Neighborhood
West of Twin Peaks
West Portal, St. Francis Wood and the hillside neighborhoods below Twin Peaks and Mount Davidson.
The National Park Service notes that the Olmsted Brothers, the landscape firm, worked on the St. Francis Wood subdivision here before 1916. Nearby Mount Davidson is the highest point in San Francisco. Its natural area covers about 40 acres, three-quarters of it forest, with elevations from about 600 to 900 feet. The cross at the top is owned by the Council of Armenian-American Organizations of Northern California.
West Portal Station is where three Muni Metro lines meet: the K Ingleside, the L Taraval and the M Ocean View. From there the K continues to the West Portal Avenue and Sloat Boulevard stop at St. Francis Circle. The West Portal Branch Library at 190 Lenox Way first opened on May 2, 1936, moved into a new building in 1939, and finished a renovation in February 2007. A simple family outing is a Muni Metro ride to West Portal, a stop at the library and a walk along West Portal Avenue.
Sources: NPS, Monterey Boulevard, SF Rec & Park, Mount Davidson, SFMTA K Ingleside, SFPL West Portal.
About West of Twin Peaks
West of Twin Peaks is a group of quiet residential neighborhoods on the west slope below Twin Peaks, including West Portal, St. Francis Wood and Miraloma Park.
West Portal Avenue is its main shopping street, with the West Portal Muni Metro station at the mouth of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. Mount Davidson, with its large concrete cross, rises on the east side.
Our neighborhood lines are based on DataSF's Analysis Neighborhoods, adjusted where visitors use a smaller area or a different name: Dogpatch and Fisherman's Wharf stand on their own, and the Richmond and the Sunset are each kept whole.
What to See
Twin Peaks
Two peaks of roughly 900 feet with wide views of the city and the bay from the summit viewpoints.
Mount Davidson
Highest natural point in San Francisco at 928 feet, topped by a 103-foot concrete cross lit for the Easter sunrise service.
West Portal Avenue
Main shopping street of the neighborhood, steps from the station where the K, L and M Muni Metro lines meet. A low-key strip of cafes, a bakery and restaurants.
Things to Do
West Portal Branch Library
Neighborhood branch with children's books and book clubs for ages 9 to 12. Open Sunday afternoon and Tuesday to Saturday, closed Mondays. No regular storytimes are listed, so check the branch calendar.
Where to Eat
Noe Valley Bakery
Bakery cafe on West Portal Avenue with pastries, scones, cakes and light bites.
Bursa
Eastern Mediterranean and Turkish restaurant offering indoor and patio dining plus takeout.
Snow Bliss Cafe
Korean bingsu shaved ice and Chinese-Korean dishes, a sweet-treat stop for kids. Closed Tuesdays.
Upcoming in West of Twin Peaks
No upcoming events here yet. Know about something good?
Submit an event →Places We Rate in West of Twin Peaks
Mount Davidson Park
West Portal Branch Library
West Portal Playground
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