Where to Propose in San Francisco

San Francisco Proposal Ideas

San Francisco, affectionately known as everybody’s favourite city, is the perfect place for a proposal getaway. With amazing scenery, both natural and manmade, fabulous food, and a rich mix of cultures that give the city a unique vibrancy, there’s no better place to pop the question.

The climate is the only thing to be wary of in San Francisco. It is also known as Fog City, and with good reason. The mild climate makes it a superb choice for a winter proposal, but in the summer your views may get a little foggy.

When you’re looking for the ideal place to propose you could choose one of the many vantage points offering a spectacular view of the bay area or Golden Gate Bridge, or you could choose one of the city’s excellent parks. You might want an indoor back up plan just in case that famous fog is accompanied by high winds or rain.

Proposing With a View of the Bay

When you mention San Francisco to most people, the image that springs to mind is the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the suspension bridge that joins San Francisco and Marin County where San Francisco Bay meets the endless Pacific. Proposing on the Golden Gate Bridge may not be all that original but the deep emotions that this beautiful structure can evoke make it a very popular choice.

If you’d rather not walk out onto the bridge itself due to fog, wind or traffic, there are numerous places in San Francisco where you can propose with a view of the bridge and the bay area. Fort Point is a great spot on the south side of the bridge at the entrance to the bay, or the top of Coit Tower, a well-known art deco monument on Telegraph Hill gives a more spectacular view.

If you’re happy to drive a little out of town for your proposal location, the Labyrinth at Lands End is a mystical and dramatic place with a fabulous view of the Golden Gate across the water. On the other side of the bridge, the Marin Headlands afford a fantastic view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city of San Francisco, and there are plenty of secluded places to pop the question including Muir Beach and Hawk Hill.

Park Proposals in San Francisco

The Golden Gate Park is definitely worth a visit during your stay and has plenty of locations for a romantic proposal. Established in the nineteenth century, the park now houses the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, Strawberry Hill, and the Shakespeare Garden, all of which would be excellent places to propose.

Other parks in and around San Francisco include Buena Vista Park, a wooded hill in the centre of the city, which has a particularly good view from ‘The Window’ lookout on the western side. You could also check out Grand View Park, also known as Turtle Hill, a small hill in the sunset district of San Francisco. Sutro Heights Park is a beautiful public garden located right on the Pacific coast overlooking Cliff House and Seal Rocks, and it has a fabulous view of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the vast expanse of ocean.

Indoor Proposals in San Francisco

San Francisco is known for its unpredictable weather, so having a few ideas for indoor proposal locations or at least places where you can find some shelter is probably a good idea. The Fine Art Museum of San Francisco, which includes the Legion of Honour is a beautiful setting in Lincoln Park, and has extra significance as the plaza formed the western end of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across America. In the Golden Gate Park, the DeYoung Museum and the Academy of Science are both fascinating places to while away a few hours and find a cosy proposal spot.

For something 100% San Francisco, why not propose on board one of the historic clanking cable cars as it jolts and judders up and down the city hills. This would work particularly well if your girlfriend is hanging onto you for dear life! Of course if the weather is bad enough to keep you inside you can always propose over dinner, or at your hotel. San Francisco has plenty of great hotels and restaurants to choose from.

Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco

Its coastal location means that San Francisco is renowned for its fantastic seafood, but there are also excellent Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and even vegetarian restaurants in the area. Make sure you book a table that makes the most of the amazing views around San Francisco.

Ristobar on Chestnut Street is a relaxed and romantic restaurant serving rustic Italian fare and artisanal pizza. Ristobar combines the best of Italian cuisine with the exceptional quality of fresh ingredients from the bay area.

Gary Danko is a name that comes up time and again when looking for great restaurants in San Francisco. Located close to Fisherman’s Wharf, Gary Danko’s award winning restaurant is guaranteed to please

Waterbar is the ideal restaurant for seafood lovers, and it’s location on Embarcadero makes it an exceptionally romantic spot. Waterbar describes its food as unpretentious, soulful, and elegant.

