Let me know when you figure out how to get there. Couldn't find any entrance. Recommend just going to the roof tab bar at the hotel across the street read more

Hot tip - glad to see the food courts re-opened, but still iffy about maybe unmasking and enjoying food indoors? Well, follow the arrows on the floor as they wind toward the elevator the Sky Terrace! Nobody seems to know about it, despite all the ads around, and I had an al fresco rooftop all to myself! Some views of the city but mostly roof machinery and an imposing dome. But fresh air - just me and the sky! read more

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Truly a hidden gem! The entrance is easy to miss but it's definitely on Market St between the main entrance to the Westfield Mall and Walgreens. Proceed to the lobby and meet the guard at registration area to show your ID. You will escorted to the elevator that will take you to the 9th floor where the open terrace is. It's pretty good size with lots of benches to sit on. It has tiled floors decorated with potted plants and trees. It's peaceful out there because It's not crowded. The city view is not the greatest but it's a nice place to get away the hustle and bustle of the city. It's a pretty cool place but I wish that there's more foliage and greenery for more shade. Because it's an open space, it could get really hot on summer days. It's probably inaccessible during rainy days as there's no shelter and floors might be slippery. Sky terrace is one of San Francisco's privately owned public spaces (POPOS). It's open only on weekdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm. read more

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Don't be misled. Some reviewers here have literally gone in the wrong entrance, have been asked to sign in, and have left a poor review due to them not paying attention. The 833 Market entrance does have access to the Sky Terrace elevator, but you'll need to sign in. You've gone to the wrong address, but they're being helpful. Go to the mall, 845 Market (the address listed in this very post) and head downstairs. The first elevator bank on the left is where you need to head! Go past the first two elevators and FOLLOW THE SIGNS to the rooftop terrace. There are FOUR more elevators down the hall. One is overtly marked and there's even a SPECIAL CALL BUTTON on that elevator only. The space is amazing, clean, and ready for you to enjoy your visit. read more

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That was one of my missing POPOs (privately own public operated -or something- venue). I am a fan of the rooftops and what different view from the city you can get from each of those. Plus the sense of adventure that comes along. I have been trying to come to this one during the months I was working in SF but it was closed for renovations. Yesterday I had the opportunity to go and wasn't disappointed at all. Super quiet, actually an oasis of calm in the middle of the chaotic traffic and transit downstairs on Market St. Not the usual terrace with tables to have lunch, some some benches and nice view to the classic dome and the background that get obscured by some more commercial style buildings. Pretty well maintained plants and simple and clean. Remember to check in with the receptionist as she or he will have to get you at the elevator. read more

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3/7/2023 yes you need to down stars and around the walls to the correct elevator ,, which does not work today so i found a security guard who said it had been closed for construction since 2021 , but ,, the RUDENESS of not having a sign, or an indication that this is the case, was super irritating. 3 roof Popos or what ever were not open today , so it is super irritating to look on line ,and it is such a wealth of MIS information read more

Psst, don't tell anyone but this is a great place to enjoy a lunch. Its entrance is rather hidden and you have to register with the security. (Make sure you have a valid ID on you!) Whether you bring your own lunch or buy it a nearby café (I can recommend the grilled veggie salad from SF Bistro), spending some time up here will surely re-energize you for the rest of the afternoon. Kudos to San Francisco and it's policy for companies to create POPOS (Privately-Owned Public Open Space and Public Art) read more

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This appears to be an example of public open space in urban development. It is part of a network of privately owned open spaces throughout San Francisco. There is a sign posted at the main entrance. You must have a valid ID in order to use the open space. Upon entering - the receptionist will log you in and record all key information on your ID (including your driver's license number!). I'm not sure why they need that information and if they're collecting data for other purposes. After you've been signed in the receptionist will walk you to the elevator and guide you to the 9th floor. The open space (Sky Terrace) is on the 9th floor. There are a variety of seating options. The views are okay. read more

