One of San Francisco's stalwart neighborhoods has drawn new praise and acclaim in the latest ranking of cool neighborhoods around the world.
According to TimeOut's latest list of 40 coolest neighborhoods in the world, the city's Richmond District comes in at No. 27, just ahead of Vinohrady in Prague, Czech Republic, and behind Coral Gables in Miami, Florida.
Topping the list this year are Laureles in Medellín, Colombia; Smithfield in Dublin, Ireland; and Carabanchel in Madrid, Spain. The top American rankings go to Mid-City in New Orleans at eighth; Los Angeles' Arts District at 13th; and Fort Greene in Brooklyn, New York, at 15th.
Describing it as "a microcosm of what makes San Francisco so special: natural beauty, rich culture, and incredible cuisine from every corner of the world," the list points to everything Richmond District residents both celebrate and treat as commonplace: Ocean Beach, the Presidio, Golden Gate Park.
Of course, locals know San Francisco's Richmond District is really two neighborhoods.
TimeOut then distinguishes Inner and Outer Richmond's charms before nodding to the Geary Boulevard and Balboa Street corridors. The write-up ends with declaring the foggy hood "one of the most exciting places to eat and play in San Francisco right now. Just don’t forget your hoodie."
"It’s the worst kept secret in San Francisco: The Richmond is, indeed, the coolest," added Supervisor Connie Chan, whose district includes the neighborhood.
It's not the first neighborhood to catch the eye of publications outside the Bay Area. Last year's list showed a little shine to the Dogpatch, pointing in part to that neighborhood's dining scene and the newly opened Institute of Contemporary Art.
In August, a national rent report's release pointed out that neighborhoods in and just outside Downtown San Francisco may be struggling to attract tenants, but areas like the Dogpatch and the Outer Sunset are seeing rents skyrocket. Several of the city's microhoods also show promise.