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6h ago

Iconic Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco to Close Jan. 1, 2026

Citing pandemic-era losses along with neighborhood decline, the owners are staging legacy events ahead of the motel’s closure at the start of 2026.

The Phoenix Hotel, in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, has a lore of attracting rock musicians, including Kurk Cobain, into its rooms.
People pass by the Phoenix Hotel on Eddy Street in San Francisco in 2024.
FILE: San Francisco’s Phoenix Hotel in the Tenderloin.
Chip Conley poses for a portrait at the Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco in 2024. Conley, who owns the hotel, said it will be closing.

Overview

  • The Phoenix Hotel’s lease expires January 1, 2026, leading owner Chip Conley and partners to forgo renewal after nearly 40 years of operation.
  • The San Francisco Baking Institute paid $9.1 million for the property in 2024 and will decide whether to retain the Phoenix name and brand.
  • Conley and managing partner Isabel Manchester point to sustained losses since COVID-19 and worsening conditions in the Tenderloin as key factors in the closure.
  • Since its 1987 transformation from the Caravan Motel, the Phoenix has hosted legends such as David Bowie, Kurt Cobain and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
  • A lineup of commemorative parties and events is planned throughout 2025 to celebrate the hotel’s music-scene legacy before it shuts its doors.