Chancellor Hotel on Union Square San Francisco Specials:
San Francisco History
The original boutique hotel in San Francisco, offering all of the comforts without the extravagance
The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square
"Where the Cable Car stops at your doorstep"For over 80 years, the Chancellor Hotel has been a fixture on Union Square. Built for the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915, it was the tallest building in San Francisco when it opened for business in 1914.
With the memories of the great earthquake of 1906 fresh in everyone's mind, the Chancellor Hotel was built to withstand the greatest quake and would be advertised as "Virtually fire proof". Unfortunately, the contractor went broke re-enforcing the building to exceed the constant enhancements of the new building codes that were being written, and three years after opening, had to sell the hotel.
That's where Isador Rosenberg comes in. He saw the hotel as a great opportunity and convinced A.P. Giannini at the Bank of Italy (now the Bank of America) that he could make it work. He put together a creative deal, and the bank accepted. The hotel has been owned and operated by the family ever since.
Today, the Chancellor Hotel is one of the few family owned and operated hotels in San Francisco. Managed by the grandchildren of Isador, they oversee the daily operations. Their highest priority is maintaining the same tradition, service and value that made the Chancellor Hotel the Union Square landmark that it is today.
The Clipper Ship Meeting Room is named for the once famous cocktail lounge of the same name. The unusual room was created in 1937 to commemorate a special era in aviation and Bay Area history; the inauguration of Pan Am's Clipper Ship service from Alameda to the Orient. The interior is reminiscent of an airplane and boasts an aerial photo of San Francisco as it was in 1937. Today, it is among the most distinctive meeting rooms in the city for small groups and meetings.
Luques Restaurant and Bar, located just off the lobby, offers breakfast and lunch daily. The restaurant offers progressive California cuisine created by our in house culinary team. Luques also serves all the banquet needs for the Clipper Ship Room.
Located on the Powell Street cable car line, the Chancellor's location can't be beat. The cable car stops at the hotel's doorstep and passes through Chinatown on the way to Fisherman's Wharf. All of the world class shops and restaurants on Union Square, as well as the theatre district, are within a safe walking distance. Only the three diamond rating and all of the amenities that are offered inside the hotel could top what is offered just outside the hotel.
