Car Rental San Francisco

For years Nob hill has been associated with the best of the best in San Francisco. Often associated with an affluent upper class, the 376-foot hill was discovered in 1848 during the gold boom years. "The Big Four" - Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Collis Huntington were the first to build their mansion estates atop the natural pedestal during the 1870s.

These earliest of "Nobs" as they were later dubbed, had amassed their wealth in the railway business, and used architecture as an outlet for showcasing their substantial wealth. Described in 1882 as "The hill of palaces" by Robert Louis Stevenson, the Nob continued to grow with the added estates of James Flood and James G. Fair. The steep grade of the hill, (a 24.8 percent) cause havoc for the millionaires and their horses, (obviously they didn't rent their cars from Super Cheap Car Rentals!) so as a solution the wealth men installed their own cable car, which is still in operation to this day. In 1906 disaster struck and many of the mansions were levelled, but the prestige still remained on Nob Hill.

The Present

The durable brownstone, which James Flood built on his estate back in the late 1800's, withstood the quake of 1906 and is now know as the Pacific Union Club, the exclusive meeting place for modern day entrepreneurs. The rest of the hill is now home to many exquisite five-star hotels, some of which bear the names of the railroad tycoons who first settled the Nob. On the block where the James G. Fair estate used to stand is the 600-room Fairmont Hotel and Tower. This elegant hotel offers a more refined taste for the under 25 car hire clientele, what with its elegant main building and spacious lobbies. The Penthouse Suite can actually be described as a rooftop manor goes for approximately $6,000 a day, and includes a butler, maid and limousine service.

Attractions

Where the Huntington abode once stood now rests the Huntington Park, an attractive flower filled square just east of the Pacific Union Club. The centrepiece to this slice of paradise is a copy of the statue by Taddeo Landini called the Fontana delle Tartarughe, which means the Fountain of the Turtles. The Crocker family donated this beautiful piece of artwork in memory of Charles Crocker, who if you remember was also one of the original inhabitants of the Nob.

As you travel towards the top of Nob Hill, one can't help but notice the great grey structure looming high a the sky. This is the Grace Cathedral, the largest Gothic structure in the entire West. The block of land where this historical building lies was donated to the Episcopal Diocese by the Crocker family after the earthquake of 1906 destroyed their two residences there. The most spectacular characteristic of the cathedral is the east entrance gilded bronze doors created by Lorenzo Ghiberti. These doors are the portals that Michelangelo deemed fit in the 15th century as the entryway into heaven itself. The ten reliefs depict scenes from the Old Testament.

Restaurants

Nob Hill is home to the most expensive and exquisite restaurants in San Francisco, including the Fleur de Lys, The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton, Postrio, and Farallon. Bon Appetite! Nightlife Although Nob Hill isn't know for its happening bar scene, the under 25 car hire crowd isn't to worry, since there are a few notable hotspots in the area. In the basement of the Fairmont Hotel lies the Tonga Room, a city-famous exotic night life experience. It features Mai-Tai's and also an indoor rainstorm. How often do you find yourself sipping margaritas inside a rainstorm?! Another favourite with the under 25 car hire clientele is the Beer cellar, another basement bar featuring live DJs and pulsing music.