Stefanie from San Francisco

About me I grew up in Vacaville, 45 miles east of San Francisco, and moved back to San Francisco 3 years ago after spending 8 years in Washington, DC. While I was on the East Coast, the Bay Area was never far from my heart or email exchanges. People would constantly ask me, “What unique things should I do when I visit San Francisco?” I would write back pages and pages of suggest...

Jun 10, 2025

Bernal Heights San Francisco

Hike to 360˚ views

""Bernal Heights" Park San Francisco is located atop a giant hill. A short walk for the Mission, Bernal Heights offers a 360 degree view of San Francisco."

Bernal Heights Park is located atop a giant hill. Depending on where you hail from, it might seem like a mountain. Bernal Heights was established as a neighborhood in the late 1800s when the population of San Francisco exploded due to the Gold Rush. Unlike most neighborhoods that were destroyed during the infamous 1906 earthquake, Bernal Heights remained mostly intact.

A short walk for the Mission, Bernal Heights offers 360 degree view of San Francisco. On a clear day you can see the Pacific Ocean, the Bay, Golden Gate Bridge and San Bruno Mountain.

Have you ever wondered how the streets and avenues can have the same numbers? One of the coolest things are the view, is seeing how the whole city grid is laid out. And how the best attempt at city planning is thwarted by hills popping up in the middle of the grid.

There are a couple different access points to the park, so make sure you remember which one you came in if you want to go back down the same way. My favorite access point is Esmeralda Street. This route weaves up public staircases that connect through a series of public parks. It is pretty steep so make sure you are dressed in comfortable clothes and can climb stairs for 20-30 minutes.

Amsterdam

Antwerp

Art & culture

About this spot

Bernal Heights Blvd

US$

free

Find your way with 157 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our San Francisco guide.

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in San Francisco

Mt. Davidson

A Great Hike on a Foggy Day

It's an easy hike with trees, ferns, and other bits of nature surrounding the trail. If you stop and listen, you will hear… nothing.

Relaxing

Kathleen

Messmer

Jul 6, 2025

Hook Fish Co

Fish tacos in the Sunset Avenues

"Hook Fish Co" in San Francisco is deep in the Sunset Avenues and is perfect for when you have a hankering for some scrumptious fish tacos!

Restaurants

Snacks

Brooke

Ekdahl

Jul 6, 2025

City Hall

Architectural marvel with seismic past

The building of the City Hall itself is an architectural wonder. Stand below the dome and wander through the main floor, which is open to the public!

Art & culture

Marcus

D'Avignon

Jul 3, 2025

Coffee in the Park

Coffee and park goers

I love coming to Alamo Square in San Francisco and getting a yummy park coffee from Lady Falcon Coffee Club and their converted 1940s bread truck!

"Park Life" in San Francisco is an art gallery space with fun arts & crafts supplies and home décor that will jazz up your home! So much to enjoy here...

Art & culture

Shopping

Brooke

Ekdahl

Jul 2, 2025

Pearl 6101

California Mediterranean dining

"Pearl 6161" is a restaurant in San Francisco in an old laundromat. Its Mediterranean-meets-California vibe, the high ceiling and the tiles... I'm in love!

Bars

Restaurants

Brooke

Ekdahl

Jul 2, 2025

Heading to San Francisco?

157 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Heading to San Francisco?

✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

✓ 157 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

App Download

.single-jet-popup{--wpr-bg-81748989-4cfe-4965-a93e-7560e0c52963: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-popup/assets/image/transparent.jpg');}.elementor-widget-jet-map .jet-map-message .jet-map-message__dammy-map{--wpr-bg-ca70e630-716d-49a5-a98e-ab347070b72e: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-elements/assets/images/dummy-map.png');}.jet-image-accordion__item-loader span{--wpr-bg-0317b316-eed0-42a3-9817-73a357fd4da3: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-tabs/assets/images/spinner-32.svg');}.chosen-container-single .chosen-single abbr{--wpr-bg-d0132879-3971-4b4c-a6ee-e13a27c983cf: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-container-single .chosen-single div b{--wpr-bg-938884de-966a-4045-9a51-6da76baf763b: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-container-single .chosen-search input[type=text]{--wpr-bg-c25c4e00-ba52-4cd5-ae80-2185bbe85fb1: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-container-multi .chosen-choices li.search-choice .search-choice-close{--wpr-bg-0fd413ea-3e7f-4b78-b5b9-d3e8edd51aec: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-rtl .chosen-search input[type=text]{--wpr-bg-dbd244e1-6684-489a-8364-1d6bb0625ad0: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-container .chosen-results-scroll-down span,.chosen-container .chosen-results-scroll-up span,.chosen-container-multi .chosen-choices .search-choice .search-choice-close,.chosen-container-single .chosen-search input[type=text],.chosen-container-single .chosen-single abbr,.chosen-container-single .chosen-single div b,.chosen-rtl .chosen-search input[type=text]{--wpr-bg-aa42382f-5894-4cad-ac98-c157c9c6bfb8: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite@2x.png');}.elementor-710 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5db2dae:after{--wpr-bg-28d1727e-55c7-41f6-af8b-a08c0743780d: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/grain-noise.png');}.elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-1ede5808::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-1ede5808 > .elementor-background-video-container::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-1ede5808 > .e-con-inner > .elementor-background-video-container::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-1ede5808 > .elementor-background-slideshow::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-1ede5808 > .e-con-inner > .elementor-background-slideshow::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-1ede5808 > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer::before{--wpr-bg-bfd1a025-5d47-4ae1-aade-4998bac5f42e: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/grain-noise-1.png');}.elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-6ec15a9::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-6ec15a9 > .elementor-background-video-container::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-6ec15a9 > .e-con-inner > .elementor-background-video-container::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-6ec15a9 > .elementor-background-slideshow::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-6ec15a9 > .e-con-inner > .elementor-background-slideshow::before, .elementor-61752 .elementor-element.elementor-element-6ec15a9 > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer::before{--wpr-bg-956e394c-ed4c-4b00-b342-231cfd5c1db8: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/grain-noise-1.png');}.rll-youtube-player .play{--wpr-bg-4829c70c-dffd-4762-9e88-5702a13fa5b3: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-rocket/assets/img/youtube.png');}.elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-42e5cd5::before, .elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-42e5cd5 > .elementor-background-video-container::before, .elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-42e5cd5 > .e-con-inner > .elementor-background-video-container::before, .elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-42e5cd5 > .elementor-background-slideshow::before, .elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-42e5cd5 > .e-con-inner > .elementor-background-slideshow::before, .elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-42e5cd5 > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer::before{--wpr-bg-2048b274-ba73-4f97-ad39-2b99b942c310: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/grain-noise.png');}.elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-396fe4c:not(.elementor-motion-effects-element-type-background), .elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-396fe4c > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer{--wpr-bg-399ad002-f5b7-40b9-a466-892bdfba6126: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img-20190925-wa0000_cropped-e1726825913724-1024x1024.jpg');}.elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-396fe4c:not(.elementor-motion-effects-element-type-background), .elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-396fe4c > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer{--wpr-bg-15036cc4-890a-4083-baf7-199ccae8909b: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img-20190925-wa0000_cropped-e1726825913724.jpg');}.elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-d71b397:not(.elementor-motion-effects-element-type-background), .elementor-47288 .elementor-element.elementor-element-d71b397 > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer{--wpr-bg-20e3a046-18f9-4b31-a412-641053ed1915: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/restaurant.jpeg');}.elementor-137002 .elementor-element.elementor-element-19ac1552:not(.elementor-motion-effects-element-type-background), .elementor-137002 .elementor-element.elementor-element-19ac1552 > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer{--wpr-bg-5a1092ca-0785-4cec-a507-b403e246e0b2: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Man-met-Bril-3-scaled.jpg');}.elementor-137002 .elementor-element.elementor-element-6ff85509:not(.elementor-motion-effects-element-type-background), .elementor-137002 .elementor-element.elementor-element-6ff85509 > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer{--wpr-bg-548ea068-0e89-4253-90e3-12a546649fa6: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/O-Ciclo-4.jpeg');}.elementor-137002 .elementor-element.elementor-element-19ac1552:not(.elementor-motion-effects-element-type-background), .elementor-137002 .elementor-element.elementor-element-19ac1552 > .elementor-motion-effects-container > .elementor-motion-effects-layer{--wpr-bg-e0b48fbe-c981-4204-8c7c-cdbd740a5ff5: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hot-Dog-Soup-scaled.jpeg');}

Download our app