“San Francisco style on Night City’s waterfront. Real boats, real fish, real money — if you’re in the right part.”
Upper Marina is Night City’s premier waterfront district — a bustling neighborhood that blends architectural elements resembling San Francisco’s North Beach and Marina district. It’s one of the city’s more stable areas, where gentrified “International” style neighborhoods surround a functioning marina, all built on the bones of old industrial infrastructure.
📍 Overview
Aspect
Details
Zone Type
Rebuilding Urban Center
Threat Rating
Corporate (marina) / Moderate (industrial)
Population
Moderate, mix of wealthy and working-class
Character
Cosmopolitan, maritime, gentrifying
Security
Good near marina, declining inland
📜 History
Richard Night’s Vision
When Richard Night designed his city, he intended the Marina district to evoke San Francisco’s famous waterfront:
Design Element
Inspiration
Architecture
San Francisco’s North Beach
Waterfront
Marina District elegance
Character
Cosmopolitan, international
Function
Recreation, not industrial shipping
Pre-War Glory (2020s)
The Upper Marina and East Marina together formed Night City’s recreational waterfront:
Area
Purpose
New Harbor
World-class Mallplex (destroyed in War)
East Marina
Yacht clubs, Ferry Building
Upper Marina
International restaurants, boutiques
The main industrial port was deliberately placed in North Oak, keeping the Marina areas clean and upscale.
Post-War Transformation
The War destroyed some areas (most notably the New Harbor Mallplex), but Upper Marina survived relatively intact. Now it’s undergoing gentrification as old industrial zones convert to lofts and the marina remains one of Night City’s few functioning luxury amenities.
🏙️ Districts
The Marina Proper
The heart of the district — a well-maintained marina handling recreational vessels.
Feature
Description
Boats
Yachts, sailboats, some working vessels
Facilities
Docks, fuel station, boat repair
Security
Well-patrolled, camera coverage
Users
Wealthy residents, corporate clients, Nomad ships
The International Quarter
Diverse ethnic neighborhoods that give Upper Marina its cosmopolitan character.
Community
Character
Little Italy
Italian restaurants, old families
Various Asian
Vietnamese, Korean, Filipino enclaves
Mixed Neighborhoods
Multiple cultures side-by-side
Authentic Food
Better than most of Night City
The Gentrifying Zone
Old industrial areas being converted to upscale living spaces.
Transformation
Status
Warehouses
Converting to loft apartments
Workshops
Some becoming galleries, studios
Docks
Mixed use — work and recreation
Values
Rising, displacing old residents
Industrial Edges
The working-class fringe where original residents and businesses remain.
Feature
Description
Active workshops
Boat repair, metalwork
Working docks
Legitimate shipping
Affordable housing
For now
Character
Blue-collar, practical
🏢 Key Locations
Marina Area
Location
Description
Marina Yacht Club
Private club, wealthy members
Ferry Building
Historic structure, tourist draw
Waterfront Restaurants
Upscale dining, views
Boardwalk
Public waterfront access
East Marina Connections
Location
Description
The Piers
Mix of commercial and recreational
Boat Services
Repair, refueling, outfitting
Fish Market
Real fish, expensive
View of North Oak
Military base visible across the bay
Business District
Location
Description
Sea Trade Offices
Shipping companies, import/export
Small Businesses
Artisans, craftspeople, boutiques
Medical Technologies
Body bank on the waterfront
Fixer Offices
Several operate here
👥 Society
The Wealthy
Characteristic
Description
Residents
Marina condos, waterfront homes
Activities
Sailing, yacht parties, dining
Concerns
Security, property values
Attitude
Cultured, cosmopolitan
The Working Class
Characteristic
Description
Jobs
Boat repair, dockwork, services
Threat
Gentrification pushing them out
Community
Strong ethnic neighborhoods
Attitude
Practical, resentful of newcomers
The Visitors
Type
Interest
Tourists
What few exist in Night City
Nomads
Some operate boats from here
Business
Meetings, negotiations, neutral ground
Criminals
Smuggling opportunities
🚢 Maritime Economy
Upper Marina is one of the few places in Night City with significant legitimate water traffic.
Vessel Types
Type
Users
Yachts
Wealthy residents, corporate entertaining
Sailboats
Recreational, racing clubs
Fishing boats
Limited commercial fishing
Nomad vessels
Some families operate boats
Cargo boats
Small-scale legitimate shipping
Services
Service
Quality
Repair
Good, expensive
Fuel
Available, premium prices
Supply
Marine equipment, provisions
Storage
Dry dock, winter storage
Grey Market
Activity
Description
Smuggling
Boats can bypass land checkpoints
Meetings
Private spaces on water
Escapes
Water routes out of the city
🌆 Atmosphere
Marina Area
Boats bobbing in the water
Seagulls calling
Well-dressed people on the boardwalk
Security visible but discreet
Clean, maintained, pleasant
International Quarter
Multiple languages, multiple smells
Authentic ethnic restaurants
Community feeling
Mixed architecture styles
Colorful signage
Industrial/Working Class
Hammering, machinery sounds
Workers in practical clothes
Less security presence
Affordable eateries
Real, not gentrified
Sensory Details
Sense
Experience
Sights
Boats, water, diverse architecture, gentrification in progress
Sounds
Seagulls, halyards clanging, multiple languages
Smells
Salt water, fresh fish, cooking from restaurants
🎲 GM Resources
Job Hooks
Hook
Details
Marina Security
Something valuable to protect or steal
Smuggling Run
Get cargo in by water
Yacht Party
Information gathering opportunity
Missing Boat
Find where it went
Gentrification Dispute
Pick a side
Notable Locations
Location
Description
Marina Yacht Club
Private, wealthy, secrets
The Board
Bar where boatfolk meet
Medical Technologies
Body bank, cyberware
Little Italy
Best pasta in Night City
The Piers
Mixed use, opportunities
Water Routes
Upper Marina provides water access that bypasses many land-based security measures — useful for: