A friend of mine mentioned there is an honest-to-goodness castle in San Francisco. When I asked where, she said "over there by Hunter’s Point somewhere". That’s all it took; I was on a mission to find this “castle”. In Ireland alone, there are 30,000 castles, so how hard could it be to find one in San Francisco? After all, it’s something that would definitely stick out in a country that’s only just over 200 years old.
Google is a wonderful thing. One search and I found it, in a manner of speaking. From there it took tracking down the owner and getting permission to visit the property and find someone to answer my questions.
The owner’s daughter gave me a tour and the historical rundown on the property because it’s been in her family for a while. It houses natural springs which were once the only water source for the entire city. From there it became a brewery which was closed down during prohibition and there is actually only one bottle of the original brew left and she has it. The top floor still houses a swing arm which was originally used to move pallets of beer bottles.
Currently, the castle is used for corporate events, weddings and private parties so if you get the urge to party in a real castle, go for it. It’s spectacular! You can visit their website for booking information at www.thealbioncastle.com.
Find your way with 156 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
It's an easy hike with trees, ferns, and other bits of nature surrounding the trail. If you stop and listen, you will hear… nothing.
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"Hook Fish Co" in San Francisco is deep in the Sunset Avenues and is perfect for when you have a hankering for some scrumptious fish tacos!
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I love coming to Alamo Square in San Francisco and getting a yummy park coffee from Lady Falcon Coffee Club and their converted 1940s bread truck!
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"The Spire" in The Presidio in San Francisco is one of the many reasons to come visit. A natural skyscraper, it reminds me of Where the Wild Things Are...
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I've never been to a cafe that made me feel as if I had been teleported to another place than "Stable Cafe" in San Francisco... Felt like I was in Italy!
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"Saint Frank Coffee" in San Francisco feels like an airy museum on the inside. I always leave with a few bags of coffee and an iced latte in hand...
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"The Mill SF" with its red brick exterior gets one curious straight away! I come here for their awesome toast, especially the cinnamon sugar toast!
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TIme has almost forgotten the "Presidio Pet Cemetery" in San Francisco, with pet hedge stones & names from when this was an active Army base...
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What makes "SPRO Coffee Lab" in San Francisco and its food truck special is their specialty crafted coffee drinks & artisanal goods. It's a gem of a spot!
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"Pearl 6161" is a restaurant in San Francisco in an old laundromat. Its Mediterranean-meets-California vibe, the high ceiling and the tiles... I'm in love!
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"Park Life" in San Francisco is an art gallery space with fun arts & crafts supplies and home décor that will jazz up your home! So much to enjoy here...
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When I can hear the sound of spare coins jingling, I get an itch for a real pinball fix and head to the Haight and Free Gold Watch in San Francisco...
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156 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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