Portsmouth Square Plaza Garage

As of 4/16/2024, it cost $4 per hour to park here. I did see a sign that said if you come after 5pm, it is a flat rate of $8 but you need to leave by midnight since that's when the garage closes.

I was doing some sightseeing in Chinatown so I decided to park here based on the areas I wanted to go. I came around 11am and there were plenty of parking spots. I found a great spot next to the elevator that was easy to get in and out.

My total for almost 4 hours was $16. I was able to pay at a kiosk near the elevators where I parked.

A bit conveniently... overpriced.

It's $4 per hour, which is very rude... $8 for max if you enter at/after 5PM and are out by Midnight daily otherwise you can opt for $32 for 12 hours or $38 for all day and night/24 hr - they have a few monthly rates with stipulations.

The price breakdown is easy to follow but a little surreal - they definitely would rather you take in San Francisco on foot and via train or metro - which I'm pro for but sometimes driving and/or carpooling is more efficient for navigating your day.

The lots aren't numbered on pillars or anything but the floors where the elevators are have the level you're on.

Easy to use kiosk to pay for parking once you leave. You receive a ticket for parking on your way in like you would at most paid garages. Portsmouth Square Garage is in a very navigable part of SF and Chinatown. The elevators are clean and run smooth, staircases are accessible as well.

Surface to Portsmouth Square, exit to your floor when you're ready to go.

This is probably one of the most convenient parking garages to park in if you'll be in the San Francisco Chinatown area.

Iconic part of SF Chinatown & it was nice to see the men playing Chinese chess & women dancing. It was well kept & safe enough to go with my daughter. There was also a play structure for children to enjoy as well.

Came by the other day and it was a quick and seamless experience. Portsmouth Square Plaza Garage is a SFMTA garage and is clean and well-operated.

Entrance is via Kearny. Despite taking a paper ticket upon entering the garage, AIML cameras take down the license plate of the vehicle and imprint it on the parking ticket!

Unlike typical parking garages, there was no rubbish to be found. Loos were available on the Kearny Ave level, 1, and the 6 digit ticket number is required for entry, for safety. The loos were clean and in good working order.

The stairwells and elevators were both in good operational condition.

Payment for the parking can be made via credit card upon exiting, or at the pay stations on the Kearny Street level, 1. Live attendants were not available upon my visit, although there was a phone number listed in case there were questions.

We chose to park here because of its close proximity to a ramen shop (Hinodeya) we were interested in. The garage provided a safe place to park while we enjoyed dinner. No broken windows and a reasonable, $8 flat rate for parking after 5pm. Conveniently located in Chinatown, this is a great option to park and explore the area. YMMV.

Parked my car here at 9:30 AM. Left at 6:30 PM. No break in. What a relief. Didn't see any broken glass or windows as I walked through the lot so that was a good sign.

Best, safest, and least expensive parking garage in Chinatown. It's City & County of San Francisco owned so the rates are reasonable at $4 an hour. If you park after 5pm, you rate is $8 flat rate but remember that the parking garage closes at midnight.

There are restrooms when you exit the elevators on the street level.

We recently attended an evening event in the financial district; Portsmouth is one of the parking garages recommended by the restaurant. We've not been in SF in the evening for quite a long time and understandably apprehensive about the need to park in a garage and walk a few blocks to/from the restaurant.
Our research of picking Portsmouth paid off (thanks Yelp), we were quite happy with our experience.
1. The location is very convenient for our destination.
2. The garage is well maintained and well lit in the evening.
3. Making payment was easy, machine at every floor
4. The rate is super reasonable, $8 flat rate after 5PM
5. We were not at any point feeling uneasy or unsafe getting in and out
We'll be happy to park here again in the future.

Whenever friends or visitors ask me about where to park in Chinatown, this is my answer.

In the '70's and '80's when Chinatown was a shopping hub for the Bay Area, parking was at a premium. After the '89 earthquake, Chinatown changed and, for many years, not in a good way. Businesses struggled as tourists and locals alike found it a pain to get there. And even in getting there, the dilemma became, 'there's no parking!'

The business model in the neighborhood has become an influx of visitors on weekends when street parking is free and more plentiful and traffic coming into the City is a lot less hectic and not having to compete with 40,000 rideshare vehicles zooming around the greater downtown area.

The past few years, construction has added to the complicated situation with street parking become even more limited. Now, with the Covid dining parklets blooming, you don't even have to think about it. In not being to access my normal indoor parking spot the last two years, I discovered that parking here was a relief in keeping my blood pressure and temper down. The parking rates are comparable to what you'd have to feed a meter on an hourly basis, sometimes even CHEAPER because of City Hall's now peak and non-peak hour rates. With car break-ins becoming commonplace, this indoor underground garage has security staff riding in a golf cart zooming around as an extra set of eyes.

In past years, there was a waiting list to get monthly parking here with the huge workforce in Chinatown and the Financial District. Now, I believe there may be openings if you still work or live in the area. There also used to be a line to park here but this has reduced too for obvious reasons. Stressed about looking for parking in coming to Chinatown? Look no further.