The Mission District takes its name from Mission San Francisco de Asís, founded by Spanish missionaries in 1776, the year the city itself began. For much of the twentieth century it was the center of the city's Latino community, and murals, taquerias and panaderías still define it, alongside the newer bars and restaurants of Valencia Street.
Mission Dolores
The small whitewashed mission chapel, completed in 1791, is the oldest intact building in San Francisco and survived both great earthquakes. Its painted ceiling and the cemetery garden beside it are worth a quiet visit; there is a small entry donation. The large basilica next door is much later.
Dolores Park
Two blocks south, Dolores Park slopes up towards the southern hills, with one of the best views of the downtown skyline. On sunny weekends it fills with picnics, music and people; on weekday mornings it is calm. The Mission's warmer microclimate makes it the best park in the city for sitting in the sun.
The murals
The Mission has hundreds of murals. Two alleys are packed with them: Balmy Alley, between 24th and 25th Streets, where muralists began painting in the 1970s, many works about Central American politics and community life; and Clarion Alley, between 17th and 18th, newer and constantly repainted.
Eating
24th Street is the best place for Mexican and Central American bakeries and taquerias; Valencia Street has cafés and restaurants of every kind. The Mission burrito was born here; see the Mission burrito.
Practical notes
BART stops at 16th and 24th Streets. Some blocks around Mission Street near 16th can feel rough at night. The Castro is a short walk west from Dolores Park.
A short history
When Spanish missionaries founded the mission in 1776, the area was home to the Ohlone people, many of whom were brought into the mission system and died of disease and hard labor; a memorial in the mission cemetery remembers them. After the Gold Rush, the area grew into a working-class neighborhood of German, Irish and Italian families. From the mid-twentieth century, immigrants from Mexico and Central America made it the heart of the city's Latino community, with the murals, shops and restaurants that define it today. More recently, the arrival of tech workers and rising rents have changed the neighborhood again, a story told in some of its newer murals.
A walking route
- Start at Mission Dolores on Dolores Street, visiting the old chapel and the cemetery garden.
- Walk south to Dolores Park and climb to the upper corner for the skyline view.
- Head east to Valencia Street for cafés, bookstores and independent shops.
- Visit Clarion Alley, between 17th and 18th Streets, for its ever-changing murals.
- Continue south to 24th Street, the heart of the Latino Mission, with panaderías, taquerias and produce shops.
- Walk Balmy Alley, the neighborhood's most famous mural lane.
- End with a burrito or tacos, or an ice cream from one of the neighborhood's well-known creameries.
The whole route is about two and a half miles and mostly flat.
Eating and drinking
The Mission is one of the best places to eat in the city at every price. Taquerias and pupuserías serve cheap, excellent food; Valencia Street and the surrounding blocks have some of the city's most celebrated restaurants and bars. See the Mission burrito for the neighborhood's best-known dish.
Practical tips
- The Mission is often sunny and warm when the rest of the city is foggy.
- Dolores Park is busy and festive on sunny weekends; bring a blanket and arrive early to get a good spot.
- Some blocks of Mission Street and 16th Street can feel rough at night; stay on busy streets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mission Dolores the oldest building in San Francisco?
Yes, the chapel, completed in 1791, is the oldest intact building in the city.
How do I get to the Mission?
BART to 16th Street or 24th Street, or the J Church Muni line, which runs past Dolores Park.
Where are the best murals?
Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley, plus the large murals on the Women's Building on 18th Street.