Pleasures abound for those fortunate enough to take full advantage of all that the luxury lifestyle has to offer. Whether it be fueling up the private jet for a jaunt over to Vegas, taking time off to take in the pleasures afforded on a plush megayacht, delighting in the delectable treats offered at one of the city’s many top-rated restaurants, or relishing in some retail therapy at some of our favorite shopping venues, the benefits of affluence cannot be denied. With amenities for both jetsetters and local residents, these six hospitality centers are ready to tend to your every whim. From a day of pampering at sumptuous spas to reveling in a Roaring 20s-style penthouse suite valued at $20 million, there is no limit to the flights of fancy that await when visiting one of these luxury hotels in the City by the Bay.
The St. Regis San Francisco Offers the Ultimate Spa Day
The sophisticated, 9,000-square-foot Remède Spa at The St. Regis San Francisco invites guests and local residents on a fabulous sojourn of indulgence and relaxation. It all begins in the locker room with whirlpools, steam rooms, and saunas, separated for the sexes, where spa-goers start the relaxation process. From there, the journey continues to the lounge, where guests find Champagne and hand-made truffles. There, a spa therapist details some of the menu options like wraps, massages, and facials. One of the favorites, The Stillness Ritual, incorporates fresh lavender grown on the hotel’s terrace garden in a calming herbal bath, followed by a 90-minute Swedish massage. But the pleasures of the signature Stillness Ritual don’t end there. CranioSacral work and foot reflexology ensure that no part of the body, mind, or spirit is neglected. Rounding out the rejuvenation, the glories of the pristine indoor infinity pool beckon to guests, many of whom can’t resist a bite on the way out at Vitrine, The St. Regis San Francisco’s signature restaurant. Set in an elegant and light-filled dining room, Chef Romuald Feger presents inspired breakfast and lunch offerings prepared using seasonal, local ingredients, including herbs and produce from the terrace garden.
The St. Regis San Francisco
125 3rd St. San Francisco, CA 94103
415.284.4000
www.stregissanfrancisco.com
Dine on Napa Valley’s Best at The Restaurant at Meadowood
At the heart of it, Napa Valley is a farming community disguised as a luxury destination. Discerning travelers flock to the region to experience the natural bounty that talented artisans transform into some of the finest wines and dishes in the world. Said travelers can experience all of the fruits of the community’s labor at Meadowood Napa Valley, a picturesque estate nestled amidst the forest-covered hills of St. Helena. The resort and private club was founded with the goal of being one of the world’s finest country destinations, with a focus on a wine and dining program that showcases the region’s most premium offerings.
Dedication to excellence is overtly apparent at The Restaurant at Meadowood, which garnered two Michelin stars. Helmed by Chef Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood features sophisticated California cuisine made in the farm-to-table tradition, one Kostow honors by updating the menu based on the seasonal bounty. This summer, Kostow introduces a six-course “Vegetable & Grains” tasting menu that will feature items such as Chilled Pea & Yogurt Soup, and Potato & Artichoke Salad.
Guests can savor the cuisine that the San Francisco Chronicle just awarded a rare four stars while also enjoying the natural country setting by dining al fresco on The Restaurant Terrace.
900 Meadowood Lane
St Helena, CA 94574-9620
707.963.3646
www.meadowood.com
Joy Abounds at Hotel Vitale’s Terrace Studios
As San Francisco’s first luxury waterfront hotel, Hotel Vitale offers a plethora of ways to fully embrace joie de vivre, which is not only a lifestyle philosophy for connoisseurs of the finer things, but is also the brand name of Hotel Vitale’s parent company, California’s largest boutique hotel collection.
Whether it be the penthouse-level spa facilities or the Italian farm-to-table dining experience at Americano restaurant, the amenities at Hotel Vitale are certainly a draw for those seeking to indulge in a lavish lifestyle when away from home. And if you’re not going to be sleeping in your own feather bed at night, then booking one of Hotel Vitale’s three terrace studios is the way to go. The 509-square-foot Vista Terrace Studio takes up a corner space on the top floor of the hotel, offering expansive 180-degree views of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the Ferry Building. Luxury abounds on the seventh floor in the Cielo Terrace Studio, where guests can waltz along walnut floors to the raised seating area that leads to a 500-square-foot private terrace. On the sixth floor, the Terrazzo Terrace Studio also offers the privacy of a 500-square-foot terrace, along with a charming view of the city and the Ferry Building.
