Hotel Review: Ritz Carlton San Francisco
The Ritz Carlton San Francisco is impeccably still one of the best hotels in the West Coast. With a stellar 5 star service from their teams to the hard products and the amenities provided, this neoclassical hotel is without a doubt a shining product in the Ritz Carlton collection. Welcome to a special era of royalty and luxury.
Introduction
This is the hotel to lavish yourself in at San Francisco. Ranked #1 as the best hotel in San Francisco in 2019, a AAA Five Star Diamond recipient, Forbes Four Star and Top Hotel in San Francisco by a multitude of travel companies and magazines, there is a reason why this place is so highly sought after, albeit the steep price.
I made this booking via Amex’s Fine Hotel and Resort’s program, which gave me:
Upgrade on Arrival, Subject to Availability
Daily Breakfast for Two
Guaranteed 4pm Late Checkout
Noon-Checkin, if Available (I definitely got his one)
Complimentary Wifi (FAST)
$100 Credit for F&B
Check-In
Arriving at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco was quite the adventure with its daunting hill climb. However, upon arrival, the valet was incredibly kind and welcomed me with all the latest details about check-in, breakfast and any other details I may want. A quick entrance into the lobby and a left brought me to check-in, where the front desk agent (service is amazing here) acknowledged my Fine Hotels and Resorts booking and proceeded to upgrade me to a nicer room.
The Lounge is probably my favorite part of this hotel. With a breathtaking design and a skyline that one can enjoy, it’s simply the place to be. Come and enjoy a series of cocktails during the afternoon, or grab a Illy coffee and work your meetings for hours here. It’s all gravy.
Dining | Parallel 37
The food and drinks here are great, albeit the insane pricing like all San Francisco hotels. However, with the $100 credit along with the breakfast being covered due to FHR, I was able to sample an abundant breakfast and dinner over my stay. At breakfast, I ate Parallel 37, where again the service was amazing. They were watching like hawks to see if I needed anything, such as coffee or another order of eggs. Breakfast came out to around $60 for a great set of breakfast plates.
I had an early dinner at the bar lounge, where a spread of salads to hearty lobster rolls were handy at times. I may sound like a broken record here at this point, but AGAIN the service from the waitresses was incredibly attentive and light - perhaps this is why people value high-end hotels not for the hard product but rather the service provided during your stay.
I was never rushed nor did I feel any bit pressured - service was great and the staff obliged to my requests of boxing my food, even wrapping my sparkling water bottle up so I could bring it back to the room. That’s the type of service I wish all 5 star hotels provide.
The Room
Upon arrival at my room, i was greeted with the luxurious and immaculate tastes…of blue and white? Since I was facing the courtyard, I was more than happy to leave my windows open the whole time. Lots of natural sunlight made working a breeze. There was a sofa-bed-thingy that I wasn’t sure what it was really meant for. However, it was great to relax and catch up on news and a book during my stay. Regardless, the room design in my opinion is a great mixture of blue, silver and grey with roman shades and modern furniture pieces. The bed was comfortable, and that duvet? Soft like baby skin.
Amenities also include a Nespresso Machine as well a series of some fine tea leaves. Interestingly enough, I was not sure where I would boil hot water? I guess most folks just request for it.
Bathroom is a pretty classic - don’t expect a modern or super-opulent take on it. While it’s clad in marble and rich materials, it does feel a bit dated. However, amenities provided are abundant and I dare one to try to find something that this hotel can’t provide.
The Asprey Purple Water is still one of my favorite scents (Ritz Carlton Hong Kong has the same thing) and I craved the ylang-ylang, bergamot and jasmine scent. The Housekeeping staff was more than happy to let me bring a couple samples back home.
CONCLUSION
If i had the money, I would stay this hotel. Every time. I loved everything about it. From the top-hatted valet and impeccable staff to the imposing facade and decorative interiors (the smell man, it’s just so luxurious), this hotel is simply a representation of classic luxury. A stunning hotel with a series of trolley-stops away from everywhere in SF, this is the epitome of luxury for the city like San Francisco.
