The world comes to San Francisco – now be at the heart of it all. More than a place to see, eat, and experience, this is a city in which to immerse yourself. A space where you can search for the unfamiliar, uncover the unseen, and continually break the confines of the expected.
The staff are amazing at the Beacon Grand. From the moment we stepped up to the entryway, we were treated like royalty.
- Jonathan, via Google
Union Square is the geographic and spiritual center of San Francsico. Gracious boulevards of boutiques and galleries. Grand institutions harbouring masterworks of fine art. The tinkle of cable car bells in the mist. On the threshold of downtown, steeped in the legends of this city, almost anything seems possible.
More than 24 stages call the neighborhood between Union Square and the Tenderloin home. Each night the curtains rise to reveal life-changing performances that make San Francisco one of the world’s theater capitals. Call on the knowledge of our Social Hosts to discover everything, from avant-garde dramas to popular musicals at legendary venues, including: The Orpheum, The Curran, The Golden Gate, The Playhouse, and The American Conservatory.
A quick cable car ride from the doorstep of the Beacon Grand ascends to Nob Hill. Former home to the railroad barons who built much of the city, today it is the location of the majestic Grace Cathedral, the Cable Car Museum, and Masonic Auditorium, where music and comedy headliners regularly play.
Beyond the dragon gates the oldest Chinatown in the country beckons. Globally famed, this atmospheric labyrinth of alleys is home to some of the best Asian food in America. Spend time getting lost and discover an eclectic mix of herbalists, bakeries, fragrant temples, and some the city’s most atmospheric cocktail bars.
South of Market, or SoMa, is a rapidly expanding center for the tech companies that have turned San Francisco into a global hub of commerce. Twitter, Uber, and Pinterest have all made their homes here. Nearby are a selection of exceptional arts, sports, and entertainment venues, including: the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Oracle Park, Chase Center, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Moscone Center event space.
The Ferry Building has survived two major earthquakes to become perhaps the most enduring symbol of San Francisco. Home to a farmer’s market and artisanal food vendors, it’s a perfect place to enjoy a sandwich or bento box before walking the adjacent Embarcadero. From these piers the historic ferries depart, crossing the waters to the famed destinations ringing the bay, including Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the city of Oakland.
A city of cities, San Francisco encompasses numerous historic neighbourhoods – many celebrated in song and literature – including North Beach, the Mission, Castro, Haight-Ashbury, and Telegraph Hill, all of which are easily accessible from Union Square. Beyond the limits of the urban centre, yet still within relatively easy reach, is Silicon Valley, the global hub of the tech industry, and Napa Valley, the region that defined American wine.