I like Bernal, not just because this is where our home is. However, it is important to note that the neighborhood is quite large and is usually divided into North Slope and North Slope. However, there is also a West Slope, closer to Mission Street, and the East Slope, closer to Bayshore Boulevard. In addition, the St. Mary’s area is sometimes included in Bernal and the southwest corner.
For brevity and salient information, I will break up the parts of the neighborhood in alphabetical order below, but keep in mind that this article was written in November 2020. Naturally, therefore, conditions are affected by the pandemic.
Housing
When writing this article, housing information for San Francisco is still in flux. Home prices and rents have stabilized but are expected to change over the next few months. However, one thing we can share about Bernal is housing type. By and large, Bernal comprises single-family homes, but there are a few apartment buildings and “in-law” apartments. The latter are typically small basement apartments with entrances and backyard access, but the specifics vary.
Most people looking to live in Bernal want a yard and easy freeway access. In addition, many neighborhood residents work in the South Bay, some as far as Silicon Valley. Therefore, quickly jumping on the 101 or the 280 is a great advantage. But, of course, the same applies to commuters driving Downtown or the East Bay.
Safety
Bernal is a safe neighborhood, but there have been automobile break-ins, muggings, and even a famous police shooting of Alex Nieto in 2014. That said, you must research your specific area if you plan to move into the neighborhood. You can also just canvas the residents, which I did before buying my home there in 2000. One online source reporting criminal activity is located here: www.spotcrime.com
Getting Around
Bernal has some of the easiest highway access in the City, especially if you are located on the neighborhood’s southern or eastern sides. Highway 101 and 280 border the neighborhood on the east and south, respectively. You can also access Mission Street to the west and Cesar Chavez to the east. Unfortunately, both are major arterials in the City, which means they are often congested with traffic.
I prefer to bike, and since most of the neighborhood is on top of the hill, you coast down to the rest of the City and can bike down without breaking a sweat. However, you will have a climb on the way home after work. Still, it is a very efficient and, naturally, eco-friendly way to move around. You can go to https://sfenvironment.org/article/bicycling-in-san-francisco to plan your bike route.
Transit-wise, three bus lines serve Bernal:
- Bus Line 23 (and BART). It starts at the San Francisco Zoo and ends in the Bayview. It traverses Bernal Heights along Crescent Avenue and makes a convenient stop at the Glen Park Station, which then enables you to continue your ride to Downtown, the East Bay, SFO, and other parts of the
- Bus Line 24 starts in Pacific Heights and goes by Japantown, through Lower Haight, Castro, Noe Valley, and part of Mission Street, and then traverses Cortland’s entire length and ends at the intersection of Bayshore Boulevard.
- Bus Line 67 starts at Bernal’s southernmost streets and continues north, mostly on Folsom Street, but meanders northward until it reaches the 24th and Mission BART Station.
Shopping
Cortland Avenue is the neighborhood’s main commercial area.
There are several great restaurants on Cortland, such as Vega, Moki’s (my favorite sushi place), and 3 Cousins. In addition, several cafes serve good coffee and tasty pastries, such as Martha & Bros., Pinhole, and Progressive Grounds. I will not try to rate the food here for you since you can access many review sites. However, I will say that Cortland’s culinary and snack options are worth trying.
Cortland’s main food market is The Good Life Grocery, which has a wide assortment of produce, staples, and a decent butcher section. Additionally, there are convenience stores around the neighborhood. Although only available on Saturdays from 6 AM to 2 PM, the Alemany Farmer’s Market is a real treat. The market is located on a large parking lot at 100 Alemany Boulevard and offers various fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, etc. They also have ready-made food, such as pita bread, hummus, empanadas, pastries, coffee, etc. We highly recommend a visit to this market at least once. We tend to go weekly when we are in town.
Parks and Recreation
The largest park is Bernal Hill, located in the center of the neighborhood. And although it is primarily a huge off-leash dog park, there are plenty of areas where you can hike, get some fresh air, and take 360 degrees of the City. However, do not be surprised to see a dog sprint by as he chases down a ball or toy.
Additionally, there are three other parks:
- Holly Park — located on the eastern side of the neighborhood, this park is small and circular shaped, but it is nicely maintained, and, though not always welcome, you can take your dog for a walk as well. It is just that some people may tell you to take your dog to Bernal Hill. Also, they have a small baseball diamond for younger children at the top of the small knoll.
- Precita Park is a large, narrow rectangular park on the neighborhood’s north side with approximately one nice playground for kids. On sunny days, this small park fills up with locals trying to catch some fleeting rays. Also, there are two or three places to grab coffee and snacks around the park boundary. Officially, no dogs are allowed.
- St. Mary’s Park and Recreation Center — this large complex is located in the southwestern corner of Bernal Heights. It has an athletic field, baseball diamond, gymnasium, basketball, tennis courts, restrooms, a large dog play area, and a nice playground for kids. Check this park out. You can also have a picnic here.
Schools
A public K-8 school, Paul Revere, is located on the South Slope. On the North Slope, bordering the Mission District, St. Anthony Immaculate Conception is a private Catholic school. And on the southwest corner of the neighborhood, near Holly Park, there is Junipero Serra Elementary School, which is also public. Additionally, though officially located in the Excelsior neighborhood across Highway 280, the San Francisco School is a private K-8 school.
We recommend you visit www.sfusd.edu to research the public schools listed above and the enrollment requirements and schedule. For the private schools, you can research them on their web pages and a website titled www.niche.com, which provides basic information and ratings for each school based on parent and student reviews.
Greening Projects
Author Bio
Jorge Romero-Lozano, PE, LEED AP, PMP, is Greening Projects’ Executive Director and Founder. As a licensed civil engineer with a passion for planning, designing, and building green spaces, he provides both the technical expertise, as well as the passion for envisioning potential green paces as well as supporting neighborhoods, individuals, and other professionals who wish to improve their environments and engage their communities.