Haight-Ashbury is the neighborhood that gave the world the 1967 Summer of Love. Tens of thousands of young people poured into these streets of Victorian houses that year, and the area became the center of the counterculture. Today Haight Street still has tie-dye, head shops and street musicians, along with some of the best vintage clothing and record shopping in the country.
In this guide
This guide is part of our San Francisco neighborhood guide. The neighborhood borders Golden Gate Park.
A short history
The Haight was a quiet middle-class area of Victorian homes until the 1960s, when cheap rents drew students, artists and musicians. By 1967 it was home to bands like the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, free concerts in the park and the Diggers’ free food. The Summer of Love brought worldwide attention, and the crowds that followed changed the neighborhood quickly.
What to see
- The corner of Haight and Ashbury: the famous street signs, and the start of any walk.
- 710 Ashbury Street: the Victorian where the Grateful Dead lived in the 1960s. It is a private home, so view it from the sidewalk.
- 122 Lyon Street: Janis Joplin’s former apartment, a few blocks east, also private.
- Buena Vista Park: the city’s oldest park, a steep wooded hill with views over the city.
- Hippie Hill: a slope just inside Golden Gate Park where drum circles still gather on sunny afternoons.
Shopping
Haight Street is one of the best places in San Francisco for vintage clothing, with shops ranging from costume-heavy racks to carefully curated designer resale. Amoeba Music, at the Golden Gate Park end of the street, is a huge independent record store in a former bowling alley. You will also find skate shops, bookstores, smoke shops and souvenir stores selling everything tie-dye.
Food and drink
Cafés and brunch spots line Haight Street, and Cole Valley, just south around Cole and Carl Streets, is a quieter pocket of restaurants and coffee. The Lower Haight, east of Divisadero, has more bars, including Toronado, one of the country’s best beer bars. See our best bars in San Francisco.
Getting there
The 7 Haight-Noriega and 6 Haight-Parnassus buses run along Haight Street from Market Street. The N Judah streetcar stops at Cole and Carl, a short walk south. The neighborhood combines well with Golden Gate Park, and with the Painted Ladies at Alamo Square about 20 minutes’ walk northeast.
Frequently asked questions
What is Haight-Ashbury famous for?
It was the center of the 1960s counterculture and the 1967 Summer of Love.
Can you visit the Grateful Dead house?
You can see 710 Ashbury Street from the sidewalk. It is a private residence and not open to visitors.
Is Haight-Ashbury worth visiting?
Yes, especially for history, vintage shopping and records, and it pairs easily with Golden Gate Park.
Is Haight-Ashbury safe?
Haight Street is busy and generally fine in the daytime. Stay aware of your belongings, as with any busy city street.
Photo credits
Featured image: Tobias Kleinlercher / Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; What to see: Tobias Kleinlercher / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.