4 Things to Do Near San Francisco Zoo (A Guide)

The Lakeshore Neighborhood Guide is one of the smallest guides we’ll do for the San Francisco area. The Lakeshore Neighborhood (otherwise known as Outer Sunset) of San Francisco is at least an hour away by public transportation from the downtown area. It’s mostly residential, and because it is on the outskirts of the big city, the sights are less crowded on weekdays. Here are 4 things to do near the San Francisco Zoo.

This is a part of our San Francisco Bay Area series. Here are a few related posts:

• Things to do in Berkeley California: Day Trip from San Francisco
• 25+ Things to See and Do at Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco

San Francisco Zoo and Gardens

Address: Sloat Blvd &, Upper Great Hwy, San Francisco, CA 94132
Hours: Open Daily from 10 AM to 5 PM
Price: Adults $29 weekdays, $31 weekends. Children 2-11 years old $20 weekdays, $22 weekends.

The Bay Area has two zoos: one is in Oakland, and the second one is the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens. Within a light rail or a bus ride away from downtown, San Francisco Zoo and Gardens is an oasis. This huge zoo has so many animals, so be prepared to spend at least half a day to a full day walking through.

It takes at least an hour by public transportation to get to the zoo, as it is in a more residential neighborhood of San Francisco. There’s Ocean Beach a block away, an easy walk from the entrance and parking of the zoo.

The animal exhibits are spacious, and there are a variety of animals, some even endangered. My favorite exhibit is the black bears, and they were out and about when I visited. You can even interact with some animals. The zoo offers rotating animal connections and feedings which you can watch, check their website for exact times. 

When is the best time to visit the San Francisco Zoo?

The best time to go to the zoo is on a weekday: there are fewer crowds unless you happen to catch a group of kids on a field trip. When I visited, I had prime viewing spots of all the animals and went around the zoo without dodging families or bigger groups of people.  

Ocean Beach San Francisco

Price: FREE

You’ll see Ocean Beach if you’re taking the bus to San Francisco Zoo. The waves crashing on the sands are very distinctive, and a quick search on Google Maps will show just how long Ocean Beach is. From the San Francisco Zoo, it is a 5-minute walk from the entrance and a block away from the bus stop that will take you back to Downtown San Francisco.

Ocean Beach is free to enjoy, but the facilities can be few and far between. There are lifeguards in certain stations, but I haven’t seen people swimming in the area when I was there. It’s mostly a spot where people opt to stroll around on the beach, at least on a weekday when I visited.

Fort Funston

Address: Fort Funston Rd, San Francisco, CA 94132
Hours: Open daily from 7 am to 9 pm
Price: Free

Fort Funston was formerly a military installation which has long since been decommissioned and converted into a public area that anyone can use. It is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the high bluffs make for great water views. You can even hike down to the beach if you like (be warned: steep trails, and not wheelchair accessible). Look around you and you may see folks hang gliding. Fort Funston is a mecca for hang gliders, with their flying season from March to October.  There are hang-gliding shops around the area offering lessons and gear, for those who want to learn more about the sport.

Nike Missile Site SF-59L

Hours: Thursdays to Saturdays 12 pm to 3 pm only
Price: Free

I haven’t visited this Nike Missile Site personally and I believe this is now a parking lot in Fort Funston. So, no, you won’t see a missile site in the Lakeshore Neighborhood. There is a plaque that commemorates the site SF-59L, but that’s pretty much it.

However, you can still see the most preserved Nike Missile Site in San Francisco (SF-88) in Mill Valley, California.  Visitors are more than welcome to tour the Nike Missile site SF-88, however, the days and hours when it’s open to the public are limited. At the time this post is written, the site is open from Thursdays to Saturdays from 12 noon to 3 pm. There are tours periodically onsite, which give you more of a history of the missile sites. Note that there are no restrooms located directly in the missile site location.

