The Best Hotels To Book Near The San Francisco Cable Car Museum

Cable cars are an icon of San Francisco, having been invented in the city by Andrew Smith Hallidie in 1873. As well as hopping onto a carriage to explore different neighborhoods, you’ll be able to find out more about their fascinating history at the free Cable Car Museum. Book your stay nearby with Culture Trip.

The significance of San Francisco as a historic West Coast destination can’t be overstated, and the desire to keep transport, architecture and other attractions in working order is a huge draw. Its mechanical cable car network is a prime example. It’s the only manually operated system left in the world, and has been in continuous operation in California since 1873. Any one of the stylish hotels on this list puts you close to the Cable Car Museum, so you can feed your interest in history.

1. Fairmont San Francisco

Hotel

This grand property is the epitome of style and opulence, with 606 individually furnished guest rooms and 62 luxurious suites, 10 of which feature views of the Bay and Nob Hill. The hotel’s Laurel Court Restaurant offers innovative, California coastal dishes with a farm to fork ethos, and the legendary Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar is a great spot for snacks and cocktails.

2. InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco

Hotel

The lounge area at InterContinental Mark Hopkins is dressed in classical style with red and gold embelleshments

Sophisticated elegance plus modern amenities mean that the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel is beyond comparison. This sumptuous hotel’s dining immerses you in an exciting culinary experience with the Nob Hill Club restaurant lauded as one of the best in the city, while rooftop bar Top of the Mark has exquisite cocktails and even better panoramic views of the city.

4. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

Hotel

For a room with a view, check into the Ritz-Carlton, which has a choice of suites and guest rooms with downtown or bay views. Based in the Nob Hill neighborhood, the hotel dates back to 1909 and has an urban oasis feel, with a park-like courtyard to relax in. Food and drink are USA-centric, with San Francisco-inspired dishes at the Club Lounge and classic American options at breakfast, though there are healthy Californian options available, too. After a long day of exploring the city, craft cocktails in the Lounge or wine tastings in the JCB Tasting Lounge are a great way to unwind.

5. Cornell Hotel de France

Hotel

This exceptional French boutique hotel is housed in a Victorian-style building constructed in 1910 and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Owned and operated by the Lambert Family for fifty years, this distinctly European B&B has lashings of charm and combines history with modern amenities. It features artwork throughout, with hallways devoted to Modigliani, Matisse, Chagall, Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec.

6. Petite Auberge

Bed and Breakfast

A bedroom with double doors to a private deck at Petite Auberge, San Francisco.

This extraordinary 26-room boutique hotel is a charming guesthouse as well as a bed & breakfast, with guests offered a complimentary pastry basket each morning. The exquisitely decorated guest rooms are inspired by the countryside of the South of France; at the same time, throughout the property, the sophistication of San Francisco is evident with a curated selection of global objets d’art. There’s wine and snacks available in the evening, and Del Popolo, the top restaurant just next door, does deliveries for those who like to dine in the privacy of their room.

7. Omni San Francisco Hotel

Hotel

This 362-room historic hotel is at the heart of vibrant San Francisco yet also a refuge at the same time. Located on the iconic California cable car line, there is easy access to Union Square, Chinatown, Embarcadero and the Ferry Building. Be sure to try out Bob’s Steak and Chop House located on the premises and enjoy a cocktail in the vast, chandelier-lit lobby. With the City by the Bay at your fingertips, this romantic property has all the amenities you could need for the perfect stay.

8. Palihotel San Francisco

Boutique Hotel, Chain Hotel

A stylish separate bedroom area separated by pink-striped curtains at the Palihotel, San Francisco

Step into the past when you stay at the Pali Hotel San Francisco in historic Union Square, with its period lighting and furnishings, plus accents of wood paneling and ceramic tiles. Its 82 fully renovated rooms are decorated in a mix of classic and California styles, while breakfast and dinner are served at the Fisher Loft on the second floor.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.