Who doesn’t love San Francisco? Whether for a conference, a weekend getaway, or as stop on the way to or from wine country the City by the Bay offers the quintessential American big city experience. And to go with it, we bring you its best suites at the top hotels, perfect for whatever type of adventures you have in mind.
1. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
2. The St. Regis San Francisco
3. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
4. Fairmont San Francisco
5. Palace Hotel
6. W San Francisco
1. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
The Ritz-Carlton is the top ranked hotel by U.S. News. It says, “Located on the southern fringes of Chinatown, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco earns high praise from recent guests, who say that the hotel makes for a convenient choice for both business and leisure travelers.”
Forbes Travel Guide awards The Ritz-Carton four stars. It writes, “More than 100 years old, the building is a striking piece of architecture that sparkles with a grand charm unlike any other luxury hotel in the city. Stop by The JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset Tasting Lounge for exclusive wine flights, light bites from Parallel 37 and a luxury retail boutique. A meal at Parallel 37 is not to be missed. Chef Michael Rotondo’s market-driven menus focus on the best seasonal produce found in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. Indulge in an afternoon at Spa L’Occitane by the Bay, a Mediterranean-inspired sanctuary with results-oriented spa treatments designed for relaxation.”
The Ritz-Carlton Suite
You’ll love the Bay views from the 1,980-sq.ft. Presidential Suite. The dining room with seats eight. The living room has French doors leading to the Master bedroom. There is an optional connecting Junior Suite.
More suites at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco.
2. The St. Regis San Francisco
Carrying five stars from Forbes Travel Guide, inspectors say, “Since opening in 2005, The St. Regis San Francisco has been refining the concept of luxury, retaining the detail-oriented service focus and continuing its legacy of timeless elegance. Newly designed, ultra-luxe guest rooms by Chapi Chapo Design balance tradition and contemporaneity with customized furniture, flat-screen TVs, crisp Frette linens and deep bathtubs that may inspire you to indulge in the hotel’s Signature Bath offerings. Chapi Chapo also refreshed the hotel’s meeting and event spaces, creating refined, comfortable and innovative areas. The ground-floor restaurant Grill offers seasonal dishes crafted from the bounty of the Bay Area and Northern California. If you seek a light lunch, cocktail or late-night bite, the hotel’s Lobby Lounge is just the setting to relax and mingle.”
U.S. News reports, “This modern masterpiece of a hotel in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood features 260 guest rooms and suites, all equipped with rainforest showers, separate soaking tubs, minibars and several flat-screen TVs. Travelers rave about the digs here, but what they especially enjoy about this St. Regis property is its location near a number of the city’s most popular attractions and its modern decor and its friendly service staff. The contemporary California cuisine served at the Grill at the St. Regis also sits well with guests.”
Presidential Suite
The 3,200-sq.ft. Presidential Suite features exquisite details, such as a butler’s pantry wine cooler and a formal dining room that seats up to 10 people. Elegant white oak bookshelves line the office walls, and the bedroom’s three large windows offer panoramic city views.
More suites at St. Regis San Francisco.
3. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
The only other San Francisco hotel to receive five stars from Forbes, the travel guide says, “The glassy exterior of the tower looks sleek and modern, and the guest rooms and suites feature shades of blue with cool steel tones that complement the brass and gold accents to create a modern oasis above the vibrant city. The warm, oak-filled MKT Restaurant – Bar focuses on surf-and-turf classics with a wine list that draws liberally from vineyards in Sonoma and Napa counties.”
The Telegraph writes, “This Four Seasons, spread over 12 floors all above street level (from level 5 to 17), is central but secluded. Fresh, modern interiors and an excellent restaurant are highlights. Best of all, guests have unlimited access to one of the city’s most exclusive health clubs, directly below the hotel.
Presidenital Suite
The 2,300-sq.ft. Presidential Suites is located on the 17th floor with views of Yerba Buena Gardens and south to San Francisco Bay.
More suites at Four Seasons San Francisco.
4. Fairmont San Francisco
Conde Nast Traveler writes, “From the stately exterior to the international flags over the awning to its location at the top of Nob Hill, the building itself is a stunner. Once inside, the lobby is genuinely beautiful, with marble floors, columns, and ornate ceilings. It’s a San Francisco institution. (The hotel) pulls in all kinds—from business travelers to wedding guests to partiers looking to check out the Tonga Room, the hotel’s tiki bar, which Anthony Bourdain highlighted on his show The Layover in 2014. Locals also love to bring their kids to the Fairmont around Christmas to see its two-story gingerbread house. (It is made of gallons of icing and thousands of gingerbread bricks). Overall, though, patrons reflect the hotel’s upscale vibe. The aesthetic of the rooms at the Fairmont isn’t exactly wild and crazy—they’re big on neutrals—but they are elegant.”
