I took another visit out to the Cliff House today, first time since January of 2025. That was an overcast day too, but the pictures I took today aren’t as dismal as they look; a fence around the Cliff House means renovations, and renovations means a positive step toward the Cliff House reopening. The January before last there was talk of a possible Cliff House reopening by December of 2025, now there’s talk that the famous restaurant may be open by the end of 2026; not likely. However, the positive news is that it’s going to be back in business, and it’s still going to be called the Cliff House. I gathered some then and nows I’ve posted on the Cliff House in the past and, updated them to triplicates. The forecast for the landmark is not as gloomy as today’s weather. (Thumbnail images)
A 1950’s picture of the Cliff House that I posted in June of 2015: (ebay.com)
Another 1950s shot of the Cliff House from a trail that I found in 2017 that wraps around the edge of Sutro Heights. I’ve lost the original source of the vintage picture.
The north side of the Cliff House during the 1960s in a comparison picture that I took in June of 2016: (vintagevacationpictures.com)
This 1940s update is always worth the risk of running across Point Lobos Avenue for. (cliffhouseproject.com)
Parking on the south side, which was a challenge during the 1950s and in May of 2018, isn’t a problem right now. (Virginiapicks)
San Francisco Film Locations Then & Now 