Located on Sutter Street between Franklin and Gough Streets, the original Payne Mansion was built by Thomas Payne in 1881 and is on the National Register of Historic Places in San Francisco. Its Irish architect, Will F. Curlett, also designed the Phelan Building and Crocker Mansion. Faithfully preserved, the mansion is considered a prime example of pre-quake Victorian Architecture Extravagance. Surrounding communities are Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Lower Pacific Heights, Fillmore District, and the Civic Center and numerous nearby hotels.

The restaurant is not far from the CPMC Van Ness Campus, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco Symphony, City Hall, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Great American Music Hall, Regency Ballroom, Supreme Court of California, and Superior Court of San Francisco County, and restaurants Octavia and Liholiho Yacht Club.