8 Luxurious High-Rise Buildings to Live in San Francisco

Sean Mamola  |  July 27, 2022

8 Luxurious High-Rise Buildings to Live in San Francisco

San Francisco’s perfect location and exceptional views are just a couple of the alluring features this area has to offer. The city is known for its eclectic mix of architecture, landmarks, and picturesque scenic vistas.

Almost every luxurious high-rise building in San Francisco claims to offer the best of the best. Which one suits you better than the others? Where should you live?

Let’s take a look at some of the finest luxury residential buildings in the city. We’ll go into detail about the specific amenities and lifestyle offered by each so you can decide which is the best choice for you.

Lumina


Photo courtesy of Business Insider

Two sleek towers with 42 floors and 655 one, two, and three-bedroom condos form Lumina, an original among San Francisco's luxury high-rise residences. It’s situated in the South Beach District and features a variety of homes with lavish details.

But none of these homes beats the penthouse 41A. It’s an almost 6,000-square-foot, two-story property with 18-foot ceilings and 300 square feet of outdoor living space. It also has a rooftop deck, where you’ll have enviable views of the city and the Bay to yourself.

Lumina has a whole acre dedicated to amenities—more than any other residential building of its kind in the city. Purchasing a home at Lumina gives you access to several impressive amenities, including a club lounge with a backlit bar, a fireplace, and several seating options that’s the perfect space to welcome your guests and to people-watch, a rooftop terrace that’s open to all residents and their guests with barbecues, fire pits, and even an outdoor movie lawn with perfect city views, a private dining room for large parties with several entertainment features, a state-of-the-art screening room with comfy sofas, dimmed lighting, a large screen, and surround sound, a 7,000 sq. ft. fitness center, a rock-climbing wall, a heated pool and spa, a music practice room, a game room with pool tables, ping pong, and lounge space, a private lounge to spend time alone outside your condo, a children's room, a pet grooming station, and a selection of Audis available for reservation for Lumina residents.

One Mission Bay


Photo courtesy of One Mission Bay

One Mission Bay is located in one of San Francisco's most coveted areas thanks to its strategic location, and, most importantly, luxurious condos. It stands 16-stories tall with a 150-room boutique-sized hotel and about 350 studio, one, two, and three-bedroom condominiums, which range in size from 538 to 1827 square feet. One Mission Bay was developed by the highly respected architectural firm Arquitectonica.

If you have a car, you’ll love One Mission Bay since almost all homes in the residential complex come with a standard parking spot in the garage. If you don't have a vehicle, its strategic location in the heart of Mission Bay near a Caltrain station and Muni light rail makes it suitable for you and residents who like to switch between driving and walking from time to time.

Purchasing a home in One Mission Bay gives you access to desirable amenities such as private meeting and dining rooms, a business center with a library, a heated outdoor pool with a poolside cabana and firepits with outdoor patio barbecues, an indoor resident's lounge with a chef's catering kitchen, a fitness center with a sauna, an outdoor courtyard lounge, an adjacent hotel and restaurant, ground floor retail shops, and a guest suite.

The Avery


Photo courtesy of The Avery

From the first floor to the 33rd, The Avery at 488 Folsom Street has 150 affordable apartments and 280 luxury apartments, but you belong to the 118 luxury condominiums starting from the 33rd floor of the building since this is where you can truly get your money's worth.

These San Francisco luxury condos range between 964 and 2,064 square feet and are available in one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom layouts. Your mornings will be graced by breathtaking views of the Bay and cityscape—the pinnacle of luxury and elegance.

Purchasing a home at The Avery gives you access to a wide range of amenities, including a fitness center, a pet spa, a lap pool, a yoga room, a game room, and a package room with refrigerated storage. You'll also enjoy services such as 24/7 valet parking, concierge service, and exclusive use of the car shuttle service.

Webcor Builders developed The Avery with Architects OMA and Fougeron Architecture. It’s located just three blocks from the Salesforce Tower and two blocks from the Transbay Transit Center and Grand Central Station.

The Harrison


Photo courtesy of Compass

Are you looking for a grand, dramatic place to call home? How about the lavish bastion of urban living, The Harrison? Designed by renowned architect Ken Fulk, The Harrison soars 500 feet (152 m) above Rincon Hill with unobstructed views of the Bay and close proximity to the waterfront, Embarcadero, Oracle Park,  and more.

This striking residency comes with a Signature Collection of 17 luxurious penthouses that include half-floor three-bedroom and two-bedroom floorplans, boasting private balconies, top-of-the-line kitchens with custom Studio Becker cabinetry and white slab Carrara marble counters, full baths with porcelain Herringbone floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and personalized service.

With a home in The Harrison, you’ll enjoy five-star services and amenities, including Uncle Harry’s, a 3,500 sq. ft. private penthouse lounge on the 49th floor that comes with a luxe dining room, a speakeasy, and a catering kitchen, a fitness center with an outdoor heated pool and spa and resident-exclusive membership to weekly virtual yoga and circuit training classes, the two-story Grand Salon, which doubles as a curated art exhibit showcasing works from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Pantry, a 24/7 coffee and tea bar, and concierge services that include everything from booking reservations at highly-rated local restaurants to in-home maintenance and move-in services.

One Rincon Hill


Photo courtesy of San Francisco YIMBY

On the apex of Rincon Hill in San Francisco stands One Rincon Hill—an upscale residential complex with incredible vistas of the city and the Bay Bridge from most of its units. If you purchase a western-facing unit, you’ll be privileged with panoramic vistas encompassing everything from The Ferry Building to Twin Peaks. If you land an eastern-facing unit, you’ll have breathtaking views of the water from the East Bay Hills to the Bay Bridge.

