There was a report early in 2024 of a possible reopening of the Cliff House by December of 2024. Obviously that didn’t happen. I went out there last Saturday to walk around the empty and lonely Cliff House wondering when, if ever, the famous restaurant will reopen. Also, if the new owners think that people will refer to it by any other name other than the ‘Cliff House’ well….. (Thumbnail images)
No trouble finding a parking spot Saturday.
My niece, Beverly, my sister, Julie, my niece, Christie, my brother, Pat and my niece, Stacy, walking into the Cliff House in 1989.
A scene from the best Film Noir movie set in San Francisco, the 1958 movie ‘The Lineup’.
This photo from the San Francisco Library Archives only notes that this was the “Site where a woman leaped off from the rocks.” I couldn’t find out much info on the story, but I did find out that it happened on October 3, 1941, and the unfortunate woman never did it again. This was as close of an angle to where she jumped as I could get.
A photo from probably the 60s of the Cliff House I liked the best. (ebay.com)
Looking down toward Playland-at-the-Beach in the late 1960s: (San Francisco Public Library Archives)
The pathway that leads to behind the Cliff House in 1909: This is basically the same structure that’s there today. (UC Berkeley Library Archives)
Visitors looking at Seal Rocks from behind the Cliff House in the 1950s: Nobody behind the Cliff House Saturday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
San Francisco Film Locations Then & Now 
You know, I have never been to the Cliff House. I have seen it many times since I was a kid, but I do not remember ever stopping there, unless I did so with my parents when I was very young.
These are fascinating! It’s a great companion to watching the movies. Thank you.
Thank you for the nice compliment, Frances! Glad you enjoyed the pictures.