Overview
Southwestern San Francisco is made up of several hilly neighborhoods that include some of the city's highest peaks, beautiful parkland, and tranquil neighborhoods tucked in the hillsides, where you'll find spectacular views and quiet parks. Running from the Twin Peaks to Lake Merced at the very southwestern corner of the city, the area includes the Twin Peaks neighborhoods, West Portal, and Miraloma Park before stretching southwest to Ingleside, SFSU and Lake Merced. It is bordered by the Sunset neighborhood on the northwest, the Castro-Noe Valley district to the northeast, and I-280 to the southeast.
11 sights · 3 things to do · 11 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Twin Peaks-Lake Merced
City College of San Francisco
Fort Funston
This scenic section of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a favorite for hikers, bikers and beach-goers, with rugged coastal highlands and deep sand dunes. Hang gliding is quite popular here, with several shops …
Glen Canyon Park
A quiet city park great for hiking, dogwalking and nature viewing, containing a steep canyon situated amidst some residential neighborhoods. The park offers a rare glimpse into what the hilly landscape of San Francisco l…
Mt. Davidson Park
In the middle of a residential neighborhood, Mt. Davidson Park (which boasts the highest point in San Francisco) offers great hiking trails. Mt. Davidson's most distinguishing feature is a 6-story cross nestled among the…
Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve
A large chunk of undeveloped green space atop Mount Sutro owned and maintained by the University of California San Francisco, lying directly south of the UCSF Parnassus campus. Mount Sutro is covered in eucalyptus trees …
San Francisco State University
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Nov. Summer highs reach about 72°F; winter lows dip to about 44°F. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby San Francisco)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SFO San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- OAK Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, Oakland — 13 mi away (major hub). Directions
MUNI Metro , and lines serve the area. From Downtown, all three lines travel underground through the Twin Peaks Tunnel, stopping at the Forest Hill station before emerging aboveground at West Portal station. After West Portal, the lines run on the surface. The line runs west through the Sunset neighborhood to the San Francisco Zoo. The and lines split up as they head through Ingelside, with the -line stopping at the San Francisco State University, before meeting up again at the Balboa Park BART station near the City College. The and lines overlap in the Twin Peaks tunnel, so "K" trains inbound to Downtown will be redesignated "T" as they pass through West Portal station.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $6 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Fort Funston, Lake Merced, San Francisco Zoo
- Lunch S&E Cafe
- Afternoon SF State Art Gallery, Gregangelo Museum
- Dinner Bursa
- Evening Dubliner
Day 2
- Morning Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, Sutro Tower
- Lunch Dumpling Zone
- Afternoon Twin Peaks, San Francisco State University Gators
- Dinner Creightons
- Evening Miraloma Club
Day 3
- Morning City College of San Francisco, Mt. Davidson Park
- Lunch Taqueria Miraloma
- Afternoon Glen Canyon Park, San Francisco Public Library Glen Park Branch
- Dinner Tower Burger
- Evening Philosopher's Club
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The name Twin Peaks stems from the fact that it consists of two almost identical peaks. It is practically at the geographical center of the city, and at an elevation of over 900 feet it offers spectacular 360 degree panoramic views of the city and the bay. Although the peaks remain undeveloped, the foot of the hillside is peppered with residential houses, taking advantage of the spectacular vistas.
The weather in Twin Peaks is always markedly windier and chillier than in neighborhoods at lower altitudes, so bring along appropriate cool-weather dress and err on the side of excess.
Miraloma Park is a quiet, pleasant residential district of single-family homes on the east side of Mt. Davidson. Homes were first built in the neighborhood in the late 1920s and construction continued in waves through the 1950s. The neighborhood therefore offers a variety of architectural styles: from 1920s classic to mid-century modern.
West Portal is a small business district on the western side of San Francisco's largest hills. The name refers to the western end of the Twin Peaks Tunnel, a subway tunnel which runs under the Twin Peaks and connects to the Market Street subway tunnel to Downtown.
Forest Hill is an often overlooked neighborhood atop the Twin Peaks Tunnel, with a subway station on the way out to West Portal. One of the first neighborhood developments on the west side of the city, Forest Hill's first houses were built in the 1910s with the opening of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. The neighborhood is beautifully landscaped, with wide, curving streets, terraces, parks, and elegant stairways with ornamental touches.
Lake Merced is a freshwater lake which now serves mainly as a recreational spot, surrounded by much parkland. However, a bulk of that parkland takes the form of a golf course. It was the last area of San Francisco to develop, making it the best place to put the large San Francisco Zoo and the campus for San Francisco State University, which is the heart of another small business district.
Ingleside is a mostly residential neighborhood tucked between San Francisco State University on the west and City College of San Francisco on the east. Ocean Avenue is the main commercial corridor of this neighborhood. A new shopping district on Alemany Boulevard in the southern section of this neighborhood promises several restaurants as well as shopping.
Get in
MUNI Metro , and lines serve the area. From Downtown, all three lines travel underground through the Twin Peaks Tunnel, stopping at the Forest Hill station before emerging aboveground at West Portal station. After West Portal, the lines run on the surface. The line runs west through the Sunset neighborhood to the San Francisco Zoo. The and lines split up as they head through Ingelside, with the -line stopping at the San Francisco State University, before meeting up again at the Balboa Park BART station near the City College. The and lines overlap in the Twin Peaks tunnel, so "K" trains inbound to Downtown will be redesignated "T" as they pass through West Portal station.
Muni bus lines which serve the area include the 36-Teresita, 37-Corbett, 43-Masonic, 44-O'Shaughnessy and the 48-Quintara/24th Street lines in the Twin Peaks area, and the 18-46th Avenue, 23-Monterey, 28-19th Avenue, 29-Sunset and 57-Parkmerced lines in the Lake Merced and SFSU area.
