Chestnut Street is the commercial and social spine of the Marina, a bright, busy strip of cafés, brunch spots, bars, boutiques, gyms, and an old single-screen cinema. It captures the neighbourhood's particular flavour better than anywhere: relaxed, prosperous, and sociable, full of young professionals at weekend brunch and out for drinks in the evening — the most California-coastal stretch of the city.
It is a pleasant place to wander, window-shop, and people-watch, with the flat, sunny streets that make the Marina so walkable. Grab coffee or a long brunch, browse the shops, and head a few blocks north to Marina Green and the waterfront. Parallel Union Street, a short walk south in Cow Hollow, offers more of the same with a slightly older, more boutique feel.