Getting to Visitacion Valley
SF Muni's T Line has service to the Sunnydale Station in Visitacion Valley. The neighborhood is also accessible by several bus lines.
Spend a perfect day along Leland Avenue and Visitacion Valley, where the essence of San Francisco meets small-town allure.
1. Begin your day at Hans Schiller Plaza, the heart of our neighborhood. Soak in the morning sun as you sip on a freshly brewed cup of coffee and pastries from one of our local cafes. As you indulge, watch the plaza come alive with music, beautiful art and the weekly farmers market – a celebration of local produce, colorful stalls, and the harmonious buzz of our community.
2. Feeling adventurous? Embark on the Crosstown Trail, winding through the Leland Ave corridor.
3. Along the way, marvel at the incredible food joints that dot our streets: the spicy allure of Mexican tacos, the savory delights of Vietnamese pho, the hearty goodness of Colombian dishes, and the comforting embrace of traditional Chinese delicacies. Each cuisine tells a story, and each bite transports you to a different part of the world.
4. When your feet bring you back to Hans Schiller Plaza, take a detour through the greenway. Next door, you’ll discover local artists showcasing their masterpieces – a testament to our neighborhood's rich talent and creativity.
5. As the sun begins to set, the Visitacion Valley Light Festival illuminates our streets. This is not just a display of lights; it's a symphony of colors, stories, and emotions (Nov 10 & 11, 2023). In the midst of this radiant celebration, make your way back to Hans Schiller Plaza.
6. The gentle evening breeze, the soft hum of chatter, and the mosaic of lights from the festival create the perfect ambiance to sit back, relish a meal from one of our local eateries, and reflect on the magic of the day.
Businesses to visit in Visitacion Valley
Businesses to visit in Visitacion Valley
About Visitacion Valley
Visitacion Valley, in the southeast corner of San Francisco, is one of the city’s neighborhoods whose name, and spelling, directly connects to California’s Spanish era. The sheltered bayside valley was home to two Yelamu settlements, Amuctac and Tubsinte, before the Spanish arrived and claimed the valley as grazing land for Mission Dolores’ cattle stock. In the 1830s, the new Mexican government granted the valley to American trader Jacob Leese as part of the Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe, La Visitacion y Rodeo Viejo.
On the main pathway up the peninsula, Visitacion Valley has served as a stop for travelers on horseback, stagecoach, locomotive, and automobile. Local inns and roadhouses began offering hospitality to travelers beginning in the 1850s.
Residents deeply ingrained with the sunny streets, with the astonishing diversity of cultural communities, with the mom-and-pop character of both long-standing businesses and newer cafés and delis, have the complicated feelings commonly associated with a small home town rather than an urban neighborhood. The valley is a village, a place of pride and belonging, a satisfying secret.
Read more about Visitacion Valley's history at San Francisco Heritage.
A Perfect Day in Visitacion Valley was curated by an emerging merchant association for the neighborhood along with Visitacion Valley Connections.
Visitacion Valley Light Festival, Nov 10 & 11
The 2nd annual Light Festival brings illuminated interactive art from over 20 local artists to the Visitacion Valley Greenway, a gem of San Francisco's parks. This family friendly event features live music, interactive art, and more fun surprises.
“Visitacion Valley Light Festival”
About
Shop Dine SF is an initiative of the Office of Small Business, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
Its aim is to bring attention to the local businesses and neighborhood corridors.
Spending money at local small businesses helps merchants, creates jobs, and earns taxes. It is critical to San Francisco's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shop local. Even a small increase can have a big impact.
Questions? Email shopdinesf@sfgov.org