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The Gilded Age-evoking concierge at The Huntington Hotel(Courtesy of The Huntington Hotel)<\/p>\nImagine a time in San Francisco when fortunes could be made practically overnight for dreamers with vision and drive.<\/p>\n
In the 1860s four Sacramento businessmen turned their gaze towards San Francisco and determined it was the place to further their futures.<\/p>\n
Known as The Big Four, all bigwigs with the Central Pacific Railroad who built homes on \u201cCalifornia Hill\u201d (now known as Nob Hill) intent on outdoing each other\u2014president Leland Stanford, vice-president Collis P. Huntington, acting treasurer Mark Hopkins, and head of construction Charles Crocker\u2014were men of means who meant to get even richer. <\/p>\n
More than 150 years later, The Huntington Hotel is reclaiming those glory days.<\/p>\n
A years-long remodel and reimagining by creative mastermind Ken Fulk has transformed the property. In addition to 143 guest rooms and a 1,500-square-foot penthouse suite, the Huntington\u2019s reopening marks the return of the Big Four Restaurant (which is celebrating its 50th anniversary), and the over-the-top Nob Hill Spa. <\/p>\n
Green is the property\u2019s signature color, and it\u2019s used in various shades on everything from walls to velvet couches, leather seats, and carpeting. The renovation, meanwhile, preserved the building\u2019s original Georgian details like gorgeous plasterwork ceilings, boiserie panels (intricate woodwork that\u2019s affixed to the walls), stained glass accents, and light-filled windows. Mixed with its dark mahogany woods and oversized framed portraits, the effect is equal parts comforting and elegant. <\/p>\n
Entering the lobby of the hotel, you\u2019ll be glad you aren\u2019t wearing flannel jammies or crocs. Although the vibe is relaxed, this is a place where you\u2019re likely to find former mayor Willie Brown at the bar in a suit and various guests drinking signature cocktails straight out of the \u201850s. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like stepping into a beautifully recreated Gilded Age past: very elegant, atmospheric, and full of character; less like a traditional historic hotel and more like an immersive, curated experience,\u201d says hotel guest Andr\u00e9s Aluma. \u201cBut what really elevates it is the staff. They\u2019ve anticipated our needs in a way that feels almost like having your own private butler\u2014attentive without ever being intrusive, and genuinely warm.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Billing itself as the \u201cOfficially Unofficial Club House,\u201d the hotel\u2019s legendary dining room also aims for a mix of nostalgia and modern tastes. Start your day at breakfast with a nod to the \u2018Nob and order an egg dish such as the Big 4 omelet (filled with gingrass-smoked salmon and chives or ham and comt\u00e9 cheese). Lunch options include a raw bar, or the sure-to-be-a-favorite caramelized onion soup gratin\u00e9e made with oxtail bouillon and apple brandy. Dinner can be as casual or high-end as you\u2019d like, with mains like Sonoma lamb t-bone chops and a take on the classic cioppino with yellowtail, littleneck clams, Half Moon Bay calamari, and Dungeness crab toast.<\/p>\n
Although many hotels boast spectacular spas, the Nob Hill Spa is an indulgent urban sanctuary. Spanning three levels, it features an airy indoor pool, outdoor terrace, treatment rooms, saunas, steam rooms, a relaxation lounge, and an 1,800-square-foot fitness center. <\/p>\n
Select from a menu that includes CBD massages or indulgences like The Huntington Revival, an 80-minute full-body treatment based on Ayurvedic practices. Continue the bliss-fest on one of the twin-bed-sized poolside loungers\u2014or head outdoors to The Terrace\u2019s south-facing sundeck overlooking downtown. Be sure to browse the highly curated selection of home goods in their stunning gift shop.<\/p>\n
Kelly McGonigle Squier, an event producer and co-founder of Ladies Who Launch<\/a>, was also in town the week The Big Four officially opened to the public, meeting friends for drinks in the hotel\u2019s lobby bar Arabella\u2019s Cocktail Saloon (named after socialite Arabella Huntington). <\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, the hotel used to feel like an aristocratic grandmother\u2019s house,\u201d she says, surrounded by the bar\u2019s new Art Nouveau opulence. \u201cIt needed a facelift and some loving attention. Ken Fulk, who I feel is, like, \u2018Mr. San Francisco,\u2019 did a fabulous job of combining deliberate nods to the \u2018old guard\u2019 while integrating modern touches of luxury into the existing architectural details. He\u2019s made it feel incredibly elegant, yet still accessible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKen Fulk absolutely nailed it,\u201d agrees Aluma. \u201cIt never feels random or excessive\u2014instead, every detail contributes to a cohesive narrative that honors the history of Nob Hill while making it feel current.\u201d (One example? The buttons on the doormen\u2019s pea-green jackets that sport the initials HH.)<\/p>\n As for the rooms themselves, each is outfitted in neutral earth tones that provide a sense of warmth and comfort. Though they\u2019re stylishly designed (think faux suede, oversized duvets and coordinating throw pillows, polished brass accessories, and contemporary art), they\u2019re also laid out for practicality.<\/p>\n McGonigle Squier\u2019s insider tip for experiencing the complete package (whether you\u2019re spending the night or not) starts with a 4pm spa appointment for a facial or massage followed by a leisurely dip in the pool. <\/p>\n \u201cThen get dressed and head upstairs for a drink at the bar\u2014and be sure to order a martini from Barbara,\u201d she continues. \u201cAfterwards, head into The Big Four (hopefully with a reservation) and have their classic chicken pot pie. I guarantee it will be a San Francisco night to remember.\u201d<\/p>\n \/\/ 1075 California St. (Nob Hill), thehuntingtonhotel.com<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/lobby-bar-arabella-s-cocktail-saloon.jpg\")
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