Michael Mina's grand (and savory) return to Union Square - 48 hills

"A trip to the Westin St. Francis off Union Square always comes with a shot of nostalgia, an irresistible jolt of American mythology that covers more than 120 years. The storied walls hold pictures of visiting dignitaries like Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, and, in a gloriously chaotic (and age-gap scandalous) photo from the 1960s, newly married Latin music sensations Xavier Cugat and Charo."

"Display cases feature exquisite antique place settings, grand serving dishes, and intricate menus from the reign of Victor Hirtzler, the legendary St. Francis hochef who's credited with elevating local cuisine to French standards-and whose complex, cream-laden dishes sound as alien to us now as they did in the 1910s, when they needed a printed diners' guide to explicate them. Even if you may not be staying or dining, it's always worth a pop into the opulent hotel for some warm San Francisco history fuzzies."

"I'll never forget the first time I came to San Francisco as a child. It was the first time I saw diversity and numerous cultures coming together in one vibrant setting. I dreamt of living here one day, and I am beyond blessed to have defined my career as a chef and launched my company in the city that means so much to me. The Westin St. Francis especially holds significance as my first restaurant to receive Michelin Stars, Michael Mina, was here."

The Westin St. Francis embodies more than 120 years of San Francisco history, housing portraits of visiting dignitaries and vivid visual artifacts. Display cases present antique place settings, grand serving dishes, and menus from Victor Hirtzler's tenure, whose elaborate, cream-laden preparations reflected early-20th-century French-influenced dining. A famous 1960s photograph of Xavier Cugat and Charo captures the hotel's past glamour. Contemporary culinary shifts have moved toward hyperlocal California cuisine and fast-casual concepts, yet Michael Mina's return signals continuity of elevated, European-rooted dining at the hotel. Mina anchors his career and Michelin recognition to San Francisco and the Westin St. Francis.

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