Inside The Huntington Hotel, San Francisco’s Most Anticipated Revival
There are hotels that simply belong to a city, and then there are those that help define it. The Huntington Hotel has long stood among the latter, as a Nob Hill institution whose history is woven into the fabric of San Francisco itself.
Reopened in 2026 following a multi-year restoration, the storied property enters a new era with fresh vitality and reverence for its past. Reimagined by acclaimed designer Ken Fulk and reborn under the stewardship of the Flynn Group, The Huntington returns not simply restored, but reawakened: intimate in scale, residential in spirit, and unmistakably San Franciscan in character.
Already named one of the year’s most anticipated openings by Vogue and ELLE Décor, the hotel has been inducted into Leading Hotels of the World and recognized by the Hospitality Design Awards. Marking more than a reopening, the hotel’s return signals the revival of one of the city’s grandest addresses.
Despite the accolades, what lingers most is a feeling—a sense of warmth, familiarity, and a rare hospitality where guests arrive as visitors and leave feeling like friends. It’s a place where everyone is welcome to the House on the Hill, and where an invitation remains open to a home called The Huntington.
HISTORY | Another Era, Reawakened
Perched atop Nob Hill, overlooking Huntington Park and the bay beyond, The Huntington occupies one of San Francisco’s most storied corners. Here, cable cars crest steep hills beneath cathedral spires, morning fog drifts between historic rooftops, and the city reveals itself at a gentler pace.
Originally conceived by architects Weeks and Day as a luxury apartment residence, the building became a twelve-story hotel just a few years later. The Georgian Revival landmark has always carried the soul of a grand private estate, with a residential sensibility that still endures today. Spaces appear collected rather than designed, and elegant without pretense.
LOCATION | Above the Bay, Beyond the Ordinary
Just beyond the hotel’s doors, Grace Cathedral rises above the manicured lawns of Huntington Park, while Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, and the waterfront remain within effortless reach. Yet Nob Hill itself feels worlds apart, a neighborhood where old San Francisco still lingers.
Every neighborhood has a heartbeat. On Nob Hill, it has a soul.
HISTORY | Echoes of Old San Francisco
The Huntington’s story is inseparable from the city around it. The land beneath the hotel once belonged to railroad attorney David D. Colton before becoming associated with Arabella Huntington, widow of railroad mogul Henry E. Huntington, who famously donated the neighboring block that would become Huntington Park after the 1906 earthquake.
Over the decades, the discreet elegance of the hotel attracted artists, authors, socialites, and screen legends seeking privacy above the city’s bustle. Figures such as Lauren Bacall, Marlene Dietrich, and Truman Capote once passed quietly through its halls, drawn to its understated sophistication and residential calm.
Today, that spirit endures; not frozen in time but thoughtfully evolved. Ken Fulk’s redesign preserves the building’s Georgian grandeur while layering it with warmth and detail. The effect is immersive, as though stepping into a private residence of a well-traveled collector with impeccable taste.
Hand-finished plasterwork, tailored furnishings, glowing sconces, heirloom textures, and luminous city lights create interiors that feel storied rather than staged. Every room holds a conversation between past and present.
ACCOMMODATIONS | A Residential Retreat
At The Huntington Hotel, accommodations carry the familiar ease of a private Nob Hill residence. The hotel’s 143 guest rooms and suites—including 72 expansive suites— balance Georgian grandeur with contemporary comfort
Large windows frame views of Huntington Park, the city skyline, or the shimmering bay beyond, while warm autumnal tones, tailored upholstery, and custom furnishings create spaces designed for settling in rather than passing through.
Reflecting permanence and grace are such preserved Georgian details as stately plaster ceilings, boiserie accents, marble baths, and richly-layered textures.
Suites open into separate living and dining areas, inviting slow breakfasts, quiet evenings, or intimate gatherings, while spacious king bedrooms offer a restful retreat from the city below. Every detail is carefully considered, from custom high-thread-count linens and nightly turndown service to velour slippers and espresso machines grinding local coffee.
AMENITIES | Elevated Living on the Hill
Guests enjoy complimentary cable car passes that invite exploration in classic San Francisco fashion, while a Rivian house car offers private transportation within Nob Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. Twice-daily housekeeping, 24-hour in-room dining, customizable in-room experiences, and concierge service ensure every stay feels seamless.
Tucked discreetly within the Concierge Lounge, Hunt & Gather presents a curated collection of books, home goods, gifts, and objects selected with The Huntington’s signature point of view, including pieces from Ken Fulk himself.
DINING | Where Every Meal Feels Like an Occasion
Dining at The Huntington feels less like checking into a hotel and more like stepping into the social club of Nob Hill itself, where every table carries a sense of occasion and every evening arrives with character. From the enduring sophistication of The Big Four to the intimate allure of Arabella’s, the hotel’s dining experiences balance timeless San Francisco glamour with a fresh, contemporary spirit.
The Familiar Roar of the Four: At Big Four Restaurant, San Francisco nostalgia is served with equal parts reverence and revelry. The iconic redwood-paneled dining room returns with refreshed spirit while honoring the traditions that made it beloved for decades.
Menus balance familiar comforts with contemporary California sensibility, revisiting classic dishes alongside thoughtful reinterpretations. Breakfasts begin beneath warm wood paneling, leisurely lunches spill into afternoon conversation, and evenings arrive with live piano drifting softly through the lounge.
Arabella’s: A Toast to Old San Francisco: Steps above the hotel’s elegant lobby, Arabella’s offers a different kind of glamour. Named for Arabella Huntington—the fascinating socialite whose legacy shaped Nob Hill—the intimate cocktail salon channels Gilded Age intrigue through dim lighting, layered textiles, rare spirits, and an atmosphere of quiet intrigue.
With just 25 seats, evenings awaken like private gatherings among fascinating strangers. Cocktails arrive alongside refined canapés and small plates inspired by the spirit of a classic cocktail party.
WELLNESS | A Calm Above the City
Spanning nearly 9,000 square feet across three levels, Nob Hill Spa reemerges as one of San Francisco’s most serene wellness destinations.
Reimagined by Ken Fulk, the spa blends carved tropical hardwoods, heirloom stone, soft light, and restorative quiet into an experience that is deeply transportive. Treatments draw inspiration from both Eastern and Western traditions, balancing modern techniques with intuitive, personalized care.
At its center is the spa’s famed 94-degree infinity-edge soaking pool, where skyline views create the sensation of floating above the city itself.
Adjacent is the Fitness Center that continues the residential spirit with wood-paneled interiors, inset mirrors, and high-performance wellness equipment.
Suite Living on Nob Hill
For guests seeking a more residential experience, The Huntington’s Suite Living invites travelers to settle into Nob Hill with added ease. Available for Junior Suites and above, stays of two nights or more include:San Francisco has always been a city of contrasts—grand yet intimate, historic yet evolving. Few places capture that duality quite like The Huntington Hotel.
In a sea of city hotels, it offers something increasingly rare in modern luxury: character. Not performance, not spectacle, but a genuine connection to place. A hotel with history in its walls, warmth in its service, and a distinctly residential spirit that invites guests not merely to stay, but to belong.
At The Huntington, classic San Francisco does not simply endure. It lives on beautifully.
