Haunted Hotels in San Francisco
San Francisco’s 9 haunted accommodations channel the unique supernatural energy of the chaotic 1849 Gold Rush, the notorious Barbary Coast, and the profound tragedy of the 1906 earthquake. When you search for haunted hotels in california online or on Google Maps, you’ll find thousands of matching results, but we’ve meticulously reviewed every single one to create the most realistic, historically accurate collection of truly haunted hotels you can actually visit and stay in.
These properties preserve spirits influenced by Gilded Age opulence, sailors “shanghaied” from lawless saloons, and the cultural boom-and-bust that makes San Francisco’s hauntings unlike anywhere else. Discover “city by the bay” hauntings where Gold Rush greed meets mysterious port-city tragedies, creating the most culturally dense supernatural experiences in Northern California.
Haunted stay options in San Francisco, California
Argonaut Hotel
Address: 495 Jefferson St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 563-0800
Website: argonauthotel.com
Price Range: Average rate: $250–$400 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Faint disembodied voices, phantom footsteps on brick floors, unexplained cold spots, lights flickering, and doors creaking.
History and Hauntings:
Housed within the historic Haslett Warehouse, a massive brick structure built in 1907 to serve the bustling Barbary Coast waterfront, the Argonaut Hotel embodies San Francisco’s maritime past.
Originally storing goods for the Del Monte fruit cannery, its sturdy walls survived decades of change along Fisherman’s Wharf. Since its conversion into a luxury hotel, its prime location and century-old bones have fueled an atmospheric sense of history.
While not famed for specific, named ghosts like some city landmarks, its connection to the sea and the rough-and-tumble era of sailors and dockworkers lends itself to subtle whispers.
Guests and staff occasionally report faint, unexplained sounds – the distant clang of metal, muffled voices like old work crews, or phantom footsteps echoing late at night in the vast brick corridors, suggesting the building still retains echoes of its industrious past.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Fitness center.
Haunted Rating: 1 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during summer (Jun–Aug) for Fisherman’s Wharf seafood.
Chancellor Hotel
Address: 433 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 362-2004
Website: chancellorhotel.com
Price Range: Average rate: $150–$250 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Male apparition on upper floors, unexplained cold spots, disembodied footsteps, elevators malfunctioning, feeling of being watched.
History and Hauntings:
Opened in 1914, this elegant hotel just off Union Square was the vision of investor Edmond A. R. L. Normandin. Its classic architecture has graced Powell Street for over a century, offering a prime location for city visitors.
However, legend holds that Normandin met a tragic end shortly after its completion, possibly falling or jumping from the roof or a top-floor window. His spirit is now said to be the hotel’s most prominent spectral resident, forever tied to his creation.
Guests and staff frequently report paranormal activity concentrated on the upper floors, particularly the 14th and 15th.
Experiences include sightings of a well-dressed male apparition resembling old photographs of Normandin, unexplained cold spots, disembodied footsteps pacing empty corridors, and elevators behaving erratically late at night.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Free breakfast, Cable car access.
Haunted Rating: 1 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during fall (Sept–Nov) for Union Square holiday shopping.
Fairmont Hotel
Address: 950 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 772-5000
Website: fairmont-san-francisco.com
Price Range: Average rate: $300–$500 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Fleeting apparitions on the staircase, unexplained cold spots, faint disembodied whispers, lights flickering, feelings of being watched.
History and Hauntings:
Opened in 1907 atop Nob Hill, the Fairmont San Francisco rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire, quickly becoming a symbol of the city’s resilience and grandeur.
This Beaux-Arts masterpiece has hosted presidents, dignitaries, and countless lavish events, including the drafting of the UN Charter in 1945.
Its century-plus history, born from disaster and steeped in luxury, contributes to its atmospheric reputation. While not known for specific, named ghosts like some hotels, its imposing scale and dramatic past have led to occasional reports from guests and staff.
Whispers sometimes mention fleeting, elegant apparitions glimpsed on the grand staircase or in opulent ballrooms, unexplained cold spots in long corridors, or faint, disembodied whispers echoing late at night, as if the hotel retains echoes of its storied past and the city’s turbulent history.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Indoor pool, Spa, Multiple restaurants, Fitness center.
Haunted Rating: 2 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during winter (Dec–Feb) for holiday events on Nob Hill.
Nob Hill Inn
Address: 1000 Pine St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 673-6080
Website: nobhillinn.com
Price Range: Average rate: $150–$250 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Apparitions in period clothing, faint disembodied whispers, unexplained cold spots, objects moving slightly, and lights flickering.
History and Hauntings:
Constructed around 1907 in the Edwardian style, this elegant building rose as part of Nob Hill’s prestigious post-earthquake rebuilding, initially serving as upscale private residences.
Converted into an inn decades ago, it retains much of its turn-of-the-century charm with detailed woodwork and period furnishings. Its long history as both a private home and lodging in one of San Francisco’s most storied neighborhoods has led to whispers of lingering spirits.
Staff and guests occasionally report subtle, unexplained phenomena, particularly on the upper floors. Fleeting glimpses of elegantly dressed apparitions, perhaps former wealthy residents still enjoying their home, are sometimes seen in hallways or reflected in mirrors.
Others describe hearing faint, disembodied whispers, experiencing sudden cold spots, or finding small objects slightly moved, suggesting the inn’s past occupants maintain a quiet presence.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Free breakfast, Fireplace, Kitchenettes.
Haunted Rating: 1 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during spring (Mar–May) for Nob Hill cherry blossoms.
Palace Hotel
Address: 2 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 512-1111
Website: sfpalace.com
Price Range: Average rate: $250–$400 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Apparition of a Lady in Red, spectral children heard playing, unexplained cold spots, disembodied footsteps, feeling of being watched.
