Adam S.
Yelp
Every so often, I realize that I've stumbled into some Lucky-@$$ opportunities in my life. When I came to The City three years ago back in November 2011, I had no plan. Work brought me here in last minute fashion. I got a hotel room for a week, and hoped that I could find something fast. As it turned out, after ariving on a Thursday night, I had a place lined-up by Friday at 11am. Sure enough, it was near Polk and California. Thus began my time here in The Gulch.
For my purposes, I'd refer to Polk Gulch as O'Farrell to Filbert Street, between Van Ness and Larkin - with the core being Polk Street. As you walk North, the street evolves from gritty Tenderloin to rapidly gentrifying Tendernob to West Nob Hill and finally the much more posh-and-tony Russian Hill area once past Broadway. This corridor is one of The City's busiest and most lively, from the beginning of the work-day commute until 2am bar-close. Along it you'll find ample opportunities for Drinks, Dining and Retail. The scale and the continuous nature for blocks on end is really one of the better stretches in San Francisco. You'll also find yourself in one of The City's most central locations. There really aren't a lot of places that don't feel close (that you'd want to go to).
What is it that makes The Gulch great? I won't lie - It's the bars. It's like Grown-Up Disneyland for those of us who like to have the occasional cocktail, or the occasional year(s)-long-go-out-every-night-and-have-a-really-awesome-but-quasi-financially/morally/healthily-bankrupting-time. (Eat me, Auto-Correct, you made me earn that one.) OK, it's not as bad as all that, although that's mainly because if you're here, there's a pretty good chance you can keep your proverbial poop in a pile. I'll recommend pretty much all of the bars - can't think of a bad one. Want to see the Ken and Barbie Marina-types? We got bars for you. Want to lay in a waterbed and watch cartoons inter-laced with porno? We got one of those. Steelers Bar? Check. Four different bars from the Dr. Teeth Consortium? Check, Check, Check and Check. Just want Cider? We got a bar for that. Great Euro-Football Bar? We got a bar for that too. And, of course, there's Vertigo. If you can't find a bar you like in The Gulch, you may want to reconsider if drinking is really your game.
There's food here too. A walk through The Gulch will give you a huge range of options - some of which are really elegant spots. Lots and lots of diverse options. Many are open into the wee-hours. If you live here, you're also pretty darn close to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and a whole bunch of nice markets - some of which are really swanky. You'll eat well, if you want to.
Oh sure - there are a lot of good neighborhoods in The City. I love The Gulch. It is absolutely the best setting I've found for Adult-Childhood. I lucked out. If you are looking for a place to land, I won't lie - lock something in fast because the prices and the gentrification are coming at warp speed. If you're visiting and you're cool, check this neighborhood out - and BT-Dubs, if you keep walking far enough North, you'll hit The Bay and can go West to The Marina or East to Fisherman's Wharf. But, don't miss this spot.
I know we're all colored by our own experiences, but to me, this is San Francisco. I lucked out. Gulch-4-Life!
