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coit tower

can you eat at the top? my mom asked me, said it was on the bachelor! and it was beautiful

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  1. Not unless you bring a picnic. You can see it from the Ferry Plaza...

    1. There's not a cafe or restaurant. I do recall a snack shop type place that might sell some sandwiches.

      However, there are some nice areas at the foot of Coit Tower (of the tower, not the entire hill) where you could bring your own food and eat.

      1. No. There's no food service, and even if you brought a picnic there wouldn't be enough space to eat it without all the other visitors stepping on and around you. The park at the base of the tower offers some possibilities, though.

        1. Can *you* eat at the top? No. Can television shows that rent the place after hours bring in catered food to eat at the top? Yes.

          7 Replies
          1. re: Ruth Lafler

            Took the words right out of my mouth. The show must have been setting dates in various San Francisco landmarks. I stumbled upon The Bachelor while channel surfing and actually stayed on the station for a full thirty seconds because they rented out the Academy of Sciences too, and set up a candlelit dinner for two right in front of the huge Philippines coral reef exhibit. Talk about romantic; I wonder if big whigs behind The Academy Cafe catered.

            Then the dolt said he wasn't going to keep that particular girl around and my husband, a seafood fanatic and big fan of the Academy, screamed "How can you not fall in love over dinner at the aquarium?! I hate this show." Then we changed the channel.

            1. re: Pei

              A lot of beautiful and interesting San Francisco locations have facilities rental information right on their websites. After going to the top of Coit Tower and thinking it would be a great place for a small private party, I searched the web for rental information and could find nothing. Am I missing something?

              Pei, I don't know who catered that TV show's food, but for general purposes, the Academy of Sciences' website has a list of approved caterers for use when renting their facility. I agree, it would be a wonderful place for a party. And before their renovation, you could throw a party in the Fish Roundabout, which must have made for a gorgeous event.

              1. re: weem


                1. re: weem

                  As far as I know, the general public rental restrictions are limited to residents of the surrounding area. (Attended a wedding there.)

                  1. re: weem

                    Wow, good to know! Thanks.

                    1. re: Pei

                      I don't think that's accurate (that rental restrictions are to residents of the area). Call Park and Rec's Marianne Bertuccelli (415) 292-2048.

                      1. re: bluecanary

                        Just what I was told. Have not tried to hold an event of my own there.

              2. The view from the base of Coit Tower is pretty good (Telegraph Hill?). Plenty of space for a picnic. Selecting picnic goodies from the Ferry Building is fun. Walking up the nearby Greenwich Steps to enjoy the view can be a hoot.

                5 Replies
                1. re: steve h.

                  It's actually the Filbert steps and that's quite a walk from the Ferry Building.

                  1. re: c oliver

                    There are stairs at both Greenwich and Filbert. The Filbert Steps are probably around 3/4 of a mile from the Ferry Building, so a bit of a walk, not to mention the effort to climb the stairs.

                    1. re: nocharge

                      It's a fun walk. Plenty of places to stop and catch your breath on the way up. The little cottages with their gardens make for interesting viewing. The views out to the Bay are killer. Your reward when you reach the top is your picnic basket. I'm fond of the Greenwich Steps but that's a personal choice. Rather than retrace my steps back down to the Embarcadero, I generally march down the backside of the hill (Filbert) to Washington Square for a well-earned drink.

                      1. re: nocharge

                        To confuse matters more, Filbert has steps on both sides of the hill (never mind Greenwich or Kearny). Go west and you'll end up in Washington Square. Go east and you'll end up at the Levi Strauss building, which is about half a mile of flat walking to Ferry Plaza.

                        And then there are my wife's favorite steps to Coit Tower - the three steps you climb as you board the #39 bus.

                        1. re: alanbarnes

                          Since Bob worked at Levi's for almost 25 years and I also worked there, that's probably why I only think of the Filbert Steps. I knew people who used to jog up them for their lunchtime exercise!