Nob Hill in San Francisco: Attractions and information about the neighborhood

The historic and elegant neighborhood of Nob Hill is often visited only in passing during a trip to San Francisco, yet its scenic location and the sophistication of some of its buildings can entice one to linger for much more than a quick glance. Here is our guide to the neighborhood, with historical information, trivia and directions for visiting.

General Information and History of Nob Hill

Thanks to its central location and the magnificent views from the hill, Nob Hill has always been one of the most chic and elegant areas in the city of San Francisco. Not surprisingly, this is one of the neighborhoods with the highest per capita income in the entire United States.

So it is no wonder that as you stroll through its steep streets you will pass high-fashion boutiques, Michelin-starred restaurants, art galleries, high society clubs, and luxurious mansions.

Before 1850, Nob Hill was called California Hill due to the presence of California Street east of the hill. From the mid-nineteenth century onwards, this area was chosen as a place of residence by the four railroad tycoons, who had become rich in the wake of the Gold Rush: Leland Stanford, who also founded Stanford University, Collins Potter Huntington, Mark Hopkins Jr. and Charles Crocker. The Big Four, as they are known, were also called nabobs or nobs, a term meaning enriched and wealthy men, and it is from this word that Nob Hill was born.

The terrible 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire destroyed much of the neighborhood and its lavish buildings. Most of the original wealthy owners decided to move elsewhere and where the remains of their mansions once stood, today there are important historic luxury hotels such as the Mark Hopkins Hotel, Stanford Court and the Huntington Hotel. The beautiful Huntington Park also grew out of the ashes caused by the earthquake and fire, as the widow Huntington decided to donate the land she owned to the city to make it a public park.

Directions

Nob Hill is one of San Francisco’s Seven Hills, the seven hills that characterize the city and borders:

• to the north with Russian Hill
• to the west with Pacific Heights
• to the south with the neighborhood of Union Square, Civic Center and Tendernob (the area between Nob Hill and Tenderloin)
• to the east with Chinatown and the Financial District. North Beach and Telegraph Hill are located to the northeast.

Nob Hill can be reached on foot from Union Square in about 20 minutes, but be prepared for a steep uphill walk that, while scenic, can be quite strenuous for those unaccustomed to these inclines.

If you don’t feel like walking, the best way to reach Nob Hill is on one of the historic Cable Cars. Just think that the line connecting California Street with the Financial Center, the California Cable Car Line, is the oldest one in existence. Finally, you can reach Nob Hill by Muni bus numbers 1 and 27. To be better organized, why not read our guide on getting around San Francisco.

Places to Visit in Nob Hill

This elegant San Francisco neighborhood is packed with things to see. Nob Hill is home to prominent extra-luxury period hotels, one of the city’s largest Episcopal cathedrals, numerous parks including Huntington Park with its faithful replica of Rome’s Turtle Fountain. Don’t forget to also check out the Nob Hill Masonic Center, the building that houses the Masonic headquarters of the Grand Lodge of California, and, not far away, Flood Mansion at 1000 California Street, which is the home of the Pacific Union Club, one of the most elite clubs on the West Coast founded back in 1889. Not to be missed, finally, is a visit to the museum of the Cable Cars, the icon of San Francisco.

Let’s take a look together at a few more details about Nob Hill’s main attractions.

Grace Cathedral

Grace Cathedral is one of the most important and largest churches in San Francisco. It is located at 1100 California Street and its neo-Gothic style facade is easily recognizable from afar. The church was founded in 1849, but the 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed its original location. The structure you see today was built between 1927 and 1964. Not to be missed inside are the mosaics by Han Henryk De Rosen, the glazed windows, the two labyrinths, the 44-pipe organ, and Ghiberti’s splendid reproduction of the Gates of Paradise. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a major sermon at Grace Cathedral in 1965 that was attended by more than 5,000 people.

Huntington Park

Between Grace Cathedral and the Pacific Union Club lies a green area where you can relax while admiring the surrounding landscape, Huntington Park. The well-maintained park, created over 100 years ago, stretches for one block between California Street, Taylor Street, Sacramento Street and Cushman Street. Inside you will find a play area and two beautiful fountains, one of which is the Fountain of the Tortoises, a replica of the original Fountain of the Tortoises found in Piazza Mattei in Rome, Italy.

Cable Car Museum

A little north of Huntington Park, the Cable Car Museum is located at 1201 Mason Street. It celebrates San Francisco’s most famous mode of transportation. Undoubtedly taking one of these late 19th-century streetcars is in the top 10 things to do in San Francisco, but if you want to know a little more about its history and understand the mechanisms that make cable cars move through the various neighborhoods of San Francisco, don’t miss a visit to the museum, which you can reach from downtown by cable car itself.

Lobby of the Fairmont Hotel

The Fairmont Hotel is a magnificent five-star hotel at 950 Mason Street in Nob Hill. This was the first hotel to be built by the famous luxury hotel chain Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. It was the daughters of Senator James Graham Fair, a mining magnate, who wanted it built in his honor. Work began in 1902 and it was nearly finished when the 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed much of the interior. As the structure remained standing, the renovation was entrusted to architect Julia Morgan and the opening took place just a year later, on April 18, 1907.

In addition to the beauty and elegance of its more than 600 rooms and public spaces, the Fairmont Hotel is famous for being the first concierge hotel in the United States and for hosting the meetings that led to the creation of the United Nations in 1945. There are wonderful views from the hotel rooms, but if you can’t afford a room at this hotel you can still come in and visit the lobby or treat yourself to a cocktail in the historic Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar.

Look for accommodations at the Fairmont Hotel

Events at the Nob Hill Masonic Center

Best Places to Eat

• Tonga Room: this historic eatery is located inside the Fairmont Hotel. The restaurant was opened in 1945 and renovated several times in the ensuing years. The Tonga Room is a tiki bar, or a restaurant with an exotic tropical setting. Bands play live on a barge in the middle of a pool, and there are, of course, palm trees, thatched umbrellas, and delicious cocktails such as the Mai Tai.
• Top of the Mark: A stylish and elegant venue inside the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel. Located on the 19th floor, the 360-degree view of San Francisco is unbeatable and the staff impeccable. Even if just for brunch or cocktails, this place will remain in your heart.
• Swan Oyster Depot: Definitely less upscale, and also less expensive, than the previous one, this small eatery on Polk Street is renowned for its seafood specialties, particularly fresh oysters and shellfish. With barely 20 seats, the queue in front of the restaurant is routine but the wait is worthwhile. You’ll eat on a stool directly at the counter, but the flavors will make you forget the wait and the discomfort.

Where to Stay