Xanadu Gallery

Beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright gallery space. The staff was extremely nice and helpful and was told to feel free to take as many photos as I liked! Some of the lightbulbs needed replacing but overall it was a great experience!

The short: Great place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The entrance on Maiden Lane is simply beautiful and most definitely unique. We got to talking to the guard/​greeter there. He was weary of the bags and backpacks my dad and I were carrying (we had just come from a conference). He was kind and sweet to explain the history of the place (the only Frank Lloyd Wright building in SF!). I’ve been to the Guggenheim in New York, so I definitely see the similarities! He was saying that FLW intended this place to be built after the Guggenheim, but because of delays in construction and what not, the layout of this place was built first.
Pricey art… My dad says he can find the same Buddhist figures in Taiwan for a fraction of the price. My favorite piece was the horse in the Africa section. It has been painted multiple colors and the curator there was kind to strike a conversation about the horse.
Definitely check it out! They do have $ 35 scarves, but if you’re interested in art, be sure to have some $$$$ ready!
P. S. Google did a tour of the museum, so check that out if you’re interested!

Xanadu Gallery is a must see for any Frank Lloyd Wright fan. Visiting the city from Chicago, we HAD to see the Gallery. Now we can one-​up most Chicago FLW fans!

Notable because of its architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, I unfortunately only peeked at this intriguing edifice. I plan on visiting much more comprehensively the next time I’m in town.

Didn’t know about this hidden treasure in the middle of Union Square until my boyfriend decided he wanted to come here to view this Frank Lloyd Wright work, on the recommendation of his professor. From the outside, it is pretty unassuming, even though the entrance is already very uniquely designed. Upon entering, your eyes will feast on something that is bold, and unlike many other buildings you have seen before. The man standing at the front warmly greeted us, and was a wealth of information about not only the gallery, but also Frank Lloyd Wright. The staff is very welcoming, and although they are there to try to sell their expensive gifts, they are also very understanding, knowing that many who walk in are here to experience the beautiful architecture.
Would recommend that anyone in the area add this to their bucketlist of things to see while in San Francisco. Although there are plenty of other sites to see that are much more known such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the museums, Golden Gate Park, and many more, this place will leave a lasting impression and be something you can tell your friends about since, more likely than not, they have not been here!

I got the chance to visit Xanadu yesterday with my mom. She and I made plans to hang out in the City together. We were strolling down Maiden Lane and came across this gallery which happens to be a one of a kind Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
A true hidden gem in Union Square.
Must come check it out since they are closed on Sundays. They do have beautiful antique folk jewelry from different countries.

Photos do not do this 1948 Frank Lloyd Wright design justice. MY ADVICE: If you’re a FLW fan and in San Francisco, the Xanadu Gallery is a must see! It’s the only FLW design in San Francisco and it’s centrally located. (I walked from my hotel in the financial district to Xanadu easily.)
A lot of FLW buildings don’t allow interior photography. At Xanadu Gallery YOU CAN TAKE ALL THE PHOTOS YOU WANT. The helpful security guard explained that since it’s a retail business open to the public you’re welcome to look around and take photos. I wandered up the spiral ramp and looked in all the corners to take it all in. WARNING: Don’t knock anything over! It’s very expensive antiques.
Every employee at Xanadu Gallery was nice and chatted about Wright and the building even though it was obvious I wasn’t in the market for Asian antiques.
I have to think that Wright would appreciate the Asian antiques Xanadu offers being as he collected these types of items while working on the Imperial Hotel (which is going to be available as a LEGO model soon!).

Some cool sculptures, but overall not impressed.

A true hidden gem in SF, this place is definitely worth the trip for all Frank Lloyd Wright admirers.
From the outside to the inside, it is an architectural beauty in every sense. Don’t feel awkward coming in, it is FREE to enter, walk around, and take pics.
Poor security guard was lonely so my friends and I felt a bit uncomfortable with him following us around the museum, making small talk.

