Perched at the corner of 48th Avenue and Point Lobos Avenue, the Seal Rock Inn is a beloved, no-frills San Francisco classic. With its low-slung, horizontal emphasis and retro-modern aesthetic, this 1950s-era motor inn channels the spirit of Mid-Century California. Its redwood-toned cladding, ribbon windows, and stacked design feel lifted from a vintage postcard—one that smells of salty sea air and fresh coffee from the adjoining Seal Rock Inn Restaurant.
Nestled just steps from Sutro Heights Park and the famed Lands End Lookout, the Seal Rock Inn offers travelers a front-row seat to the Pacific, while locals know it as a reliable neighborhood diner with killer views and nostalgic charm. This stretch of the Outer Richmond was once bustling with streetcars and seaside amusement parks; today, it's a quieter affair, but the Seal Rock Inn stands as a proud remnant of that mid-century energy.
The building’s tiered geometry and clean lines echo the International Style, softened by coastal influences and California’s postwar roadside inn tradition. Its design maximizes light and ocean views—an architectural nod to the proximity of the Golden Gate and the endless horizon beyond.
More than just a place to stay, the Seal Rock Inn is a local landmark—an accessible slice of San Francisco history surrounded by natural beauty and neighborhood calm. It’s the kind of place where time slows down, the fog rolls in, and you suddenly remember how good pancakes taste after a walk by the sea.