History and Hauntings:
Originally opened in 1875 as the largest, most luxurious hotel in the world, the first Palace Hotel was destroyed in the fires following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Rebuilt and reopened in 1909, the current structure retains the grandeur of its predecessor, famed for its stunning Garden Court and Maxfield Parrish’s Pied Piper mural.
Its long, illustrious history includes hosting presidents and dignitaries, but is also shadowed by tragedy, notably the death of President Warren G. Harding in Room 8064 in 1923 under somewhat mysterious circumstances.
This event, along with the hotel’s sheer age, fuels paranormal lore. Guests and staff report sightings of a spectral “Lady in Red” gliding through the Garden Court or near the Pied Piper mural, sometimes weeping.
Others describe hearing phantom children playing on the upper floors, experiencing inexplicable cold spots, or encountering fleeting apparitions believed to be President Harding or other former residents, forever tied to this historic landmark.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Indoor pool, Spa, Multiple restaurants, Fitness center.
Haunted Rating: 2 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during fall (Sept–Nov) for SF Fleet Week.
Queen Anne Hotel
Address: 1590 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 441-2828
Website: queenanne.com
Price Range: Average rate: $200–$300 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Feeling tucked into bed, belongings moved or unpacked, cold spots, faint apparitions, gentle presence in Room 410.
History and Hauntings:
Built in 1890, this exquisite Victorian gem originally housed Miss Mary Lake’s School for Girls.
After surviving the 1906 earthquake, it served various purposes, including a gentlemen’s club, before its meticulous restoration into the elegant hotel it is today.
Its most enduring legacy is tied to the spirit of the original headmistress, Miss Mary Lake, whose presence is said to be particularly strong. Considered a benevolent ghost, she reportedly lingers to look after guests, especially in Room 410, her former office.
Guests staying in this room have reported feeling gently tucked into bed, finding their unpacked belongings neatly arranged, experiencing cold spots, or catching fleeting glimpses of a kindly Victorian apparition ensuring all is well within her former school.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Free breakfast, Fireplace, Spa services.
Haunted Rating: 4 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during fall (Sept–Nov) for peak paranormal activity.
San Remo Hotel
Address: 2237 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone: (415) 776-8688
Website: sanremohotel.com
Price Range: Average rate: $100–$150 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Gentleman Ghost apparition, Lady in Red sighting, faint laughter or whispers, unexplained cold spots, doors moving independently.
History and Hauntings:
Constructed in 1906 by A.P. Giannini (founder of the Bank of Italy/Bank of America) to house residents displaced by the great earthquake and fire, the San Remo Hotel served sailors, dockworkers, and bohemians in North Beach for decades.
This remarkably preserved Italianate Victorian, retaining much of its original character, including shared bathrooms, embodies the spirit of old San Francisco.
Its long history has given rise to tales of lingering guests. The most frequently reported spirit is a “Gentleman Ghost,” sometimes seen in period clothing, often near the top floor staircase or hallways.
Others describe fleeting encounters with a “Lady in Red,” possibly an echo from the Barbary Coast era. Faint laughter, whispers, flickering lights, doors creaking open, and unexplained cold spots contribute to the feeling that the past remains vibrantly present within its walls.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge.
Haunted Rating: 1 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during summer (Jun–Aug) for North Beach festivals.
The Hotel Majestic
Address: 1500 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (415) 441-1100
Website: themajesticsf.com
Price Range: Average rate: $150–$250 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Apparition on 4th floor, paintings tilting, phantom footsteps, unexplained bathtub sounds, cold spots.
History and Hauntings:
Originally built as a lavish private residence around 1902 for railroad tycoon Milton Schmitt, this Edwardian gem miraculously survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, serving various roles before becoming a hotel.
Its century-plus history is deeply intertwined with San Francisco’s past, and according to legend, with the spirit of Schmitt’s daughter, Lisa.
It’s often said that Lisa never left her fourth-floor room, where she tragically died or experienced profound sorrow.
Guests and staff report inexplicable occurrences primarily on the fourth floor: paintings tilting inexplicably, phantom footsteps echoing in empty hallways, and the eerie sound of a bathtub filling itself in unoccupied rooms. Lisa’s forlorn apparition is sometimes glimpsed, forever tied to her family’s historic home.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Fireplace.
Haunted Rating: 1 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during fall (Sept–Nov) for Pacific Heights fog.
Westin St. Francis
Address: 335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 397-7000
Website: marriott.com
Price Range: Average rate: $250–$400 per night.
Notable Paranormal Signs: Cold spots on the 12th floor, apparitions in period attire, elevators malfunctioning, unexplained noises, feeling of being watched.
History and Hauntings:
Opened in 1904 on Union Square, the St. Francis became a cornerstone of San Francisco society, impressively surviving the 1906 earthquake to host presidents and global figures for over a century.
Its glamorous history, however, is shadowed by scandal and tragedy, most notably the infamous 1921 party on the 12th floor connected to the mysterious death of actress Virginia Rappe, and entertainer Al Jolson’s fatal heart attack in the very same suite in 1950.
These dramatic events fuel persistent paranormal lore. Guests and staff report unsettling cold spots and spectral figures from bygone eras, particularly concentrated on the 12th floor.
Elevators are known to behave erratically late at night, and unexplained noises echo in the historic corridors, suggesting that echoes of the hotel’s long and dramatic past linger palpably.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Indoor pool, Spa, Multiple restaurants, Fitness center.
Haunted Rating: 2 out of 5 Ghosts.
Best Time to Visit: Best visited during winter (Dec–Feb) for Union Square holidays.
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