Excelsior can be found along Mission Hill. It’s east of San Jose Ave, and west of John McLaren Park. To those who have never been to San Francisco before, those surrounding areas mean you’re going to be in a pretty busy part of San Francisco.

Some of the smaller neighborhoods in Excelsior include Mission Terrace, Outer Mission, Portola, and Crocker Amazon. The history of the area has seen these neighborhoods change dramatically, as the area as a whole became more and more ethnically diverse. What was a part of San Francisco that was home to the Irish, Italians, and Swiss is now a place that includes large Latino, African American, and Asian communities, making it one of the most diverse communities in San Francisco. Simply walk through the district and you’ll get a pretty clear indication of just how rich the melting pot really is.

The area prides itself on being low key, and you’ll find plenty of locally-owned bars, shops, restaurants, and other points of interest to explore. You may discover that the perfect way to enjoy the district is to grab a cup of fair-trade coffee, stroll along the city streets, and take in some of the breathtaking murals that make up the walls of many of the buildings in Excelsior.

If you want to grab a bite to eat, check out Joe’s. This isn’t only one of the best-kept secrets in Excelsior, it’s also one of the best examples of what San Francisco was like in the years before and just after World War II.