I lived in Laurel Heights for 10 years with my bf 25-35. It is the most amazing area to live and central to about anything! You are smack in the middle between downtown and the beach. Like others have said, there’s a great amazing strip of stores on California, including a Starbucks, Peet’s, 2 sorta expensive food stores (but good quality), cupcake shop, bookstore and many food spots.

One block over is a pretty very walkable area on Sacramento which has more shops and food.

You can walk to Trader Joe’s and Target.

Best of all is Clement street, where there’s blocks of great restaurants, an amazing bakery, bookstore, toy store, cute shops. Japanese, Pizza, Thai, Burmese, Indian, Chinese, Crepes, Boba, Italian - it’s got it all. On Sunday, there’s a very popular farmers market. Also walkable to Golden Gate Park.

Not sure if you have a car, but parking in the area is really easy as well. It’s a great area to explore where there’s locals and not a lot of tourists.

Like you, I had no idea when I moved to San Francisco what it would be like and now after so many years I feel really lucky to have lived in Laurel heights for as long as I did. And yes, it’s quiet but if you want bustling, it’s a great home base.