Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Storied grandeur and the Garden Court, downtown

★★★★★📍 SoMa$$$$

The Palace Hotel carries one of the longest pedigrees in San Francisco hospitality. The original Palace opened in 1875 as one of the largest and most luxurious hotels in the world; after it was destroyed in the fires following the 1906 earthquake, the current grand building rose in its place and reopened in 1909. It stands on Market Street where downtown meets SoMa and the Financial District, a short walk from Union Square.

Its defining space is the Garden Court — a soaring dining room crowned by an enormous leaded stained-glass dome, ringed by chandeliers and columns, and considered one of the most beautiful rooms in the city (afternoon tea and brunch here are local traditions). Beyond it, the hotel offers traditionally elegant, generously sized rooms, a classic skylit indoor swimming pool, the historic Pied Piper bar (named for a celebrated mural), and full-service amenities in keeping with a landmark luxury hotel.

The location is excellent for getting around: it's near Union Square's shopping, walkable to SFMOMA and Yerba Buena, close to the Financial District, and well served by transit and the cable car turnaround a few blocks away. The Palace suits travelers who want grand historic character and a central downtown base, with the Garden Court as a genuine destination in itself.