Neighbourhood guide

Sunset and Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach, Fort Funston, Sunset Dunes, the zoo, Stern Grove and the tiled steps

Sunset and Ocean Beach has 13 places on the map. It runs from the Golden Gate Heights hills down to Ocean Beach, Sunset Dunes, the zoo and Fort Funston, with Lake Merced at the southwest corner.

The Great Highway side holds the big open spaces. Ocean Beach is a 3.5-mile beach, Sunset Dunes is a 2-mile park between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way, and San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is at Sloat Boulevard and the Great Highway. Fort Funston and Lake Merced follow to the south.

Inland, Stern Grove and Pine Lake Park sit side by side, and the hills of Grandview Park, Golden Gate Heights Park, the 15th Avenue Steps and the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps give views over the Sunset. Outerlands is at 4001 Judah Street and Andytown at 3655 Lawton Street.

13 places

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See Sunset and Ocean Beach on the interactive map

What to see

Walk Ocean Beach or the new Sunset Dunes park, then head south to the zoo and Fort Funston. Lake Merced has a 4.5-mile paved trail around it.

Grandview Park, the 15th Avenue Steps and the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are all within a few blocks of each other in the hills above the Inner Sunset.

Where to eat and drink

Outerlands serves dinner at 4001 Judah Street, and Andytown has its original cafe and bakery at 3655 Lawton Street.

Good to know

Surf and undertow at Ocean Beach and Fort Funston are dangerous, according to the Park Service. The Stern Grove Festival's 2026 season has ended, so check its page for next summer.

Nearby neighbourhoods

Golden Gate Park Museums, gardens, a bandshell, bison and the beach chalets 13 places · 3.0 km away

Richmond District and Lands End, San Francisco

Richmond District and Lands End Lands End, Sutro Baths, Cliff House, China Beach and Balboa Street 8 places · 4.1 km away

Haight-Ashbury and the Panhandle, San Francisco

Haight-Ashbury and the Panhandle Buena Vista Park, the Panhandle, Haight Street pubs and breakfast, Kezar Stadium, Tank Hill and Sutro Tower 7 places · 4.4 km away

Castro and Noe Valley A historic theatre, LGBTQ history, a farmers market and a lookout 6 places · 5.1 km away

The best of Sunset and Ocean Beach

Beach walk Ocean Beach A 3.5-mile stretch with cold water and strong currents.

Bluffs Fort Funston About 200-foot bluffs and a hang-gliding spot.

Mosaic stairs 16th Avenue Tiled Steps 163 steps covered in a sea to stars mosaic.

Hill view Grandview Park Views from downtown to Point Reyes and Lake Merced.

Coffee Andytown Coffee Roasters The original cafe on Lawton Street.

Things to do in Sunset and Ocean Beach

A sandy path through the dunes to the surf at Ocean Beach beside a beach sign

Beach Ocean Beach A 3.5-mile stretch of beach on the western edge of San Francisco beside Golden Gate Park. The Park Service says the water is cold and the currents are hazardous for all but experienced surfers.

Long beach and ocean waves seen from the bluffs of Fort Funston, San Francisco

Park Fort Funston Bluffs about 200 feet high on the western edge of San Francisco, a known hang-gliding spot. Trails suit hiking, horseback riding and dog walking.

Park Sunset Dunes A 2-mile, 50-acre oceanfront park from Sloat Boulevard to Lincoln Way, opened April 12, 2025. It has public art, restrooms and a skate park.

Park San Francisco Zoo & Gardens Zoo with more than 1,500 animals across nearly 100 acres of oceanfront gardens at Sloat Boulevard and the Great Highway.

Yellow clubhouse beside a stream at Stern Grove, San Francisco

Park Stern Grove Wooded grove at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard that hosts the Stern Grove Festival, which calls itself the nation's longest-running free music festival.

Park Pine Lake Park Valley with a natural lake next to Stern Grove, fed by the same aquifer as Lake Merced. A trail circles the lake and joins the Stern Grove trail network.

Park Lake Merced Freshwater lake in the southwest corner of the city, part of a 614-acre park. A 4.5-mile paved trail circles it, with a boathouse, fishing pier and picnic areas.

Concrete stairway climbing the grassy slope of Grandview Park, San Francisco

Viewpoint Grandview Park Hilltop park in the Sunset with views from downtown and Golden Gate Park to Point Reyes and Lake Merced. A short trail, mostly wooden stairs, climbs 0.2 miles to the top.

Park Golden Gate Heights Park Neighbourhood park at 12th Avenue and Rockridge with a playground, tennis court and a remnant sand dune with ocean views. The Recreation and Parks page asks visitors to stay on the trails.

Viewpoint 15th Avenue Steps Stairway at 15th Avenue and Kirkham with native oaks on a steep hillside. The Recreation and Parks page mentions views of St. Anne's Church, the Inner Sunset and Golden Gate Park.

Mosaic tiles on the risers of the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps in the Sunset

Landmark 16th Avenue Tiled Steps A 163-step stairway on Moraga Street between 15th and 16th Avenues, covered in a mosaic with a sea to stars theme. Neighbours started the project in 2003 and artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher designed the 163 panels.

Food Outerlands Restaurant on Judah Street in the Outer Sunset serving dinner, with weekly specials such as a Wednesday burger night. Its page describes locally sourced, organic food.

Cafe Andytown Coffee Roasters The original Andytown cafe and bakery in the Outer Sunset, on Lawton Street. The company also runs a cafe on Taraval Street near the beach.

What's on in Sunset and Ocean Beach

Local events in the next 30 days, read from the ward, park and organiser pages each one links to.

Presentation: History of Diva with SF Opera Talks and readings
Sat 14 Nov · Ortega Branch Library
Presentation listed by San Francisco Public Library at its Ortega Branch location on 2026-11-14, 14:00 to 15:30.
14:00 to 15:30 · Map · Source: San Francisco Public Library
Zumba and Shake The Fog Activities
Sat 14 Nov · Sunset Dunes
A Zumba session on the Great Highway at Sunset Dunes, held on the second Saturday of the month.
10:30 to 11:15 · Map · Source: San Francisco Recreation and Park Department
Golden Gate Heights Stairways Activities
Sun 15 Nov · Golden Gate Heights Stairways
A guided walking tour led by a Friends of San Francisco City Guides volunteer from Golden Gate Heights Stairways.
10:00 · Map · Source: Friends of San Francisco City Guides tours
Performance: Bel Canto Flutes Theatre and shows
Wed 9 Dec · Ortega Branch Library
Performance listed by San Francisco Public Library at its Ortega Branch location on 2026-12-09, 18:30 to 19:30.
18:30 to 19:30 · Map · Source: San Francisco Public Library
Zumba and Shake The Fog Activities
Sat 12 Dec · Sunset Dunes
A Zumba class on the Great Highway at Sunset Dunes.
10:30 to 11:15 · Map · Source: San Francisco Recreation and Park Department

More local events around San Francisco

Stay in Sunset and Ocean Beach

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