Clarion Alley Murals
Clarion Alley Murals
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Neighbourhood: Mission District
From burritos to bicyclists, the Mission is the foundation for all things hip in the city. Cultural attractions, an independent arts community, sumptuous street murals and a high density of bars and cafes make this neighbourhood a magnet for young people. While terrific inexpensive food is abundant, its top-of-the-line restaurants now compete with the city’s best for fashionable diners. Indulge as the locals do by heading to Mission Dolores Park, buy some ice cream, and savor one of the most diverse neighbourhoods in the country.
How to get there
- 16th St Mission • 3 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
86 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
36
Average
9
Poor
5
Terrible
1
skyisblu
Montreal, Canada2,516 contributions
Sept 2019
This is street art at its best - the alleyway is full of vibrant and expressive murals, and the variety is in a constant state of flux, as new ones are being painted on top of old ones, and on and on and on. If you are lucky, you will get to see an artist working on their mural. The place is still a back-alley, so it's a little dirty and seedy at time, but there are often groups of tourists walking through to admire the works, so it feels quite safe during the day. It's somewhere I would recommend returning time and again, as the subjects are always new!
Written 23 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D i
Tiburon, CA408 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Lunch with friends in the Mission District and love to stop and see these murals. It's in an alley with some who have their garage entrances opposite them, and also have their doors or walls painted too. We find the artwork beautiful and expressive.
Written 24 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nelleclaire
France26 contributions
Nov 2016
The Clarion Alley Murals are just a part of the larger myriad of artistic insights into San Francisco culture. More importantly, it shows the viewer what problems certain San Franciscans are facing in their city, as well as their accomplishments. I think some tourists limit themselves to snapping pictures because the murals are "pretty," but fail to pause and ponder the deeper meaning of these pieces. If you get a chance, this is a great - and free - way to experience the hearts and minds of the people.
Written 10 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kasventures
Houston, TX46 contributions
Sept 2019
The murals are very colorful and have some very deep messages. There's also some funny murals...you will definitely be entertained here. We did see some people hanging out and drinking there, after all it is an alley...but they were friendly, they didnt bother us. Take your time, walk the alley...might take you a short 10-20 minutes..but we thinks its worth it. Also, walk around the neighborhood, theres plenty of street art to admire and take some awesome pictures. Dont be here too late though...the homeless people start showing up later in the day/afternoons.
Written 1 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
apate2212017
Laguna Beach, CA111 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Our kids were at a local camp today so my husband and I wandered the Mission together. We walked through the Clarion Alley Murals and really enjoyed the artwork. The messages were clear and an excellent reminder of the struggles human beings face. I was moved by so many of the murals.
My kids are typically with us when we do cultural things, and we don't hyper-shield them from life around them. However, I will say that the alley is in desperate need of being better kept. There was a lot of trash and feces throughout the alley, as well as empty alcohol bottles, vomit, among other things. There were also several people openly drinking and smoking pot while walking through the alley at 10AM. At the beginning of the alley I was bummed our kids were missing the experience, buy by the end of the alley I was slightly relieved. We aren't prudes by any means, but I think the artwork displayed in the alley deserves a little more respect from the city and should be better attended to. Just my two cents.
My kids are typically with us when we do cultural things, and we don't hyper-shield them from life around them. However, I will say that the alley is in desperate need of being better kept. There was a lot of trash and feces throughout the alley, as well as empty alcohol bottles, vomit, among other things. There were also several people openly drinking and smoking pot while walking through the alley at 10AM. At the beginning of the alley I was bummed our kids were missing the experience, buy by the end of the alley I was slightly relieved. We aren't prudes by any means, but I think the artwork displayed in the alley deserves a little more respect from the city and should be better attended to. Just my two cents.
Written 14 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn G
Atlanta1,138 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
We visited both Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley in the Mission District. I would say that Clarion Alley is a bit more political and more central to the heart of the Mission District. We really enjoyed looking at all of the art and taking in all of the messages it conveyed. A great - and FREE - thing to do in the MIsson. Highly recommend!
Written 21 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mmd1330
5 contributions
Average at best. Don't venture out of your way to view. There are only four or five murals. Smells badly.
Written 24 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Highadventurer
Singapore, Singapore5,037 contributions
Nov 2019 • Solo
I went solo walking all the way from 4th avenue instead of a BART ride to Mission 16th St.
Walking around 4-ish pm and see plenty of loiterers and homeless people, I abandoned the walk as the y were a few people hanging about the alley and they don't look like tourists.
maybe a better is to visit earlier in the day.
Walking around 4-ish pm and see plenty of loiterers and homeless people, I abandoned the walk as the y were a few people hanging about the alley and they don't look like tourists.
maybe a better is to visit earlier in the day.
Written 22 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eatgosee
Dubai, United Arab Emirates4,695 contributions
Jul 2019
Museum here is used as a term of art (get it, term of art?). Anyway...
This is really the Clarion Alley Street Art collection which focuses on large pieces of street art which rotate regularly depicting & expressing topical, local issues onto the otherwise exposed walls.
If you are a fan of street art, it is certainly worth the detour to marvel, whether at some of the expressive portraits or colourful murals.
It’s free. You we welcome to bring cameras; again this is outdoor, public and available for everyone. You may risk walking passed it as there are very few signs nudging you in the right direction.
You should allow at least 20-30 minutes. If you do take photos, you may want to come around noon to allow for the best sunlight with light shadows cutting across your shots.
But not everything is roses. This is still an alley way in a slowly gentrifying neighbourhood. Each time I am here, there is someone who’s drunk shouting, singing or playing a guitar doing both. It’s an unsupervised location so keep your wits about you and keep an open mind.
This is really the Clarion Alley Street Art collection which focuses on large pieces of street art which rotate regularly depicting & expressing topical, local issues onto the otherwise exposed walls.
If you are a fan of street art, it is certainly worth the detour to marvel, whether at some of the expressive portraits or colourful murals.
It’s free. You we welcome to bring cameras; again this is outdoor, public and available for everyone. You may risk walking passed it as there are very few signs nudging you in the right direction.
You should allow at least 20-30 minutes. If you do take photos, you may want to come around noon to allow for the best sunlight with light shadows cutting across your shots.
But not everything is roses. This is still an alley way in a slowly gentrifying neighbourhood. Each time I am here, there is someone who’s drunk shouting, singing or playing a guitar doing both. It’s an unsupervised location so keep your wits about you and keep an open mind.
Written 29 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
misopiso88
Seattle, WA24,967 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
Clarion Alley has dozens of interesting murals done by incredibly talented street artists. Highly recommend if you are anywhere nearby!
Written 8 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
slmblack
Charlotte, North Carolina
Is there a fee or can you just walk down the alley?
Written 29 December 2017
There is no fee - you can just walk down, it’s a public street.
Written 17 August 2018
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