Enchanting and endearing. The beautiful city by the bay is known for its beauty, eclectic culture, and has captured many, many hearts. A visit to San Francisco is truly an experience to cherish.
The San Francisco cable car system is the only moving historic landmark in the nation, and is part of the urban transportation network. Of the twenty-three lines established in the late 1980s, only three remain in operation today — the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines that run North-South, and the California Street line that runs East-West. The InterContinental Mark Hopkins is conveniently located at the crossing of three cable car lines, and the InterContinental San Francisco is just two blocks away from the Powell Street turnaround station. At times, the queue can get quite long, so follow our Concierge’s insider tip, and walk up a block or two and then get on.
Museum of the African Diaspora
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
There are nine museums within three blocks of the hotel, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora, Children’s Creativity Museum, California Historical Society, Museum of Craft and Folk, Yerba Buena Gardens, Cartoon Art Museum and the Society of California Pioneers. The Asian Art Museum is situated just a little further, six blocks away. The De Young Museum and the California Academy of Sciences are located in the beautiful Golden Gate Park.
Asian Art Museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Museum of Craft and Folk Art
Cartoon Art Museum
De Young Museum
California Academy of Sciences
From award-winning musicals to blockbuster movies, from jazz trios to rock bands, from Lindy Hopping to disco dancing, San Francisco has it all when it comes to entertainment. On most nights of the week, the legendary Top of the Mark sky-lounge at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins features some of the best live entertainment the Bay Area has to offer.
San Francisco also boasts many sports facilities, and some even with scenic views. Catch a game from the nation’s most beautiful ballpark, the AT&T Park. More of a player than a spectator? The city has about 150 public courts for tennis, including courts within scenic Golden Gate Park, and the Presidio Golf Course is a short twenty minutes drive from the hotel.
One of the city’s most graceful and breathtaking landmarks is the Palace of Fine Arts. Originally built for the Panama-Pacific Exposition to exhibit works of art, this structure remains a popular attraction for tourists and locals, and is a favorite venue for weddings and wedding photography.
Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf
Alcatraz
Mission Dolores Basilica
Lombard Street, known world over as the most crooked street in San Francisco, runs from Russian Hill and ends at Telegraph Hill. The scenic street was created with sharp turns for safety reasons to prevent people from slipping and rolling down the steep incline. Some of the city’s most expensive real estate sit alongside of Lombard. However, the truly “crookedest” street in San Francisco is, in fact, a section of Vermont Street between 20th and 22nd Streets on Potrero Hill.
From street graffiti in the Mission neighborhood to original artwork in the Coit tower by Diego Rivera — who is considered one of the greatest Mexican artists of the 20th century — you will see vibrant interpretations of both contemporary culture and historic tales. Of all the artistic treasures of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins, some of the finest are the nine murals depicting early California in the beautiful Room of the Dons ballroom. These priceless murals were completed by California’s most famous Western artists, Maynard Dixon and Frank Van Sloun for the grand opening of the hotel in 1926.
Murals in the InterContinental Mark Hopkins’ Room of the Dons
The California Palace of the Legion of Honor is a fine arts museum located high on the headlands above the Golden Gate. Built in 1924, the structure is a three-quarter scale of the Palais de la Legion d’Honneur in Paris and was a gift from sugar magnate, Adolph Spreckels, and his wife to the city of San Francisco to honor California soldiers who had died in WWI. The museum boasts a collection that spans medieval to 20th century European art and a sizeable collection of sculptures by Auguste Rodin and Henry Moore.
An enormous building occupying two city blocks, the City Hall of San Francisco is one of the nation’s most breathtaking Beaux-Arts buildings and perhaps the finest public building in the world. Built of gray granite with blue and gold burnished ironwork, the structure features a wide marble staircase in the center of the lobby leading to the second-floor gallery. Its central dome is 11 feet and 7 inches taller than the United States Capitol in Washington D. C. and carries approximately $400,000 worth of gold in its design. This beautiful venue has played host to countless weddings, including that of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.
San Francisco’s Union Square is unique in character, and a place where the best names in fashion, dining and theater have resided for over a hundred years. After the great earthquake of 1906, Union Square became San Francisco’s premier shopping district, and, by the 1930s the site of the world’s first underground parking structure. It has become and remained a choice venue for both local and visiting shoppers alike.
