Visiting The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is like entering a scene out of a movie. Walking in through double doors opened by maître d’s in full double-breasted suits with coattails, it then hits you: you have not stepped back in time, but you have slipped into a slice of luxury.
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is a landmark space as timeless and elegant as the city it’s built within. What was constructed in 1909 as the Western Headquarters of Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. has been restored and is now adored by travelers from across the world since The Ritz-Carlton brought its brand to the rich history of the Bay Area’s most iconic city in 1991.
Sitting atop of Nob Hill at Stockton and California Streets, the hotel has kept its timeless elegance from the original architecture and now holds 336 luxury suites and guest rooms commanding city or bay views, depending upon what wing you choose. The building itself is a San Francisco landmark, quite literally, achieving its status in 1984 as an Architecturally Significant Structure in the city.
It’s obvious that The Ritz and San Francisco make an elegant and classic pair–keeping the romantic reputation of the ever-changing city still a destination to those across the globe. The hotel recently even took home some accolades, like a AAA Five-Diamond award in 2021, and earned Forbes Four-Star rating the same year.
Just as stylish as the design of the hotel, the rooms are inspired by San Francisco fog and city architecture. Roman shades from floor to ceiling, art pieces depicting the city, dazzling furniture with stone design and shades of steely blue, silver and gray are found throughout.
With the campus held on the entire block, and with nine floors, the hotel offers an array of amenities which, due to space, cannot be housed in many hotels across the densely populated city.
In addition to the hundreds of rooms, the hotel has a extensive fitness center, in-room dining, valet parking, overnight shoeshine, lounge seating in the lobby, a 3,074-sq.-ft. park-like courtyard and hundreds of square feet of meeting spaces; all spaces with their own unique calendars of activities and perks. A fun activity all guests should enjoy if staying over the weekend is silent disco yoga. Just as silly and fun as it sounds, guests listen to the instructor and music on headphones.
Special to San Francisco, guests can schedule wine tasting on the lobby level of The Ritz at The JCB Tasting Lounge, a glitzy tasting room by legendary winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset who creates wines from his vineyards in Sonoma and Napa Valleys and France. One may choose from three wine tasting experiences, priced at $60, $75 and $95 per person.
Another exclusive to San Francisco, the hotel has the Bay Area’s only Krigler perfume shop, known for its rich luxurious history with perfume maker, Albert Krigler, who famously created his first perfume as a gift for his future bride for their engagement in 1879. His first perfume, Pleasure Gardenia 79, is still sold today with hints of jasmine blossom, mimosa and gardenia. One of the most famous people to wear Krigler’s notable scents? Audrey Hepburn, who adorned herself with Krigler’s English Promenade 19.
A must for guests: Upgrade reservations to stay in the Club Lounge. The eighth floor of the hotel is key-card access only. Upon leaving the elevator, guests are welcomed by hosts who then offer a buffet of San Francisco-inspired cuisine and drinks for breakfast, lunch and happy hour. The entire lounge offers a private city view. Many who have access to the Club Lounge will work out of the space, which has so many luxury accommodations there’s no need to leave.
One would assume when walking into a hotel as renowned as The Ritz-Carlton that the dining experience would have as much attention to detail as the hotel experience itself. That couldn’t be more accurate. Both the breakfast and dinner restaurants follow suit with the luxurious brand.
Parallel 37, nuzzled in the corner of the lobby floor, serves classic American breakfast with an entire menu of fresh, filling and made-to-order healthy foods. The Lounge, The Ritz’s primary restaurant, serves Coastal California cuisine and craft cocktails. All guests get a glimpse of the restaurant’s dazzling architecture and décor from the front doors of the hotel. The new dining manager, Daniel Delgado, uses his world travel expertise to serve guests only the best.
When it comes to drinks, there is a must-try on the menu, The Volcan cocktail, as large as it sounds with a name meaning “volcano.” It is a refreshing drink to sip throughout one’s entire meal with Clase Azul reposado, grapefruit, lime and Dom Perignon Brut. Also, the drink makes quite the photo opportunity.
Both Parallel 37 and The Lounge are open for walk-ins and reservations, even if not staying overnight.
To learn more about The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, visit www.ritzcarlton.com.