3 Great Places to Stay in San Francisco
We check out the Bay City's best hotels.
As you walk into The Ritz-Carlton, you are enveloped by the grandiose lobby with glittering chandeliers and enough lounge space for a wedding celebration. Don’t miss the terraces on the far side of the lobby. With decorations more modern than many Ritz-Carlton locales, this recently renovated classic atop Nob Hill offers a view of The City and a needed escape from San Francisco’s notoriously noisy streets. Recently revamped, the rooms are well appointed with king beds and marble bathrooms. Upgrade to a club level suite and you have concierge service and even more majestic views. Amenities include a full spa and huge gym with free weights and dozens of machines. Foodies should try the “tasting menu” at Restaurant Parallel 37 featuring seasonal California cuisine or prix fixe menu with offerings such as carrot tortellini aged rib eye. Cable car service at the door allows you to slide down the steep hills.
600 Stockton Street, San Francisco, California 94108
Staying here is like being a guest at a boutique mansion. This lively Union Square hotel offers nightly wine tasting and a gregarious staff to direct you to Chinatown, Financial District and Union Square – all within walking distance. The courtyard lobby buzzes with activity and maintains the convivial ambience of a pub, especially during the 5.30pm-6.30pm Wine Hour. The rooms are slightly crowded, impeccably clean and packed with details like in-room espresso machine and two headed showers with glass mosaic walls. Splattered with modern art, the hotel is tight on space but gym passes are available and Perry’s adjacent restaurant works for breakfast. What they are lacking in square meters is more than made up for by extroverted staff eager to attend the mix of tourists, business executives (who can walk to the financial district in minutes) and conference attendees.
191 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94104
Smack in the heart of SF’s world-famous gay and lesbian pioneering neighborhood, the eight-room Inn is one of the city’s top-rated B&B. Not all rooms have individual bathrooms but each room features a different design with unique decorative objects such as neon vanity mirrors. Surrounded by two-storey houses, this is an excellent base for exploring Noe Valley, the Mission and, of course, The Castro. Excellent boutiques shopping experiences nearby and renovated Victorian and Edwardian architecture make the walk around the block a showcase of craftsmanship. Reserve the “Red Room” for a private sun terrace or the “Brown Room” for a backyard sheltered from the street noise. The smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and fresh baked bread have made Inn on Castro renowned as the place for “best breakfast in the city”.
321 Castro St., San Francisco, CA 94114
Images: The Ritz-Carlton
