Albion Castle
The Verdict
"Visits by appointment only, so plan ahead. The hand-carved caves and natural springs underneath the castle are the real draw. In Hunter's Point, off the beaten path. Check the website for tour availability."
What you need to know
A Brewery Castle with Underground Springs
Albion Castle is a stone fortress built in 1870 by English immigrant John Hamlin Burnell to house his Albion Porter & Ale Brewery. It sits on a hillside in the Hunter’s Point neighborhood, surrounded by residential blocks, looking completely out of place. Beneath the castle, a network of hand-carved caves and cisterns tap into natural underground springs. The water was so pure the military once flagged it as an emergency supply.
What Makes It Worth It
The building itself is the attraction. It looks like a medieval English castle dropped into a San Francisco neighborhood. Stone walls, arched doorways, a crenellated roofline. When Prohibition shut down the brewery in the 1920s, the castle reinvented itself as the Albion Water Company, bottling spring water from the caves below.
Over the decades, it has served as an art studio, event space, and private residence. The Gilbert family currently owns it and has revived the water bottling operation. The underground caves (carved from sandstone and fed by natural springs) are the most fascinating part. Cool, damp, and quiet, they feel like they belong in another century.
Albion Castle is not a drop-in attraction. Visits are by appointment only, typically for private events or scheduled tours. Check availability before making the trip.
Skip this if you need a guaranteed visit. Access is limited and irregular. But if you can get in, it’s one of the most unusual buildings in San Francisco.
Visiting
Address: 881 Innes Avenue, Hunter’s Point
Hours: By appointment only. Check for scheduled events or tours.
Cost: Varies by event
Best time to go: When a tour or event is scheduled. There’s no regular public access.
What to know: The castle is in a residential area of Hunter’s Point that’s off the typical tourist path. GPS is your friend. Book in advance.
Getting There
Transit: Muni T-Third Street to Innes Avenue, then a short walk. The 19-Polk also connects.
Parking: Street parking on Innes Avenue. Usually available.
Walking: Not easily walkable from other attractions. Plan this as a standalone trip.
📍 Location: This activity is in Dogpatch. Explore the neighborhood →
