Once known as the world’s largest hotel, The Palace Hotel has been a true San Francisco icon since 1875. Today, it’s a member of the Historic Hotel of America and merges historic elegance with modern technology. It encompasses an entire city block and is centrally located within downtown San Francisco.
You feel the magic of the Palace the moment you pull up to the hotel and walk through its elegant doors. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the breathtaking Garden Court, a spacious light filled atrium with dazzling Austrian Crystal chandeliers and marble pillars that beautifully frame the room. It serves as the hotel’s centerpiece and exudes old world elegance with opulent beaux-arts architectural details.
Overall when at the Palace Hotel one can expect luxurious accommodations, lavish amenities, world-class dining, and white-glove service where one anticipates your needs. The hotel has 556 rooms and 53 suites (including 19 junior suites). The accommodations’ interiors are classic yet contemporary and include historical details. The high-ceilings are elegantly designed for comfort.
Upon arrival, I was pleased to find a beautifully presented high-tea spread and Champagne waiting for me. It was accompanied by a thoughtful handwritten note. The Legacy Blend black tea will tantalize your taste buds with rose petals, natural bergamot and vanilla flavors – I’d suggest having a spot of it!
The Palace chefs have always been known for their creativity and innovation and I highly recommend experiencing the restaurants onsite. The Garden Court made its debut in 1909 and today its San Francisco’s only indoor landmark. I stopped by for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised when the chef came out to introduce himself and presented a beautiful spread of culinary delights to savor. For my main course, I had the avocado toast and it was fresh, flavorful and looked like a garden on a plate.
In the afternoon, don’t miss their iconic afternoon tea. There’s an elegant menu that’s perfectly paired with every pour.
In the evening, Garden Court turns into GC Lounge and its a wonderful spot to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails in a romantic setting. For dinner head on over to The Pied Piper where you can have a classy cocktail at the bar or dine on American fare at the wood-paneled restaurant. Fans of art history also will enjoy the 16-foot Maxfield Parrish painting of the same name that holds court above the century-old oak bar.
My boyfriend, Matthew and I started out my meal with a caesar salad featuring their famous Green Goddess Dressing and was pleased to learn that Green Goddess Dressing was created at the Palace Hotel in 1923 by Executive Chef Phillip Roemer. The dressing was first served at a Palace dinner honoring actor George Arliss who was the lead in William Archer’s hit play “The Green Goddess”. As for mains, we shared the Petrale Sole that was served with succulent shrimp, creamy grits, roasted cherry tomatoes and it was lightly topped with a cream sauce. It paired perfectly with the warm and comforting setting, as well as our cocktails – a dirty martini for Matthew and The Last Word for myself.
If you’re seeking suggestions for area attractions or need help with making reservations the Concierge team is happy to assist. I was very content with hanging out at the hotel during my stay and didn’t feel the need to leave the hotel. I especially enjoyed their indoor heated indoor lap pool with a skylit ceiling and a fantastic view of skyscrapers.
The Palace Hotel is the perfect staycation for those in the San Francisco Bay Area or ones looking to celebrate a special occasion. It’s also an ideal place to stay for business travelers as its walking distance to the Financial District, the Salesforce Tower, etc. I’ve visited the Palace Hotel many times over the years and its an urban oasis with San Francisco charm. I look forward to continuing to visit any time in San Francisco as it is the most well rounded hotel with class, charm and culture.