The Pickwick Hotel, San Francisco, California

The Pickwick Hotel is located in the heart of San Francisco and is steps away from the San Francisco Shopping Centre, Moscone Convention Center, the World Famous Cable Cars, Union Square, Museum of Modern Art, Sony Metreon and the Theatre District. Featured in the writings of renowned author Dashiell Hammett, in his classic mystery The Maltese Falcon.A landmark since its inception, The Pickwick Hotel is a fine example of Neo Gothic architecture.

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During your San Francisco vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:

Cable Cars
Although they may not be San Francisco's most practical means of transportation, cable cars are certainly the best loved and are a must-experience when visiting the city. Designated official historic landmarks by the National Park Service in 1964, they clank up and down the city's steep hills like mobile museum pieces, tirelessly hauling thousands of tourists each day to nowhere in particular.London-born engineer Andrew Hallidie invented San Francisco's cable cars in 1869. He got the idea by serendipity. As the story goes, Hallidie was watching a team of overworked horses haul a heavily laden carriage up a steep San Francisco slope. As he watched, one horse slipped and the car rolled back, dragging the other tired beasts with it. At that moment, Hallidie resolved that he would invent a mechanical contraption to replace such horses, and just 4 years later, in 1873, the first cable car made its maiden run from the top of Clay Street. Promptly ridiculed as "Hallidie's Folly," the cars were slow to gain acceptance. One early onlooker voiced the general opinion by exclaiming, "I don't believe it -- the damned thing works!"Even today, many visitors have difficulty believing that these vehicles, which have no engines, actually work. The cars, each weighing about 6 tons, run along a steel cable, enclosed under the street in a center rail. You can't see the cable unless you peer straight down into the crack, but you'll hear its characteristic clickity-clanking sound whenever you're nearby. The cars move when the gripper (not the driver) pulls back a lever that closes a pincerlike "grip" on the cable. The speed of the car, therefore, is determined by the speed of the cable, which is a constant 9 1/2 mph -- never more, never less.The two types of cable cars in use hold a maximum of 90 and 100 passengers, and the limits are rigidly enforced. The best views are from the outer running boards, where you have to hold on tightly when taking curves.Hallidie's cable cars have been imitated and used throughout the world, but all have been replaced by more efficient means of transportation. San Francisco planned to do so, too, but the proposal met with so much opposition that the cable cars' perpetuation was actually written into the city charter in 1955. The mandate cannot be revoked without the approval of a majority of the city's voters -- a distant and doubtful prospect.San Francisco's three existing cable car lines form the world's only surviving system of cable cars, which you can experience for yourself should you choose to wait in the endless boarding line (up to a 2-hr. wait in summer).

Ghiradelli Square
This National Historic Landmark property dates from 1864, when it served as a factory making Civil War uniforms, but it's best known as the former chocolate and spice factory of Domingo Ghirardelli (pronounced "Gear-a-deli"), who purchased it in 1984. The factory has since been converted into a three-level mall containing 50-plus stores and 11 dining establishments. Scheduled street performers entertain regularly in the West Plaza and fountain area. Incidentally, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company still makes chocolate, but its factory is in a lower-rent district in the East Bay. Still, if you have a sweet tooth, you won't be disappointed at the mall's fantastic old-fashioned soda fountain.

California Palace of the Legion of Honor
Designed as a memorial to California's World War I casualties, this neoclassical structure is an exact replica of the Legion of Honor Palace in Paris, right down to the inscription HONNEUR ET PATRIE above the portal.The Legion of Honor reopened in late 1995, after a 2-year, $35-million renovation and seismic upgrading. The exterior's grassy expanses, cliff-side paths, and incredible view of the Golden Gate and downtown make this an absolute must-visit attraction before you even get in the door. The inside is equally impressive. The museum's permanent collection covers 4,000 years of art and includes paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from Europe, as well as international tapestries, prints, and drawings. The chronological display of 4,000 years of ancient and European art includes one of the world's finest collections of Rodin's sculptures. The sunlight Legion Café offers indoor and outdoor seating at moderate prices. Plan to spend 2 or 3 hours here.

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Most recent user reviews

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5 out of 5

Review

Andrew, Chicago, IL, 2006-11-27

The Westfield nextdoor is incredible.

