In the 2001 movie The Princess Diaries, Anne Hathaway plays Mia Thermopolis—an awkward, socially invisible high schooler living in San Francisco’s Excelsior District who finds herself next in line for the Genovian throne.
According to Teen Vogue, the film represents a defining moment for an entire generation. I can relate. I often dreamed that Julie Andrews would whisk me away to my rightful place on a throne.
The Princess Diaries was my go-to sleepover movie. In the angsty weeds of childhood, Mia was my imaginary ally—the bestie I could count on as we scootered down Brazil Avenue and talked smack about Lana (the bullying cheerleader played by Mandy Moore).
Like other zany family comedies set in San Francisco around the turn of the millennium—Mrs. Doubtfire, George of the Jungle and Doctor Dolittle among them—it portrayed the city a magical and quirky place. There were sweeping bay views everywhere you turned, bay windows on every home and cable cars cresting the top of every hill. As a child of the Bay Area, I was keenly aware that The Princess Diaries was set in my backyard, which only amplified the power that the film had over me.
Now, 22 years after the iconic coming-of-age Disney film was released, the third installment is in the works.
While no release date has been announced, here are four notable locations from the San Francisco fairy tale you can visit to feel royal.
Mia’s House
📍724 Brazil Ave. | Excelsior District
Sliding down the fire pole to her kitchen is part of Mia’s morning routine as she gets ready for school. You can find the decommissioned fire station that served as the establishing shot of Mia’s home in the Excelsior District.
Lana Gets Coned
📍2601 Lyon St. | Marina District
Mia realizes her inner self-confidence when she stands up to her high school bully, Lana, smothering the cheerleader’s crisp white uniform with a chocolate ice cream cone. As her classmates chant, “Lana got coned! Lana got coned!” a pre-Grey’s Anatomy Sandra Oh, portraying Principal Gupta, shrugs and says, “Send it out for dry cleaning!”
While Grove High School isn’t real, the exterior film location of the high school is a real-life private residence on Lyon Street.
The Queen and the Corn Dog
📍The Cliff House | Outer Richmond
Mia takes her royal grandmother on a tour of her favorite spots in the city, including a corn dog stand overlooking the water. In an attempt to bond with her granddaughter, Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse disguises her disgust. “Let’s get another one then!” Mia exclaims happily.
You might not find a corn dog vendor near the cliffs overlooking Sutro Baths or even the Cliff House, but you can still take in the view and relive a memory of grandmotherly love.
Mustang vs. Cable Car
📍Broadway and Taylor Street | Russian Hill
Unlike Steve McQueen’s supercharged GT Fastback in Bullitt, Mia’s blue Mustang convertible is no match for the steep slopes of San Francisco. While driving unlicensed with her grandmother, the car rolls backward downhill right into a cable car. Thankfully, Grandma Clarisse wields her queenly charm to get them out of the jam.