Tenderloin

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Now: A lot of history remains preserved (or ignored) in this area - many old hotel and apartment buildings (some dating back to the years just after the 1906 earthquake) have survived without makeover or gentrification. Restaurant gems, ethnic offerings unlike any other place in the city, are sprinkled throughout. Just ignore the people hanging around the seedier intersections and enjoy the faded beauty.

Then: The name "Tenderloin", according to some accounts, refers to the cuts of meat that SF police officers used to buy with the extra pay they would get for working the neighborhood.

How To Get There: Neighboring Union Square, you can just walk west on any street near there, and you'll find yourself in the Tenderloin within a couple of blocks. You can also walk up from Civic Center.


  • Jones Street at O'Farrell, in the Tenderloin

  • Intersection of Geary Street and Jones

  • Jones Street at Geary

  • Dottie's True Blue Cafe, on Jones Street between Geary and O'Farrell Streets

  • Morning line to get into Dottie's

  • Nile Cafe, on Jones Street between Geary and O'Farrell

  • Nazareth Hotel, on Jones Street at Geary Street

  • Looking east on Geary Street

  • Boeddeker Park, at the corner of Eddy and Jones Streets

  • Eddy Street and the Elm Hotel, in the Tenderloin

  • Apartment buildings in the Tenderloin

  • Hospitality House, on Turk Street

  • Lahore Karahi Indian and Pakistani Restaurant, on O'Farrell Street near Leavenworth Street

  • Hotel wall advertisements in the Tenderloin

  • Original Joe's Italian Restaurant and Steakhouse, on Taylor Street

  • Glide Memorial Methodist Church, on Taylor at Ellis Street

  • Ambassador Bar on Geary Street at Leavenworth Street

  • Rye Bar, on Geary Street at Leavenworth Street

  • Kayo Books, on Post Street at Leavenworth Street

  • Cafe Royale, on Post Street at Leavenworth Street

  • Cairo Nights, on Geary Street near Larkin Street

  • A La Turca Turkish Cuisine, on Geary Street near Larkin Street

  • Geary Street at Larkin Street

  • Moulin Breakfast Cafe, on Geary Street at Larkin Street

  • Larkin Street at Post Street

  • Cafe Bean, on Sutter Street at Jones Street

  • Commodore Hotel, on Sutter Street at Jones Street

  • Sutter Street, between Jones and Taylor Streets

  • Bus stop at Sutter Street at Jones Street