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San Francisco can be very crowded, especially downtown, and especially around the Westfield Mall. If you want to get away from everything, though, this is the place to go. Plus, you get some pretty neat views of San Francisco. The Sky Terrace can only be reached via one elevator in the Westfield Building, and to get to that one elevator, you must enter the far eastern-most door to what looks like a business building. Go by the reception desk and take the farthest left elevator. It is the only one that goes to the 9th floor, which is where the Sky Terrace is located. There are a few plantings and benches up on this roof-top. You can take your lunch if you wish, and you are allowed to smoke up here. If you want to get away from the maddening crowd, this is the place. If you are an extrovert who wants to be around lots of people and activity, then head to Yerba Buena instead. read more

Thanks to a nice bit of investigative journalism by the Chronicle (http://www.sfgate.com/maps/cityspaces/) a buddy and I managed to find our way to the "public" space on top of the Westfield mall. I say "public" in quotes because they clearly don't want to make it easy. More of a bullet point on some planning document that a legitimate effort at providing some public service. But whatever, the secrecy was half the fun. Not a bad place to eat your lunch. Especially on a sunny day. Pretty good views, and of course it was mostly empty. But be prepared for a security guard that isn't really that thrilled that someone took them up on the offer. You have to use a special elevator and everything. read more

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This place is really cool. We went there for the first time this Saturday afternoon. After we entered 835 Market, we passed the empty guard station. No grumpy help today. :) We found that the three non-terrace elevators (two on the right, and one closest on the left) would only let us get up to the 6th floor, and we felt like idiots sitting there trying to get the fourth elevator to get us up to the 9th floor. This is someone's office. We rode back down and lucked out when someone else called the right elevator and it arrived. If you don't have as much luck as us, if the wrong elevator shows up, just hit the 6 button then get out. Then call the elevators again. Eventually you'll get the one in the back left. Aaaaaanyway, on this day it was clean, no trash. No people. And the noise from the ventilation system for the mall is not that bad. It's not exactly peaceful up there but you can definitely carry on a conversation with someone. The views are great. Potrero Hill. Sutro Tower. City Hall. The thunderdome. I'll go here again and bring some Super Duper with me. read more

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Some reviews here might be outdated, so I'll share my recent experience with this place. The bf and I followed the signs on the bottom floor (where all the food places are) leading to the Sky Terrace's elevator. There was a hallway near Walgreens that ultimately brought us to the elevators. We made the mistake of trying to go straight to the 9th floor but the "9" button wouldn't function without a swipe from security. So from the C floor, you should just go up one floor, where you'd find a check-in area for the Terrace. ID requested, also must be 18+ if you're alone. I wasn't disappointed in what I saw, but I wasn't blown away by it either. I still really enjoyed my time up there (stayed for like a whole hour lol) thanks to the sun, the spring breeze, and good company. Saw several couples come and go, a few people taking their lunches or napping, and a group of college students. Overall chill place to be when you have some time to kill. read more

Sky Terrace - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

After leaving work by 3:15 pm before Christmas vacation, I thought I use this opportunity to head to Sky Terrace to see what visiters love to see, the grand view of our city! I admit, it took me half an hour to look for an elevator which leads to 9th floor. It looked more like word search, very difficult to find a last word. Once on the 9th floor, I head outside to see the view was amazing, but slightly smaller than the one from City View of Metreon. A perfect resting area to eat lunch and relax until it closes at 5 pm. Just be sure to sign in first if you want to see the grand view. read more

