'If, as they say, God spanked the town/For being over-frisky/Why did He burn His churches down/And spare Hotaling's whiskey?' This saloon-goers' retort was the snappiest comeback in SF history after Hotaling's 1866 whiskey warehouse survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. A bronze plaque bearing the ditty graces the resilient Italianate building.

Transportation

  • bart: Embarcadero
  • muni: Embarcadero

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Transamerica Pyramid & Redwood Park

0.09 MILES

The defining feature of San Francisco's skyline is this 1972 pyramid, built atop a whaling ship abandoned in the gold rush. A half-acre redwood grove…

2. Jackson Square

0.09 MILES

Today upscale Jackson Sq is framed by Washington, Columbus, Pacific and Sansome Sts – but before the gold rush filled in the area with abandoned ships,…

3. Columbus Tower

0.14 MILES

If these copper-clad walls could talk, they'd name-drop shamelessly. The tower's original occupant was political boss Abe Ruef, ousted in 1907 and sent to…

4. Chinese Culture Center

0.15 MILES

You can see all the way to China from the Hilton's 3rd floor inside this cultural center, which hosts exhibits ranging from showcases of contemporary…

5. Portsmouth Square

0.19 MILES

Chinatown's unofficial living room is named after John B Montgomery's sloop, which staked the US claim on San Francisco in 1846. SF's first city hall…

6. Sun Terrace

0.2 MILES

Enjoy knockout vistas of the Financial District and Transamerica Pyramid from atop a slender art deco skyscraper. Take the elevator to the 15th floor.

7. Wentworth Place

0.2 MILES

Dragons bring this shadowy brick byway roaring to life. The narrow entryway is illuminated with 'Dragon Boats Chasing Moonlight,' a new mosaic mural…

8. Wells Fargo History Museum

0.21 MILES

Gold miners needed somewhere to stash and send cash, so Wells Fargo opened in this location in 1852. Today this storefront museum covers gold rush–era…

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