Zaferia

At a Glance 

• Neighborhood: Zaferia 
• City / ZIP: Long Beach, CA 90804 
• Property Types: Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Revival homes, duplexes, condos 
• Best Known For: Historic East Anaheim Street dining and nightlife corridor, Pacific Electric Red Car heritage, neighborhood murals 
• Adjacent To: Rose Park, Recreation Park 

Overview

 Zaferia is one of Long Beach's oldest neighborhoods, centered on East Anaheim Street and Redondo Avenue on the city's east side. Founded as its own small town in the early 1900s and put on the map by a Pacific Electric Railway depot, it merged into Long Beach in 1920 as "East Long Beach" — a name some longtime residents still use. What remains is a walkable grid of Craftsman bungalows and Spanish-style homes from the 1910s and '20s, with real yards and a street pattern built to last. 

A Neighborhood with a Story 

Few Long Beach neighborhoods carry as much history per block. In its early years, Zaferia was one of the only "wet" towns in an otherwise dry Los Angeles County, drawing Red Car riders from across the region to its saloons and storefronts for a nickel fare. That early commercial energy never fully disappeared — it just changed shape. Today's East Anaheim corridor channels the same draw with a different crowd: longtime dive bars sit beside new restaurants and design studios, and the neighborhood's murals nod openly to its layered past. 

Real Estate Snapshot 

Zaferia remains one of the more accessible entry points into Long Beach's housing market. Single-family homes typically range from roughly $600,000 to $700,000, while condos run $400,000 to $550,000 — both below comparable inventory closer to the coast. Lot sizes commonly run 5,000 to 6,000 square feet, and the architectural mix of Spanish Revival, Craftsman bungalows, duplexes, and small multi-unit buildings gives buyers and investors real flexibility. 

Lifestyle & Culture 

East Anaheim Street is Zaferia's retail and nightlife spine — Joe Jost's, a Long Beach institution pouring drinks since 1924, and Alex's Bar, a long-running live music venue, anchor the strip alongside newer arrivals like A&J Seafood Shack (Cambodian fusion) and Selva (Colombian). Good Time coffee shop and its mural wall, Urban Americana's vintage furniture, and the Compound Community Market round out the scene. Orizaba Park is the neighborhood's green space, with a skate park, playgrounds, and community center programming. 

Schools

• Nieto Herrera Elementary K–5 LBUSD 
• Jefferson Leadership Academies 6–8 B (Niche) 
• Wilson High School 9–12 A (Niche) 

Wilson High School has been recognized nationally for its rigorous college-prep offerings. Long Beach City College and CSULB are both a short drive away. 

Getting Around 

Zaferia's grid sits just off Pacific Coast Highway and Anaheim Street, with easy access to the 405 via Redondo or Termino Avenue. Recreation Park, the beach, and Belmont Shore are all within about ten minutes by car, and the neighborhood's flat, walkable streets make East Anaheim Street's shops and restaurants accessible on foot for most residents. 

Is Zaferia Right for You? 

Zaferia rewards buyers who want character and a foothold close to the coast without paying coastal prices. The tradeoffs are real — busier streets, a still-evolving retail mix, and homes that often need updating. In exchange, buyers get genuine architectural bones, a walkable commercial corridor with real history, and one of the last pockets of Long Beach where early buyers can still get in ahead of the curve.