Report and photos by Florian Guillemin.
If you have an hour...
SoMa has the advantage of straddling the city centre and its eastern fringe, which opens out onto the bay. The redeveloped quays provide an ideal playground for a jog or a stroll. Walk along the stadium AT&T Park and you can even head north to Pier 39, famous for its colony of sea lions... On the cultural front, the new extension to the SFMoMa has confirmed the museum's status as a must-see in the heart of SoMa. The Contemporary Jewish Museum has also taken up residence in the district, and will be joined in a few months' time by the Mexican Museum.
... or an afternoon
Alcatrazbridge, the Golden Gatethe Grace Cathedral and its altarpiece signed Keith Haringthe iconic cable cars: San Francisco's great classics are still a big hit. Summer of Loveit would be a pity not to stray into Haight AshburySan Francisco, the birthplace of the hippy movement, for a timeless stroll through Victorian houses and street art, rock'n'roll and peace & love... In a different vein, why not take advantage of a trip to San Francisco to soak up the local sporting culture? Boasting three recent world titles, the Giants (baseball) play in the south-east of SoMa. In basketball, the Golden State Warriors - twice NBA champions in three seasons - play on the other side of the bay. In a sign of the times, they will soon be moving closer to SoMa, with the inauguration of the Chase Center.
Shopping
San Francisco has two faces: one turned towards the future, hyper-connected; the other frankly vintage. A temple to high-tech, SoMa is home to shops selling a whole range of connected objects, generally concentrated in large shopping centres such as Westfield or Metreon. This mall is also home to the Target Open House, where the retail giant presents an overview of experimental objects. For those who prefer music to home automation, Haight Ashbury is the place to be, with its shops celebrating the hippie era. The highlight of the trip is Amoeba Music, with its plethora of vinyl records, posters and T-shirts...