Sky Terrace - Glad I get to see this view after the rain! - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Time in the city with a friend and we've eaten lunch and are off to the cartoon museum when we walk by the mall. Suddenly, conversation turns to the about of public space that a building is supposed to have and the Sky Terrace is mentioned. Apparently via SFgate the Sky Terrace is this really hard to get to public space that has breathtaking views. http://bit.ly/amTC0F Immediately, I'm intrigued. I covet the rare treasures of the city, and we decide to temporarily postpone museum time in pursuit of a secret. I read other people's yelp reviews via the iPhone app (shameless plug) and then we find a sign in the Westfield. Sky Terrace! Hooray, we must be going the right way. The other reviews say it's on the 9th floor, but every elevator we enter maxes out at 6. WTF?!?!? We decide to go up to the 6th floor, some SF state office and from there we hit up again. Bingo. The one elevator with access to the 9th floor. We both head up eagerly expecting some urban oasis in the midst of the bustling city. Something amazing, something rare, something special. Sadly we were a little underwhelmed. There were several empty tables and a plethora of chairs. We're the only people up here. While it is beautiful, it's just not quite as nice as showing up with the beautiful glass windows of say The View. http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-view-san-francisco-2 But it is a cute secluded public location that might be good for a myriad of occasions, say having a picnic lunch. I did manage to get some nice photos of it however. Just don't get your hopes up too high, after all it's only the 9th floor. read more

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Though my friend didn't think it was so amazing, I found it quite pretty. You guys can also enter through a back elevator on the fourth floor in Westfield - the elevator behind the main elevator. I would gladly come here for a city picnic or to simply read my book with a cup of coffee. Visit at least once! read more

Being a native of SF, I was tired of seeing the same old mainstream places. For one, everywhere else got a little dull and of course, all the popular places were always crowded with people. I decided to do a little research on the more "low key spots" of SF and stumbled upon this. Thanks to Manabu's clear directions, my boyfriend and I were able to find our way up onto the roof of Bloomingdale's :) It's a great feeling, knowing you can have some peace and quiet RIGHT IN DOWNTOWN. It's definitely a great spot to clear your head a little and just get away from the busy metropolitan city. I absolutely love views, so knowing I can always find a roof to go to satisfy my "view cravings" in downtown is just wonderful. Shopping right in downtown can be extremely exhausting and the food court and restaurants can get quite hectic and crowded. I will definitely go up to the Sky Terrace to relax after a long (window) shopping day since the rest benches in the mall are always taken. The food courts can get extremely full, especially during luncheon hours, so I will definitely get food to go and enjoy my meals on the roof. So the only downside of the Sky Terrace was that it was kind of dirty. I only went up once and I don't know how often the roof is maintained, but I did find some litter (that bothered me a bit). read more

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Since I moved to SF last year, I've tried to check out different public open spaces. So far, the Sky terrace is probably one of the most underwhelming POPOS I've been to. Pros: not crowded (at 1:30 pm), clean and conveniently located (for me). Cons: No shade available mid-day, not a lot of plants, no tables (just 7 benches), limited hours (M-F 9-5), noisy, and elevator doesn't work without security swipe. Okay but not great: the view. Since I had previously heard that the Sky Terrace was relatively unimpressive, I was actually going to check out the rooftop at 1 Kearny St. today. However, when I arrived at 1 Kearny the security guard said that it had reached capacity, and we wouldn't be able to go up for 15 minutes or so. Because of our limited window for lunch, we decided to check out the Sky Terrace and were pleased to find it very clean and practically empty. Saying that is kind of relative though, because it is a somewhat large space, but there were only 7 benches total and no tables. Thus, even though there were only 5 people including us on the roof, basically 50% of the seating was taken. Regardless, there is a lot of open space if you are willing to stand. Other than that, there are not a lot of plants: only some succulents in some large pots, and some vine-like flowering plant on the back wall. There aren't any trees, and there was essentially no shade from the mid-day sun. Other than that, although the Sky Terrace is the closest one to my home/work, I've had some trouble getting to it due to its limited hours (M-F 9-5). I'm not really sure why that is because a security guard sits at the entrance during weekends, too. To get onto the rooftop POPO, we entered on Market Street. It is pretty easy to miss the door, but it is right between Adidas and Aritzia, and there is a sign that says POPO on the right side. The security guard told us to just walk through some doors to the elevator and go to the 9th floor. There is only 1 elevator that actually goes to the roof, and it is the one in the back left corner. The other complication was that the elevator didn't really work, probably because it needed some approval by the security guard. Since we didn't really know that, we just pressed buttons until we started moving. Turns out that we just moved because people at other floors wanted to get on. Luckily some of those people were on the 9th floor, so we eventually made it up to the roof for lunch. Like I said before, the view is decent but not great. About 1/3 of the view is occupied by the exterior of the dome of the mall, 1/3 looks towards Potrero Hill/Bernal Heights, and the last 1/3 looks toward Market/City Hall/Japantown/USF. read more

