Hotel Whitcomb is an elegant, affordable historic San Francisco hotel.
San Francisco has it’s share of grand, splashy, historic hotels — the Fairmont, the St. Francis, and the Palace to name a few — but there is one that’s often overlooked.
Perhaps it’s the location on mid-Market close to Civic Center and the Tenderloin, not atop glamorous Nob Hill or in bustling Union Square, but despite its history and grandeur, Hotel Whitcomb doesn’t have the same cachet as the other century-old landmarks. And that’s too bad, it should.
The lobby sparkles with Austrian crystal, marble, and polished brass.
An opulent lobby resplendent with Austrian crystal chandeliers, Tiffany glass, Italian marble columns and floors, and Janesero wood paneling opens onto Market Street across from the Orpheum Theater. Above, 460 airy rooms have high ceilings and are appointed with beautiful furnishings.
On the mezzanine floor, the Crystal Gallery showcases vintage photos of the hotel’s unique history on the site of a gynormous 71,000 square-foot marketplace called the Crystal Palace Market that opened in 1923. A few years before, the Hotel Whitcomb had served as a temporary City Hall from 1912 to 1915 after the 1906 earthquake.
Off the lobby are a few options for refreshments. There is a Starbucks, Florinda’s Market Street Grill, and of The Tavern, a lovely Victorian piano bar that hosts a lively happy hour and is a popular meeting place for theater goers.
Still privately owned, Hotel Whitcomb is also affordable. A recent check of rates displayed a range from $79 for a “petite double” to $488 for a king parlor suite. Maybe it’s time the Whitcomb is allowed to bask the limelight seemingly reserved for the other San Francisco grand hotels. Your travel and tour agents can easily arrange an itinerary that includes a stop at this historical place when you visit San Francisco.
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Hotel Whitcomb
San Francisco, CA
1231 Market Street,
San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: 415-626-8000
Photos by Lisa Dion
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2 Responses
Hotel Whitcomb seems to be a great option for a stay in San Francisco, CA. As I see from your article it will provide the relaxing atmosphere a contemporary traveler may need for their pleasant stay! What I like most is the price, it is really quite affordable and a stay in this Hotel Whitcomb will be a great value for money! Next month I am planning a trip to San Francisco and as I come to think of it, I have already chosen the place where I will stay! Thank you for the useful information!
Well, being very honest, as per the mine and my friends experience, the hotel is not so great. Rooms were bit smelly, but the services and staff is very friendly and helpful to make our stay in hotel comfortable. I love the heritage and lovely royal lobby of the hotel.