Clift Hotel, historic hotel in San Francisco, California
The Clift Hotel is a hotel in the Union Square neighborhood of San Francisco, set within the city's theater district. The lobby was redesigned by Philippe Starck and features oversized furniture alongside a Salvador Dali-inspired armchair that has been part of the space since 1924.
The hotel opened in 1915, founded by Fredrick C. Clift, and quickly became a destination for performers and travelers passing through San Francisco. In 2001, the Morgans Hotel Group took over and commissioned Philippe Starck to redesign the public spaces.
The Redwood Room bar inside the hotel is lined with panels cut from a single redwood tree, giving the space a warm, woody feel. The bar has long been a meeting place for locals and travelers in the city's theater district.
The hotel is a short walk from Union Square, which makes it easy to reach shops, restaurants, and cable car stops on foot. Visiting on a weekday tends to mean fewer crowds in the surrounding streets and easier movement around the neighborhood.
The hotel keeps a beehive on its roof, and the honey produced there is used directly in the kitchen and bar. This means some of the cocktails and dishes served inside contain honey made just a few floors above where guests are sitting.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
