Palihotel San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Union Square
Vibe
Wood paneling, ceramic tiles and mixed furnishings give the common spaces a relaxed feel, with a soft palette tempering the Union Square bustle.
“Mission Revival roost”
Mission Revival architecture meets ceramic tiles, mixed furnishings, and deliberately preserved patina.
Former Hotel Navarre retains brick walls and layered paint from its earlier lives.
Bar Maritime serves oysters and martinis, with local musicians playing every Friday.
Beside Union Square, with Stockton Street shops, Powell Street cable cars, and Chinatown nearby.
“Inside it, you’ll find a style that’s 20th-century California in a nutshell: Victorian architecture made modern by Craftsman-style warmth and simplicity.”
Rooms
Queen and king rooms keep things compact, with walk-in rain showers, while suites give you considerably more space to spread out.
“Palihotel San Francisco is housed in a Beaux-Arts building near Union Square dating to 1907”
Backstory
The building once housed bachelor apartments, then accumulated identities including the Colonial Hotel, Navarre Guest House and Mystic Hotel.
Eat & drink
Upstairs, Bar Maritime serves oysters and martinis with Friday music, while Maritime Boat Club serves seasonal seafood through a curtain.
The neighborhood
Behind the hotel, Burritt Alley has a plaque marking the fictional killing of Miles Archer in The Maltese Falcon.
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The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.