Luxury hotels in San Francisco
By Rowena Carr-Allinson
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco (Courtesy Four Seasons)
Planning a family vacation in San Francisco? Don’t scrimp! Go wild and book into one of the city’s finest hotels!
We’ve picked five of the best sleeps in the Golden City for an indulgent, luxurious experience in the city that has so much to offer, from its steep hills and fascinating architecture to its cable cars, legendary Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz.
Fairmont Heritage Place Hotel Ghirardelli Square
Fairmont Heritage Place Hotel Ghirardelli Square (Courtesy Fairmont)
With stunning San Francisco Bay views, the waterfront Fairmont Heritage Place Hotel Ghirardelli Square, a stone’s throw away from Fisherman’s Wharf, is an urban resort which prides itself on bespoke service. With large 3-bedroom residences, it’s the ideal family vacation stay. The fantastic amenities on-site include golf ranges, Sub-Zero appliances, LCD televisions, WIFI, and in-home Bosch washers and dryers. Anything else? Oh, yes – twice-daily housekeeping! The excellent extras like the concierge service and butlers are a real plus, as are the complimentary services like the chauffeured car, the continental breakfast and the nightly wine and cheese. Want to eat out? Parents will welcome the babysitting service, charged at cost! More great family-friendly extras include dry cleaning, cribs or sleeper sofas and a kids club too!
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
A 17-floor hotel in sleek Yerba Buena Cultural District just 2 blocks from Union Square and the Museum of Modern Art, the plush Four Seasons Hotel offers a sophisticated stay in warm residential atmosphere with a beautiful art collection as an added bonus! Revamped by interior designer Frank Nicholson, the stylish rooms offer amazing city views and all the gadgets you could dream of – from flat screen TVs, two-line cordless telephone and the all-essential high-speed WiFi access to CD players and iHOME alarm clocks. Hungry? Head to the Seasons Restaurant for great steaks and seafood – and a kid-friendly menu, too! There’s a gym and a day spa on-site for the parents, and a playground for the younger guests. Kid-friendly amenities include rollaway beds, cribs or highchairs and even babysitting services for those who want to explore the San Fran nightlife.
The Ritz Carlton, San Francisco
The Ritz Carlton, San Francisco (Courtesy Ritz Carlton)
Right in the heart of Nob Hill, near Union Square shopping and across the street from the California Street Cable Car line, the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is housed in a 1909 Nob Hill landmark. You can’t miss it! An imposing, grandiose 17-columned white building spanning an entire block, it’s elegant and sophisticated. The only Mobil Five Star, AAA Five Diamond San Francisco hotel, its Dining Room restaurant is top notch, just one of only three Mobil Five Star restaurants in California and one of only 14 in the nation! Prefer to eat outside? Try the beautifully landscaped Terrace Courtyard or order room service. Rooms come with nice touches like 400 thread-count, 100% combed cotton Frette linens, Italian marble bathrooms and all the tech you need, as well as cribs or rollaway beds, if necessary, and in-room video gaming. And babysitting is optional too.
W Hotel San Francisco
W Hotel San Francisco (Courtesy W Hotel)
In Downtown San Francisco’s “South of Market”, the W San Francisco sits on the Third Street Podium, towering 46 feet above street level. Ideally located for a family vacation in San Francisco, it’s adjacent to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and opposite the Moscone Center. It’s also near the Metreon, a new high-tech Sony entertainment center that includes a multi-screen theatre. This surprisingly kid-friendly hotel brings together contemporary cool and all things practical, making it ideal for a stay with teens. There’s the W Living Room, the Lounge Bar, the Bliss Spa, and a gym for the grown ups to enjoy, perhaps while making the most of the babysitting service? Kids and parents will love the incredible Golden Gate views from the Extreme Wow suites and the very cool Lumina, light sculpture 27 feet up in the hotel’s lobby. Almost like a giant overhead jellyfish! Useful in-room extras include the Starwood Turbo Net High Speed Internet Access, Sweet Dreams Pillow Menu, roll-away beds on request and W Munchie boxes.
(MORE: Travel Itinerary: Things to Do with Kids in San Francisco)
Westin St Francis Hotel San Francisco on Union Square
Westin St Francis Hotel San Francisco on Union Square (Courtesy Westin)
At the city’s very heart, the Westin St. Francis Hotel San Francisco is set in a 1904 period property on Union Square, within walking distance of Chinatown and the Orpheum Theater, and within easy reach of the famous Fisherman’s Wharf. Perfect for foodie families, the hotel offers the Westin Eat Well Menu for Kids, thanks to its joint venture with the experts at SuperChefs™; as well as Bourbon, a modern American steakhouse; Clock Bar, the cocktail parlour created by Michelin chef Michael Mina; and the Oak Room Restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Families will appreciate amenities like high-speed Internet, wireless phones, television, mini fridges, cribs on request and babysitting facilities. Even better, in addition to the parent-friendly gym, spa and business center, there’s a kids club too! What more could you ask for?
Rowena Carr-Allinson contributed this to MiniTime. Since the arrival of her son in 2011, she has taken him everywhere from Bangkok to NYC, writing family friendly articles en route.