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Was spending the morning in SF. While waiting for the shops to open at 10, I passed this sign on Market advertising the terrace. They insist that you sign in with the front desk security for some reason. She then took me to a special lift taking mento the roof and ..... ... A terrace. Underwhelming would be a kind description. Maybe they could have opened up the view instead of having those faux walls. During the day this counts as a mild diversion but not enough for a special visit. You get to look down on the Westfield dome and some offices with outside ping pong tables. Good thing is there are a couple of benches to sit and chill if you've been walking around all day. And that's really it. They've prettied it up with a couple of planters and cladding but really just ok. Maybe at night if there was a bar or a function under the stars... Good thing is you can exit the lift going down at the 4th floor and go into the mall before it officially opens at 10. read more

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A beautiful rooftop garden spot at the top of the Westfield Mall, the Sky Terrace is a good spot to take your lunch and a few friends. There's plenty of seating, largely because there's nobody up there - since, I suspect, no one knows it exists or how to find it. I myself was bequeathed the secret by a shadowy associate I know only by an electronic alias, and to the best of my knowledge she gleaned it from the original ancient text, the translation of which took many years and resulted in the deaths of no fewer than three assistants. But you...you can read about it at http://www.sfgate.com/maps/cityspaces/. Suffice it to say, you go in through the Market St. entrance at 835, walk through and get into the back left elevator, to the 9th floor. If you hit the "up" button and get a different elevator, you have to take that to the 8th floor and hit the "up" button there to transfer to the 9th. You can ask the security guard for help if you want someone to roll their eyes at you and get up slowly to point at the elevator. The spot is not perfect. All the HVAC egress vents and equipment thingies are up there, and even though they're shielded the noise is pretty invasive. But the views are nice, the spot isn't busy and it's well worth exploring, if only because it's your right as a tax paying citizen of this fine city. read more

Right when the elevator doors opened and I seen it all before me, I looked to the homie D-Money and expressed it with the most profound words I could muster at that very moment: "Oh snap playaaaa!" Blame the ghetto =) Great views of the downtown financial area, and other parts of the City in some corners. Plus it's public yet NO ONE knows how to get there so you can ease up and enjoy lunch; a smoke (nasty), or if you need a place to release your pent up frustrations (gas), I HEARD (not EXPERIENCED, cuz LiJH would NEVER do sucha thing playa *winkity-wink-wink*) that this places is ideal for it all. But you're probably asking "If it's soooo great Elijah, then why 4 stars only. (and by the way, you are SOO FIONE!)." First....I am pretty fly, right? LOL Second.. I used to work in the offices on the 7th and 8th floor. Pretty pimp right? It was! Only thing is, I know public means anyone, but DANG GINA! Can we get some kinda screening process on who we let in?? One morning, I get into the office only to be greeted by D-Money who had a great story: Some dude went up to the Sky Terrace before business hours, turned on the fire hose and then proceeded to run all around spraying water everywhere! Acting like "THE ROOF...THE ROOF..THE ROOF IS ON FIRE!" (LOL, sorry, couldn't help it. Blame the ghetto!). The best part though? HE REMOVED HIS PANTS TO DO ALL THIS. Guess he didn't wanna wet his slacks huh? HAHAHAH! So the boys came and took him away, but we were left with extensive water damage to offices on both the 7th and 8th floor. NO BUENO! Oh well. I'd suggest it to anyone if they wanna get away..literally. It's quite, nice, private. Just don't go up there playing fireman. Not the business people. DONE! read more

