Experts' Choice Award San Francisco City Hall
What the experts agree on
San Francisco's most beautiful building, this 1915 Beaux-Arts masterpiece impresses with its massive gold-leaf dome and ornate rotunda, featuring marble, painted plaster, and theatrical grand staircase with exceptional acoustics.
“Despite its timeless Neoclassical allure and countless columns, City Hall in fact only dates from 1915.”
– Michelin Guide
Fodor's "This imposing 1915 structure with its massive gold-leaf dome—higher than the U.S. Capitol's—is about as close to a palace as you're going to get." Full review
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Civic Center Plaza... is generally clean but somewhat grim
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"The dome's exterior is a reminder of dot-com-era excess. But from the inside, the splendid rotunda has ringing acoustics." Full review
Frommer's "City Hall’s most imposing attraction is indeed its fabulously ornate rotunda, a blend of marble, on the lower reaches, and painted plaster... swept theatrically by a grand staircase." Full review
Lonely Planet "A beautifully refurbished 1914 beaux arts hall." Full review
Not For Tourists "Administrative offices and art exhibits inside. The most earthquake-retrofitted National Landmark."
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"This monumental Beaux-Arts edifice, crowned by a magnificent dome, is considered by many to be San Francisco's most beautiful building." Full review
National Geographic "San Francisco City Guides offers a number of free, guided walks year-round. These neighborhood tours have fun and informative themes such as Art Deco Marina and Castro: Tales of the..."
National Geographic "This volunteer group gives free tours of the city, many of which have architectural themes, including Victorian San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Heights Mansions, and Rising..."
Independent "If there’s one classically “touristy” experience you have to do in San Francisco, it’s riding the city’s cable car. Catch one on the turntable on Market Street in the downtown area all..."
Lonely Planet "San Francisco City Hall is a marriage-equality landmark and also a romantic, highly photogenic place for a wedding – the rotunda is filled with light and has double staircases for bonus drama"