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5 out of 5

Great Service

Anonymous, Tampa, FL, 2006-11-14

Moscone Union Square Lots of Restaraunts Shopping

Great service and very friendly staff, without attitude. Very attentive, they helped us with many different aspects during our stay. Refreshing to experience in a big city. Rooms were smaller than I had expected or experienced before. The room was very clean with only very minimal noise considering the room was on a busy street. Location great, central to public transport. The city is filled with restaraunts and there are lots to choose from close by. Great Thai food in the hotel lobby. Overall a great stay at the hotel, helpfull, sincere staff and I would definately stay there again.

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Score

5 out of 5

Great location

IAN, Minneapolis, MN, 2006-08-25

The Powell BART and Muni stations are two minutes walk. The San Francisco main tourist office adjoins the station. Cable car originates at Powell and Market. Great restaurants at remarkably attractive prices and for all tastes. Truly the hub of the city. Of course you have to be skillful at dodging all the panhandlers.

I had a good experience at the Pickwick. Staff were courteous and efficient. The location can't be beaten. The room was clean and comfortable. The only drawbacks were that an odor of stale cigarette smoke hung around the entrance. Also, the room was rather cramped (but still probably good value for what I paid). My room seemed to have been incompletely converted from a larger room -- the televison stand/chest of drawers stood in front of a huge mirror.

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5 out of 5

Wonderful Staff

Anonymous, Minneapolis, MN, 2006-08-19

This is the place to stay if you want to shop or people watch. We only stayed one evening so we did not have a chance to look for restaurants. Ask the staff or research some good restaurants in the area otherwise you may end up at a burger and milkshake diner or fastfood restaurant.

We visited the Pickwick Hotel for one evening. The staff allowed us to check in 3 hours early because we would have had to bring our luggage around with us for the rest of the day. The rooms are very clean and the antique style makes the experience unique.

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5 out of 5

Great Hotel Staff

Valeri, Las Vegas, NV, 2006-04-27

It is within reasonable walking distance to just about anything you may want. Dining, shopping, and the trolley station for any other areas you may want to see. The overall location of the Pickwick Hotel is marvelous.

The Pickwick Hotel in San Francisco has a wonderful staff that is always willing to help. The rooms are a little small, but very clean. I would recommend this place if huge rooms are not important, everything else was wonderful!

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4 out of 5

Good value for the buck

Bruce, Austin, TX, 2006-02-25

Hotel was in the Maltese Falcon. Check out John's Grill for even more MF trivia.

The hotel was built around 1920 and has been renovated. The Good - The staff was pleasant. Rooms were clean and housekeeping was very attentive. Great location for the downtown sites. The Bad - Rooms are very small. The windows are single paned and downtown San Francisco can get noisy.

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5 out of 5

Great Location - Clean & Comfortable

Carl, Los Angeles, CA, 2005-10-23

Take powell Street Bart Stop from Airport

This is a nice hotel. Rooms a little small, but very nice, because of age and design of Hotel. Could have used some draws. Other than that everything was good. Nice place to stay and great location next to the Metro Subway and Great shopping mall

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5 out of 5

Business

Anonymous, 2005-10-01

Union Square is nearby and well as the financial district.

The room was decorated in a French style and the bathroom was very clean. There was a small desk, refrigerator and coffeemaker. There were 2 closets and a suitcase stand, the lighting was nice. This was very close to the location of the event that I had attended and parking was available on the basement level.

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5 out of 5

Perfect location, right off 5th & Market

Carla, Dallas, TX, 2005-09-23

Great value for the money, 1920's charm, plush, comfortable, historical, classic, cozy, romantic, cool, nostaligic, a very short walk to Market Street, fabouls restaurants, bus service, and the finest downtown shopping. Maid service and concierge service are incredible! Go and visit SF!

Score

4 out of 5

Good value

Elizabeth, 2005-09-05

I recommend the nearby parking garage on 5th and Mission as it is cheaper than the hotel parking garage.

Pickwick is well situated for enjoying the Union Square district of San Francisco. The rooms are small but comfortable and nicely decorated and the bathrooms nicely done and new. However, there are so many sites nearby plus excellent shopping that you won't be staying in your room. Walk or ride the cable car and enjoy good value at the Pickwick.

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