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...

May 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

Find your way with 156 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

Trouble Coffee

Coffee with an edge!

"Trouble Coffee" in San Francisco is a category of its own. Let's say it belongs to the 'badass coffee' category. Makes me feel like a rough surfer girl!

Coffee & tea

Brooke

Ekdahl

May 8, 2025

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

May 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!

"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

May 2, 2025

Park Life

Fun gallery and unique store

"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

May 2, 2025

Heading to San Francisco?

156 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

✓ 156 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

App Download

.single-jet-popup{--wpr-bg-b1d85db4-bc41-4017-8b9d-26d9eccb0823: 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-fa020949-ebbe-4145-932c-ac335691a959: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-elements/assets/images/dummy-map.png');}.jet-image-accordion__item-loader span{--wpr-bg-01e7c007-25b8-4a27-8490-46dc8ffed79b: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-tabs/assets/images/spinner-32.svg');}.chosen-container-single .chosen-single abbr{--wpr-bg-653e8fb9-84b5-4791-a79d-1e5a028472e9: 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-c7233c6b-1f20-499b-8225-07616f3503e8: 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-8b389822-1902-4dd3-936e-86016f467684: 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-b2fb7b3b-90f0-4805-b847-d7594ac2e351: 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-00d5b792-8bfd-4b75-954e-4d7123f1ab0d: 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-b080f4af-260b-44b9-b069-c5cb6ebcfdd0: 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-34b0097b-793c-4f2f-b849-db77a121cf44: 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-39c83b47-78f9-4aeb-ba48-d2c333846d55: 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-d6417ee3-31b0-44a0-894d-2c582c6189c1: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/grain-noise-1.png');}.rll-youtube-player .play{--wpr-bg-30a70467-1ef0-426d-bc66-363f3b263863: 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-ac3adc11-86c7-49c1-ae0e-d94f6d4aa957: 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-e9ca64b4-46ff-42e8-a5f2-5403a57ef4cc: 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-8fbc3bf1-531c-4bc9-adb8-1aebbe29660f: 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-53959868-6886-456c-aa12-98e010a9919c: 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-7304fb65-6394-4176-94ea-d5128941c37e: 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-48e998e2-f14b-472d-99e8-2f7c31f3bba9: 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-41313132-34f3-465a-a9ea-ff9e3a4e6fb3: url('https://www.spottedbylocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hot-Dog-Soup-scaled.jpeg');}

Download our app