Homes for Sale in Haight Ashbury

Probably the most renowned neighborhood in San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury (The Haight) was the center of the counterculture movements of the 1950s and 1960s. It's a small, compact area of around half a square mile running between Stanyan Street and Central Street west to east and between Oak Street and Frederick Street north to south. The district is named after the intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets.

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Haight Ashbury Listings

Living in Haight Ashbury

When the Haight Street Cable Railroad connected Golden Gate Park with central SF in 1883, the district became a popular destination for those seeking entertainment and nightlife. The California League Baseball Grounds opened nearby in 1887, helping grow the district's popularity.

The area fell into decline during the Great Depression. Its multi-story Victorian houses became an affordable draw for transient people and those following alternative lifestyles, including the 1950s Beat Generation poets. The neighborhood reached its apotheosis in the 1960s when hippies gravitated to the colorful, lively district where head shops, music venues, bars, and clothing boutiques flourished. In 1967's Summer of Love, over 100,000 young people descended upon the area seeking free love, drugs, and rock and roll.

The district declined again from the end of the 1960s, it had a resurgence in the late 1970s and 80s when it became the epicenter for a comedy revival, with local clubs helping launch the careers of performers, including Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, and Dana Carvey. Although Haight-Ashbury is tamer than it was in its sixties heyday, it's still a vibrant and energetic neighborhood full of independent businesses, countercultural undercurrents, and an air of optimism. 

Below are some of the things about the district that preserve create the neighborhood's unique charm.

Haight Street Shopping

Haight Street offers an eclectic shopping experience, including famous record stores, tie-dye clothiers, tattoo parlors, and smoke shops.

Amoeba Music has been here since 1990 and describes itself as the "world's biggest independent record store." The store is known for hosting live shows from up-and-coming artists and a phenomenal array of vinyl records and other media formats.

At 1530 Haight Street, you'll find a community-run market (aka Gus’s Market) where you can buy fresh produce, locally roasted coffee, deli produce, and a fine selection of craft beers and local wines.

Notable Haight-Ashbury Homes and Residents

As one might expect, the Haight has several homes of 1960s rock legends, including the former residences of The Grateful Dead (710 Ashbury), Janis Joplin (635 Ashbury and 122 Lyon Street), Jefferson Airplane (2400 Fulton Street), and more. The latter home was a notorious party house and is an imposing edifice, complete with faux-classical ionic columns.

Jimi Hendrix lived in the neighborhood too, but the location of his pad is disputed (possibly 1524A Haight Street). Less joyfully, Charles Manson lived at 636 Cole, the Hells Angels had their HQ at 719 Ashbury, and heiress turned revolutionary Patty Hearst lived at 1235 Masonic.

Victorian Architecture

As well as the homes of hippies and artists, you'll find many exquisite, wooden Victorian homes in the neighborhood, in styles including stick, flat-front, and Queen Anne. Waller Street has the highest concentration of these. They're colloquially called "painted ladies" due to their colorful exteriors and sophisticated charm. The most famous example is slightly outside of the neighborhood on Steiner Street off Alamo Square.

Haight-Ashbury Events

The Haight is home to an annual Street Fair each October, a giant party celebrating Haight-Ashbury's history, culture, and current exuberance. Held almost annually since 1978, the event includes music, art, performance, craft, and cuisine.

Nearby Parks

The Haight is close to several large green spaces just outside the neighborhood. Most significant is the beautiful Golden Gate Park, adjacent and to the west. Golden Gate Park covers over 1000 acres and has everything you could want – a fine botanical garden, the de Young Museum (fine art including textiles, African and Oceanic art), ornate lakes, a golf course, and even a polo field.

As its name suggests, Buena Vista Park to the east of Haight-Ashbury offers panoramic views of the city and verdant oak groves. To the north is the "panhandle" part of Golden Gate Park, a mile-long green space.

Finally, to the southwest of the region, beyond Ashbury Heights, you’ll find the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, a deliberately wild, lush enclave full of shady trails and surprising vistas. It’s carefully maintained by the University of California, San Francisco.

San Francisco Realtors®

If you'd like to buy a house in Haight Ashbury, contact our San Francisco real estate agents; we're the LOCAL experts and can answer all of your home buying and neighborhood questions.

Please get in touch if you're thinking of selling your home in Haight Ashbury or the surrounding area. Our listing agents can provide dates and prices of recently sold units nearby and up-to-date local real estate market information.