The first Cliff House was built in 1863 as a restaurant offering picturesque views of sea lions sunbathing on Seal Rocks. Visitors seeking a respite from the populous downtown would travel six miles through Golden Gate Park to eat at the Cliff House, and stroll through the nearby gardens of owner Adolph Sutro. After burning down in 1894, it was rebuilt in the style of a Grandiose French chateau.
