Representative Image of a historic Sausalito waterfront estate showcasing its architectural heritage and scenic bay views (AI-generated image) A historic waterfront restaurant in Sausalito, California, has been transformed into a private estate after oral surgeon Alex Kashef and his wife, Hani, purchased the property in 2012 for $3.45 million. Dating to around 1893, the building began as Walhalla, a German beer garden, before becoming the celebrated Valhalla restaurant and later housing several other dining businesses. The couple initially considered turning the vacant property into a hotel, but neighbourhood opposition prompted a change of plans. A renovation costing about $20 million was completed in 2022, preserving features of the former restaurant, including its original bar and powder rooms. The estate was listed for $28 million in May 2025. Later online property records showed a price of $24.95 million in 2026, although its current listing status remains unclear. The estate’s transformation highlights how adaptive reuse can preserve a historic waterfront landmark while giving it a new purpose in the luxury property market.
From a German beer garden to Valhalla
The property at 201 Bridgeway in Sausalito dates to around 1893, when it operated as Walhalla, a German beer garden. The establishment served as a gathering place with a bar, restaurant and dance hall. During Prohibition, it operated under the name “Soft Drink Parlor”. A raid in 1921 resulted in authorities seizing 478 quarts of illegal spirits, according to the Sausalito Historical Society. The site also has a reported connection to American criminal Lester Joseph Gillis, better known as Baby Face Nelson. According to the Sausalito Historical Society, he reportedly worked part-time as a bartender at the establishment in the early 1930s.In the late 1940s, the property became associated with Sally Stanford, a former San Francisco brothel owner who later became a prominent Sausalito restaurateur and politician. Sources date Stanford’s purchase of the property variously to 1946, 1948 or 1949. Stanford renovated the premises and reopened them as Valhalla, which held its official opening on March 24, 1950. The opening drew a large crowd, with more than 100 diners attending, according to SFGATE. Stanford’s restaurant became a recognised local dining destination and attracted a celebrity clientele. Stanford later served on Sausalito’s City Council and became mayor in 1976. Her transformation from a controversial San Francisco figure into a respected local restaurateur and political leader became part of the building’s history.
The restaurant’s changing identities
After Stanford died in 1982, the building continued to operate as a restaurant. The Chart House ran the premises for nearly 15 years before closing. The site subsequently operated as Valhalla again before housing other restaurants. In 2004, chef-owner Eric Torralba openedKashef purchased the property in 2012 for $3.45 million. Antidote at the property. The restaurant was short-lived, and Gaylord India later occupied the premises. Gaylord India closed at the end of 2008, leaving the building vacant for years. The couple initially considered converting the site into a hotel, but the proposal faced opposition from neighbours concerned about the development. In 2017, Kashef filed applications to convert the property into 2 residential units, according to SFGATE. The building eventually became the couple’s primary residence. The restoration was completed in 2022 at a reported cost of about $20 million. Lydia Sarkissian, the listing agent representing the property, confirmed the renovation cost and completion date to SFGATE. The project transformed the long-vacant restaurant into a private residence while retaining architectural and decorative features from its earlier life.
Inside the renovated waterfront estate
The property’s listing describes a total of 8,770 square feet, comprising a main house of approximately 6,925 square feet and a separate guesthouse of approximately 1,845 square feet. The guesthouse is included in the overall area, rather than being additional to it. SFGATE reports that the compound has 8 bedrooms and 6 full bathrooms. The estate also features a 4-car garage, waterfront decks and terraces, landscaped grounds and views across the bay. The main residence includes formal living and dining areas, a kitchen and other living spaces, while the separate guesthouse provides additional accommodation. The property’s combination of historic architecture and extensive residential space distinguishes it from the vacant restaurant building the couple purchased in 2012. The renovation preserved parts of the original restaurant, including its antique bar and powder rooms. The bar, which dates to the building’s earlier history, remains a visible link to the Valhalla era. The project also repurposed materials from the former restaurant, retaining elements of the property’s past within its new residential design. The Sausalito Historical Society identifies Lucille Ball, Marlon Brando and Bing Crosby among the celebrities associated with Stanford’s restaurant. Realtor.com has also named John F. Kennedy among the property’s reported famous guests. These associations have featured in accounts promoting the property, although they should be treated as reported historical claims rather than proof that every named figure visited the restaurantThe estate’s multimillion-dollar listingThe estate was listed for $28 million in May 2025, following an earlier listing at $11.8 million in 2020, while restoration work was still under way. Subsequent online property records show conflicting listing information, including a reported price of $24.95 million in 2026. The property’s current listing status is unclear. The property’s history spans more than a century, from its origins as a German beer garden to its years as Valhalla and its later restaurant incarnations. After the closure of Gaylord India left the building vacant, the Kashefs’ renovation gave the waterfront site a new residential purpose while preserving features that recall its place in Sausalito’s restaurant history.
Dining and Cooking