San Francisco Luxury Hotels

Too long ago. We stayed at Fairmont and Hyatt up the hill but that was pre covid.
 
I just stayed a couple of nights at the IC Mark Hopkins. It didn't make the list you shared (probably a little tired and needs a refurb) but I really enjoyed the sense of history.

I got a great room upgrade to a large corner suite as an IHG Diamond Elite Ambassador with impressive views of SF. I booked the executive club floor, and the a la carte breakfasts were great in the club lounge. Sadly the lounge closed for an upgrade, but they gave us vouchers for food and drinks at Top of the Mark, where the views are even more impressive.
 

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I don’t think staying 6 nights in San Francisco would be such a great idea. We enjoyed Vancouver more as there are too many beggars in SFO.
Alternatively you could head south to Pebble Beach area.
 
goldenhorn said:
I only saw one or two homeless people in Union Square a couple of weeks ago. Amazing change from the many dozens when I was last there 12 years ago.
Click to expand...
Really? We were there for 2 wks end of Mar thru mid Apr and probably many more homeless (I wouldn’t necessarily say “beggars”) than I recall. Certainly more as you head towards Civic and the theatres.

OT, but there’s an increasing homeless problem in the US. It’s not new, but seems a lot worse than precovid. All the way up the west coast including PDX and SEA. Some people are saying SFO is “crime” ridden but that’s just hyperbole masking serious social issues.

Ok, back to topic!

PS - we didn’t stay in any of those fabulous options…😔
 
SYD said:
Really? We were there for 2 wks end of Mar thru mid Apr and probably many more homeless (I wouldn’t necessarily say “beggars”) than I recall. Certainly more as you head towards Civic and the theatres.

OT, but there’s an increasing homeless problem in the US. It’s not new, but seems a lot worse than precovid. All the way up the west coast including PDX and SEA. Some people are saying SFO is “crime” ridden but that’s just hyperbole masking serious social issues.

Ok, back to topic!

PS - we didn’t stay in any of those fabulous options…😔
Click to expand...
SEA and PDX were probably 10-20X worse than what I expereinced pre-covid when I visited in early 2022.

OT though the Hotel Nikko San Fran is also a fantastic option not listed. Thoroughly enjoyed my stay there in 2018!
 
When in San Francisco I book the Chancellor, it's not a luxury hotel but it's service is some of the best I have experienced at any hotel, it's also at Union Square and on Powell St so avoids the not so good blocks further west. I ask for a low room at the front so I can fall asleep to the hum of the cable under the road. :) It's not loud by any means.

If I can't get in there I go for a Kimpton Hotel of which there are several.

I haven't stayed at the Fairmont but it's on the list for sometime in the future.
 
SYD said:
Really? We were there for 2 wks end of Mar thru mid Apr and probably many more homeless
Click to expand...


Agree, was there a few weeks ago - was horrifying how many people were sleeping rough. Rows after rows of tents.

Tonnes of people wandering around doped up on Fentanyl. So sad.

Also empty shops everywhere, the tech crunch has smashed SF (double whammy after covid).

goldenhorn said:
I just stayed a couple of nights at the IC Mark Hopkins. It didn't make the list you shared (probably a little tired and needs a refurb) but I really enjoyed the sense of history.

I got a great room upgrade to a large corner suite as an IHG Diamond Elite Ambassador with impressive views of SF. I booked the executive club floor, and the a la carte breakfasts were great in the club lounge. Sadly the lounge closed for an upgrade, but they gave us vouchers for food and drinks at Top of the Mark, where the views are even more impressive.
Click to expand...

Also stayed here, mostly agree with your assessment.

I wouldn't pay with my own money to stay there, old and very ratty around the edges now.
 
We preferred the Fairmont over the Intercontinental. Haven’t eaten recently in SFO. Last time we were visiting Brilliant Earth for jewelry but was disappointed.
 
San Fran restaurants:

Gary Danko - the best modern fine dining in SF.

Japanese - there are so many really good casual neighbourhood Japanese restaurants. I would go to these rather than ones in the "Best of" Lists. But if you want a recommendation go to Rintaro.

Modern Chinese: Mr Jiu

Also try the Korean. As with the Japanese there lots... I dont know any but havew been told San fran good for Korean fare.
 
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Just be careful. I doubt the problems of Downtown SF have been overhyped. Here are articles from this year.
First retail outlets closing.
www.businessinsider.com

Nordstrom closes flagship location as office vacancies and fears of crime rise in San Francisco. Here's the full list of stores pulling out of the city's downtown neighborhood.

Nordstrom made good on its plan to close its flagship store at a San Francisco mall as reports of crime and drug use cause safety concerns.
www.businessinsider.com www.businessinsider.com

Even the Hilton Union square the largest hotel is closing because the owner walked away and is reinvesting in Hawaii.

And many companies leaving California. AA is closing it's SFO FA base for staff safety reasons. many companies moving to Texas.
buildremote.co

Every Business Leaving San Francisco (2020-2023) - Buildremote

Once the hub for tech companies in the world, San Francisco (and the Bay Area) is now facing a wave of businesses leaving. Ironically, the tech innovation that was created in San Francisco was so good that the companies who made it no long need the offices they built. An astonishing 35% of San...
buildremote.co buildremote.co
 
I look for places like Ruth’s Chris, Flemings, Morton's or Houstons for a great US steak.
 
So after 2 nts 2 days in SF whatever you do do not believe the bullsh*t about streets full of homeless people - we have traversed a huge area of SF day and night and have not seen 1 homeless person on the streets - apparently they do exist but mostly congregated in Tenderloin (TL) area.

Uber driver home tonight who was born in Philippines but has been in SF for 25 years just said ‘Media cough’ - SF suffered dramatically from Covid and has never recovered - that is the reason for businesses etc closing relocating.

Never felt safer or more secure in any US city - but it is not a location I would return to to visit - too many stories in 50 hours to post here.
 
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Cruiser Elite said:
So after 2 nts 2 days in SF whatever you do do not believe the bullsh*t about streets full of homeless people - we have traversed a huge area of SF day and night and have not seen 1 homeless person on the streets - apparently they do exist but mostly congregated in Tenderloin (TL) area.

Uber driver home tonight who was born in Philippines but has been in SF for 25 years just said ‘Media cough’ - SF suffered dramatically from Covid and has never recovered - that is the reason for businesses etc closing relocating.

Never felt safer or more secure in any US city - but it is not a location I would return to to visit - too many stories in 50 hours to post here.
Click to expand...
The Civic area is ground zero as there are a lot of social services being provided there but otherwise, no reason not to visit SFO.
 

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