Inn at the Presidio

Inn at the Presidio offers a very different San Francisco stay: a small historic inn inside the Presidio, the former army post in the north of the city. The main building, Pershing Hall, was built in 1903 in the Georgian Revival style to house unmarried army officers, while their married colleagues lived in Victorian cottages nearby. Today it has 22 rooms, including 17 suites with fireplaces, and the separate Funston House adds four more rooms.

The inn is designed for a relaxed pace. A complimentary breakfast is served from 7am to 10am on weekdays and until 11am at weekends, and every evening from 5pm to 7pm guests gather for wine and cheese. The fireplace suites are especially appealing on cool evenings, and the historic setting feels far from downtown traffic.

Walkers will like the location. The Ecology Trail starts at the back door of the inn, so you can set off on a walk straight after breakfast. It suits couples, walkers and anyone who prefers a quiet base to a city-centre high-rise.

Practical details: check-in is at 3pm and check-out is at noon. Self-parking is plentiful near the inn, with a modest overnight charge that can be added to your bill, which makes this a convenient option if you have a car for day trips to Marin County or the wine country. Pets are welcome for an extra fee per pet, per stay; they cannot be left alone in rooms, but pet sitting can be arranged. To contact the inn, use the email form on its website or phone. As there are only 22 rooms in the main building and four in Funston House, the inn can fill up quickly at weekends and in summer, so book early, and ask for a fireplace suite if you are travelling as a couple. With breakfast from 7am every day, it is also a practical base for walkers who like an early start.

The trade-off is distance from the centre. Union Square and the Financial District are a drive or a bus ride away, so plan transport for evenings out, and allow time for taxis or ride-hailing. For many guests, waking up somewhere quiet and historic is worth the extra travel.