The historic San Francisco Ferry Building was built in 1898 as the city’s main transportation center. From the Gold Rush days until the 1930s, arrival by ferryboat became the only way travelers and commuters — except those coming from the Peninsula — could reach the city. The remarkable steel-framed structure has survived through two major earthquakes (1906 and 1989), and its 245-foot clock tower was modeled after the 12th century bell tower in the Seville Cathedral in Spain to serve as a welcoming beacon on the Bay. Today, following a multi-million dollar renovation in 2003, the Ferry Building houses the Ferry Building Marketplace, which has become a community gathering place for the exposition of local culture and cuisine. Shops large and small celebrate food in all its forms, offering everything from artisan cheeses to the freshest of local fish. Restaurants and cafés serve cuisine representing the quality and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s best chefs. Three days a week, it is also host to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, a California certified farmers market operated by the nonprofit Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA).
The oldest and largest in North America, this neighborhood is best explored on foot. Visitors can find an array of Chinese products, from exquisite handicrafts to reasonably priced fine jewelry to exotic clothing to herbal medicines. Numerous tea houses offer a wonderful option for a break, and a “dim sum� lunch is a must!
Said to have more restaurant seats than the actual population, San Francisco has become one of the top American destinations for epicurean delights. Each neighborhood holds an abundance of culinary treasures offering a wide range of diverse cuisines at different price points. From the popular food carts and trucks to the corner deli to the critically acclaimed fine-dining venues, everyone will find an appealing option for their palates and pockets. The Bay Area boasts 27 Michelin-starred establishments, of which fifteen are in the city and most operating with a “farm-to-table” philosophy, including LUCE (pronounced “LOO-chay”) at the InterContinental San Francisco.
At the InterContinental San Francisco, we’ve created a landmark you can stay at. Towering 32 stories over the city’s most vibrant neighborhood, the InterContinental San Francisco offers a different perspective on luxury and a perfect location for staying in or venturing out.
888 Howard Street
Directly adjacent to the Moscone West Convention Center, the hotel is just a few blocks from the city’s favorite cultural, shopping, dining, sightseeing and entertainment venues. The hotel is LEEDŽ EBOM Gold Certified under the U.S. Green Building Council, and is one of the first hotel properties to offer hybrid electric vehicles for guests to avail of.
LEED速 EBOM Gold Certified
Electric Car-Sharing Vehicle
Whether traveling for business or leisure, from Check-In to Check-Out, your stay at the InterContinental San Francisco will be most memorable. Our Concierge team is committed to connecting you to all the special and unique aspects of your destination. Their insider tips will help you navigate the city just like a local. You can also download the InterContinental Concierge app and have our Concierge available at your side anywhere you go.
The most luxurious place to stay can also be the most efficient place to be. With an intimate footprint of no more than 22 rooms per floor, the hotel’s 550 guestrooms have a distinctly modern feel. Each room offers floor-to-ceiling windows with awe-inspiring views and cutting-edge technology. We’ve also kept our eye on the little details such as table-top and bedside power outlets, cup-at-a-time complimentary coffee and tea system, feather top beds and more, so that you can truly relax and enjoy your stay.
Seamless technology integration, exemplary service and world class accommodations go together at the InterContinental San Francisco. Our spacious suites are a perfect place for business as well as leisure, and have unparalleled views of the City and Bay. More than a mere place to stay, they are an experience to behold.
This expansive one-bedroom suite on the 31st floor showcases two sunny terraces, a separate parlor with a dining table for four and a sofa bed. The bedroom boasts a king-sized bed and a master bath with separate shower and tub, as well as dual sinks. Luxurious woods, muted colors and glass dĂŠcor create an airy living space, the perfect place to enjoy views of the Bay Bridge through floor-to-ceiling windows.
For those accustomed to living in the utmost of style, the 2,000 square foot duplex delivers a space full of warm earth tones, commissioned artwork and modern luxuries. Two floors of windows and two private outdoor terraces allow guest to enjoy uninterrupted views of the city. The lower floor features a baby grand piano, fireplace, dining table for eight; and the upper level houses the master bedroom with two separate master baths. This suite has become a favorite for many celebrities, foreign dignitaries and statesmen.
