Built in 1883, the Parsonage is a Victorian time capsule and historic landmark in the Lower Haight. Owners Joan Hull and John Phillips lived and raised their kids in the mansion before converting it to a bed and breakfast in the late ‘90s. The self-described “neurotically hospitable” couple takes a hands-on approach to running the inn. From checking in guests to preparing breakfast, they take care of nearly everything.
Sticking with the historical theme, the five guestrooms are named after such famous female San Franciscans as Lily Coit and Alma Spreckles. All accommodations feature a private bathroom with a marble shower and a handcrafted made-in-San-Francisco mattress. Hull and Phillips carefully curated the European and American antiques that decorate the residence’s rooms, two of which have working fireplaces. Thoughtful touches like fresh flowers and locally sourced breakfast ingredients make the Parsonage feel more like a cozy home than an inn.
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
Matthew Trent Photography
The Parsonage
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The Parsonage B&B: A San Francisco Classic
Owners Joan Hull and John Phillips have earned a loyal clientele thanks to their old-fashioned hospitality. “John and Joan’s kindness is only outdone by the sourdough waffles they make on Sundays,” says Christian Puglisi of Relae in Copenhagen. The Victorian home, built in 1883, has five rooms with period antiques and stands a short walk from Symphony Hall and the Opera House, as well as the shops and restaurants of the Hayes Valley neighborhood. Each morning Joan and John set the dining room with white and blue porcelain, family silver, and fresh flowers for breakfast.
