Grant's
San Francisco
Travel Guide

The Neighborhoods of San Francisco - SoMa, South of Market

The "South of Market" or SoMa district is an industrial area made up mostly of warehouses. However, the appearance of industry belies the active night life in the area. Numerous restaurants, bars and night clubs, make this a popular hang out for locals. Incidentally, while it may be abbreviated as "SoMa", I've never actually heard a local pronounce it So-Ma, just as no one who lives here would call the city "Frisco".

The neighborhood is bounded by Market street to the north, 10th street and the bay. In addition to the night life, this area has many residential lofts converted from former warehouses, giving the neighborhood an even more bohemian feel.

SoMa is the center for the leather culture segment of the gay community. This is also to place to go if you were thinking of getting a body piercing or body art, there are several establishments for those services here.

Moscone Center, Yuerba Buena Gardens, Zeum, SF MOMA and Metreon are technically south of Market, although they don't have the feel of being a part of SoMa. They are too sleek for the industrial feel of SoMa; they really deserve there own micro-district designation. Maybe SoMaBuNoFo for south of Market but north of Folsom.