Dolores Park
The Verdict
"Stake out a patch of the sunny upper lawn, then grab Bi-Rite ice cream on 18th once the line dies down."
What you need to know
A 16-acre park in the Mission District, bounded by 18th, 20th, Dolores, and Church streets. The land was a Jewish cemetery before the city bought it in 1905 and opened it as a park in 1906; after the 1906 earthquake it served as a refugee camp.
What’s There
People come to spread out a blanket and eat food from the nearby Mission spots. The Bi-Rite Creamery line snakes down 18th Street on weekends, and vendors sell tamales, beer, and edibles on the grass. Weekend afternoons are busiest when the sun hits the south-facing hill; weekday mornings are quiet. The park gets cold once the fog rolls in, so bring a layer.
Getting There
The Muni J-Church runs along the western edge and drops you at the 18th Street stop. 16th Street BART is a 10-minute walk east. The 33-Ashbury/18th bus runs along 18th. Street parking is nearly impossible on weekends.
Explore Nearby
Lone Palm
A candlelit Mission cocktail bar with a pre-Prohibition drink list.
Valencia Room
A two-floor Mission dance club in the former Elbo Room space.
Haute & Freddy
Haute & Freddy at The Castro Theatre on September 14, 2026.
Tartine Bakery
Amazing bakery in the Mission Neighborhood