I got one phrase for y'all. Expectations kill. I would've probably enjoyed this a bit more had I zero expectations. I think Yelp makes it sound a little too cool for school. I actually had the most fun trying to get up to the Sky Terrace. Accidentally snuck into the elevators for the offices and a security guy came up to my friend and I and asked what the hell we were doing there when all the offices are closed. *oops* Like previous Yelpers have said, the signs that say Sky Terrace within the mall won't actually lead you there. Ya gotta walk out of the mall and walk back in since there's only one elevator that will bring you up there. And before you get to said elevator there's another security guy at his guard station who will ask you where you're going and tell you which elevator brings you to the Sky Terrace. The view is alright, nothing amazing or out of this world. It was pretty cool because you rarely get to see SF like that, but it's still not mind-blowing or anything. You get to see the outside of the dome and some buildings in downtown. It's pretty quiet if you go when there's no A/C on, like last weekend, but I don't really want to imagine how loud that A/C is, seeing as the best part of this rooftop is the peacefulness. It's a nice place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. And though the views aren't what I expected, it was fun making an adventure of it and wandering around in the Westfield building looking for it. read more

I was expecting a beautiful hidden garden overlooking San Francisco...Well it is a MALL roof with a nice partial view. There is a blower, which makes a ton of noise. I prefer the Crocker Galleria terraces far more welcoming at lunch time. The fun part is that you really have to know how to get there. read more

I'd passed by Sky Terrace a million times and thought it would have a spectacular view. But view is a solid 3 stars out of 5. There are plenty of benches that seriously need some shade. Some potted trees would make this a peaceful place to have some coffee and linger. However, if you want to sunbathe, this is the ideal spot. To access the elevator to the 9th floor, you have to show the security guard your I.D. read more

It's too loud and windy up on the exposed rooftop area. But it's never crowded. Great for a sunny day.

After reading Manabu M.'s amazing review of Sky Terrace, I had to check it out for myself! I ventured up to the 9th floor of 835 Market St. around 10am on a beautiful Tuesday morning. When I arrived at the top, I was delighted to see that I was the only person there! Sky Terrace has a few tables and chairs, nice nooks and crannies, and some amazing views. I'll certainly be taking my lunch up here, as well as taking friends looking for some places that are a little less touristy. Enjoy it! read more

Honestly, this one may not be worth the effort. I mean , it's nice, it's a public open space so you can take your food, Kindle, nail polish, laptop, whatever up there with you and kick it. It's almost always empty, so there's that. The machine humming drowns out any city noise that might make it up there, so there's that too. But I don't know. Finding the secret elevator in the camouflaged hallway to the secret door just to get half a view and a little alone time doesn't really seem all that worth it. read more

Comfy hanging chairs with a bit of a view to the south but the large buzzing of the HVAC ventilation system was hard to ignore. The location of the elevators that take you to the roof are located near the dome of the mall. read more

This place is SO cool. I went here with a friend, and it was really neat to go up and see a pretty cool view of SF, but the whole process of getting in is really neat as well. Highly recommend this!!! read more

If you haven't been around FiDi long enough, you ought to know of all the cool Public Spaces around the area. Sure, most of them are just outdoor terraces with patches of grass and small trees in between the gigantic monoliths, but there a few indoor ones, with tables to eat lunch on, or armchairs to take a power nap on. Personally, my favorite public spaces are the ones perched above the street and the millions of workers walking outside for lunch. Yep, the rooftops! As far as I know, there are three real rooftop public spaces. The Sky Terrace is one of them, and personally, it's the least impressive one. There's only a couple of benches and scant shrubbery. Most importantly (to me), the views are limited since most of it is taken by the big half-dome. On a hot day, it will definitely be the last place you want to be for lunch. However, if it's possible, this place would definitely be a great venue for private parties at night. Who doesn't like drinking and dancing under the stars?! read more

it's not the best view, but the journey here is pretty fun. i came here with my bf because...well, because i dragged him along. i wanted to see what it looked like for myself. and, okay. i wanted to feel like a secret agent on a secret mission to find this super secret place. i'd recommend this place to my friends just so they'd get a kick out of trying to find it! haha. be forewarned: the security guard is as nice as everyone says he/she is. (sarcasm, for the geniuses that didn't get it.) read more

Bring your earplugs! Talk about NOISY roof air conditioners. Don't plan to talk to your buddies here, rather shout at them. Views are nice. Plenty of seating and tables and not many people when I was there (about 20 minutes ago). I prefer the roof terrace at the Crocker Galleria, which is quieter and quite pleasant. read more

The Sky Terrace at the Westfield Mall, formerly the home of the Emporium. Back in the day, the old roof of the Emporium was the location of holiday carnival rides that was hoisted by crane every year until the company went out of business. It's not easy to find.To Access the Sky Terrace you'll need to access it through the outside building entrance on Market located on the far left side of where the building property line ends (next door is Walgreens). You will see a purple San Francisco State University Banner and the address 835 Market Street. This is also the entrance to San Francisco State's Downtown Center. Walk through the doors and down the hallway and you will see a security guard desk on the right. You'll know you are in the right building when you notice the SF State signage on the left just when you enter the building. Tell the security guard that you would like to access the sky terrace. You'll see an elevator bank to the left of the guard's desk. Take the forward left elevator and select floor nine (there will be the words "Sky Terrace" next to the button). This is the only elevator that provides service to the roof.At the ninth floor, just make a quick left and you are at the Sky Terrace.There are tables, chairs, and benches to relax upon, but there are no restroom facilities or any easy to access place to grab a bite.The view is good, and the most obvious thing you'll see is the dome that was there when the Emporium existed. You'll also get a view of the western skyline, including City Hall.If you need food or access the restrooms, go into the mall to the bottom level to access the Emporium food court. Due to the heating and air conditioning ducts being on the roof it can get a little noisy at times, so just listen to some music. Not a lot of people come here, probably because they either don't know about it or have trouble finding it. Good place to be alone with your thoughts, eat lunch, or just relax. You might want to take a few pictures too. This is a POPOS (privately owned public open space). Check out San Francisco Planning Dept. online for more info. read more

Sky Terrace - Westfield Sky Terrace Hard to find rooftop garden not used by a lot of people, good for serenity, lunch, or relaxing - Local Flavor Near Me - San Francisco, California

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So, I almost don't want to write a review on the Sky Terrace because i want it to remain a hidden gem of the Westfield Mall. What a pleasure it is to sit outside with no crowds, no one asking for a cigarette or spare change. Only one elevator takes you up to the 9th floor, so this spot really is only for those savvy enough to find it. read more

After looking up some Public Access Spaces I found this one. Checked it out on a trip to the mall. Definitely one of the less used ones. The other ones are in office buildings, so the people in them usually get lunch there. But still a great view of the city and the bustle below! read more

Honestly this is a good spot just to get away from the busy downtown on a hot day.

Pretty nice spot to relax for a bit while downtown. I only went up there once and that day it was quite windy, making it less pleasant than ideal. However, there was plenty of space and it was certainly comfortable enough to get a bit of reading done. I shall have to check it out again on a sunnier day. read more

Really cool place to take your lunch and enjoy the view. Been to this mall many times in the past, and never knew about this spot before I read about it on YELP. It was a little tricky to get to the top, once you are there it is definitely worth it. Be sure to remember your camera! read more

I come here from time to time during lunch and it's a nice little place tucked away from the busy Market street. The view is not much, but phone reception is great! read more