Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco

Palace Hotel opened in 1875 and remains one of San Francisco’s most important historic hotels. The current building dates largely from the post-earthquake reconstruction completed in 1909 and occupies a full downtown block near Market Street and Yerba Buena.

Guest rooms combine traditional proportions and molding with more contemporary furnishings and updated bathrooms. Wide corridors and substantial public spaces preserve a sense of scale rarely found in newer San Francisco hotels.

The Garden Court is the architectural centerpiece, framed by marble columns, Austrian crystal chandeliers and a vast glass ceiling. Afternoon tea and breakfast make it more than a ceremonial lobby, while the Pied Piper retains its famous Maxfield Parrish painting behind the bar.

A skylit indoor pool and fitness center provide practical leisure amenities in a city where many historic hotels have little wellness infrastructure. Union Square, SFMOMA, Chinatown and the convention district are all close at hand.

Palace Hotel is best for travelers who value architecture and history but still want a fully functioning city hotel. The Garden Court alone gives the property a sense of occasion that remains difficult to match in San Francisco.