Best SF neighborhood for lifestyle and easiest commute to Emeryville? (apartment, neighborhoods)

[fobler]

Hi everyone. I did a search but didn't see a thread directly on point. I'd appreciate your help.

I moved to SF (Pac Heights) 5 months ago and just accepted a job in Emeryville. I want to move to a different apartment, and I'd appreciate advice on which neighborhood in SF would be best for my daily Bay Bridge commute and for me in general. I have some ideas, but not being an old hand in SF, I want to get as much info as possible. I'm familiar with Pac Heights and some of the surrounding hoods, but below Market, I'm not up to speed.

If I were basing the decision solely on commute, I'd probably go for Noe Valley, Potrero Hill or the Mission. But I'm single in my late 30s, and while I'm not interested in going to crazy Mission bars every night, I'm not necessarily wanting the baby stroller lifestyle of Noe Valley or the isolation of Potrero Hill.

Of course, these are simply my impressions of these neighborhoods after talking to various people, so if I'm wrong please let me know. Some people have recommended Russian Hill or the TenderNob, but I worry about access to the Bay Bridge being a nightmare like it is from Pac Heights.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

[mayorhaggar]

How about the area of the Mission around Dolores Park and the Duboce Triangle? It's not grubby and dirty and crime-ridden and noisy like around Mission St., it's not as stroller mom-ish as Noe Valley, there's a ton of great restaurants, it's pretty sunny, and it can be quiet if you get off the main streets. Street parking is not great but it's doable, I imagine it's much easier than around Russian Hill and Nob Hill.

Could also look at SOMA but I've never really liked that area.

[fobler]

Thanks... that's definitely an area I'm looking at.