Hotel Vitale
8 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415.278.3700
www.hotelvitale.com
Opulence Found at Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco
Whether visiting for business or pleasure, Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco offers deluxe accommodations and lavish amenities for both international jetsetters and local luxury lovers seeking a downtown staycation.
Is it the onsite, state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness center, or access to one of San Francisco’s most exclusive private health clubs, Equinox Fitness, that has connoisseurs of an affluent lifestyle flocking to this elite San Francisco property? Perhaps it is the culinary skills that Executive Chef Rick Bartram exhibits at Silks that speaks to the haute in all of us. This dining venue is ranked amongst the best hotel restaurants in the U.S. The elegance of MO Bar calls for afternoon cocktails, complemented by the new sushi menu available from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the week.
With panoramic views of the city, the Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco Bay, each of the 158 spacious rooms are quite divine, but to truly sit in the lap of luxury, check out the two-bedroom Oriental Suite. Its 2,000 square feet of space includes a private terrace spanning the entire length of the suite on the 38th floor—meaning unmatched views that will remind anyone who enters exactly why San Francisco is one of our country’s greatest treasures.
Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco
222 Sansome St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
415.276.9600
www.mandarinoriental.com/sanfrancisco
View from the Top at The Fairmont San Francisco
Situated within the quaint Carmel Valley, Bernardus Lodge is a luxury resort that combines the simple elegance of fine country living with high-quality services. The property features 57 lavish suites that radiate the resort’s rustic look and ageless quality with vaulted beamed ceilings, limestone fireplaces, feather beds, and original French doors.
Guests can enjoy Chef Cal Stamenov’s California natural cuisine in two unique dining rooms. Labeled as one of the “Top Restaurants” and “Most Romantic Places South of San Francisco” by the Zagat Survey since 2001, Marinus restaurant has established itself as a four-star culinary venue unlike any other. In addition, the property’s wine cellar offers an extensive 35,000-bottle collection. If it’s a more casual dining experience guests are seeking, a venture to the resort’s Wicker Bistro provides that laid-back ambiance for which well-deserved vacations are designed.
Nothing quite says relaxation like the Spa at Bernardus Lodge. The romantic retreat radiates scents of lavender, sounds of flowing fountains, and warm valley breezes. Nurture the mind, body, and soul with luxurious treatments infused with natural ingredients collected from the ocean, vineyards, and organic gardens. Whether you seek to relax, renew, or reconnect, the award-winning Spa is designed to create the ultimate sensory experience, making a stay at Bernardus Lodge complete perfection.
Bernardus Lodge
415 Carmel Valley Rd.
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
888.648.9463
www.bernardus.com
View from the Top at The Fairmont San Francisco
Reemerging from a $2 million restoration, The Penthouse of The Fairmont San Francisco has been dipped in the holy water of hotel renovations. Not just any penthouse, The Penthouse is one of a kind, with 6,000 square feet of luxurious opulence emanating across the eighth floor of the historic hotel’s main building.
Bathed in Gatsby-esque decadence, modern sophistication marries old-world glamour in this penthouse suite, which originated from the Roaring 20s, a period enamored in unprecedented affluence. Adorned with notable contemporary artwork, elegant chandeliers dripping in Czech crystal, and stunning Chinese porcelain vases, this haven is as exotic as it is classic. The ethereal, palatial suite, complete with a fabled 20s-era secret passageway, features three bedrooms, a formal dining room, living room with grand piano, state-of-the-art kitchen, Moorish-influenced billiard room, terrace offering breathtaking views, and a two-story circular library crowned by a rotunda where a celestial map is rendered in gold leaf against a sapphire sky.
Music legends like Nat King Cole, former U.S. leaders such as President John F. Kennedy, and blue-blooded elite including Prince Charles of Wales round out The Penthouse’s guest pedigree. Its $15,000 per night price tag comes with aristocratic amenities including around-the-clock butler services; access to a chef, massage therapist, and personal trainer; and the use of a Maserati, making The Penthouse, valued at $20 million dollars, more than just the American dream; no prohibition here.
The Fairmont San Francisco
950 Mason St.
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.772.5000
www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco
