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San Francisco is a beautiful, hip and modern city, but it still retains its old-world charm. There are plenty of gorgeous and refined historic properties in the area, and we've scoured the neighbourhoods to bring you the the best of the best! In this collection of the best historic hotels in San Francisco, we've included faux-Renaissance palaces, charming Victorian manors, former officers' quarters, industrial-chic waterside renovations and some of San Francisco's oldest and most luxurious hotels. Check it out!
For a business stay
- Located just outside the Financial District, and surrounded by countless upmarket shops, stands Taj Campton Place. Dating back to the early 1900s, it’s been thoroughly modernised, while it still retains its original elegance. The rooms are full of light, spacious and refined, yet the Michelin-star restaurant set in the grand dining room is evidence of the hotel’s more ornate past. With infamously attentive service, in-room spa treatments, business meeting rooms and 24h rooftop gym facilities, it's the ideal destination for business or leisure travellers.
- Housed in a faux-Renaissance palace built in 1916, and just a stone’s throw from Union Square, the Clift Royal Sonesta is something of a local institution. A favourite of high-flyers from Silicon Valley, it boasts extensive conference facilities, making it great for business conventions. The rooms themselves are flooded with light, minimalist and contemporary, but the bar is the real draw: high-ceilinged, and panelled with redwood from the forests north of the city, with a classic décor and plush armchairs, it makes you feel like the member of a gentleman’s club.
For an historic B&B
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- Walking through Chateau Tivoli is like walking through a museum. Except, at this museum, when you wake up in one of the grand, four-poster beds, you won’t be asked to leave the premises immediately. A 19th century mansion just a 3-minute walk from the landmark Painted Ladies row of colourful houses in Alamo Square, this charming B&B features individually-styled rooms adorned with hefty antiques, heavy drapes and beautiful artworks, the walls painted in royal-blues, peaches and brooding reds. A truly unique experience in a beautifully restored historic property!
- The Parsonage is a gorgeously refined B&B set in a 19th century house, decked head-to-toe in family heirlooms. The red-walled library, with its deep armchairs and Victorian-era furniture, provides a wonderful nest to relax. The rooms themselves are alive in the same antique-splendour: think original marble fireplaces, assorted objets d’art and plush four-poster beds. Living, breathing history at its finest.
For families
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- A former officers' quarters in the Presidio National Park, and close to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Inn at the Presidio is a wonderful stay for families seeking an authentic, old-fashioned hotel. The rooms and suites are spacious, stylish and flooded with light, looking out over the sprawling green garden of oak and palm trees. Families will love its great location for hiking expeditions, and its proximity to some of the great sights of San Francisco. The complimentary wine and cheese for adults, and the chocolate, puzzles and cookies for the kids, are merely added bonuses.
- Dating back to 1893, the Fairmont Heritage Place at Ghirardelli Square started life as a chocolate factory. Now, it's a fine all-suite family hotel with private terraces facing out over the Bay, where parents can enjoy wine and cheese tasting. The suites range from one to three beds, and are done in a chic minimalist design. While there’s no restaurant, in-suite fine-dining can easily be arranged.
For industrial-chic
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- Post-industrial-chic at its best, the Harbor Court Hotel is a former YMCA renovated into a lush, luxury hotel overlooking San Francisco Bay. The smart, whitewashed rooms are cosy yet hipsterish, and there’s a cool Japanese restaurant next door. Breakfast isn't included, but there's a trendy cafe near the lobby.
For old-world glamour
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- Fairmont San Francisco is an iconic, historic hotel that once saw Tony Bennet singing in the Venetian Room. A local institution, it’s 5* luxury at its finest, exuding the sort of grand, ornate luxury of yesteryear. Offering light, contemporary and spacious guestrooms, and some suites with their own private terraces affording gorgeous cityscape views. Families will enjoy the spacious suites, (with beds for up to 6 people). Plus there's a pampering spa, and superb Californian Coastal cuisine in the Laurel Court Restaurant.
For a luxury B&B
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- From the outside, Mansion on Sutter looks like a mini fairytale castle. That’s no deception, because inside this luxury 5* Victorian mansion lies something resembling magic. An intimate, luxurious affair, the rooms are effortlessly chic and adorned with period furnishings; you can expect dark-and-sexy velvet sofas, antiques, and colourful walls adorned with the owner’s private collection of artworks. This really is one of the best luxury B&Bs around.
For over-the-top grandeur
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- The Palace Hotel was San Francisco's first premier luxury hotel, and dates back to 1875. In its heyday, it was the largest in the world. Stepping inside is like stepping out of a time machine into an imperious, gilded age. With its grand, arched lobby, chandeliers dangling from the high ceilings, scintillating like the stars, and ornate marble columns, this luxurious hotel basks in the glory of Versailles. The rooms, however, are plush and contemporary, and the swimming pool and gym are a modern comfort. The hotel boasts beautiful views of the city at night, and the spa will spoil you rotten.
Still not sure?