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A Closer Look at SFCM's Home Base of Hayes Valley

SFCM’s campus is in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley, a bustling neighborhood filled with boutiques, restaurants, and arts destinations.

April 21, 2023 by Alex Heigl

More than just a home for music, SFCM sits in the center of the arts scene in San Francisco, in a neighborhood full of shopping centers, green spaces, and numerous dining options.

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Hayes Valley outdoor gym, coffee shop, and restaurant on a sunny day

Hayes Valley outdoor gym, coffee shop, and restaurant.

SFGate described Hayes Valley as “a vibrant, walkable district of small businesses, chic shops and sensational dining that’s all just steps away from San Francisco City Hall and world-class arts institutions like the SF Opera, SF Ballet and SFJazz Center.”

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Patricia's Green on a sunny day

Patricia's Green.

Patricia’s Green is an especially popular park with students as a nearby destination. “The best thing about living (at SFCM) is being right next to the symphony, the ballet, and some of the most amazing parks to be found in San Francisco,” said Athalie Vaval, ‘24 (Viola).

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Outdoor dining in Hayes Valley.

Outdoor dining in Hayes Valley.

Calling Hayes Valley “one of the best places to live in California,” Niche.com ranked the neighborhood “A+,” naming it the second-best neighborhood to live in San Francisco after the nearby Lower Haight, which is only about two blocks away.

“As a musician, I find that being in a place surrounded by art inspires me and energizes me to focus on my music and my instrument,” said Diego De La Cruz Iwadare, ‘25, (Violin).

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a student works at a cafe outside on schoolwork

If you’ve yet to visit in person, we invite you to explore our virtual tour and 360-degree images of performance halls, dorm spaces, and more.

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Artist David Normal's "Cathenge" installation in Patricia's Green. six large cat sculptures

Artist David Normal's "Cathenge" installation in Patricia's Green.

You can also review the Annual Campus Safety and Security Report here, which reports data gathered annually by Campus Security and the San Francisco Police Department. SFCM’s closed campus features around-the-clock security officers in our buildings and allows access only to students, faculty, staff, and guests utilizing badge access.

Learn more about student life at SFCM.