Cheap hotels in SoMa, San Francisco

Neighborhood Description

Spunky SoMa sprawls from the Embarcadero to 11th Street. Its name, short for "South of Market," also recalls the days when this area was "South of the Slot," (namely, the "wrong side of cable car the tracks"). The 1990s’ dot com boom ushered in a wave of Internet start-ups and young creatives that cleaned things up, and now SoMa is hip with a downtown edge. There are still some sketchy portions, though, so it’s best to have a solid idea of where you’re going.

SoMa action is centered in three main areas. Giants fans head to South Park for the ballpark, and the well-heeled enjoy the splashy Metreon entertainment complex near Third and Market. The latter area also has a bohemian vibe, thanks to the Yerba Buena Gardens and assorted museums, galleries and quirky clubs. Then there's the industrial western edge, inhabited by the latest and greatest in trendy nightclubs. The very end of this zone (Folsom and 11th) is also the heart of the gay leather and S&M scene, mainly known for its racy Folsom Street Fair.