The Clift Royal Sonesta is a stylish, design-driven hotel just off Union Square in the Theater District, in a building dating to the 1910s. It's long been known for its dramatic, fashion-forward interiors and especially for the Redwood Room — a celebrated art deco bar paneled in wood from a single redwood tree, a glamorous San Francisco fixture since the 1930s. With a central location steps from Union Square's shopping and the theaters, it suits travelers who want design and atmosphere in the thick of downtown.
The Clift has been a Union Square fixture since it opened in the 1910s, and over the years it became one of San Francisco's most style-conscious hotels, known for bold, theatrical interior design that sets it apart from the city's more traditional grand hotels. Now operating as the Clift Royal Sonesta, it retains that design-forward identity in a prime Theater District location just off Union Square.
Its most famous space is the Redwood Room, an art deco cocktail lounge that opened in the 1930s, paneled — as legend has it — in wood from a single giant redwood tree. Long a glamorous gathering spot, it remains a destination bar in its own right. The hotel's rooms are sleek and contemporary, and the public spaces lean into a chic, dramatic aesthetic.
The location is the practical draw
It's steps from Union Square's department stores and boutiques, in the heart of the Theater District, walkable to the cable car turnaround, Chinatown, and SoMa, and well connected by transit. The Clift suits travelers who prioritize design, a buzzy atmosphere, and a central downtown base over a classic or resort-style hotel.
Why stay here
- ✓The Redwood Room (art deco bar)
- ✓Design-forward rooms
- ✓On-site dining
- ✓Fitness center
- ✓Concierge
- ✓Valet parking
- ✓Steps from Union Square and the theaters
- ✓Historic 1913 building
Good questions
What is the Redwood Room?+
A celebrated art deco cocktail bar at the Clift, open since the 1930s and famously paneled in redwood — a glamorous, long-standing San Francisco gathering spot and a destination in its own right.
Where is the Clift located?+
Just off Union Square in the Theater District — steps from the shopping and theaters, walkable to the cable car turnaround, Chinatown, and SoMa, and well served by transit.
Who is it best for?+
Travelers who want design, atmosphere, and a central downtown base, and who appreciate a stylish, buzzy hotel over a traditional grand or resort-style property.
