Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel — SoMa · near Union Square
Want a historic luxury hotel that's walkable to everything? The Palace Hotel dates to 1909 (Marriott's Luxury Collection) and has the Garden Court, a stained-glass-ceilinged room for afternoon tea, a short walk to Union Square. Honestly, it's so beautiful you'll look up.
The Palace Hotel sits at the corner of Market Street and New Montgomery in SoMa, very close to Union Square. It's a few minutes' walk to shops, theatres and Yerba Buena Gardens, with the Montgomery BART/Muni station nearby, making the whole city easy to reach. SFO is about 30-40 minutes via BART. This location suits people who mainly want to walk and sightsee.
"The Garden Court's stained-glass ceiling — afternoon tea beneath a legendary ceiling"
The building opened in its current form in 1909 (succeeding the original 1875 Palace damaged in the earthquake) and is a historic landmark. Rooms have high ceilings, classic luxe decor and marble bathrooms, and some run larger than the city norm. Guests praise how the vintage atmosphere blends well with modern convenience.
The highlight people mention most is The Garden Court, a dining room under a stunning stained-glass ceiling and the city's legendary spot for afternoon tea — just sipping tea beneath it is an experience. There's also an indoor pool under a skylight, rare for a downtown hotel.
Service is the Luxury Collection standard — polite and attentive. As a large hotel it has lots of event space. It suits couples, history lovers, business travellers wanting a central base, or families needing a larger central room.
On value — rates start around $320/night, reasonable for a historic luxury hotel in this location. Extras (parking, breakfast, afternoon tea) add up fast, but with good planning it pays off.
Worth knowing — parts of the SoMa/Market area can look run-down with some homelessness, especially at night. The hotel itself is safe and well-managed, but if you're uneasy, use a rideshare in the evening. And valet parking in this city is expensive.
Bottom line: the Palace Hotel is historic luxury in a walk-to-everything location — with the iconic Garden Court and an indoor pool. It's a good-value pick for lovers of classic atmosphere.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central, walk to Union Square
- ✓ Iconic stained-glass Garden Court
- ✓ Classic luxe rooms, high ceilings
- ✓ Indoor pool + Luxury Collection service
- ! Parts of SoMa/Market look run-down
- ! Add-ons and valet are pricey
- ✓ Iconic stained-glass Garden Court
- ✓ Classic luxe rooms, high ceilings
- ✓ Indoor pool + Luxury Collection service
- ✓ Central, walk to Union Square
- ! Add-ons and valet are pricey
- ! Parts of SoMa/Market look run-down
- 💡If you're sensitive to the night-time street vibe — parts of SoMa/Market look run-down → use a rideshare in the evening
- 💡If you want an all-modern room — it's a historic building → expect classic styling
- 💡If you're driving — valet is pricey → BART/walking is better value
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