812 Stanyan Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Outdoor seating at Cafe Cole.

Photo by Marlene Goldman, special to SF Gate

What's It Like?

Despite its proximity to the Haight, anyone who has spent time in this small community knows Cole Valley has a distinct character all its own. "Community" is the operative word in this thin slice of San Francisco real estate, bordered on the west by Stanyan Street and the Sutro Forest, on the south by Tank Hill and on the east by Clayton Street. Residents are largely families and young professionals, though there is no trace of the snootiness that has affected other parts of the city. Most of the businesses in Cole Valley are of the mom-and-pop variety, in lieu of chain stores or franchises, and shop owners are outwardly supportive of each other.

Food and coffee are the specialties in Cole Valley. In the three-block commercial strip along Cole Street and part of Carl Street, there are more than a dozen restaurants and cafés, some of which draw visitors from around the Bay Area. EOS, for instance, is considered one of the city's top dining spots, while Zazie is a magnet for locals on weekends for brunch. For historians and old-timers, traces of Cole Valley's past are still visible. Above the Crepes on Cole awning, along the Carl Street side, remains the old sign for the Other Café, a comedy spot where Robin Williams and Dana Carvey performed before they hit the big time. Even more historic are the photos in the Kezar Bar and Restaurant dating from the early 1900s, when the region was home to dairy farms.

Though most visitors never make it past the restaurants and shops, Cole Valley does offer dramatic views of the city. The best spot is atop 600-foot-high Tank Hill, named for an old water tank stationed there in the late 1800s. The eucalyptus trees there were planted after the attack on Pearl Harbor to hide the water tank from bombers. To get to the hill's summit and panoramic viewpoint, walk up Shrader Street to Belgrave Street and turn left, taking it to the end.

Cole Valley may not be one of the city's most bustling tourist destinations, but it makes for a relaxing respite from the Haight, and there are enough attractions for a day's outing.