Byron from San Francisco

About me The quote “It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious” by Oscar Wilde works for me. I grew up on the central coast and have always valued the California virtues of connecting with people and their stories - there is a reason Hollywood and Silicon Valley started here. Everyone has a story, but so few tell it well. For the la...

Mar 1, 2025

View Deck at UCSF San Francisco

Best view in Western SF

"When I want to know if the fog is coming in under the GG bridge in SF, I walk over to the public deck at UCSF's Helen Diller Medical Center..."

When I want to know if the fog is coming in under the GG bridge, or if Marin is sunny, or just want to see every neighbourhood, I walk over to the public deck at UCSF's Helen Diller Medical Center. Never crowded, the large deck wraps around three sides of the Medial office building at UCSF, with each side providing an unhindered view of SF. I will often stop here on a walk in the neighbourhood to check out the overhead view of Golden Gate Park from the Haight to the beach or see if the GG Bridge is clear or foggy.

When the University of California built its medical school, UCSF, in 1898, it was on a remote hill far away from most of the city, possibly to give students a chance to study, or maybe the land was cheap. But what they also gave was the best view in SF, which is still unobstructed by trees or tall buildings. It is a great place to see some iconic buildings and get a better idea of how close everything is in SF.

Art & culture

Relaxing

About this spot

400 Parnassus Avenue

US$

no-price

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Hits the spot!

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