What is the Cliff House? A
restaurant? An attraction? A historic site? An ocean-side retreat? The Cliff
House is all of these things and more, a place where visitors can go to
experience a whole range of San Francisco treats all in one location. It is a
building with a bar, a bistro and a fine dining establishment where travelers
can satiate their taste buds with local flavors. It is a historic building
which is adjoined by the historic sites of the Camera Obscura and the Sutro
Baths. It is a tourist attraction, and it is a favorite respite for locals.
Perhaps best of all, it is a place located right on the beach, on the edge of
the Pacific Ocean, where waves crash against boulders and sea lions frolic in
the freezing water.
The Cliff House was first
built towards the end of the nineteenth century and has been rebuilt twice due
to fire damage, but the current structure has been in place since the early
twentieth century. Since its early days, the Cliff House has been a place
where locals go to enjoy fine dining and entertainment and a place where
travelers go to get the best of the San Francisco beach experience. Today, the
Cliff House is known as much for its peaceful atmosphere and historic appeal
as it is for its excellent food.
Many people come here just to
enjoy a drink while looking out over the Pacific Ocean. There is an outdoor
balcony as well as an indoor bar, both of which overlook the rolling waves of
the water. Visitors can sip their beverages while watching sea lions play in
the water. Whale-watching is also an option during the late summer months.
Visitors can also do more than drink here; they can get a small meal at the
bistro or enjoy fine dining at Sutro’s. The bistro is decorated with
autographed pictures of celebrities but visitors may scarcely notice them
because of the excellent view of the water they have while they are dining.
When they finish their
meals, guests can take time to walk around the Cliff House building. This area
has a rich history, which includes information about the lives of the rich
people who once enjoyed the multi-media entertainment options available here
in the olden days. This history is displayed throughout the building on
inviting plaques and supplemented with artifacts including menus from the
original restaurants.
For a true
experience of this history, visitors need only step outside and gaze out over
the Sutro Baths which were once a part of the Cliff House area. These baths
were enjoyed by bathers at the turn of the century, and the ruins of the baths
stand today as a glorious monument to that time. If you close your eyes and
listen to the lapping of the waves against the ruins, you can almost hear the
laughter of the many people who made this area their hot spot for
entertainment. And even when you open your eyes, you can hear the laughter of
the people who are enjoying a day at this glorious beach-side attraction.
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By: Kathryn Vercillo, Copyright SFTRAVEL LLC
