Hautels

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.

The Carneros Inn

The Carneros Inn, a PlumpJack Resort, is an exclusive Napa Valley destination where rustic charm finds balance with urbane sophistication. The stylish resort boasts 86 polished countryside cottages with private patios and landscaped courtyards, in addition to private homes, set amidst 27 acres of seemingly infinite grapevines, wide-open Napa farmland, and pastoral apple orchards. Corralled within The Carneros Inn grounds, guests can indulge in classic roadhouse fare at Boon Fly Café or experience authentic wine country fine dining at FARM, which is supported by the bounty of the Carneros region’s local farmers and ranches. The Spa at Carneros also incorporates the area’s natural elements into its menu, which includes the Red Flower Carneros Wine Blossom Treatment. Further relaxation can be found at The Carneros’ signature Hilltop Pool, an adults-only infinity-edge pool boasting 360-degree views of the picturesque countryside and bordering vineyards. But the resort’s highlight may be its latest addition: the Harvest Cottages. Aside from the richly appointed interiors, each of these private havens offers outdoor fireplaces, as well as an outdoor soaking tub and private garden—the ideal setting for a relaxing, true wine country experience. — Diana Gdula

The Carneros Inn
4048 Sonoma Highway
Napa, CA 94559
707.299.4900
www.thecarnerosinn.com

Hotel Vitale

Enjoying a warm summer evening sipping cocktails on the picturesque patio while overlooking San Francisco’s Embarcadero Waterfront is just one of the perks of dining at Hotel Vitale’s Americano Restaurant & Bar. And if the Bay air gets too chilly, you can always move inside where you will find a sophisticated-yet-casual fine dining room lined with cozy wingchairs that will make you feel right at home.

But weather isn’t the only thing that changes with seasons at the award-winning Americano. Inspired by the proximity to the renowned Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market, the restaurant’s newly appointed Chef Kory Stewart has purposefully handcrafted new lunch and dinner menus with only the best and freshest local ingredients in mind. In addition, the menu is supplemented by a weekly market menu, which features special dishes that all incorporate local farms’ freshest in-season ingredients.

Stewart encourages guests to shop the market and to request to have their purchases cooked and prepared at the restaurant. As an extra special bonus, it can be arranged for Stewart to accompany diners to the market and guide their shopping excursion before returning to Americano to complete the customized experience.  The soulful and satisfying Italian fare at Americano will no doubt leave you coming back for more. — Sherri Balefsky

Hotel Vitale
8 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415.278.3700
www.hotelvitale.com

Rosewood Sand Hill

The expansive Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park is a perfect intimate getaway, known for its resonating California charm. Encompassed by plush gardens and views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the resort, which includes 121 luxury guestrooms and suites, is geared to satisfy everyone, from those with a thirst for adventure to individuals on a quest for indulgent pampering. That quest should bring them to Sense, A Rosewood Spa, which offers a bevy of services designed to promote an intimate experience of luxe relaxation. In addition to its 13 treatment rooms, Sense offers separate locker rooms for men and women, each of which features a relaxation area, wet lounge, and an outdoor courtyard complete with whirlpool. A co-ed courtyard lounge and a top-notch fitness facility overlooking English gardens round out the spa’s offerings, but guests who prefer the absolute best of the best should opt for the Duet Suite, which includes an outdoor garden and whirlpool, a movement studio, full-service hair salon, and spa café. Each indulgence is meticulously molded to complement the resort’s peaceful and natural surroundings that reflect the essence of northern California’s tranquil lifestyle.­ — Jessica Bryant

Rosewood Sand Hill
2825 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650.561.1500
www.rosewoodsandhill.com

Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

The Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco offers more than just amazing panoramic views, distinctive décor, and unmatched service. Its award-winning culinary program stands out in a city that is often called the food capital of the U.S. This summer, guests can devour the delicious offerings without taking a bite out of their budgets. Here’s a taste: at Silks, the signature restaurant offering California cuisine and Asian-inspired dishes, the $25 Business Lunch includes a green papaya salad with grapefruit and grilled scallions and a pan-fried Arctic char with summer bean fricassee and crispy rice. For dinner, a special summer tasting menu includes mouth-watering fare like salmon tartare, pan-seared scallops, and a strawberry rhubarb soufflé. The Prix Fixe Pinot Noir Menu features three courses for only $38, with sommelier-selected pairings for an additional $12. The hotel is also extending exciting offers at the sophisticated MO Bar, beginning with Sushi Happy Hour, when guests can enjoy half-priced glasses of organic wine upon ordering from the fresh sushi bar, weekdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Immediately following happy hour, MO Bar delves into its “Dinner and a Drink” deal, where dinner entrées are paired with a specially selected wine or cocktail for only $20. Not having to whip out the black AmEx? We’ll cheers to
that! — Jessica Bryant

Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco
222 Sansome St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
415.276.9600
www.mandarinoriental.com/sanfrancisco

Meadowood Napa Valley

Meadowood Napa Valley fully embodies the essence of northern California’s celebrated winemaking region. The property’s dedicated wine education program includes nightly tastings, wine appreciation seminars, an extensive Napa Valley wine list, and guided area winery visits. The Meadowood Vintners Collection is another way the property enhances appreciation of the region’s unsurpassed bounty, through a seasonal shipment created to instill its private members with a deeper understanding of the quality, character, and diversity of Napa Valley wines.

During this year’s harvest, Meadowood is taking that appreciation one step further through the Harvest Immersion program. Gilles de Chambure MS, a master sommelier who serves as Meadowood’s director of wine education, will be available by reservation to spend a full day accompanying guests to harvesting wineries. He will personally lead the guests through private, behind-the-scene tours of areas not typically accessible to the public, as well as guide special tastings of wines pulled from secret racks. He will also provide personal introductions to winery owners and winemakers.

When guests reserve a two-night stay at Meadowood with the Harvest Immersion offering, Meadowood will also provide inclusion in The Meadowood Vintners Collection for the Autumn 2010 shipment. The Vintners Collection features four exclusive, collectible red wines selected by Gilles, as well as notes on the vintners and wines, and a seasonal update on the vineyard cycle. — Alexander Miller
Meadowood Napa Valley
900 Meadowood Lane
St Helena, CA 94574
707.963.3646
www.meadowood.com

The Luxury of Bernardus Lodge

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. — Laura Funk
Bernardus Lodge
415 Carmel Valley Rd.
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
888.648.9463
www.bernardus.com

The Fairmont San Francisco

While there is certainly a plethora of reasons to visit the historic Fairmont San Francisco (the unrivaled views alone are worth the trip), the landmark property’s three distinctive restaurants call to the most discerning foodies—locals and travelers alike. Amping up the culinary appeal is the property’s new Executive Chef jW Foster. In this role, Chef Foster oversees all of the hotel’s culinary operations, including the three restaurants—The Laurel Court, the signature restaurant and bar featuring the freshest local ingredients alongside a one-of-a-kind wine list and cocktail menu; The Tonga Room, a Polynesian-style restaurant and tiki bar; and Caffè Cento, the European-style coffee café. At the heart of Chef Foster’s culinary program is the local farming community, and he can often be found perusing the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market or visiting artisan purveyors throughout the region, and his menus reflect the region’s bounty. On property, he introduced a 1,000-square-foot culinary garden to the patio on the lobby level, where he is already growing lavender with plans to add a variety of herbs and vegetables. Chef Foster also established a landmark partnership with Marshall’s Farm, who installed four nascent honey beehives. This year alone, the beehives are expected to produce 250 pounds of honey that will be used in soups, salad dressings, pastries, ice cream, and as an accoutrement to the hotel’s time-honored afternoon tea service. — Alexander Miller

The Fairmont San Francisco
950 Mason St.
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.772.5000
www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco

The St. Regis San Francisco

With uncompromising city views and pristine décor covering every square inch of its expanse, The St. Regis San Francisco is a work of art in itself. The five-star property is celebrating its five-year anniversary in 2010, and it’s honoring that milestone by partnering with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which happens to be celebrating its 75-year anniversary.

The St. Regis joined forces with SFMOMA to create two Limited Edition SFMOMA Suites on the hotel’s fifth floor (in honor of the hotel’s own anniversary) and sixth floor. These special suites feature art prints from the museum’s “75 Years of Looking Forward” exhibition series. In the Gems of the Museum Suite, select pieces from The Anniversary Show are on display, while the Art of California Suite reveals the way the region has inspired artists over the last century.

In honor of this partnership, The St. Regis is offering a special package deal from now until the end of this year. The SFMOMA 75th Anniversary Travel Package, starting at $1,195, includes a one-night stay in a SFMOMA Suite, two passes to the museum, and a 448-page hardcover anniversary catalogue from the museum. To reserve this special offer, contact The St. Regis Aficionado Coordinator Nicole Holland directly at 415.284.4070.
— Jessica Bryant

The St. Regis San Francisco
125 3rd St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.284.4000
www.stregissanfrancisco.com