InterContinental San Francisco
Sub-brand
UnclaimedA 32-story InterContinental hotel at 888 Howard Street in San Francisco's South of Market district, combining upscale accommodation, dining, wellness, and conference facilities near Moscone Center.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
InterContinental San Francisco is a high-rise luxury hotel at 888 Howard Street in San Francisco's South of Market district. It operates under IHG's InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand and occupies a prominent site beside Moscone West Center, placing it within walking distance of the city's convention, cultural, and commercial activity around the Moscone complex, Yerba Buena Gardens, Union Square, and the wider downtown area. The hotel opened on February 28, 2008, after a major development project reported to have cost US$200 million. Its 103.63-meter, 32-story tower contains 550 guest rooms. The building is organized around a six-floor podium and a two-level underground garage, with the podium accommodating much of the hotel's public and operational program. The tower's glass-and-metal curtain wall and illuminated southern facade give it a distinctive nighttime presence at the intersection of Howard and Fifth Streets. The project was designed by Patri Merker Architects and Hornberger + Worstell, with Webcor Builders serving as the primary contractor. The architectural concept responded to the hotel's relationship with the neighboring Moscone Center and surrounding urban blocks. Terraces were incorporated to provide open space, support outdoor activities, and create separation from adjacent buildings. These features also help bring natural light and ventilation to the building's north side. The design attracted mixed critical responses after opening: some observers considered its visual language too reminiscent of a Las Vegas-style tower, while others recognized its slender proportions, clean lines, and carefully detailed curtain wall. Accommodation is supported by a broad range of hotel services. The property includes Luce, a Michelin-starred restaurant identified with the hotel, and Bar 888, a companion bar known for grappa tastings and cocktails. Guests also have access to 24-hour in-room dining, a fitness center, an indoor lap pool, a Jacuzzi, and a business center. The hotel permits pets in designated rooms subject to fees and weight restrictions. Its conference facilities include two large ballrooms, an executive boardroom, and 21 meeting rooms, allowing it to serve conventions, corporate events, private functions, and social gatherings in addition to individual business and leisure travelers. As a hotel rather than a separately listed corporate entity, InterContinental San Francisco's commercial identity is closely tied to the InterContinental brand and IHG's distribution, loyalty, and operating systems. Its positioning combines full-service urban luxury with convention accessibility. The building's scale was notable when it opened: with 550 rooms, it was described as San Francisco's largest new hotel opening since the 1,500-room San Francisco Marriott in 1989. The project also pursued environmental certification during its development and received an Award of Merit in the Hospitality category of the 2008 Best of California Construction Awards. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate owner, founding company, current general manager, or later ownership transaction for the property.
History
InterContinental San Francisco was developed as a major high-rise hotel project in San Francisco's South of Market district, at 888 Howard Street near the Moscone convention complex. The project was conceived for a dense urban environment in which the hotel would function both as visitor accommodation and as a substantial addition to the area's conference and hospitality infrastructure. Its immediate neighbor, Moscone West Center, influenced the architectural approach and the building's massing. Patri Merker Architects and Hornberger + Worstell designed the property, with Webcor Builders as primary contractor. The completed structure rises 32 stories and reaches approximately 103.63 meters. Its 550 rooms made it one of the most substantial hotel additions to San Francisco in decades. The building includes a six-story podium, a two-level underground parking garage, and a tower enclosed by a glass-and-metal curtain wall. Terraces create setbacks and outdoor areas while helping introduce light and ventilation to portions of the site that might otherwise have been enclosed by neighboring structures. The hotel opened on February 28, 2008. Its southern facade was designed to be illuminated at night, making the tower visible from broad parts of San Francisco and giving the intersection of Howard and Fifth Streets a prominent nighttime landmark. At the time of opening, the project was reported as a US$200 million development and was described as the city's largest hotel opening since the San Francisco Marriott opened in 1989. The building received mixed architectural commentary. Critics questioned whether its appearance suited San Francisco, with some comparing its aesthetic to the Las Vegas Strip. Other assessments acknowledged the tower's slender profile, orderly lines, and restrained curtain-wall treatment. The project nevertheless received professional recognition through an Award of Merit in the Hospitality category of the 2008 Best of California Construction Awards. The hotel also planned to pursue LEED certification, although the supplied reference material does not confirm the final certification outcome. Operationally, the property was established as an InterContinental Hotels Group hotel serving both transient and group demand. Its facilities include guest rooms, a restaurant and bar, a health club with an indoor swimming pool, meeting rooms, ballrooms, business services, and in-room dining. Luce became the hotel's principal fine-dining outlet and was identified in the reference material as Michelin-starred, while Bar 888 complemented it with cocktails and grappa-focused tastings. The meeting infrastructure and location beside Moscone West position the hotel for conventions and business travel, while its dining, wellness, and full-service guest amenities support leisure visitors and local events. The provided sources do not document a separate founding entity, owner, management succession, executive roster, financial performance, or major controversy.
- 2008
Hotel opens
[1]InterContinental San Francisco opened on February 28, 2008, introducing a 32-story, 550-room hotel to the South of Market district.
- 2008
Construction award recognition
[1]The property received an Award of Merit in the Hospitality category of the 2008 Best of California Construction Awards.
- 2003
Moscone West Center completed
[1]The nearby Moscone West Center was completed, forming an important part of the convention-oriented urban context in which the hotel was subsequently developed.
Products and positioning
Urban luxury hotel combining upscale accommodation, destination dining, wellness amenities, and extensive meeting space near San Francisco's principal convention venues.
Hotel accommodation · 2008
Guest rooms and suites
The hotel provides 550 rooms in a 32-story tower. The accommodation product is designed for both business and leisure stays and is supported by full-service hotel operations, including 24-hour in-room dining and access to the property's wellness, business, and event facilities.
Fine dining restaurant
Luce
Luce is the hotel's principal fine-dining restaurant. The supplied reference material identifies it as Michelin-starred, making it a central part of the property's destination-dining proposition as well as a service for hotel guests and local diners.
Hotel bar
Bar 888
Bar 888 is the hotel's companion bar to Luce. Its described offering includes cocktails and grappa tastings, giving the property a dedicated evening and beverage venue in addition to its restaurant and in-room dining services.
Conference and event services · 2008
Meetings and events
The conference center contains two large ballrooms, an executive boardroom, and 21 meeting rooms. This scale allows the hotel to support conventions, corporate meetings, private celebrations, and other group events, particularly benefiting from its location beside Moscone West Center.
Wellness and recreation · 2008
Health club and pool
The hotel's wellness facilities include a fitness center, an indoor lap pool, and a Jacuzzi. The health club is located on the sixth floor and forms part of the property's broader full-service luxury-hotel offering.
Brand decisions
2008
Pursuit of environmental certificationStrategyBackground
During development and around the hotel's opening, the operator planned to seek LEED certification for the property.
Action taken
The project incorporated terraces and other design features intended to provide open space, natural light, and ventilation, while the hotel planned to apply for LEED certification.
Aftermath
The supplied reference material records the certification intention but does not establish whether certification was ultimately awarded.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/intercontinental-san-francisco · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled