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The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States · Sonesta · Accessible Luxury
Frederick Clift opened the Clift on 1 February 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exposition, selling it as San Francisco's first fire- and earthquake-proof hotel. G. Albert Lansburgh's Redwood Room poured the night after Prohibition ended, 6 December 1933. Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck reworked it in 2001 and kept the redwood walls after a city campaign; Sonesta took the keys in 2018, and The Clift Royal Sonesta now holds 372 rooms on Geary, two blocks from Union Square.
- 372 rooms
- Opened 1915
- Neighborhood: Union Square
- Interiors: Philippe Starck
About The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco
- The Redwood Room opened 6 December 1933, the day after Prohibition ended, to G. Albert Lansburgh's design. Legend says the paneling came from a single tree.
- Ian Schrager bought the Clift in the late 1990s. Philippe Starck's 2001 redo kept the redwood walls after San Franciscans campaigned to save the bar.
- Sonesta assumed management in 2018. A 2019-2021 renovation redid rooms and lobby; the Redwood Room kept its paneling.
History
Frederick C. Clift opened the hotel on 1 February 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, about 300 rooms, promoted as San Francisco's first fire- and earthquake-proof hotel. The Redwood Room, by G. Albert Lansburgh, opened 6 December 1933. Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck renovated it in 2001; Sonesta has run The Clift Royal Sonesta since 2018. The house now holds 372 rooms.
The setting
On Geary Street, two blocks from Union Square toward the Tenderloin. The Redwood Room is the bar.
Restaurants and bars
- Redwood Room — Restaurant
- Fredericks — Restaurant · Brasserie fare, elevated comfort food, breakfast
Experiences
- Oracle Park tours — Behind-the-scenes tours of Oracle Park including The Field, Giants' Dugout, a Luxury Suite and the Press Box.
- Alcatraz Island tours — Day, nighttime and behind-the-scenes tours departing from Pier 27.
Amenities
- Walk-in rainfall shower
- Oversized back-lit wall mirror
- Keurig coffee maker
- Laptop-size safe
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Dry-cleaning
- Babysitting
- Tour desk concierge
- Language translation assistance
- Pet-friendly
Open The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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