Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [50]
• Beck’s Motor Lodge, the Castro
• Cow Hollow Motor Inn & Suites, Marina District/Cow Hollow
• Hostelling International San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf
• Hotel Del Sol, Marina District/Cow Hollow
• Laurel Inn, Marina District/Cow Hollow
• Marina Motel, Marina District/Cow Hollow
• Phoenix Hotel, Civic Center
• Seal Rock Inn, Richmond District
• The Wharf Inn, North Beach/Fisherman’s Wharf
The Palace Hotel ★ The original 1875 Palace was one of the world’s largest and most luxurious hotels, and every time you walk through the doors here, you’ll be reminded how incredibly majestic old luxury really is. Rebuilt after the 1906 quake, its most spectacular attributes remain the regal lobby and the Garden Court, a San Francisco landmark restaurant that was restored to its original 1909 grandeur. A double row of massive Italian-marble Ionic columns flank the court, and 10 huge chandeliers dangle above. The real heart-stopper, however, is the 80,000-pane stained-glass ceiling. (Good special effects made Michael Douglas look like he fell through it in the movie The Game.) Regrettably, the rooms aren’t quite as grand. But they’re vastly improved and emulate yesteryear’s refinement with mahogany beds, warm gold paint and upholstery, and tasteful artwork.
The Garden Court is famous for its high tea, and an elaborate brunch on special holidays (scaled-down on regular weekends).
2 New Montgomery St. (at Market St.), San Francisco, CA 94105. www.sfpalace.com. 888/627-7196 or 415/512-1111. Fax 415/543-0671. 553 units. $199–$399 double; from $775 suite. Extra person $40. Children 17 and under sharing existing bedding stay free in parent’s room. Weekend rates and packages available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Parking $40. Bus: All Market St. buses. Streetcar: All Market St. streetcars. Amenities: 4 restaurants; bar; concierge; health club w/skylight-covered, heated lap pool; Jacuzzi; room service; sauna; spa; free Wi-Fi in lobby and conference rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, hair dryer, high-speed Internet access ($16 per day), minibar.
The Garden Court at the Palace Hotel. In 1884 Andrew Carnegie wrote, “The court of the Grand at Paris is poor compared to that of the Palace.”
The St. Regis Hotel ★★★ The latest in full-blown high-tech luxury is yours at this über-chic 40-story SoMa tower. Strategically near the Museum of Modern Art and Yerba Buena Gardens, this shrine to urban luxury welcomes guests (and residents willing to pay upward of $2 million for an apartment) with a 16-foot-long gas fireplace and streamlined lobby bar that’s frequented by city socialites. A “personal butler” takes you to your room and shows you how to use its touch-screen control panel that works everything, from the temperature to the lights. Decor is minimalist, with sexy touches like Barcelona benches, 42-inch plasma TVs, and leather walls. Bathrooms beckon with deep soaking tubs, 13-inch LCD TVs, rainfall shower heads, and fancy toiletries, but definitely leave your room for an afternoon at the posh two-floor Remède Spa, the huge pool and fitness center, and restaurant Ame, where chef Hiro Sone, who also owns Terra in Napa Valley, presides over an Asian-influenced menu.
125 Third St. (at Mission St.), San Francisco, CA 94103. www.stregis.com/sanfrancisco. 877/787-3447 or 415/284-4000. Fax 415/284-4100. 260 units. $459–$679 double; $750–$8,500 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Parking $45 per day. Bus: 15, 30, or 45. Streetcar: J, K, L, or M to Montgomery. Amenities: 2 restaurants, including Ame (see review); bar; 24-hr. concierge; whirlpool; health club w/heated lap pool; room service; sauna; giant spa; Wi-Fi ($15 per day). In room: A/C, 2 TVs w/pay movies, hair dryer, high-speed Internet access ($15 per day), minibar.
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