From the grandeur of Gilded Age landmarks to the bohemian
charm of century-old inns, San Francisco’s historic hotels serve as living gateways
to the city’s layered past.
Though visitors have many options when staying in the “City
by the Bay,” San Francisco’s historic hotels reveal a unique
aspect of the city, playing a vital role in preserving the cultural identity
and architectural heritage of San Francisco that help define the city. By
restoring and maintaining these landmarks, the city protects an important part
of its history while continuing to celebrate its vibrant cultural legacy, allowing
visitors to connect with San
Francisco in a personal, immersive way.
The Presidio Lodge (Photo Credit: Noreen Kompanik)
The Inn and The Lodge at the Presidio
The Inn at the Presidio is the first hotel to open within San
Francisco’s Presidio, a 1,500-acre national park site. Built in 1903, the
Classical Revival brick building with 22 rooms blends history with city sophistication
and natural beauty.
The Lodge is located
in the former Montgomery Street Barracks, constructed by the government between
1895 and 1897. The three-story, 42-room hotel opened in the historic U.S.
Army barracks in 2018 after an extensive preservation and repurpose of its original
Colonial Revival structures. Serving as a living piece of San Franciso history,
most of the Lodge rooms offer stunning views of the San Francisco Bay, the city
skyline and/or the Golden Gate Bridge. A large welcoming front porch is filled
with rocking chairs, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine overlooking a green
park area. A large outdoor back patio sports a firepit with lots of seating,
ideal for a cool Northern California coast evening. In addition, the Walt Disney
Family Museum on site celebrates the life, creativity and legacy of Walt Disney
with a variety of impressive exhibits.
The Clift Royal Sonesta
One of San Francisco’s most iconic historic hotels, the Clift
Royal Sonesta is known for its seamless mix of early 20th century grandeur
and bold modern design. Opened in 1915 near Union Square, the hotel was
originally built to welcome visitors coming to the Panama-Pacific International
Exposition, a world’s fair celebrating San Francisco’s recovery after the 1906
earthquake and fire.
Likely the Clift’s most legendary space, the historic Redwood
Room is a glam Art Deco cocktail lounge added in 1933 and opened on December 6,
the day after Prohibition was repealed. Walls of the now legal speakeasy were reportedly
paneled from a single redwood tree. The etched glass bar, Starck-designed
lounge furnishings and rotating artwork give the historic bar a warm ambience
and trip back in history that redefines “classic.” Signature drinks have been
local favorites since the day Prohibition ended. Redroom Room is a must-visit
for those staying at the hotel or just coming in for an artisanal cocktail and
bar bites. It’s easy to see why over the years, the lounge has hosted a mix of
Hollywood icons, musicians and other high-profile guests.
The Clift Royal Sonesta Redwood Room (Photo Credit: Noreen Kompanik)
Palace Hotel
When the Palace opened in 1875, it was San Francisco’s first
luxury hotel and the largest in the world. At the time, its unprecedented Beaux-Arts
opulence was America’s counterpart to the grand hotels of Europe and an iconic
city treasure with hydraulic elevators, electric lighting and lush interiors
that symbolized San Francisco’s rise during the post-Gold Rush era.
After the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the
Palace was completely rebuilt, and reopened in 1909, offering 556 luxury
guestrooms and 36 suites. The Garden Court sports an iconic domed glass ceiling
with more than 70,000 pieces of iridescent glass, one of the largest expanses of
tinted glass in the world, Austrian crystal chandeliers and marble columns,
along with the Maxfield Parrish mural, the famous Pied Piper of Hamlin.
Fairmont San Francisco
This hotel, perched atop Nob Hill is proof that great
stories never go out of style. From the moment it opened in 1907, the venue
became a gathering place for presidents, royalty, world leaders and
entertainers, earning it the moniker “The White House of the West.” The hotel
also played a role in world history in 1945, when diplomats and international
leaders gathered there for meetings that helped finalize the United Nations
Charter.
Designed by Julia Morgan (the famous architect and engineer
of Hearst Castle), the Beaux-Arts property combines luxurious accommodations
with impeccable service along with sweeping views of the city and San Francisco
Bay. One of the hotel’s most legendary attractions is the Tonga Room &
Hurricane Bar opened in 1945 inside the hotel’s former indoor swimming pool. Known
for its floating bandstand, tropical décor, and simulated indoor rainstorms,
the Tonga Room became a beloved piece of San Francisco nightlife and remains a
popular destination to this day.
As 1961 came to a close, Tony Bennett stepped on stage in
the hotel’s Venetian Room to perform “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” for the
first time.
PHOTO: Fairmont San Francisco at night. (photo by Scott Laird)
The Beacon Grand
Originally opened in 1928 as the legendary Sir Frances Drake
Hotel in Union Square, The Beacon Grand represents iconic Renaissance Revival
architecture. Built in the vibrant, exciting Roaring Twenties era, the hotel quickly
became a symbol of grandeur, innovation and social life filled with marble
staircases, gold-leaf ceilings, ornate chandeliers, impressive handcrafted
European-style details and old-world elegance.
The hotel’s early amenities were considered remarkably
modern and included radios in guest rooms, indoor golf facilities and one of
the country’s first “Servidor” systems, allowing hotel staff to discretely deliver
items to guest rooms through hidden cabinets. The rooftop Starlight Room
emerged as one of San Francisco’s most famous nightlife destinations, with
panoramic skyline views, celebrity-filled parties, live music and creative
cocktails.
During WWII, the hotel played its role when military
personnel stayed here before departing for the Pacific front. In the 1950s, it
became associated with artists and Beat Generation writers.
Omni San Francisco (Photo Credit: Noreen Kompanik)
Omni San Francisco
Built as a bank in 1926, Omni San Francisco is located in
the heart of downtown featuring a Renaissance Revival architecture with
timeless beauty, reflecting the prosperity and ambition of San Francisco during
the late 1920s financial boom.
The lobby is adorned with the structure’s original Italian
marble and Austrian crystal chandeliers and is recognized as part of Historic
Hotels of America. In 1828, Leland Stanford opened Cal Cable and its first
cable car line. Still in operation today, it runs directly in front of the
hotel. Monte’s Bar is not only the perfect setting for evening wine or a cocktail;
it’s an ideal place to watch the cable car pass and people watch.
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