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Empire Park

4.4 (10 reviews)

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Mariela D.

I dedicate this amateurish Haiku to the hidden gem that is Empire Park: Relax on the bench Among the manicured trees Hidden from the world

Kevin A.

I came across this little park -though I guess it's more like a plaza- completely by accident when making my way up to North Beach from the FiDi. It's located on Commercial Street, Tucked in between Kearny and Montgomery. Lining either side of the entrance are benches and greenery, and overhead is a nice cross work of wooden beams providing some shade. At the back there is a sunny (or at least open sky) area with metal chairs and tables and also a little fountain on the wall. Empire Park is a very quaint space especially considering the otherwise cold financial surroundings. If I worked near it I would definitely make an effort to enjoy my lunch here. Gotta love the random public spots

Empire Park is a nice place to go for lunch. It's a POPO. To find out what POPOs are and where to find them, read my review
Ron W.

If you want to have a nice quiet lunch or maybe just need to go somewhere you can relax or meet someone, this is a great place for it. Nice gardens. The Empire Park is a POPO (privately owned public space) created by the city of San Francisco. New Buildings are required by law to have a certain amount of public space and there are lots of small parks, gardens, plazas, terraces, and rooftops that are hidden all over San Francisco, that are open to the public. You probably walk right by them all the time. You can look them up online at the San Francisco City Planning Dept. They have a good interactive map showing all the popos and listing what is there, things like public restrooms, tables & chairs, gardens, and etc, with a picture of each one. And pictures of the POPOs so you can see what they are like.

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Ask the Community - Empire Park

Review Highlights - Empire Park

Thank you to the owners of 505 Montgomery St for donating this open space.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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Mount Tamalpais State Park

Mount Tamalpais State Park

4.8(435 reviews)
13.0 mi

Just past SF this park has so many different trail options perfect for all hiking levels. The…read moredownside is this place gets PACKED! My sister and I arrived before 8am at the Watershed parking lot and barely found a space. We did the trail that took us to the West Point Inn for the pancake breakfast and round trip was close to 5 miles so it was a great workout. There's gorgeous views and well! On the way back to the 101 however it's a mess. The road on the way down is crowded with parked cars, which makes driving through challenging. That's the only thing about this park, other than that I'd love to come back in spring when everything is green and vibrant!

My first association of Mt Tam is from Cowgirl Creamery's best seller, Mt Tam Triple Cream with…read moreHeart cheese. Ever since then, I've wanted to hike this peak, today I have achieved my wish. Early June with mild coastal temp, 50s-60s. Started up Matt Davis Trail in the foggy forest, to Pantoll Campground, to West Point Inn where we can look down to the top of the fog layer, to the Fire Lookout building at the Peak. Then we came down reverse but split off to Steep Ravine and Dip Sea trail after the campground. I've also always wanted to climb that ladder. This hike provided views of the Pacific ocean on the West as well as views of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the East side. I thoroughly enjoyed the cool lush forest, but actually my favorite section was the single track along the slope of the open area after the Mt Tam State Park sign.

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Mount Tamalpais State Park - Yummy time for critters

Yummy time for critters

Mount Tamalpais State Park
Mount Tamalpais State Park

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Golden Gate Park - Shooters Shoot ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Golden Gate Park

4.7(1.4k reviews)
3.1 mi

Imagine a huge rectangle. Make it a park with grass and hills, flowers, trees, some fountains... I…read moredunno, throw in a big lake, some world-class Art and Science museums, and a dome where concerts and shows perform in the Summer. Let's also close down the streets from cars one day a week in the Summer so people can ride their bikes, skate, rollerblade, play and dance in the streets! How about on some warm weekend days we put huge concerts there that fill the grass for as far as the eye can see so people can bring all their friends to enjoy food, drinks, and music together. And the lake... let's make it so people can rent boats, and if they don't or can't row, they can peddle so they, too, can enjoy the waterfall and life on the lake! Let's also have beautiful statues around the park, definitely a Shakespeare Garden, and let's throw in something for garden lovers, like a Botanical Garden (a big one) and a Conservatory of Flowers. For more culture, let's add a Japanese Tea Garden with more lakes and flowers, and even a bridge in the shape of a circle. Let's also make this accessible to everyone, so some days, the museums are free (ie, usually once a month). And some entrance fees are lower for locals. (Check the websites.) Aaaaaand this is Golden Gate Park, and this is my favorite park in California, if not the entire country.

something for everyone…read more this park is big! don't try to walk it all, just go to wherever you're interested in. whether it's the museum, japan tea garden, botanical garden, boating at the lake, or choose any picnic spot. a sunny day here is really enjoyable, so much space to spread out from others and do your own thing great for taking a stroll and dog walking.

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Golden Gate Park - Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park - Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park - Golden Gate Park

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Golden Gate Park

Lafayette Park - Lots of monkey bars at Lafayette Park!

Lafayette Park

4.5(186 reviews)
1.3 miPacific Heights

We really enjoy coming to Lafayette Park Playground this morning for an early Easter egg hunting…read moreevent--it's quite unique compared to other playgrounds in the city. The layout is more challenging and perfect for little explorers who love to climb, balance, and stay active. My 3-year-old always finds something new to do, and it keeps them engaged for a long time. I also appreciate that babies aren't left out--there are designated areas where younger kids can safely play too. The restroom is conveniently located and clean, which is a big plus for families. That said, some of the rocky edges can be a bit risky for adventurous kids, so it's definitely a place where you'll want to keep a close eye on them at all times. The only downside is parking--it can be pretty tough to find a spot, especially during busy times. Overall, it's a fun and exciting playground that's great for kids of different ages, as long as you're prepared for a bit of supervision and a parking hunt!

What you lose in challenging elevation changes, you gain in stunning views and greenery. Lafayette…read morepark is an iconic location in San Francisco and a place that serves regular park goers, those who want to play tennis, those with kids, as well as our four legged friends. The park is beautifully maintained, with clean walking paths, manicured gardens, and enough benches and seating spaces. You can easily find a little corner to make your own for a bit. There is a rather large and modern kids playground and even more large grassy areas, both for those who want to lounge and for the dogs that want to run around. Overall, Lafayette Park is yet another gem that makes San Francisco special.

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Lafayette Park
Lafayette Park
Lafayette Park - Beautiful paths view of Sutro Tower, pretty area

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Beautiful paths view of Sutro Tower, pretty area

Empire Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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