Due to some of SF’s amazing laws, all of the huge and privately owned buildings in Downtown SF need to provide a certain amount of space on their property that’s open to the public. Most of them are just concrete courtyards or pedestrian walkways with benches, but some are actually pretty cool like a 15th-floor rooftop terrace. We present you the five POPOS (Publicly Open Privately Owned Spaces) that are worth checking out!
50 Post St; the rooftop deck at Crocker Galleria
How to get here: Take the escalators to the third floor, turn left, and look for a hallway with a sign that says “Garden Terrace”.
Amenities: They offer free Wi-Fi, so you can “work from home.”
Best nearby takeout lunch: Grab a anything from Shorty Goldstein’s across the street.
343 Sansome St
How to get here: Walk into the lobby, pass the security guard, and get into one of the elevators to the 15th floor.
Amenities: It has a lot of linear benches and seating areas amidst large planters, plus an awesome view of the Transamerica Pyramid and the Bay.
Best nearby takeout lunch: Wayfare Tavern is around the corner.
555 California
How to get here: If you walk up from California, then it’s right there. If you’re coming off Pine, you have to walk in and look for escalators up to the terrace.
Amenities: It’s not exactly a rooftop, but the mezzanine does still overlook the rest of the FiDi. There are lots of benches and a bamboo tree forest thing amidst of it all.
Best nearby takeout lunch: Harrow is just around the corner.
303 2nd St
How to get here: Not The sides of this plaza has a large, sunken, grassy area with a huge fountain. Best bet: find the plaza on 2nd St between Folsom and Harrison, and walk towards the grass steps.
Amenities: The place is complete with tables for eating and working.
Best nearby takeout lunch: Head to Darwin Cafe a few blocks away.
835 Market St; the Westfield Sky Terrace
How to get here: This one’s the hardest to find among the five. Don’t go into the mall, head instead into the building to the left at 835 Market with an SF state flag over it. Walk in past the guard at the lobby (like you know what you’re doing, so no one gets weirded out), and take the elevator to the 8th floor. Only one elevator goes to the 9th, so rather than waiting for that one, just hop off on the 8th and hit the ‘Up’ button to call an elevator to the 9th floor.
Amenities: A bunch of benches and tables are available with views of the hills and City Hall, and you can pick up the Westfield Wi-Fi on a good day.
Best nearby takeout lunch: Go to Loving Hut or anywhere inside the mall.
