Welcome to San Bruno
Excellent views and gorgeous parks define this tight-knit San Francisco Peninsula city
​​​​​​​Offering a mild climate, diverse population, and situated along the peninsula near the San Francisco International Airport, San Bruno’s landscape features foothills as well as a flat region. Commuting to San Francisco or Silicon Valley is made easy with both BART and Caltrain stations located in the city. Headquartered in San Bruno, the well-known online video company YouTube is the city’s largest employer. A popular downtown destination is San Mateo Avenue, which features many unique shops and restaurants. San Bruno also offers many outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking trails and parks with great views of the San Francisco Bay.
​​​​​​​Searching for a beautiful San Francisco Bay Area city that’s well-regarded for its warm, inviting energy? San Bruno may fit the bill — and then some. Located just over ten miles outside San Francisco and with immediate access to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the small, lovely city is beloved for its quiet residential streets, admirable schools, and tremendous affability. The former site of the widely popular Tanforan Race Track was established in 1914, half a century after the railroad between San Francisco and San Jose was completed. Today, it’s a quaint yet vibrant suburb filled with modern, spacious homes and cozy, single-family abodes.
San Bruno is also known throughout the world as the global headquarters of YouTube. As such, it’s a dream location for technology professionals, particularly once you take into account its proximity to Silicon Valley and downtown San Francisco. Frequent community events and a bounty of outdoor fun amplify its allure, making it a solid choice for anyone who wants to relish the best the Bay Area has to offer.
What to Love
- 18 pristine parks spread across 71 acres
- An impressive array of casual, delicious eateries
- Less than half an hour away from San Francisco
- Great public transit, including Caltrain and BART
- Pleasant and peaceful
Local Lifestyle
San Bruno is very much a suburban city, which is a large part of its appeal. The tranquility it offers makes it a great place for urban professionals who want a restful home to return to after a day or week of work. And yet, technology professionals certainly don’t dominate. San Bruno is just as attractive to biotech minds, retirees, and students. The city’s array of coffee shops, bakeries, and cafes are often filled with locals; the same holds true for the city's abundance of green space.
Dining, Shopping & Entertainment
San Bruno and its neighbors are veritable hotspots for superb cuisine. Mazra, for one, offers marvelous Mediterranean cuisine in a casual, welcoming setting. From wood-fired kebabs to seasonal mezze plates, the restaurant has a slew of options to ensure your entire family is happy.
For a memorable evening out, residents of San Bruno frequently flock to Gintei Japanese restaurant, an upscale venue that serves outstanding seafood dishes. Salmon toro carpaccio, inventive and conventional sushi rolls, and prawn tempura are just a few delicious selections on their menu.
Sixteen Mile House in nearby Millbrae is the perfect place to commemorate a special occasion. The refined steakhouse features a bevy of sumptuous dishes. Here, you can start off with melt-in-your-mouth seared ahi, dive into an exquisitely-cooked filet mignon with peppercorn sauce, and delight in a slice of cheesecake for dessert.
​​​​​​​San Bruno is also home to two shopping centers certain to satisfy your wants and needs. The Shops at Tanforan is especially popular with locals. The place brims with well-known retailers, choice restaurants, and an immense movie theater.
Things to Do
One of the beauties of calling San Bruno home is that its prime location on the Peninsula renders nearly every activity imaginable completely accessible. In the mood to splurge on luxe apparel? San Francisco’s Union Square boasts Saks Fifth Avenue, among other high-end retailers. Up for an ocean adventure? Windsurfing, sailing, and surfing are just a short jaunt away. Whether you want a rustic escapade or urban glamor, San Bruno is near virtually everything.
But when residents want to keep it local, they need only to head to the Summit Loop Trail, San Bruno Mountain, which presents staggering views in multiple directions. The San Bruno Mountain Ridge Trail is more of a climb, but it’s well worth the vistas you’ll find (and the sense of serenity that will surround you).
​​​​​​​San Bruno is only a brief ride away from all of the joys to be had at Golden Gate Park, a 1,000-plus acre wonderland where children can have a ball on the park’s historic carousel while adults can peruse fine art at the always-incredible de Young Museum.
Schools
San Bruno is a top spot for parents with children. Children in San Bruno are served by the San Bruno Park School District. The San Bruno Park School District recently redrew its school attendance boundaries moving from five to four elementary schools (Portola, John Muir, Allen, and Belle Air).
- John Muir Elementary School
- Portola Elementary School
- Belle Air Elementary School
- Allen Elementary School
- Rollingwood Elementary School
- Parkside Intermediate School
- Capuchino High School
Prefer to go the private school route. Many neighbors love the below:
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​In 2023, the San Bruno average price for a single-family home was $1,374,179, a 5% decrease from the previous year.
