Inn at Union Square

There's always something to do in North Beach, and much of the activity involves eating. The area is jam packed with cafes, restaurants, and bakeries, each one more appealing than the next. Years ago there really was a beach in North Beach. At the time of the Gold Rush the bay extended into the hollow between Russian and Telegraph Hills, though today landfill has pushed the waterfront farther north. The name North Beach stayed behind and came to denote a one-square-mile area settled by Italians who came to San Francisco after the gold rush and went into the fishing and produce business. Today North Beach is one of the city's most cosmopolitan neighborhoods. Its traditional Italian heritage shows on the picture.