This San Francisco villa used for “The Princess Diaries” filming is available for $8.9 million

The return of 2000s pop culture has taken over social media and pages of media outlets over the past three years. From fashion and beauty to music and films, the 2000s came back slightly earlier than expected. Now is the perfect time to rewatch some of your favorite feel-good movies and maybe even buy a property that appeared in one of them. 

This San Francisco mansion made a cameo in the insanely popular coming-of-age drama, The Princess Diaries. This 2001 Disney movie follows the life of Mia Thermopolis, a 16-year-old high-school student who learns she is the heir to the throne of Genovia. The Bay Area villa served as the set of the Grove High School that Anne Hathaway’s character had to attend.

The residence, completed in the neo-classical Mediterranean design, dates back 100 years. In 1923, celebrated architect, August Headman, built this home on the sought-after Lyon Street, also known as San Francisco’s “Billionaires Row”. The three-story villa has four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and an elevator that will take you from the ground level to the top floor. 

This movie-famous home has been carefully renovated for the past two decades. Some of the most notable details in this chateau include arched windows, a rooftop garden, a Juliet balcony, and a wood-burning fireplace in the living room. The finished lower level has a separate entrance and could be used as a meditation space or a music room.

This extraordinary residence was previously listed for sale in February 2009. Two months later, Michael Mendes, former CEO of Just Desserts, bought this home for roughly $6.4 million. The current owner told The Wall Street Journal that he purchased this property because his daughter was a big fan of the movie. 

The real-life address of Grove High School is 2601 Lyon Street. This home sits at the intersection of Pacific Heights and Cow Hollow and offers the future owner the opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of the Bay and the city. The mansion is listed for $8.9 million by Steven Mavromihalis and Jessica Grimes of Compass. 

Resources:

“Shut up! The high school from ‘The Princess Diaries’ is up for sale,” by Almha Murphy (Time Out, 2023)

“The Iconic San Francisco Home From "The Princess Diaries" Just Hit the Market,” by Kelsey Mulvey (House Beautiful, 2023)

“A CEO bought the 'Princess Diaries' mansion his daughter loved. See inside the San Francisco villa they're now selling for $8.9 million.” by Kelsey Neubauer (Business Insider, 2023)

“San Francisco’s ‘Princess Diaries’ House Available for $8.9M,” by Lisa Johnson Mandell (realtor.com, 2023)

“This San Francisco Villa Starred in ‘The Princess Diaries.’ Now It Could Be Yours for $9 Million.” by Abby Montanez (Robb Report, 2023)

“Mia Thermopolis' High School from 'The Princess Diaries' Listed for $9M — See Inside the San Francisco Villa!” by Rebecca Aizin (People, 2023)