| |
The Four Seasons’ glass-enclosed hotel lords over bustling Market Street, an oasis of calm amid the din. Clean lines predominate, from the buffed woods in the lobby to the fine Norwegian marble in Seasons, a window-walled restaurant serving contemporary California cuisine. Ample guest rooms are a study in luxe comfort, burnished in gold tones and featuring all the mod cons plus a deep soaking tub and windows that actually open out for some fresh air. The Sports Club/LA is a workout/spa extravaganza. Most importantly, the gracious service and attention to detail that define Four Seasons are on plentiful display. Meeting rooms for up to 450, piano lounge, wi-fi throughout.
|
Rising 36 stories over Union Square, the top brand of this solid hotel chain earns its keep with its prime city-centre location and collection of business perks. Well- appointed rooms have royal blue and gold colour schemes with brass fittings and walnut furnishings. Regency Club rooms offer complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon cocktails and nibbles. Grandviews, the hotel’s top-floor restaurant, boasts spectacular views over the city – skip the food, however; have a drink in the adjacent bar, not the most swank, but the price is right. The Ballroom holds up to 1,000, while the nineteen meeting rooms can host up to 250.
|
The largest hotel on the West Coast attracts a bevy of giddy conventioneers, so expect to see a lot of them in the common areas. That said, it’s the recent $40 million renovation that is bound to catch your eye. The overall theme is 'global traveller’ so look for an oversize globe here and a carpeted map there. Upstairs, the rooms are freshly dressed in earthy tones and soft wood cabinetry. Back downstairs, the Spa Fusion and Health Club has a cavalcade of workout equipment and 40 separate treatment rooms to work out the kinks. Skip the hotel restaurants and dine nearby. Meeting rooms for up to 4,000, refurbished ballroom.
|
East meets West in dramatic fashion at the Mandarin Oriental, two gleaming towers connected by a glass-enclosed sky bridge. Elegant guest rooms occupy the top 11 floors of the city’s third tallest building, affording fabulous views (no room misses out) that are perhaps the major selling point. The rooms are presently being redone to effect a more contemporary, sleeker look but you can bet the binoculars will stay behind. Three-line phones are equipped with International Direct Dial, a nice touch. Silks serves American cuisine with Asian influences while the Mandarin Lounge offers drinks, light fare and afternoon tea. Windowed meeting rooms for up to 100.
|
Located steps away from the California Street cable car line, this restored 1926 Florentine Renaissance building is home to San Francisco’s newest high-end hostelry. The Omni, replete with twinkling chandeliers and wrought iron balustrades in the lobby, carries on the roaring 1920s theme in its guest rooms, a mix of swag curtains, marble baths and four-poster beds. Perks are more modern and include an executive desk with ergonomic chair and hi-speed Internet access. Bob’s Steak and Chop House is a solid if unspectacular dining option. A good choice if retro chic is your thing. Meeting and conference rooms and ballroom can accommodate over 400.
|
| |