We all love Golden Gate Park and Dolores Park, but did you know San Francisco has over 220 parks and open spaces? Curbed SF wants to bring fame and glory to some of the smaller, lesser-known parks, and we're doing so with our series Park Life. Each week we'll spotlight a different San Francisco park or open space, and bring you all the details you need to plan a visit.
Designed in 1957 over an existing historic park, St. Mary’s Square is a downtown rooftop park atop a parking garage near Chinatown. Perched up high on a steep hill, the park isn’t visible from most of the sidewalk that surrounds it, making it our new favorite hidden spot. Where it's located: Entrances are on Pine and California Streets, between Kearny and Grant Streets.
What it features: Designed by mid-century landscape architect Robert Royston, the park is has a bunch of planted areas with benches and paved checkerboard walkways in amoebic shapes. There’s also two playground areas, and an elevator entrance to the parking garage.
How to get there: Closest MUNI lines are the 1 and 8x buses, and the California-Hyde cable car.
Dogs allowed?: Yes, on leash (there's a sad "in memory of" plaque warning owners to keep dogs on leash because it's dangerous) - but with the small size and all the paving, it probably won’t be your dog’s favorite spot.
Don't Miss: Some of the Off The Grid food trucks park at St. Mary’s Square every Monday from 11am-2pm, making the usually mellow park full of people.