Boasting a grand tradition of hosting celebrities including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Sophia Loren, The Palace Hotel in San Francisco has undergone a full US$40m (€35m, £26m) refurbishment, including a reimagination of its famed Garden Court.

The Palace Hotel, operated by Starwood with owner partner Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, has been known for more than a century as a centre of San Francisco style and society.

The Palace Hotel was once at the centre of America’s first ‘golden age of travel’, which is what inspired the opulent interior re-design of the hotel, led by Beatrice Girelli of indidesign.

The hotel’s updated 556 guestrooms, including 55 suites, have been complemented by original design elements, including elegant crown mouldings that frame wrought-iron windows and solid oak doors adorned with brass monogrammed knobs. Dark wood furnishings, mixed metals, and artistic lighting juxtapose a fresh colour palette of midnight blue, charcoal, dove grey and plum textiles to create a layered look.

San Francisco’s most storied meeting place, The Garden Court remains the jewel of The Palace Hotel. The 120-seat dining room is nestled amid gilded Ionic columns, a glass dome ceiling and historic Austrian crystal chandeliers. It has been updated to now feature contemporary design, locally-sourced cuisine and silver service.

The fourth floor of The Palace Hotel is home to an indoor pool situated under the restored, sky-lit ceiling, which opens the space to natural light and the San Francisco cityscape.

Following the renovation, the fitness centre now spans 3,000sq ft (279sq m) and boasts floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to the hotel’s swimming pool, as well as a new cardio training room, exercise bikes and gym equipment from Life Fitness. The men’s and women’s lounges now feature marble bath areas, spa showers, fresh design elements and large back-lit mirrors.