Al fresco dining
Magnificent views
Modern and sophisticated dĂŠcor
Meaning “light” in Italian and pronounced “LOO-chay”, the restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star four years consecutively. Luce offers sophisticated, yet approachable, modern American cuisine in a sleek and contemporary, yet invitingly warm, setting. This is a place where food and wine come together, and where talented and passionate staff collaborate to make every guest’s experience highly memorable.
Bar 888 is the nation’s premiere Grappa focused bar, offering the finest selections of Grappa and Grappa cocktails. The bar also features a carefully cultivated selection of wines, beers, and premium spirits. Bar 888 serves light fare from the kitchens of award-winning Luce restaurant. Here, guests are invited to linger at the sleek, modern bar amidst a collection of vintage and artistic Grappa bottles.
At the full service Spa, every aspect of your individualized spa visit is designed with you in mind. Our spa concierge will tailor a unique treatment regimen from a wide range of distinct spa rituals to help you indulge, invigorate and leave inspired.
At the InterContinental San Francisco, it’s easy to keep fit on the road. The hotel offers a fitness center that is accessible around the clock, and an indoor climatecontrolled lap pool and Jacuzzi.
As splendid now as when it opened to great fanfare in 1926, InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco is one of the city’s finest hotels. Located at the crossing of three cable car lines, the venerable landmark is minutes from Union Square, Chinatown and the Financial District. Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge are short drives away. Built on the site of the Mark Hopkins Mansion at the crest of illustrious Nob Hill, the hotel is renowned for its excellence in service for over 85 years. New-world amenities and services enhance the hotel’s original character of old-world luxury and style, offering a seamless blend of historic charm and contemporary comfort.
When Robert Louis Stevenson visited San Francisco in 1879, he declared, “Nob Hill, the Hill of Palaces, must certainly be counted the best part of San Francisco. It is here that millionaires gathered together, vying with each other in display.” Of these homes on Nob Hill built by such magnates as Stanford, Crocker, and Huntington, none was grander than the gabled Victorian mansion of Mark Hopkins, a founder of the Central Pacific Railroad. Hopkins’ wife, Mary, was given free reign in the mansion’s design which included: a built-in pipe organ, oak paneling inlaid with ebony, and a several-story-tall entry hall and art gallery. Mark Hopkins died just before completion of the grandiose structure. In 1878, his widow moved into the multi-turreted $3 million Gothic castle built entirely of redwood. Several years later, Mary Hopkins moved to the East Cost and married Edward Searles, her interior designer and junior by 30 years.
After Mary Hopkins death in 1891, Edward Searles donated the long-unoccupied Nob Hill mansion to the San Francisco Art Association, which converted the building into classrooms, studios and galleries. The mansion burned in the fire, which followed the 1906 earthquake, and only the hillside property’s mammoth granite retaining wall remained standing afterwards. Ironically, it was later learned that a huge water reservoir existed beneath the structure. Less than one year after the 1906 earthquake conflagration, the Art Association erected a temporary wooden building on the foundation of the Mark Hopkins mansion. But other San Franciscans saw a far grander use for this remarkable location. One night in 1910, mining engineer George D. Smith and a friend were strolling past the modest Art Association building when he said, “Someday, I’m going to build a hotel there.”
When The Mark Hopkins Hotel opened on December 4, 1926, San Franciscans proclaimed it “architecturally perfect, flawless in its erection, comprehensive in its accommodations...strikingly representative of the best there is in modern hostelry. The Mark Hopkins became an immediate part of San Francisco’s rich and colorful history and continues to hold its place in the city today. Events such as the meetings for the historic founding of the United Nations in 1945 took place at the Mark Hopkins. Royalty, statesmen, political personalities and celebrities with backgrounds as diverse as the places they come from have stayed at the Mark Hopkins since it opened In the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, the glamorous Peacock Court hosted such memorable dance bands as Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Anson “Dancin’-with-Anson” Weeks, Xavier Cugat, plus the era’s top supper club entertainers like Betty Grable, Dorothy Lamour, Rudy Valley, Hildegarde, Dorothy “The Broadway Hillbilly” Shay, and exotic Peruvian songbird Yma Sumac. The banquet rooms were filled with debutante balls, wedding receptions, and glittering dinners, sometimes served on the hotel’s 24 -carat gold service ware. In 1939 hotel owner George D. Smith created a sensation at The Mark Hopkins Hotel when he converted the 11-room penthouse on the hotel’s 19th floor into a glass-walled cocktail lounge featuring a 360-degree view of the city and bay. This became known as the Top of The Mark, San Francisco’s legendary sky-lounge.
Fashion show in the historic Peacock Court ballroom
Mark Hopkins lobby, circa 1965
The legendary Top of the Mark, circa 1940
The 19-story hotel’s architecture is a combination of French Chateau and Spanish Renaissance, embellished with elaborate terra cotta ornamentation. Because the hotel consists of a tall central tower and two wings outstretched like arms, the rooms offer spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay, the City, the surrounding hills and the ocean. The InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco features 380 guestrooms, all enriched with state-of-theart amenities and most of which command spectacular views of San Francisco and the bay. The hotel includes five luxury suites reminiscent of a fine home or estate: The California Suite, Penthouse Suite, Mark Hopkins, Presidential and Cyril Magnin, with its own enclosed terrace. Each suite is elaborately furnished in a unique style, filled with luxury appointments and original art representing the city’s diverse and international cultural heritage.
Located on the 18th floor, the dĂŠcor for the California Suite stands out in bold contrast to the other hotel suites. With a predominantly black and white color scheme and hardwood floors, this 2,240 square-foot suite suggests a very contemporary feel. Beautiful accents in gold and primary colors offset the original crown moldings present throughout the main living room. Unique to this suite is a separate dining room as well as a parlor with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The wonderfully spacious master bedroom features an upholstered king-size sleigh bed providing a distinctively residential ambience. The second bedroom features two beds with creamy white and gold accents. In addition, both bedrooms boast generously sized bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs and separate shower cabins.
Sharing the 18th floor with the California Suite, the 1,650 square-foot Penthouse Suite takes advantage of its location in the building at the top of Nob Hill with three picture windows, immediately drawing guest to the breathtaking views of the City and the Bay. The suite retains the original wood wall paneling and built-in bookcases. Love-seats and overstuffed chairs are grouped together to take advantage of the stunning vista. The dining room features the same panoramic views as the living room, making this suite ideal for small, intimate gatherings. The bedroom in this suite is impressively spacious with a king-sized bed. The expansive bathroom includes a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower.
Located on the 17th floor, the one- or two-bedroom 1,510 square-foot Presidential Suite is reminiscent of early California design. The original mahogany wood wall paneling in the living room and dining area is complemented by the soft velvets, geometric patterns and accents of gold and bronze. A decorative fireplace adds to the residential atmosphere. Both bedrooms, one with two double beds and one with a queen-size bed, feature spectacular views of the City and are decorated in complementary taupes, warm bronzes and rich browns. The generously sized and beautifully decorated bathrooms feature Jacuzzi tubs and separate double-head showers, surrounded by Italian and Spanish marble.
The Mark Hopkins Hotel has been home to many notable San Franciscans, including Cyril Magnin, the City’s first Chief of Protocol. This 1,352 square-foot, one-bedroom suite, named for Magnin, was his home for over 20 years. Decorated to highlight the Asian influences of the City of San Francisco, the Cyril Magnin Suite features a glassenclosed terrace looking out onto the City’s Financial District, around to Telegraph Hill, and the bay beyond. The suite features a number of elegant touches, such as a Chinese folding screen, traditional painted portraits, and lacquered furniture. The bedroom opens onto a generously sized bathroom, with a separate shower and a Jacuzzi tub with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Asian influences are predominant in the scarlet and black accents and design scheme.
Located on the 16th floor, the one- or two-bedroom Mark Hopkins Suite features walnut wood wall paneling in the living and dining areas, offset by a taupe carpet with a dramatic leaf pattern in black. Accents in soft greens run throughout the suite, including the marble fireplace, the grand landscape painting, and the patterned silkupholstered furniture. The parlor can connect with either the Jacuzzi Suite or a second bedroom opposite the central room has a king-size bed and is decorated in matching taupe and coffee colors.
