Chinatown

San Francisco
Chinatown featuring street scenes
This historic and lively district offers an eclectic mixture of ornamental houses, exotic shops, restaurants, small museums, temples and food markets.

San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the most densely populated and vibrant urban areas in the United States. These narrow streets have lived through more than 160 years of turf wars, opium dens, bubonic plague, bootleggers, and secret clubs and societies to become one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Like much of San Francisco, the neighborhood was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake and fire.

Start your journey through the landmark pagoda-topped Chinatown Gate at the intersection of Bush Street and Grant Avenue. Ornamental dragons slither across this ceremonial entrance while traditional Fu dogs made of stone stand guard at its sides.

Look out for the many markets along Stockton Street where the locals shop. There are chickens, turtles and many other animals on display.

One of the attractions that also makes Chinatown worth a visit is the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. The factory is in a small building in a backstreet known as Ross Alley. As you approach, the sweet aromas will draw you in as fortune cookies of all shapes and sizes are made here. Although there are other fortune-cookie bakeries in the San Fransisco, this is the only place where you can watch them being made the old-school way: by hand.The term factory is misleading as it’s really two or three people folding cookie after cookie behind the shop’s counter. Best of all, fresh bags of cookies are available for purchase.

To get more of a feel for the real Chinatown, rather than the one on show for the tourists, don’t just stick to the main streets with their fancy architecture, dim sum restaurants and souvenir shops. Wander through the labyrinth of back alleys and side streets to immerse yourself in the neighborhood where the residents go about their daily business. Pop into temples, duck into the smaller stores and make a few discoveries of your own.

Chinatown is an easy walk from the downtown area. Streetcars also service the area.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Chinatown

Executive Hotel Vintage Court
Executive Hotel Vintage Court
3 out of 5
650 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA
The price is €141 per night from 17 Nov to 18 Nov
€141
includes taxes & fees
17 Nov - 18 Nov
Stay at this hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,183 reviews)
"The hotel is in a great location, 2 blocks from Union Square and close to public transport as well as tourist bus tour stops. The room was good, well-equipped and clean. Breakfast was good and very useful before a day sightseeing. It is not like a modern chain hotel but that’s part of the charm. ..."

Reviewed on 4 Nov 2024

Executive Hotel Vintage Court
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
5 out of 5
600 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA
The price is €442 per night from 26 Nov to 27 Nov
€442
includes taxes & fees
26 Nov - 27 Nov
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy 2 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"Very nice stay, clean room."

Reviewed on 9 Nov 2024

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Orchard Garden Hotel
Orchard Garden Hotel
4 out of 5
466 Bush St, San Francisco, CA
The price is €141 per night from 22 Nov to 23 Nov
€141
includes taxes & fees
22 Nov - 23 Nov
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,003 reviews)
"Clean, comfortable hotel in a great location in SF. The price was reasonable for a downtown hotel."

Reviewed on 8 Nov 2024

Orchard Garden Hotel
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, an IHG Hotel
3.5 out of 5
1500 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
The price is €132 per night from 1 Dec to 2 Dec
€132
includes taxes & fees
1 Dec - 2 Dec
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the pool ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,288 reviews)
"Quiet,clean and friendly staff."

Reviewed on 12 Nov 2024

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, an IHG Hotel
Club Quarters Hotel in San Francisco
Club Quarters Hotel in San Francisco
4 out of 5
424 Clay St, San Francisco, CA
The price is €113 per night from 21 Nov to 22 Nov
€113
includes taxes & fees
21 Nov - 22 Nov
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,030 reviews)
"Clean, comfortable and convenient to activities I was in city to attend. They do not have a parking garage but there is a public one right around the corner. I slept really good in the bed."

Reviewed on 12 Nov 2024

Club Quarters Hotel in San Francisco
Hilton San Francisco Financial District
Hilton San Francisco Financial District
4 out of 5
750 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA
The price is €113 per night from 25 Nov to 26 Nov
€113
includes taxes & fees
25 Nov - 26 Nov
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a fitness center, and WiFi (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (688 reviews)
"Staff was very pleasant and kind"

Reviewed on 13 Nov 2024

Hilton San Francisco Financial District
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Chinatown

Union Square featuring a skyscraper and a city

Union Square

4/5(287 area reviews)

Known for its charming cafes and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Union Square. Check out top attractions like Westin St Francis Hotel Glass Elevators and Union Square, and jump on the metro at Powell St & Geary Blvd Stop or Powell St & Post St Stop to see more of the city.

Union Square
Nob Hill showing street scenes and a city

Nob Hill

4.5/5(78 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants Chinatown and top sights from Grace Cathedral to SF Masonic Auditorium – discover Nob Hill, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Nob Hill
Financial District - Ferry Building

Financial District

4.5/5(37 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants Chinatown and top sights from Embarcadero Center to TransAmerica Redwood Forest – discover Financial District, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Financial District
North Beach which includes skyline and a city

North Beach

4.5/5(129 area reviews)

Travellers love North Beach for its popular shops, and you can see more of San Francisco by jumping on the metro at Columbus Ave & Lombard St Stop or Columbus Ave & Chestnut St Stop. You might spend time checking out top sights like Pier 39 and San Francisco Bay.

North Beach
Default Image

Russian Hill

4/5(4 area reviews)

Travellers choose Russian Hill for its pristine beaches. Hop aboard the metro at Hyde St & Filbert St Stop or Hyde St & Union St Stop and check out top sights like Lombard Street.

Russian Hill
Default Image

Downtown San Francisco

3/5(52 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums, popular shops and acclaimed art galleries, there's plenty to explore in Downtown San Francisco. Top attractions like Oracle Park and Chase Center are major draws. Catch the metro at Market St & 5th St Stop or Market St & Taylor St Stop to see more of the city.

Downtown San Francisco


Chinatown

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