SF’s Famous “City of Paris” Rotunda Closes Indefinitely

Thanks to SFGate and Hoodline for letting us know that the Rotunda restaurant atop the Neiman Marcus department store in Union Square (and its famous “City of Paris” stained glass ceiling dating back to 1909) has closed indefinitely.

The upscale and popular spot for afternoon tea with amazing views of the city now has an uncertain future. The Rotunda, located on the fourth floor of Neiman Marcus, announced its closure after the pandemic caused Neiman Marcus to file for bankruptcy.

The building has a storied history dating back to 1896 when department store, “City of Paris,” was renovated by the same architects that designed San Francisco City Hall. One of the few buildings to survive the 1906 quake, the interior was damaged and reopened in 1909 with the now famous stained glass ceiling.

The building was demolished in 1980, but the rotunda was saved and mounted on a steel frame in the newly-built Neiman Marcus.

Neiman Marcus recently emerged from bankruptcy after shedding $5 billion in debt and “plans a comeback,” but the future of the building is still in doubt.

Read more about the history of the building on SF Gate