Whether as part of the Mark Hopkins Suite, or on its own, the Jacuzzi Suite is invitingly warm with a canopy bed and furniture upholstered in soft buttery yellows. The bedroom transitions gracefully to a solarium. A very special feature of the InterContinental Mark Hopkins and unique in San Francisco, is the adjacent private roof garden with spectacular 240-degree views of the City. A spacious bathroom includes a Jacuzzi tub with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Distinctly modern, this suite can truly be your home away from home. With magnificent views overlooking the City and Bay, the Nob Hill Suite offers a spacious living room with a den area, dining area, powder room, and a kitchen complete with induction range, dishwasher, oven and microwave. The master bedroom features a king bed, a sitting area, and a walk-in closet.
Our guestrooms are designed with your convenience and comfort in mind, showcasing a perfect blend of traditional and modern. A classic color scheme of sienna and golden yellow with bronze and black accents complements the custom-made maple furniture, stained in cherry and walnut. The bathrooms use a combination of Spanish Rojo-Alicante and Italian Botticino marble, along with the black galaxy granite vanity tops. Flat-screen televisions, single-serve coffee makers, and luxurious Italian linens are just a few of the amenities offered.
Consistently anticipating the changing needs of today’s traveler, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins offers the Club InterContinental — an exclusive club that’s inclusive for all. The Club lounge is located on the lobby level, making it accessible to all hotel guests. For a nominal fee, guests can enjoy Club facilities and value-added benefits such as dedicated concierge services, complimentary shoe-shines, turn-down service, and late check-out. Club guests with late flights or departure times are welcome to stay and take advantage of the lounge even after checking out. Designed for the ultimate in convenience and comfort, the Club lounge features state-of-the art office equipment, complimentary wi-fi and high-speed Internet access, cutting edge entertainment components and extensive DVD collection, commercial-free music and news from all over the world through XM Radio Satellite, and a cozy “feels like home” area complete with a library of books on San Francisco and board games for relaxation. Variations of food and beverage presentations are featured throughout the day — from a Continental breakfast buffet to afternoon tea service to cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and even bedtime sweets and spirits.
Just when you think you’ve seen San Francisco, the views from the legendary Top of the Mark sky-lounge will thrill you over and over again. In 1939, when owner George D. Smith decided to convert the 19th-floor penthouse apartment of his Mark Hopkins Hotel into a cocktail lounge, he wasn’t completely convinced people would ride an elevator up nineteen floors to have a drink and look at the view. So he installed a dance floor and hired a band. A few days after the May 11 opening of the Top of the Mark, he had to cover the dance floor to make room for the crowds that were lining up for hours just to get inside.
A stunning and immediate success, the Top of the Mark continues to draw crowds, locals and visitors alike. During World War II, Pacific-bound servicemen and their friends would meet and toast one last time to the Golden Gate Bridge before shipping out, believing this was good luck and would bring them home. As the servicemen sailed out the Golden Gate, wives and sweethearts gathered in the Top of the Mark’s northwest corner, where they would gaze out the windows to watch them go, thus dubbing that spot “The Weepers’ Corner.” During the war, servicemen would buy and leave a bottle in the care of the bartender so the next soldier from their squadron could enjoy a free drink; the only requirement being the soldier who had the last shot must buy the next bottle. Since the day it opened, many celebrities and dignitaries have enjoyed the Top of the Mark’s extraordinary views, including: Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Michael Jackson, Prince Edward, Prince Charles, Brad Pitt, Christian Slater, Jeff Goldblum and Robin Williams, to name a few. Even the famous John Barrymore made his way to the Top, just to show his pet monkey the view (and creating quite a stir). The Top of the Mark continues to draw people in for the panoramic views of the ever-changing San Francisco Bay Area and to add to San Francisco’s rich and colorful history. To the people who live here and visitors all over the world, the Top of the Mark is much more than just a sky-lounge — it’s a landmark, a tradition and an experience.
888 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 T: +1 415 616 6500 E: icsfsales@ihg.com www.intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com www.intercontinental.com/sanfranciscoca www.lucewinerestaurant.com www.grappabar888.com
One Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA 94108 T: +1 415 392 3434 E: sfoha.sales@ihg.com www.intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com www.intercontinental.com/sanfrancisco www.topofthemark.com
A publication of InterContinental Hotels of San Francisco