Inside the Historic Inn at the Presidio

The Inn at the Presidio is a beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of San Francisco’s Presidio. Get a glimpse inside this gorgeous, oasis in the city!

Inside the heart of San Francisco’s Presidio you’ll find Pershing Hall. Built in 1903, the hall originally housed unmarried officers. Now it is home to The Inn at the Presidio, a beautiful boutique hotel featuring memorabilia and decor highlighting the hotel’s rich military past.

.: The Hotel

Driving up to The Inn at the Presidio, it’s hard to believe you are still in the city. The Inn is tucked away on a street just off the Presidio’s Main Post on the edge of the Presidio forest. The beautiful Georgian Revival-style brick building features large porches lined with rocking chairs.

The lobby is a wonderful blend of modern comfort while showcasing the 220 years of military history of the Presidio. Old drums, binoculars, journals, replica military vehicles and more fill the area. On the walls you’ll find framed old postcards of San Francisco, letters written from soldiers to families back home and even one wall covered in bugles. It’s a beautiful blend of history and mid century modern and so different than any other lodging in the city.

.: The Rooms

Most of the 22 rooms at The Inn at the Presidio are suites. Ours featured a sitting room with high ceilings and original molding. The wooden doors and floors were also original and beautifully restored. The double hung windows let you enjoy the breeze off the bay and beautiful view of Presidio grounds. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to see the top of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin headlands if you stay on a clear day. In the evening we cozied up to the gas fireplace in our PJs. The kids watched a movie, while my husband and I read. It was so peaceful.

The bedroom was equally lovely with high quality linens and one of the most comfortable king-sized beds I’ve ever slept in away from home. The bathroom had an large tiled tub shower and was stocked with botanical-based, EO toiletries. The entire suite, including the bathroom, featured more artifacts and nostalgia that tie in the Inn’s history with the room’s modern amenities. It’s so fun and fascinating to get a glimpse into life in the Presidio more than 100 years ago.

.: Amenities

The Inn at the Presidio serves a continental breakfast daily which is included in your room rate. It was a healthy spread of eggs, pastries, granola, charcuterie, fruit and more. We ate indoors at the long wooden table but other guests took their breakfast to the front porch or back patio.

There is also a nightly wine and cheese event featuring local wines and cheeses. There is ample seating inside but we took our wine and sat in the rockers on the front porch. The kids ran around exploring the area and my husband and I enjoyed the peaceful evening before we headed out for dinner.

The Inn at the Presidio also has a fire-pit on the back patio, which is a perfect gathering place on a chilly evening. We didn’t take advantage of it but I could see two families sitting around it the evening we were there. The adults were enjoying some wine and the kids were running around the small grassy area.

.: Nearby Activities

The Inn at the Presidio is a little off-the-beaten path for the typical San Francisco attractions but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do around the hotel. Immediately behind the hotel is one of the Presidio’s many hiking trails. The Ecology trail is a 1.5 mile hike that starts behind the hotel and ultimately leads to a vista overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s fairly easy hike and should take you about 30 minutes. It also connects to other trails if you’d like a longer hike.

A short walk from the Inn is the Presidio Visitor’s Center. It features exhibits and activities and can help you learn all about the Presidio and it’s rich history. We spent about an hour here and could have stayed longer. It’s a great introduction to the area and the guides can help you plan some activities. You can also catch the free PresidiGo shuttle near the Visitor’s Center. It offers service from the Financial District to the Presidio as well as several routes within the park. We rode it and it was perfect.

You can read more about activities in the Presidio here: Exploring The Presidio in San Francisco. I’m certain you’ll find enough to occupy yourself for days! And if the Inn at the Presidio is sold out during your stay, check out their brand new sister property, the Lodge at the Presidio. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’ve heard it’s amazing!

Next time you visit San Francisco, consider staying at the historic Inn at the Presidio. This oasis in the city is a destination in and of itself, definitely not to be missed. And while you are in the city, check out the other fun things we experienced on our San Francisco trip: