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Our Story
San Francisco's Nob Hill has always been home to the very rich and the very famous. As the city grows and changes from year to year, however, one thing remains the same: Nob Hill is still San Francisco's crown jewel.

Our Story During the days of the "Wild West," Nob Hill was adorned with the mansions of the great railroad barons of the Central Pacific Line, known as the Big Four. They were C.P. Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins and Charles Crocker. Later, James Fair and James Flood, who amassed fortunes during the Gold Rush also built their mansions high atop the hill. The Tobin family, founders of The Hibernia Bank, joined their affluent contemporaries on Nob Hill in the 1870's with the construction of a very large Victorian home on the site of what is now the Huntington Hotel.

In 1922, construction began on the corner of California and Taylor streets, former site of the Tobin Mansion. The result was a 12-story, $2.5 million residential Apartment hotel building. Constructed by Weeks and Day, the 140 room Huntington Apartments was the first steel and brick high-rise west of the Mississippi. In keeping with Nob Hill's exclusive ambiance, the building was described by San Francisco's Illustrated Daily Herald as the "last word in luxury."

The Huntington Apartments offered the “finest apartment facilities with the most up-to-date hotel service, offering a combination of features never before attempted in the West,” reported the Illustrated Daily Herald. Some of the apartments were installed with San Francisco's first twin wall beds or Murphy beds, Pullman kitchens with electric stoves, and inset steam radiators. A main kitchen, constructed in the building to provide room service to the residents was considered quite the innovation.

In 1924, Eugene Fritz, a real estate developer who managed the property, purchased the Huntington Apartments. Under Fritz's ownership, The Huntington maintained its reputation as the West's most elegant apartment building, home to some of San Francisco's most distinguished citizens.

Following World War II, Fritz, a shrewd businessman, realized the vast potential for increased transient business to San Francisco due to the City's high visibility during the war effort. In 1945, he began a two-year renovation program to transform the apartments into the elegant Huntington Hotel. Instead of reducing the size of the large apartments, however, he maintained the original room sizes. For this reason, The Huntington's guest rooms are substantially larger than industry standards. At that time, a cozy lobby was created on the ground floor with the Zebra Room Restaurant located directly adjacent to it.

The reputation of The Huntington and the Zebra Room quickly spread as it became home to visiting dignitaries, royalty, top-level executives and San Francisco's “Café Society.” Years later the Romanoff Restaurant, a posh nightclub replaced the Zebra Room, catering to an exclusive clientele that was fast, flashy and who favored such watering holes as the original Cirque Room. In 1960, L'Etoile, another elegant and famous restaurant, replaced Romanoff's, closing in 1990. The Nob Hill Spa now occupies the space where these former restaurants were located.

In 1950, Fritz stunned a male-dominated industry by turning over the hotel's ownership to his 14 year old daughter, Dorothy. As one of the country's first women to own and eventually manage a hotel, "Dolly" Fritz expanded the hotel's exclusive reputation. Her 1967 marriage to Newton Cope, a Sacramento real estate developer, restaurateur and California historian cemented the family's commitment to Northern California's hospitality industry.

Newton Cope transformed the ground floor of the Huntington Hotel into The Big Four Restaurant, one of the country's most handsome cocktail lounges and dining rooms. Named for the Central Pacific Railroad's "big four" tycoons, the restaurant's club-like ambiance showcases Mr. Cope's impressive collection of 19th century railroad and early California memorabilia.

The space formerly occupied by L'Etoile was renovated to become the Nob Hill Spa, opening in January, 2001. A pool was built where the old dining room had been and treatment rooms were placed under the lobby in the location of the old kitchen. For the first time, a gift shop was opened for hotel and spa guests alike.

Today, a third generation of the Cope family is actively involved in managing the Huntington Hotel, Big Four and Nob Hill Spa. The Huntington maintains its long-standing tradition of high standards and gracious service. Its reputation for quiet and understated luxury has made it a favorite among savvy travelers who prefer individuality and elegance.

When in Carmel, visit our sister property La Playa Hotel & Cottages-by-the-Sea, also owned by the Cope Family.

Located just two blocks from the beach, and with impeccably landscaped grounds, an intimate lobby and an abundance of Carmel charm, La Playa Hotel & Cottages-by-the-Sea is known as the Grande Dame of Carmel. Built as a Mediterranean villa in 1904, today La Playa still rests in a picture-perfect setting amidst oceans of flowers and cypress, featuring the alfresco Terrace Grill, 73 guest rooms and five newly-renovated cottages. As a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America, La Playa is intimately connected to California's colorful past, with a rich heritage all its own. www.laplayahotel.com, (831) 624-6476
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World Travel Awards 2008 Winner USA California's Leading Spa Resort
This beloved destination has been recognized as “one of the world‘s 500 greatest hotels” by Travel and Leisure magazine
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