A West coast neighborhood has been named one of the coolest areas in the world.
San Francisco’s Glen Park is stealing the spotlight for its charming homes, locally owned boutiques, foodie scene and easy commute to jobs at the center of the city’s tech boom.
Tucked between Noe Valley and Bernal Heights, Glen Park got the nod from Time Out magazine, which ranked it among the 39 coolest neighborhoods across the globe.
The pockets of the world’s best cities were described by the magazine as ‘places where stuff like nightlife, art, culture, and affordable food and drink can be found on every corner and down every backstreet.’
‘First thing’s first: Glen Park is a good-looking place,’ the ranking said.
‘Hastily built after the 1906 earthquake, you’ll find turn-of-the-century architecture and Misson-style homes, not to mention lofty views with fog seasonally crawling up the street thick as a blanket.’
It’s so charming, Olivia Wilde chose the area to film her upcoming movie The Invite starring herself and Seth Rogen. The two were spotted filming scenes at the Glen Park BART station back in May.
Locals are not surprised the neighborhood is getting so much attention.
Glen Park has been named among the coolest neighborhoods in the world for its nightlife, art, culture, and food and drink
Families and young professionals alike are flocking to Glen Park, an area of San Francisco, for its small-town charm in a big city
‘In San Francisco I would say Glen Park is the best neighborhood location-wise,’ local realtor Simon Shue told the Daily Mail.
‘It’s right next to freeway access and it’s next to our subway system, the BART system, so it’s extremely easy to get around.’
Shue added that Glen Park has also become a prime spot for tech workers due to an extra perk the neighborhood provides.
Free tech shuttles for employees, now a common sight in San Francisco, pick up employees all over the city.
But, as Shue points out, Glen Park’s location on the southern edge offers something sweet — the ability to sleep in.
‘You can wake up at 9am instead of 7am because it’s the last stop before the area where all of the offices are located,’ he said.
Shue also said locals take pride in another detail about the neighborhood — there’s no Starbucks, Costco, or chain store in sight.
‘You won’t find chains here. It’s not the vibe,’ Shue said.
Local realtor Simon Shue said Glen Park is the best neighborhood location-wise in San Francisco, and is perfect for tech workers
A mix of classic and modern architecture gives Glen Park, where the median home value is $1.57 million, a lived-in charm
The higher streets in Glen Park offer beautiful views across the San Francisco as the day winds down
With parks, good schools, and a strong sense of community, Glen Park is popular with young families who can afford a home in the quiet neighborhood
‘Most, if not all, the businesses in Glen Park are mom and pop niche,’ he continued.
‘There’s no Starbucks, there’s no Walgreens. There’s only one cute street with all the shops and restaurants. There’s a market called Glen Canyon Market and that’s where everyone gets their groceries.’
The village-like charm mainly draws residents who are already living in San Francisco.
‘It tends not to be your first stop when you’re in your twenties, but as you have a family and make some more money people tend to gravitate there,’ Shue said.
‘Glen Park is one of those places that if you stay long enough, you’ll figure out it’s there and how great it is.’
But it is by no means a cheap place to live. The average home in Glen Park sells for $1.57 million.
‘It’s definitely up there in price, but it’s a really nice place to live,’ Shue said.
San Francisco has had one of the most expensive housing markets in the country for decades, and is currently experiencing a price boom as thousands of Artificial Intelligence tech workers move to the city.
The crown jewel of the neighborhood is Glen Canyon Park, which has a gym, rock climbing, tennis courts, baseball, soccer, trails, and a dog park
Golden hour brings a warm glow to the hillside homes and quiet sidewalks of Glen Park, a neighborhood known for its eclectic feel
Olivia Wilde loves the area so much she filmed her new movie with Seth Rogen there in May 2025 and was spotted at the Glen Park BART station
Glen Park’s small village vibes are drawing in San Francisco’s tech workers who can afford the prices there
Glen Park’s tree-lined blocks offer a calm retreat from the city’s fast pace since it sits away from the downtown hustle and bustle
A short walk up the hill from Glen Park rewards you with a clear view of the San Francisco city skyline
With the multi-million dollar incomes common in the tech industry, many of those moving to the city can afford to buy big.
The average home price in San Francisco as a whole is currently $1.4 million, according to Redfin.
The current demand is outweighing the supply, so offers have become competitive and new construction is booming.
In Glen Park, however, residents are able to enjoy a local feel. The area offers shops like Bird & Beckett Books & Records, a legendary store that doubles as a live jazz venue.
The name is an homage to jazz legend Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker and the playwright Samuel Beckett. Thousands of books line the walls behind the performers.
At Canyon Market, freshly baked bread and house-made breakfast sandwiches have become local staples.
La Cigale, a 15-seat French restaurant, is walk in only and opened last week.
Across the street, Cheese Boutique serves their popular $10 baguette sandwiches that locals line up for, and Glen Park Station is the local dive bar.
Eric Whittington, owner of Bird & Beckett Books and Records, sits outside his store in May 2020
Glen Park has no big box stores, just small locally owned businesses like dive bar and liquor store Glen Park Station
Glen Park is near transit like the trolleys and the subway system which make it easy to get around San Francisco
The playground inside Glen Park, a neighborhood known for its relaxed attitude and friendly feel
For nature lovers, Glen Canyon Park is the crown jewel of the neighborhood.
‘It’s a huge park, there’s a gym in there, a rock climbing gym, tennis courts, baseball, soccer, trails and dog walking. I bring my dog there all the time,’ said Shue.
It’s a rambling 66 acre space with a deep canyon, spring wildflowers, one of the city’s last free-flowing creeks, and wildlife including coyotes and deer.
Like many parts of San Francisco, Glen Park has its quirks, Shue said.
For instance, the public schools are part of a citywide lottery, so you may end up going to a school in a district that is not the one you live in.
‘It’s one way to address funding and issues like that,’ said Shue. ‘You can live on one end of the city and go to school on the other.’
The coolness survey considered culture, community, food and drink when choosing their top spots. In Glen Park, it turns out, there is a deep sense of community.
Back in 2012, when beloved Cheese Boutique faced eviction, the owner of the salon upstairs relocated her own business just to make room.
‘It’s just a super cute neighborhood with a good community,’ Shue said.
