Personal Care
- Individualized daily living assistance
- Medication management by licensed staff
- Mental-health support and care coordination
Assisted Living · San Francisco
Portola Gardens
For seniors who need a helping hand, in a place that feels like home.
A 1930s Colonial Revival in San Francisco’s Portola district, caring for the city’s seniors for generations.
350 University Street · San FranciscoRCFE License #385601045Independently operated, locally run
A San Francisco community since the 1930s
A historic Colonial Revival home in the Portola district.
Portola Gardens is a 132-bed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE). The columns and gardens are original; the dining room, kitchen and main common areas were renovated in 2018.
We are one of three local facilities in the California Assisted Living Waiverprogram, the state’s Medi-Cal pathway to assisted living.
1930s
A San Francisco original
132beds
RCFE community
1 of 3
SF facilities in ALW
Why families choose Portola
A way to stay in
San Francisco.
When care gets expensive, too many San Franciscans are forced to leave the city they have lived in their whole lives. Portola is the option that lets them stay, in a quiet, safe neighborhood, near the people they love.
- 01
Near your family, in the city
Most of our families live in San Francisco and want their parent close. Portola keeps them in the city, not hours away in the Central Valley.
- 02
About half the cost of newer hotel-style residences
Shared rooms and shared baths keep Portola attainable for middle-income families, without leaving San Francisco for care.
- 03
One of three SF facilities in the Assisted Living Waiver
A Medi-Cal pathway to assisted living for residents who qualify, so staying in the city doesn’t depend on private wealth.
What we do
Three things that make a home.
Care, place, and people. Each resident’s plan is built around all three.
Home-Like Living
- Private and shared rooms
- Gardens, walking paths, sunroom for reading
- Renovated 2018 dining and common spaces
Community & Activities
- 132-bed community, residential scale
- Daily programs and weekly outings
- A real sense of belonging
The garden
The back garden is the heart of the building.
Seasonal plantings, walking paths, and shade for hot afternoons, a garden you can see from nearly every common room. It sits in one of San Francisco’s quietest, safest neighborhoods, secluded from downtown. Residents tell us it feels less like a facility and more like being on vacation.
Daily life
Music, art, and a
garden to sit in.
Live music in the parlor. Art in the afternoon. The garden when the sun is out. And a house dog who makes the rounds. These are real photographs of real days at Portola.
A look inside
The building, the rooms, the garden.
Google reviews
4.8
/ 5
Based on 6 Google reviews
What families say
A team that knows your family by name.
Two themes families bring up over and over again on Google: a compassionate staff, and a team that pays attention.
“Portola Gardens has been the biggest gift to our sister and family. After a near-death accident left our sister with a permanent brain injury, we searched for the right facility to meet her needs.”
L
Leanne
Sister of a resident · via Google
“We chose Portola Gardens to care for our mom during her time in hospice, and we’re grateful we found this facility when we needed it most. The staff showed genuine compassion, and the administrative team was consistently responsive.”
CZ
C. W. Zeng
Family of a resident · via Google
“My family member resided at Portola Gardens for four years. It offers a pleasant and welcoming front room where residents are able to lounge and watch television, and a sun room as well.”
EP
E. Pepin
Family of a resident · via Google
Portola Gardens · 350 University St, San Francisco, CA 94134Read on Google →
Where to start
Two journeys. One community.
For Families
Finding a place that feels like home
Tour the community, meet the staff, see the rooms your parent might call home.
For Case Managers & Social Workers
Bed availability, ALW status, and a fast referral path
One of three SF facilities in the Assisted Living Waiver. Verified beds and a structured intake.
From our resources
Help making the decision.
8 min read
What is the California Assisted Living Waiver?
How Medi-Cal-funded assisted living works in San Francisco: eligibility, costs, and waitlists.
Read article6 min read
Touring an assisted living community: what to look for
How to know when daily support isn’t enough, and what dementia-trained care actually includes.
Read article5 min read
Visiting a community: 14 questions worth asking
A field guide for tours that goes beyond the lobby: what to notice in the dining room and the staff.
Read articleGet in touch
Questions? Talk to a real person.
Including the confusing parts, insurance, Medi-Cal, the Assisted Living Waiver. You don’t need it figured out before you call.
Visit in person
Walk every common area.
See an available room.
A tour lasts about an hour. We’ll meet you at the door, walk you through the dining room, the garden, and a room that’s currently available, and answer the questions you came in with.