The Telegraph adds, “The 606 rooms range from Standard Queens to San Francisco’s most extravagant Penthouse suite. Nearly all have a view — Queens are worst-off, facing the hotel’s interior courtyard, while Signature Rooms offer an especially dramatic prospect (stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to Coit Tower, with Alcatraz Island, the bay and green hills in between). Balcony suites sport spacious balconies, overlooking the rooftop garden. Décor is traditional (greys, creams, plush carpet).”
Penthouse Suite
The 6,000-sq.ft. Penthouse Suite spans the entire eighth floor of the Main Building. This unique suite spotlights the city’s celebrated skyline, Bay and signature landmarks from large windows. Custom furnishings, hand-carved woods and original artwork by greats like David Hockney accent the regal golds, purples and blues, setting the tone of 1920s eclectic opulence. There’s even a secret passage behind a bookcase.
Start with cocktails under the two-story library’s dome ceiling decorated with an original gold leaf celestial map or on the sprawling Mediterranean-inspired terrace. Cater events from the full commercial kitchen, retire after dinner to the ornate Moorish-design billiard room and enjoy live entertainment with the living room grand piano. The formal dining room seats up to 30 in high Art Deco style. Make yourself at home in three expansive bedrooms, one with a whimsical hand-painted map of the world, the master with a queenly four-poster bed, and three and a half luxurious bathrooms. Not surprisingly, the Penthouse Suite is on the National Register of Historic Places.
More suites at Fairmont San Francisco.
5. Palace Hotel
The Telegraph’s second-ranked hotel in the city, the newspaper writes, “San Francisco’s most historic hotel offers luxurious lodgings downtown. Gorgeous Beaux Arts architectural details mix with contemporary style, and high-ceilinged rooms are elegantly designed for comfort. Afternoon high tea in the Garden Court and cocktails at the Pied Piper are beloved traditions…Marble pillars and floors gleam around the lobby, which is adjacent to the airy Garden Court restaurant and bar.”
Forbes Travel Guide adds, “The first thing you’ll notice are the elaborate wrought-iron doors with ornate hand-painted gold details, including delicate cherub faces that look down on you. Pass through the doors and a cheerful, friendly bellman smiles at you. Upon entry into the lobby, a massive flower arrangement (perhaps purple hydrangeas) catches your eye, but beyond that is something much more breathtaking: the hotel’s Garden Court. A 2015 remodel updated the space with new modern furnishings. The new Garden Court is still grand, but not stuffy or outdated.”
Presidential Suite
The 2,000-sq.ft. Presidential Suite wraps around a corner of the hotel and overlooks Market Street through expansive arched windows. Inlaid hardwood floors are layered with custom area rugs throughout. Te airy bedroom leads to a marble bathroom with a jetted spa bathtub.
More suites at the Palace Hotel.
6. W San Francisco
Conde Nast Traveler reports, “The location on Third Street in SOMA is great for anyone heading to the Moscone Center, the SFMOMA, or Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. And the ultra-modern decor lights up, from the black check-in desk that glows pink and purple to the light-up map of San Francisco above it, as well as the LED lights embedded in the bar. Geometric seating is topped with purple tie-dye-style throw pillows, an amorphous glass sculpture hangs above the entryway, and there’s a photo booth by the front desk. It feels very young and energetic.”
U.S. News adds, “Like many W Hotels, San Francisco’s iteration is über-trendy, yet remarkably comfortable. Previous guests were pleased with the hotel’s accommodations, which include pillow-top mattresses, goose-down bedding, flat-screen TVs and access to iPod shuffles and a variety of DVDs through the hotel’s Whatever/Whenever program. The W San Francisco also provides pet beds, litter boxes and food bowls for those traveling with four-legged companions. In addition to its guest rooms, the W also has TRACE, a restaurant that serves socially conscious Californian cuisine.”
Extreme Wow Suite
The 900-sq.ft. Extreme Wow Suite offers wow views of San Francisco from the 31st floor. Day or night, escape the city streets and cuddle up on a cushioned banquette in the vibrantly colored nook. An attention-grabbing wall mural contrasts with shades of red, orange and gray amid a customized mixture of a sectional sofa, lacquered side tables and a writing desk with drawers.
Host friends or colleagues at the dining table that seats four. Prepare snacks and sips with help of the pantry, microwave, mini-fridge, wet bar, tea kettle, espresso machine, Keurig machine and sink.
More suites at W San Francisco.
