SoMa, short for South of Market, was a district of factories, warehouses and workers' hotels for most of its history. Today it holds the convention center, many of the city's newest towers, its biggest museums and the ballpark. It is less charming on foot than the old neighborhoods, but its sights are among the best in the city.
Museums
- SFMOMA, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, one of the largest modern art museums in the country, greatly expanded in 2016. Its ground-floor galleries are free to enter.
- Around Yerba Buena Gardens are several smaller museums and arts centers, covering contemporary art, Jewish culture and the African diaspora.
Yerba Buena Gardens
A green block of lawns and fountains in the middle of the district, with a memorial waterfall dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. Good for a sandwich between museums.
Salesforce Park
A long public park on the roof of the Transit Center, opened in 2018, five stories above the street. It has gardens of plants from around the world, paths, an amphitheater and a fountain triggered by buses passing below. Reach it by the free gondola or elevators. It is free and one of the most surprising places in the city.
Oracle Park
The home of the San Francisco Giants, opened in 2000 on the waterfront, where long home runs land in McCovey Cove and kayakers wait for the balls. Ballpark tours run on non-game days.
Practical notes
SoMa is spread out; walk between the museums and take a streetcar to the ballpark. It connects to the waterfront on the Embarcadero, and to Mid-Market to the west. Some of its towers carry light art after dark; see Illuminate SF.
A short history
In the nineteenth century, South of Market was the city's industrial heart: foundries, warehouses, breweries and the docks, with boarding houses and residential hotels for the workers who staffed them. The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed much of it. For decades after, it was a district of light industry, printing works and cheap hotels, and from the 1960s large areas were cleared for redevelopment, a process that displaced many long-time residents. In the 1990s and 2000s, internet companies filled the old warehouses, and the district grew into the city's tech and convention center, with new towers, museums and parks.
A walking route
- Start at SFMOMA on Third Street; even a quick visit to the free ground-floor galleries is worthwhile.
- Cross to Yerba Buena Gardens and walk past the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial waterfall.
- Visit one of the smaller museums around the gardens, such as the Museum of the African Diaspora or the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
- Walk to the Salesforce Transit Center and take the gondola up to Salesforce Park.
- Stroll the rooftop park from end to end.
- Walk south-east to the waterfront and Oracle Park, or north to the Embarcadero.
Eating and drinking
SoMa's food scene caters to office workers, with good lunch spots, food halls and coffee shops on weekdays, and some of the city's best restaurants scattered through the district. Weekends are quieter, and some places close. Around the ballpark, bars and restaurants fill up on game days.
Practical tips
- SoMa's blocks are long and some are empty after office hours. Use transit or a ride to move between areas at night.
- The district has many of the city's business hotels, often cheaper at weekends.
- Combine SoMa with the Embarcadero and the Ferry Building, a short walk away.
Frequently asked questions
Is SFMOMA worth visiting?
For anyone interested in modern and contemporary art, yes. It is one of the largest modern art museums in the country.
Is Salesforce Park free?
Yes, and open daily during daylight hours.
Can I tour Oracle Park?
Yes, on non-game days. Book online.