San Francisco’s luxury hotel scene is bouncing back in a major way, and the recently reopened Huntington Hotel is proof that old money and new design can actually work together. The 12-story Nob Hill landmark, which shut its doors in 2020 during the pandemic, is officially welcoming guests again after a complete renovation that cost serious cash and took years to pull off.

The hotel’s transformation is the work of franchise operator and real estate investor Greg Flynn, who purchased the property in 2023 and assembled a crew to breathe new life into the historic building. What’s wild is that the Huntington isn’t alone in this revival. Newbond Holdings and Conversant Capital picked up the city’s biggest hotel portfolio, Parc 55 and Hilton Union Square, for $408 million last year (that’s 75% cheaper than their value ten years ago). Blackstone also grabbed the Four Seasons on Market Street, and local investor Mahmood Alam bought the Hotel Union Square. The money is flowing back into San Francisco’s hotel industry, and it’s creating some seriously impressive spaces.

The Huntington’s pitch is simple: keep the historic brick exterior from 1924, but make literally everything else brand new. Designer Ken Fulk reimagined every interior detail, and the results are stunning. Pink hallways feature abstract paintings, the lobby ceiling is painted with clouds, and the whole vibe screams luxury without feeling stuffy. The standout feature is Arabella’s, the cocktail bar named after founder Collis P. Huntington’s second wife. The space is lined with vintage spirits, including USSR vodka, and a 1930s French bar cart. A mural by Rafael Arana ties it all together, and the cocktail menu literally traces different eras of Arabella’s life.

The Big Four, the hotel’s restaurant, doubles down on history with dark wood, wildlife engravings, and forest-green furniture that matches the hotel’s signature towels. Behind reception, the three-floor Nob Hill Spa offers a fitness center, pool, sauna, and a quiet reading sanctuary. The 143 rooms and suites run between $600 and over $1,000 per night, and manager Matthew de Quillien promises “exclusive inclusivity”, which apparently means staff will source specific brands of water if guests ask.

The reopening has already attracted some heavyweight guests, including Bill and Hillary Clinton. Whether you’re into luxury hotels or just appreciate San Francisco’s comeback story, the Huntington represents something bigger: the city’s recovery and a renewed belief that the old San Francisco glamour isn’t totally dead.