Benu is a minimalist restaurant with an Asian infused menu that’s received rave reviews. Located in a historic building in the heart of San Francisco’s SoMa district, Benu features a chef’s tasting menu that is continually changing.

Greens Restaurant is a great choice for vegetarians, and if the excellent menu isn’t enough to tempt you, the views over the bay from the floor to ceiling windows certainly will be.

One Market is a sophisticated Michelin starred choice close to the San Francisco Ferry Terminal. This fabulous restaurant features an open exhibition kitchen with a special chef's table, a wood-fired grill, private dining rooms, and a luxurious bar.

Top of the Mark is the 19th floor sky lounge at the Mark Hopkins Hotel and has an unrivalled wrap around views of the San Francisco area. Famed for its 100 martinis menu, the restaurant serves top quality cuisine, and is the perfect choice for a Sunday champagne brunch.

Romantic Activities in San Francisco

Keep the romantic theme going throughout your proposal vacation by including one or two of these memorable activities in your trip.

• Climb Twin Peaks or Mount Davidson and picnic with a view over the city
• Share a delicious hot fudge ice cream sundae on Ghirardell Square
• Take a ride on the 1912 carousel in Golden Gate Park
• Book a sunset champagne cruise on the bay from Pier 39
• Visit the fabulous spa at the Healing Arts Center at Cavallo Point
• Fly a kite together at Crissy Field, a former airfield near the Golden Gate

Where to Stay in San Francisco for Your Proposal Trip

There are plenty of fabulous places to stay in San Francisco. Whether you’re happy to splash out on five-star luxury or you’d rather seek out a unique boutique hotel, you’re sure to find something that works for you. San Francisco also has plenty of quirky hotels with a great story to tell, and these can be worth checking out for the novelty factor.

Luxury Hotels in San Francisco

For pure luxury and indulgence the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel is hard to beat. Located at the crest of Nob Hill it is ideally situated for China Town and Union Square, and the 19 floors offer fabulous views over the city and bay, especially if you get a tower room. Opened in the 1920s, the hotel architecture is part French chateau, part Spanish Renaissance and the building combines old-world glamour with modern amenities.

Another great choice if you can afford to splash out on your accommodation is the Westin St. Francis Hotel on Union Square. Well known for their legendary Magneta Grandfather Clock, a popular meeting place on Union Square, the Westin St. Francis is pure elegance, with marble columns, ornate balconies, and intricate woodwork.

Boutique Hotels in San Francisco

If you’re after an ultra modern boutique hotel with plenty of character, the W Hotel San Francisco could be the right choice for you. Located in the SoMa district, the W Hotel has been recently renovated, and as well as the cool quirky decor you can enjoy the Bliss Spa and Trace Restaurant.

There are a good selection of Joie de Vivre boutique hotels in San Francisco including the Japanese style Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, the quieter Laurel Inn in Pacific Heights, and the sleek Adagio Hotel on Union Square. Another hip and happening boutique hotel is the Hotel Triton, located near the China Town gates. Originally created by a group of artists, the interior is an ever evolving work of art, but comfort is never sacrificed.

Novelty Hotels in San Francisco

The Red Victorian bed and breakfast may not be luxurious but it certainly is unique. Located in the heart of the Haight-Ashbury district which formed the centre of the 1967 Summer of Love, this small hotel is intended to embody the ideals of the area including peace and social justice. Each of the eighteen rooms are uniquely decorated to reflect these themes.

Music lovers might want to check out the Phoenix Hotel on Eddy Street, handy for the Embarcadero and waterfront. Located near many great music venues the Phoenix has been popular with bands for years, making it a true rock ’n’ roll hotel.

For a really romantic getaway why not try the Pelican Inn at Muir Beach on the Marin Headlands. A country inn, capturing the spirit of 16th century England's west country, the Pelican Inn nestles among the among the pines, alders, honeysuckle and jasmine in the sea-blown fog. Just a short drive to the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco itself, the Pelican Inn is ideal for a longer stay.