on August 13, 2005
DISCRETION is the operative word here; this is the perfect hotel to hide out in or have a discreet rendevous. The bell desk is located up an alleyway, and the main desk is located 5 floors up from the bell desk. The main entrance on Market Street has silver lettering the same grey as the elegant outdoor granite walls, so you could very easily walk by the hotel if the doorman wasn't present.
The Seasons restaurant, washrooms and business centre, and elevators are all hidden behind half walls, so it can be very confusing for about a day and a half to find your way around or even out.
This hotel is a quiet, pampering oasis after experiencing the hubbub of San Francisco, and the staff cannot do enough for you. The decor is modern, warm and very elegant, but not over the top that you're afraid to sit down and relax on any of the comfy couches in the lounge area -- complete with gas fireplace and dubbed "The Living Room". I could not get over the decor -- all sight lines in the main areas are amazingly Architectural Digest-perfect.. The staff are so accomodating you do often wonder if they are for real, but they are genuine and do want you to have a good experience and I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends as we checked out.
The Frette sheets and L'Occitaine bath products are to die for, plus the turn-down service (those maids MUST carry an iron for those 600-count cotton duvet covers, I don't know how they get them so smooth) is complete with soft lighting and smooth jazz turned on your personal radio/cd player. All beds have down pillows and comforters. The pictures of the rooms on their website is very accurate.
If you want to stay here, please, puuuuleease spring for a view suite -- you will thank yourself. The rooms are bigger and either get a view of Market Street or Yuerba Buena Gardens; also, book on the high floors as the traffic can get pretty noisy. The bathrooms are all marble and huge, complete with separate shower and soaking tub.
This hotel is walking distance to many sites and shopping, and is also very convenient to public transit. The staff are very helpful in helping you find your way around, plus the hotel can give you a good map of the area.
