1. Start your day at Paper Son Coffee, a cozy cafe serving locally roasted beans and drinks infused with Asian flavors. Whether you're grabbing a pastry or waking up with some espresso, it's the perfect place to fuel up before exploring the East Cut.
2. Salesforce Park is a one-stop place for fun and flavor! Enjoy weekly and monthly programming, kid-friendly activities, the Bare Bottle Beer Garden, easy access to Andytown, the Transit Center, Fitness SF, and a delicious array of dining options including Tycoon Kitchen, Per Diem, Erik's Delicafe, Venga Empanadas, and Philz Coffee.
3. Make a lunch stop at Ebiko, where fresh seafood and refined Japanese flavors take center stage. From beautifully crafted sushi rolls to satisfying rice bowls, this sleek spot brings a modern touch to traditional favorites. It’s a go-to for a quick yet elevated meal.
4. Discover The Crossing at East Cut, your perfect destination to unwind after a bustling day with an abundance of exciting activities and events! At The Crossing, you can relish the renowned Gourmet Grotto and reserve Pickleball courts at your convenience, anytime during the day. Plus, there's a myriad of other options to choose from, including sports event viewings, delectable food festivals, weekend entertainment, community gatherings, happy hours, private events, and more!
5. Pause for something sweet at Koolfi Creamery, where every scoop is a celebration of flavor and craft. This small-batch ice cream shop draws inspiration from South Asian culinary traditions, reimagined through a modern lens. The result is a rotating lineup of rich, aromatic flavors that surprise and satisfy—perfect for a refreshing break.
6. Stroll down Folsom Street and dive into the shopping delights of The East Cut neighborhood. With Gap Inc. Headquarters at its heart, you'll find an array of retail treasures, featuring well-loved brands like Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta, ready for your shopping pleasure!
7. Enjoy a meal at Prospect that brings together the best of seasonal California cooking and warm hospitality. Founded by James Beard Award-winning Chef Nancy Oakes and partners, this restaurant serves dishes with locally sourced ingredients in a modern, welcoming space. Stop in for a cocktail or settle in for a full dinner— Prospect is sure to delight your taste buds.
8. Step into an iconic and historically significant locale at Hills Plaza, where the Hills Brother Coffee corporation laid its roots. It's the perfect spot to delve into the rich history of The East Cut while relishing lunch or taking a refreshing walk, all while immersing yourself in the fascinating world of coffee history.
9. Tucked down an alley in a converted 1912 blacksmith shop, Natoma Cabana blends historic architecture with modern bar culture. Skylights, exposed beams, and indoor greenery create a distinctive backdrop for its rotating cocktail menu and laid-back lounge seating. Great for both intimate gatherings and lively nights out.
10. Step into ZOE Cocktail Bar & Bites for a vibrant mix of cocktails, small plates, and music in a setting that brings people together. With bold flavors inspired by modern Mexican cuisine and a curated drink list to match, ZOE offers an upbeat spot to carry you through the evening.
11. Wrap up your day with East Cut Electric, a nighttime digital art projection that transforms the PG&E substation at Folsom and Fremont into a luminous work of art. Featuring a rotating lineup of contemporary artists, this installation brings color, motion, and imagination to the streetscape—offering a bold, unexpected way to experience the East Cut after dark.
Getting to The East Cut
To access The East Cut via transit, all San Francisco-bound BART lines access the neighborhood via the Montgomery Street station. Similarly, San Francisco Muni light rail lines K, N, and T can also be taken with exit via Montgomery Street station. SF Muni also features numerous bus lines running through the neighborhood. To access the site via bus from the East Bay, a new aerial bridge between Salesforce Transit Center and the Bay Bridge provides a direct, congestion-free connection.
About the East Cut
The East Cut is San Francisco’s fastest-growing new neighborhood. For years prior to its rebirth, the area was lumped in with SOMA, South Park, South Beach, the Financial District, or the Embarcadero. But as the neighborhood has redeveloped and come into its own, residents, businesses, and community organizations are embracing a new identity to distinguish the area from the rest of the City.
The East Cut has a storied past. After the Gold Rush, Rincon Hill, one of the seven original hills of San Francisco, became one of the City’s most elegant and fashionable neighborhoods. Then in 1869, city planners decided to flatten the center of Rincon Hill along 2nd Street, creating the 2nd Street Cut. While the Cut facilitated commerce between downtown and the docks at South Beach, the change scarred the neighborhood and it lost its cachet. By 1880 the wealthy started to leave Rincon Hill for more up-and-coming parts of San Francisco, with the entire area east of the 2nd Street Cut evolving into a gritty swath of industry and commerce.
The 1906 earthquake leveled much of the sector. When the neighborhood was rebuilt, it was characterized by warehouses and large business operations catering to seafaring and other industries. Then the community’s character dramatically changed again when the Bay Bridge opened in 1936. Finally, after the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 and the removal of the Embarcadero Freeway, city planners began to see the potential of creating a new mixed-use neighborhood in this neglected corner of San Francisco.
The 21st Century has brought monumental residential and commercial towers juxtaposed with iconic San Francisco landmarks such as Klockars Blacksmith, the Sailor’s Union of the Pacific, and the Bay Bridge. If you stroll around the East Cut neighborhood today, amid the hustle-bustle you’ll discover intimate public spaces featuring world-class public art along with surprise views of the Bay sparkling in the sunshine and the twinkling Bay Lights racing across the Bay Bridge at night. Where coffee once roasted in the Hills Brothers factory and seamen lugged goods from docked ships, it now have modern office towers that are home to some of the most innovative companies in the world. Longtime local residents and businesses are welcoming their new neighbors as the East Cut promises to be one of the most forward-thinking and hospitable neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Much like the City at large, the East Cut is animated by a vibrant cosmopolitan spirit that celebrates the grand reward of urban living – constant motion and evolution, serendipitous encounters, unanticipated inspiration. The East Cut has evolved from a colorful and rich history to epitomize the dynamic future of San Francisco.
A Perfect Day in the East Cut was curated by the East Cut Community Benefit District.
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Shop Dine SF is an initiative of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to bring attention to the local businesses, events, and neighborhood corridors.