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The jewel in the crown of the Palace Hotel San Francisco — the landmark Garden Court

The experience of this "Grand Dame of the West" begins as you step inside its lobby

Step up the Pied Piper Bar and check out its captivating painting by Maxfield Parrish

The ambiance of the Pied Piper Bar extends to its dining partner, the Pied Piper Grille

The understated elegance and graceful presentation of the Palace guest rooms

The dramatic architectural presence of the barrel-vaulted Sunset Court

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The Palace San Francisco

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Style: Historic

Considered the largest, costliest, and most luxurious hotel in the world when it opened in 1875, The Palace San Francisco remains the "Grand Dame of the West."

The Palace has been a San Francisco icon since its debut in 1875. This Beaux Arts beauty was designed by architect John P. Gaynor and was intended to rival the grand hotels of Europe. And it did. The Palace earned a reputation as the largest, most expensive hotel anywhere in the world, with 755 rooms. It had many features that were not yet commonplace in a hotel, such as hydraulic elevators and air conditioning.

No one could have predicted the devastation from the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the fires that followed. The Palace’s proprietors, William Chapman and William Sharon, retained New York architectural firm Trowbridge and Livingston to completely rebuild and restore the Palace to its original grandeur. Three years later in 1909, the Palace Hotel re-opened its doors and to this day, retains its positions as a world-class hotel..

A masterpiece of Beaux Arts design and the focal point of the Palace is the Garden Court. It is a spectacular, stained-glass, enclosed atrium that serves as the main dining room.  In 1875, this area was the Grand Central Court, a carriage entrance through which guests would pass upon arrival.  At 85 by 110 feet, the Garden Court is indeed grand, about as large as an Olympic-sized skating rink. The Garden Court retains many original historic features, including Italian marble columns, exquisite crystal chandeliers, and the great glass dome. In 1969 this glorious space was deservedly designated a San Francisco Landmark.

The Palace is now one of many magnificent properties within Starwood Hotel’s Luxury Collection. It was restored between 1989 and 1991 at an estimated cost of $150 million. It also has proven worthy of its enduring title, “Grand Dame of the West.”

Images courtesy of Starwood Hotels