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Unique Buildings of San Francisco

San Francisco is a beautiful blend of scenic landscapes and towering buildings that all work together to create some of the most stunning views around. The city is rightly proud of its architectural landscape with an eclectic mix of well-known architectures, designers, and artists all contributing to its presence. Rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, San Francisco quickly became the home for Victorian houses and fire-resistant brick buildings and is now a concrete jungle of sleek skyscrapers, oblong silhouettes, and restored historic gems. Here is our list of favorite unique buildings of San Francisco.

Transamerica Pyramid

The futuristic skyscraper that can be seen from almost anywhere in the city, the Transamerica Pyramid building is San Francisco’s tallest building. At 48 floors, the structure stands with a slender shape made of glass, concrete, and a 200+ foot decorative spire.

V.C. Morris Gift Shop

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1948, the V.C. Morris Gift Shop incorporates the legendary spiral ramp theme, similar to the Guggenheim Museum. The building has gone through several iterations over the years but has been well preserved via the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission.

Phelan Building

Just a few blocks from Union Square, the Phelan Building is an office building known as one of the city’s best flatirons. Its triangular tip meets the corners of Market Street, O’Farrell Street, and Grant Avenue. Destroyed by the fire in 1906, it was quickly re-built and stands today as one of the preeminent office structures in San Francisco.

Museum of Modern Art

Inspired by San Francisco’s fog and choppy bay waters, the expansion to the San Francisco Museum of Art is one of the most unique buildings of San Francisco. Its unique structure is made of more than 700 white panels of a fiberglass-reinforced polymer.

Hass-Lilienthal House

As the city’s only intact Victorian home available to the public, the Hass-Lilienthal House a fun place to visit from the inside out. Its Queen Anne-style house offers a glimpse into the life of upper-middle-class life during the Victorian Era.

Want to experience Victorian-era style living? Browse the accommodations at the Inn San Francisco.

St. Mary’s Cathedral

The unique shape of St. Mary’s Cathedral resembles a cross when viewed from above. The church has won several recognitions as one of the city’s top 25 buildings by the American Institute of Architects and one of the prettiest churches in the nation by Architectural Digest.

Palace Hotel

A luxury, historic hotel, the Palace Hotel exudes elegance inside and out. Originally built in 1875, the hotel was the largest luxury hotel of its kind in the world. It was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and quickly rebuilt to include the Garden Court, which was declared a San Francisco landmark in 1969.

City Hall

A list of unique buildings of San Francisco would not be complete without a mention of the City Hall building. Its regal-like features stand tall as one of the city’s main focal points and crowned with the fifth largest dome in the world. It is a beauty to be admired.

Columbus Tower

The Columbus Tower, also known as the Sentinel Building, is a flatiron structure with colorful accents, like green trim and copper, that make this building stand out amongst the rest.

Painted Ladies

Also known as postcard row, the Painted Ladies are one of the most photographed places in the San Francisco Bay area. The colorful Victorian homes line up beautifully for a picture-perfect moment with the San Francisco skyline resting in the background.

Stay at Inn San Francisco

Step back in time into the 1872 Victorian mansion with a stay at the Inn San Francisco. Our unique building was originally built on Mansion Row in the early 1870s and still stands today as a historic 27-room Italianate Victorian San Francisco bed and breakfast. Enjoy our grand double parlor, garden patio, rooftop deck, and unique Victorian details both inside and outside. Each of our rooms is distinctly decorated with original antiques and elegant furnishings, making your stay with us truly one of a kind.

Note: We are currently not accepting reservations for leisure travel due to COVID-19 restrictions. Once we can open our doors again, we look forward to having you stay at the Inn San Francisco.


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