I’m a fan of FLW’s work and had to stop into Xanadu Gallery when I found out it was his only building in SF.
The business that resides in the building is super-​understanding about people who obviously are not going to buy anything wandering around the building. The average item in Xanadu costs over $ 10,000. I don’t think that I would be as accommodating if it was my business!
You will immediately notice the FLW design with geometric shapes in the design. Oval ramps swooping toward the sky. Circular, interjoined rooms. Natural light iluminating the interior. Classic FLW…

The infamous Xanadu Gallery, also known as, THE only Frank Lloyd Wright building in SF.
Kind of sad, huh? Seeing as he was so freaking famous but only had one building in the city.
This was a prototype for the Guggenheim Museum in NYC and if you’ve been to that museum you can definitely see the parallels between the two.
It’s pretty insane! It’s such an unassuming building from the outside, but damn when you walk in your mind gets blown away! From the circular looping ramp to the glass dome to the clean, swooping lines, it’s definitely the work of Wright.
The gallery itself sells super high end stuff, from Asia and South America. So it is pretty fitting this gallery is housed within a FLW building since Wright loved exotic art as well.
Nice that it’s free to walk around, though it is pretty quiet in there so sometimes I feel a bit awkward just wandering around obviously not buying anything because I’m a broke youngin’!

I’ve become an architectural foodie. If you love Frank Llyod Wright works. This place is for you. I asked if it’s alright to take photos. The guy there said yes. You will have an outter body experience once you walk in. It will take you back time. It is the only building in San Francisco that Frank commissioned. I highly suggest you don’t bring kids here. Works of art are sold thousands upon thousands of dollars. I touched a pair of small lion sculptures that’s priced at $ 32,000. Yeah so don’t ever bring kids here or immature teenagers. It’s a classy place that deserves much respect for the merchandise and Frank Llyod Wright’s legacy.

From the outside this building stands out as different from the rest on the block with it’s unassuming façade. Step inside and you will find an upscale art gallery in a spacious interior that reminds one of the interior of the Guggenheim Museum in NYC. Frank Lloyd Wright designed both and you will find an airy gallery with a circular walkway in the center. It is well worth a stop in. The gallery sells very high end items… much of it is from Asia. Free to visit.

Xanadu Gallery is inside the Only Frank Lloyd Wright Building in SF. It’s like the Guggenheim Museum inside, Very cool & amazing. I’ve walked by Maiden Lane a bunch of time, and this was my first time inside.
The security guard let me take all the pictures I wanted & explained the building. It’s got natural lighting — very neat.
Lots of interesting stuff for sale, but I didn’t notice it much.
No public bathrooms. Closest probably Macy’s.
FREE to walk around inside, artwork & others from the gallery part are for sale.
Hrs:
Closed Sun-​Mon
Tues-​Sat 10 – 6

This was where Frank Lloyd Wright designed his prototype for the Guggenheim Museum. Granted the space Xanadu now occupies only encompasses two floors, you’ll see a similarity of the stairs spiraling down like a white ribbon curling down in a cylinder. As for the façade, I was taken back how small the entrance really is. I’m just not a fan of the «OPEN» sign wedged between the iron gate because it breaks the flow of the arches above.
Definitely a sight if you’re passing by. If you have more time, some of Xanadu’s antiques and art are worth checking out too.

You have to go inside the building to really enjoy the experience. The gallery’s artifacts and jewelry are out of my price range, but I thoroughly enjoyed perusing the displays. The winding ramp up to the second level is really cool. While certainly not a destination spot, it’s definitely worth spending 20 minutes to check out if you’re in the area.

Check out this building. It’s a real, nicely surviving Frank Lloyd Wright building in the heart of San Francisco. It goes unnoticed by so many and is a fabulous jewel to stop in and marvel at.
I like to call it my little Guggenheim Museum.

I rarely walk into a building and stop dead in my tracks, slack jawed and wide eyed.
Internet sources say that FLW was working on the Guggenheim at the same time and the Gallery interior mimics the circular ramp of the famous museum.
The dr. and I wandered and marveled at the built in walnut shelving and low seating. Ingenious.
The gallery was playing Israel Kamakawiwo’olé («IZ») while we explored. The two men working the downstairs part of the gallery were discussing how hawaiian music is all about how beautiful the islands are and that there are no hawaiian songs about heartbreak or love loss. I do not know if what they were saying is true, but I like this idea.
I left the gallery feeling rather good about life and beautiful things in general.

Really, I’m Unilocaling the building! V.C. Morris Gift Shop built by Frank Lloyd Wright in San Francisco.
This an amazing building tucked away on an alley in downtown SF. A genuine Frank Lloyd Wright building passed by a hundreds of people everyday but visited by a few.
The gallery is very nice and fitting a great architect’s little gem. (
).

Never been inside — but I bring people here to view the building.
I am an admirer of all that Frank Lloyd Wright has built. And this being in SF is a must stop for me. Some day I will walk in. But how awesome is the name Xanadu! Let’s go roller skating in front — it’s on Maiden Lane so there are no cars!