice the absence of massive, big-box retailers. …

As we move toward the eastern edge of the neighborhood, we approach the cultural heavyweights. Standing sleek and modern is the SF Jazz Center. …

As our tour of Hayes Valley concludes, reflect on the power of subtractive urban planning. This neighborhood proves that sometimes, the best way to improve a city is not to build something new, but to tear down a mistake of the…