Having been to the one in Everglades National Park, I would highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area. Back in the Cold War (1960s), Nike Missile Sites sprung up in the US as part of a defense system against the Soviet Union. A lot of these missile sites had been destroyed (like the one that’s in Fort Funston), and very few intact ones remain.

If you want to read more about a similar experience from the Everglades Nike Missile Site, you can read it on our sister site, Voyage Florida.

Where to eat near San Francisco Zoo

If you are going to the San Francisco Zoo and don’t want to go far, here are a few places to eat near the San Francisco Zoo. All these places are not national chains and are semi-local to the area.

Java Beach at the Zoo

Address: 2650 Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94116
Hours: Weekdays 6 am to 5 pm, weekends 6:30 am to 5 pm
Cuisine: Breakfast/Brunch & Coffee

Java Beach isn’t just a coffee shop, it’s a hangout place for the locals. This local place offers coffee, as well as quick bites to eat like sandwiches, salads, bagels, and wraps. This place also serves Irish soda bread, so something to try out, even if you’re far out on the West Coast. The location can’t be beat, it is within walking distance of the zoo, so you can hop on out and grab a cup of coffee. You can also opt to stay so you can work, read, chill, or just find a place to sit after walking around the zoo.

Cypress Grill

Address: 99 Harding Rd, San Francisco, CA 94132
Hours: Friday to Sunday 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Thursday 11 am to 4 pm
Cuisine: American

Located close to the 18^th hole at the TPC Harding Park, Cypress Grill offers you a view of the golf course and water views of Lake Merced. Food is typical: sandwiches, salads, soups, and fries. Prices are surprisingly reasonable, considering you are dining at a golf course, ranging from $15 to $20 for a lunch sandwich. Skip the breakfast offerings though, they are a bit overpriced compared to what is being offered for lunch.

Los Kuyas

Address: 3251 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132
Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 am to 7 pm. Sunday 11 am to 6 pm.

Call me a bit biased for adding a Filipino restaurant to the list but finding one in the San Francisco’s Lakeshore neighborhood merits an addition to the list. This restaurant is located within a shopping plaza called Stonestown Galleria. Here, you can get your favorite Filipino meals with a twist. Expect dishes like a tocino burrito, a spam rice bowl, and a bistek (beef steak) taco. As you can see, the dishes are Filipino and Mexican-inspired. The price is affordable, with 3 pieces of street-style tacos for $7, burritos for $10, and rice bowls for $11. 

Where to stay near San Francisco Zoo

While there are few hotels located directly in the Lakeshore Neighborhood, here are a few suggestions that are within a quick 5-to-15-minute drive from the borders of the neighborhood.

Hampton Inn San Francisco/Daly City

Address: 2700 Junipero Serra Boulevard Daly City, California, 94015, USA

Can you use points? Yes! Hampton Inn is part of the Hilton HHonors network.  

The closest chain hotel I can find that’s near the Lakeshore Neighborhood of San Francisco is the Hampton Inn San Francisco/Daly City. It’s on the border of San Francisco and Daly City, and just off the highway. Like any chain hotel, the hotel looks exactly like the other Hampton Inn and offers a free buffet breakfast. Parking is free on this property too.

Mirage Inn and Suites

Address: 2600 Sloat Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94116

San Francisco Zoo is so close; you can walk from this hotel. It’s right across the street. Some rooms are spacious, offering a full kitchen and a sofa for the deluxe King option, but you can also get a regular hotel room for cheaper. The prices are affordable compared to most chain hotels (and compared to downtown San Francisco in general). Rooms include a microwave (a rarity in some hotels), as well as a refrigerator. Free parking is available onsite, but there’s no free breakfast offering.

5 Things to do near San Francisco Zoo

If you are only in the area to visit the San Francisco Zoo, there are also a few places to see while you are in the area. Hopefully, this article has been helpful for you in planning your trip around the area. There’s always someplace new to explore, even if it’s a neighborhood you haven’t been to before!