This post was contributed by Lisa Crovo Dion
This little gem of a neighborhood can be easily overlooked in a town full of must-see destinations, but those in-the-know understand the cozy, village appeal of Glen Park.
Tucked between Diamond Heights, Noe Valley and Bernal Heights, the area is best known for Glen Canyon, a deep, rocky, unspoiled gorge in the middle of San Francisco, where owls nest and coyotes are regularly spotted.
The village is comprised mainly of two-story cottage-style buildings centered around a commercial district at Diamond and Chenery Streets. This self-contained enclave includes a public library, hardware store, diner, cheese shop and a handful of cafes. Of course, no decent San Francisco ‘hood should be without a dive bar (Glen Park Station), a good taqueria (La Corneta, www.lacorneta.com), bookstore (Bird & Beckett Books & Records, www.birdbeckett.com), and a gourmet market (see below)—and Glen Park delivers on all of the above. Beyond that, there are also a number of solid dining options from French to Sushi to Thai.
For those heading out to explore Glen Canyon, there are some choice spots for provisioning. The Cheese Boutique (660 Chenery St) is a sweet mom and pop shop that offers homemade hummus and other Mediterranean delectable as well as all manner of cheese.
Just up the street, Destination Bakery satisfies all carb cravings, both sweet and savory. Or stop into Canyon Market, (2815 Diamond St.,www.canyonmarket.com) for anything else you might need including a great selection of wine and sandwiches made on fresh housebaked bread.
Shopping in the ‘hood includes the well-curated Perch (654 Chenery St.), an “urban gift and home accents” boutique with jewelry from local artisans, cool children’s gifts, Italian soaps and soy candles.
Photos by Lisa Dion