Built in 2008, One Rincon Hill consists of a 60-story skyscraper with a total height of 641 feet (195 m). It features high-speed elevators to move residents and their guests efficiently, contributing to the streamlined and elevated lifestyle cultivated in this high-end residential complex.

As one of the tallest residential buildings on the West Coast, One Rincon Hill has 709 residences, with each owner having full access to luxurious amenities such as a fitness center, a full-size swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor fireplace, and a residential lounge with a catering kitchen. Residents also enjoy services such as valet parking, a 24-hour doorman, concierge, and high-speed Internet access.

One Rincon Hill's strategic location allows residents to walk to downtown, the Financial District, SoMa, and Transbay. Bus stops such as the Muni Underground and the Silicon Valley Tech, as well as the Salesforce Transit Center and BART, are within a short distance of the building, and there’s a multitude of fine-dining restaurants nearby.

Four Seasons Private Residences at 706 Mission


Photo courtesy of Four Seasons

Combining the elegance of luxe San Francisco living with the sophistication that the Four Seasons is known for, Four Seasons Private Residences at 706 Mission is a sparkling new collection of grant estates homes located in the heart of the Yerba Buena Arts and Cultural District. The property includes a 510-foot (155 m) tower and the recently restored historic Aronson Building, which dates back to 1903. Featuring grand, Manhattan-style interiors and historic Art Deco exteriors, 706 Mission is unlike any other residential building in San Francisco.

Individually crafted by world-famous designer Christopher Peacock, each of the twelve residences that make up the Penthouse Collection is replete with a master kitchen, a sweeping dressing room, and panoramic views of the city from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The crown jewel of the collection is the Grand Penthouse, which sits on the top two floors of the building.

Overseen by an onsite Director of Residences, residents enjoy a full suite of services that include 24/7 concierge, valet parking, and even an elevator for your car. Exclusively open to residents and their guests, The Club is an amenity floor on the tower’s fifth story that includes a lounge, an outdoor terrace, a bar, a dining room, a game room, a library, and a fitness and wellness center.

One Steuart Lane


Photo courtesy of One Steuart Lane

As their motto says, the intimate One Steuart Lane is truly “made for San Francisco.” Inspired by the waterfront, the city, and its shared history, One Steuart Lane was designed by the renowned firms Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Rottet Studio. These one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences exemplify indoor/outdoor living and effortless Californian charm, with white oak flooring, sliding glass panels in the living rooms, breathtaking balconies and 40-foot wraparound terraces with unparalleled views of the waterfront, the Bay Bridge, and Embarcadero.

One Steuart Lane is close to it all. Enjoy some fresh air at Rincon Park, Yerba Buena Gardens, and Oracle Park, peruse the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, or pay a visit to the historic Ferry Building or the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art—it’s all just steps away.

The Amenity Level extends the comforting atmosphere that permeates One Steuart Lane. Here, you can find the spacious and inviting resident lounge, which includes a beautiful white marble fireplace, and the lush Terrace Garden, complete with barbecues and stunning water views. There is also a gourmet kitchen with an espresso machine and a wine refrigerator as well as a dining room, an indoor/outdoor spa suite with an Effegibi sauna, a steam room, and aromatherapy options, and a state-of-the-art fitness studio and outdoor wellness space.

181 Fremont


Photo courtesy of 181 Fremont

Our list of iconic San Francisco buildings to live in ends with 181 Fremont—the second tallest building in San Francisco. It prides itself as "the pinnacle of refined San Francisco living," which is evident with its amazing views, fantastic service, and impeccable details such as the Brazilian Macaubas quartzite countertops, Italian cabinetry, and the full-height Arabescato Corchia marble walls.

It’s located adjacent to the Transbay Transit Center and 199 Fremont Street developments, standing at 803 feet (245 m) with 55 floors. It has 67 luxury condominiums located on the top 16 floors and several amenities for its residents, which include two unique lounges, a library, and a conference room. It also has a catering kitchen, a fitness center, a yoga room, a Nest thermostat in each unit, and a terrace on the 52nd floor.

As a resident, you can book an amenity, contact the concierge, or summon the valet at the touch of a button. The luxury residences at 181 Fremont come complete with 65' Beovision Harmony 8K OLED TVs.This remarkable residential building is the only one in the city that offers direct access to Salesforce Park and Transit Center via the 7th-story sky bridge. You only need to take a short walk to the Financial District, restaurants, the Ferry Building, downtown, and the like. You also have easy access to Caltrain, BART, and Interstates 101 and 280 so it won't be a hassle whether you have a car or not. As well, 181 Fremont has been Platinum LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and, with a REDi Gold rating, it’s the most earthquake-resistant building west of the Mississippi.

Need help finding the perfect place to live in San Francisco?


A Rises.co agent can help!

San Francisco has everything anyone would want out of a city, but you need to be well located to experience it. To enjoy the best that the city has to offer, the above luxurious buildings are in the most coveted neighborhoods and have several amenities you can use to enjoy the city, such as dedicated cars for residents and spectacular views of the whole city.

With the phenomenal quality of life afforded by these residences, rest assured that your investment will be a wise one. However, finding an ideal condo to live in can be challenging, especially if it's your first time looking in San Francisco. San Francisco-based real estate agent Sean Mamola is able to help you find the perfect condos for sale for yourself and your family. We have over 17 years of experience in the luxury lifestyle industry, selling condos from $1M to $20M, and will bring this robust track record to empower you in your next real estate transaction.

If you’re interested in learning more about San Francisco's luxury high-rise buildings, please don’t hesitate to reach out today for expert guidance. Your personally curated search for a luxury high-rise building to live in San Francisco awaits you.




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