SFTravel.com Newsflash 2001: The Clift has just received a $50 million renovation by one of the world's top hotel operator / designers - Ian Schrager. Who is Ian Schrager you might wonder? Ian created Studio 54 in New York, the legendary New York Nightclub of the 1980's featured in multiple movies and is often seen in celeberity circles today. The Studio 54 nightclub is seen as the embodiment of the esxcessiveness of the 1980's-- ending with Ian and his partner serving one year in prison.
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The massive renovation includes upgrades to San Francisco's classic nightclub, The Redwood Room. The Redwood Room is so historic, a public action committee, "To Save the Redwood Room" was formed when it was announced that Ian had purchased the Clift from the Four Seasons chain for $80 million. The controversy eventually included newspaper editorials, cartoons, and letters to the editor. In the end, the style of the Redwood Room changed, but the basic structure stayed the same. Many San Franciscans have fond memories of the Redwood Room nightclub.
The Clift Hotel was built in 1915, after the major earthquake. The building was built by George Applegarth, who also designed the Palace of the Legion of Honor. The clift was a 12 story, 350 room hotel with 3 floors added in 1924 at a cost of $1 million per floor. The Redwood Room was added in 1934 by G. Albert Lansburgh-- designer of the War Memorial Opera House-- just after the end of prohibition in the US.
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The style of Ian Schrager's exclusive hotels around the world today is the cutting-edge dsign of Phillippe Starck.
Our readers have spoken with their wallets! The Clift Hotel is one of SFTravel.com's most reserved hotels by our readers in the high-end category. Located convenient to theater and Union Square shopping, the Clift is a genuine historic landmark with impeccable service.
The Clift
495 Geary Street @ Taylor Street
Price Quote (4/99): $260 per night (+14% SF City Hotel Tax)
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