NOPA/ HAYES VALLEY

NOPA, or “North of the Panhandle” became a commonly used acronym for the neighborhood in the mid-2000s and was cemented with the opening of the popular Mexican restaurant called NOPA in 2006. Situated near the geographic center of the city, NOPA’s boundaries are between Divisadero, Fell, Turk and Stanyon Streets. The Panhandle is a grassy park just outside the entrance to Golden Gate Park that forms the boundary between the Haight and the Western Addition neighborhoods. Destination-worthy restaurants have continued to open in the neighborhood and live music fans can catch shows from popular bands at the Independent theater.