See
See Fort Funston
This scenic section of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a favorite for hikers, bikers and beach-goers, with rugged coastal highlands and deep sand dunes. Hang gliding is quite popular here, with several shops for hang gliders in the area. Nearby is the remnants of Battery Davis, a WWII-era military defense mechanism.
See Glen Canyon Park
A quiet city park great for hiking, dogwalking and nature viewing, containing a steep canyon situated amidst some residential neighborhoods. The park offers a rare glimpse into what the hilly landscape of San Francisco looked like before development. A small creek, Islais Creek, runs through the canyon and is one of the last free-flowing streams in the city.
See Mt. Davidson Park
In the middle of a residential neighborhood, Mt. Davidson Park (which boasts the highest point in San Francisco) offers great hiking trails. Mt. Davidson's most distinguishing feature is a 6-story cross nestled among the many eucalyptus trees, which can be seen from various spots in the city depending on which angle you´re looking from. It was constructed as part of the WPA program of the 1930s, and is now dedicated as a memorial to the Armenian Genocide. At the peak, you're rewarded with great views of downtown and the bay.
See Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve
A large chunk of undeveloped green space atop Mount Sutro owned and maintained by the University of California San Francisco, lying directly south of the UCSF Parnassus campus. Mount Sutro is covered in eucalyptus trees with a network of hiking trails winding up the steep slopes to a native-plant meadow at the summit. Numerous trailheads connect the park to the surrounding neighborhoods.
*
See San Francisco Zoo
A large zoo with all the animals you'd expect, and then some. Some of the highlight exhibits are the African area (where you'll see many African animals living together in the same exhibit), a primate center, a children's zoo, and a family farm (a large petting zoo), but there's plenty more, along with events like wildlife shows. A flock of free-roaming peacocks also inhabits the zoo, outside of the enclosures.
See Sutro Tower
Though not a typical architectural attraction, this tower is nevertheless a well-known landmark among locals. Built in the 1970s to provide television reception to the city's hilly neighborhoods, this three-pronged antenna tower reaches 977 feet into the air atop one of San Francisco's tallest hills and is visible from just about anywhere in the city when it's not shrouded in fog. While the tower itself is off-limits to the public, there are walking trails that get very close to the base of the tower and offer great views of the surrounding neighborhoods.
See Twin Peaks
The small parking area at the northern tip of Twin Peaks Boulevard (875' above sea level) is near the physical center of the city, and one of its highest points, providing spectacular views in all directions. Tour buses can get backed up here during the day, but it's a great place to really appreciate the city from above, especially at and after sunset. Temperatures up there can be quite a bit lower than in the rest of the city, so bring a jacket. Muni bus #37, a scenic ride from the Haight-Ashbury or Castro and Market streets, gets you close, so you only have to climb the last 120' up.
Do
Do Lake Merced
A freshwater lake in the very southwestern corner of San Francisco. It's a scenic place to hike and a popular fishing spot.
Buy
Shop Miraloma Market
Neighborhood convenience store that also sells lottery tickets and is also home to the Miraloma Tacqueria.
Eat
Eat Bullshead Restaurant
A steakhouse well known for their excellent buffalo burgers.
Eat Bursa
A glossy Mediterranean and Turkish restaurant with a large menu.
Eat Creightons
Local coffee shop and bakery. Patronized largely by students of the nearby Ruth Asawa School of the Arts.
Eat Fresca
A small but popular and great Peruvian restaurant.
Eat Java on Ocean Cafe
A locally owned coffee shop with sandwiches and Middle Eastern fare. Get a quick bite to eat or stay and have a cappuccino while surfing the internet. They provide paid terminals or paid wireless access through the ZRNet subscription service. The owners have outfitted this joint with Salvation Army sofas and chairs and play eclectic music on the stereo.
Eat New Tsing Tao Restaurant
A superb Chinese restaurant with large portions and good take-out service.
Eat Squat & Gobble Cafe
Part of a San Francisco chain, this is a pleasant breakfast place with some excellent crepes. Good place to take the kids.
Eat Taqueria Miraloma
A hidden gem of a taco stand (and truly a "stand", it's take-out only) in the Miraloma neighborhood, with excellent burritos.
Eat Tower Burger
Burgers made from Niman Ranch beef are a specialty here.
Eat S&E Cafe
Midwestern American food as seen through Hong Kong eyes: complete meals include soup, roll, coffee or HK milk tea, entree, rice or spaghetti, Jello or Chinese bean soup dessert. Extensive list of unusual beverages from Ovaltine to Ginger Coke to green tea milk shakes; Chinese food available after 10PM only. Coffee shop ambiance with TVs at low volume usually tuned to a Chinese station.
Eat Dumpling Zone
Authentic Chinese food with vegetarian options. Try the spicy bamboo shoots.
Drink
Drink Dubliner
Nice Irish pub. Lots of events, like trivia nights, bingo nights, and $3 drinks from 8-10PM on Su, Th and Sa.
Drink Miraloma Club
Neighborhood watering hole with a pool table.
Drink Philosopher's Club
A friendly neighborhood bar with a pool table, jukebox and a couple of TVs.
Nearby
Daly City
City / town · 9 listings · 5 mi away
Colma
City / town · 4 listings · 5 mi away
Brisbane
City / town · 4 listings · 5 mi away
Marin Headlands
Rural area · 13 listings · 6 mi away
South San Francisco
City / town · 11 listings · 7 mi away
Angel Island
Park · 5 listings · 8 mi away
Sausalito
City / town · 33 listings · 8 mi away
Tiburon
City / town · 14 listings · 8 mi away
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