Now: A lot of history remains preserved (or ignored) in this area - many old hotel and apartment buildings (some dating back to the years just after the 1906 earthquake) have survived without makeover or gentrification. Restaurant gems, ethnic offerings unlike any other place in the city, are sprinkled throughout. Just ignore the people hanging around the seedier intersections and enjoy the faded beauty.
Then: The name "Tenderloin", according to some accounts, refers to the cuts of meat that SF police officers used to buy with the extra pay they would get for working the neighborhood.
How To Get There: Neighboring Union Square, you can just walk west on any street near there, and you'll find yourself in the Tenderloin within a couple of blocks. You can also walk up from Civic Center.
Jones Street at O'Farrell, in the Tenderloin
Intersection of Geary Street and Jones
Jones Street at Geary
Dottie's True Blue Cafe, on Jones Street between Geary and O'Farrell Streets
Morning line to get into Dottie's
Nile Cafe, on Jones Street between Geary and O'Farrell
Nazareth Hotel, on Jones Street at Geary Street
Looking east on Geary Street
Boeddeker Park, at the corner of Eddy and Jones Streets
Eddy Street and the Elm Hotel, in the Tenderloin
Apartment buildings in the Tenderloin
Hospitality House, on Turk Street
Lahore Karahi Indian and Pakistani Restaurant, on O'Farrell Street near Leavenworth Street
Hotel wall advertisements in the Tenderloin
Original Joe's Italian Restaurant and Steakhouse, on Taylor Street
Glide Memorial Methodist Church, on Taylor at Ellis Street
Ambassador Bar on Geary Street at Leavenworth Street
Rye Bar, on Geary Street at Leavenworth Street
Kayo Books, on Post Street at Leavenworth Street
Cafe Royale, on Post Street at Leavenworth Street
Cairo Nights, on Geary Street near Larkin Street
A La Turca Turkish Cuisine, on Geary Street near Larkin Street
Geary Street at Larkin Street
Moulin Breakfast Cafe, on Geary Street at Larkin Street
Larkin Street at Post Street
Cafe Bean, on Sutter Street at Jones Street
Commodore Hotel, on Sutter Street at Jones Street
Comment about the Tenderloin here: