SoMa (South of Market)

SoMa has good museums and restaurants near the waterfront but serious crime problems inland. Stick to the area near the bay between Embarcadero and 3rd Street. Avoid the 4th-8th Street area entirely, especially at night.

SoMa is a tale of two neighborhoods. Near the waterfront and Embarcadero, it's fine - good museums like SFMOMA, decent restaurants, and regular foot traffic. But head inland toward 6th Street and Mission and you're in trouble. That area has serious drug problems, homeless encampments, and you'll see some genuinely disturbing stuff in broad daylight. The contrast is stark - you can go from a fancy museum to open-air drug markets within a few blocks. If you're staying here, stick to the area between the Embarcadero and 3rd Street. Don't walk around at night, especially not solo. During the day, use rideshare to get around rather than walking. Convention events at Moscone provide some security, but when those end, the area empties out fast. SFMOMA is worth seeing, just plan your transportation carefully.