San Francisco Hotel/Accommodation Tips by Ciambella

Mandarin Oriental S F: "Our" Hotel

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Updated by Ciambella

on Jun 16, 2007

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View from our hotel room

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There is not a better service, a better view, or a better hotel in the world.

I know I am talking in superlative term here, but that is how Charles and I think when we think of Mandarin Oriental Hotel in San Francisco.

We call this "our" hotel because we love it very much. We have tried to stay here at least half of the times whenever we came to The City, and that was very often during the last years of our living in the U.S. We have always stayed in the same room each time (or so I thought). We even had our wedding here.

One night, nine years after the last stay, I called the hotel to verify "our" room number.

I did not need to describe the room, remember the date, or give out any information except our last name. Susan at the front desk told me immediately that we have stayed on two different floors although the rooms (4711 and 4811) have the same view. She even told me which floor was our preference (48th, the highest floor). Susan sounded the same as always -- courteous, subtle, and observant.

Susan was not the only one who treated their guests as if they were very important people.

Our wedding's ceremony and reception were held in Mandarin Oriental's Library Room. We stayed at the hotel but our guests and family members stayed in a different place downtown. Afterward, our children wanted to go back to their hotel so they asked the desk staff to order them a cab.

"No, you don't need a cab, our limo will take you anywhere you want to go." The desk staff replied.

At the time, our children were not very polished if you judged them from their appearance. They were the typical college students who lived in (and sometimes even slept in) their jeans, T-shirts, and track shoes. They were intelligent, polite, and articulate, but they were not preppy and definitely not the limo-rider kind. They were also not Mandarin Oriental's guests, but that fact did not matter to the staff. Everyone treated them with respect and courtesy.

Need I say more?

Unique Qualities: Every room has panoramic view because of the floor-to-ceiling windows and because this all-glass hotel is the third highest building in The City. There are different views available with different room series.

All three Bays and Oakland Bay Bridge can be seen from the bathtub of Bay Bridge rooms.

The bathtub in Golden Gate Bridge rooms open out to The Bay, Transamerica Pyramid and Golden Gate Bridge.

The Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower and Alcatraz are seen from the Bay View rooms.

In our opinion, Bridge-to-Bridge rooms have the most spectacular view. These rooms are situated on the corner, with the side window offers the view of the Oakland Bridge while the front window is an open display of the Transamerica Pyramid (almost within touch) and Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Alcatraz, both Bays, and half of San Francisco County spreads out in front, all of them can be seen from the bed or anywhere in the room. At night, you are surrounded by different degrees of soft lighting from the buildings outside especially when the lights inside the room are off. If you stay here in December, you will think you are living inside of a Christmas tree, an absolutely wonderful feeling.

There are also suites but we had never stayed in one.

Frette linen; thick and soft bathrobes; his and her slippers; high quality bath products. Evening service includes fresh fruit plate brought to room. Limo service is gratuity to guests (and in our case, family members of guests). Understated luxury and old world elegance are what you will find here.

Mandarin Oriental in San Francisco writes the book about quality and service. I wish everyone else would read their book and follow their example.

Note: Fridays and Staturdays' rate is lower than during the week.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180 » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 276-9888
Address: 222 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA 94104
Directions: In the financial district, at Sansome and Pine.
Website: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/519000454.asp
Other Contact: mosfo-enquiry@mohg.com

The Archbishop S Mansion: Sleeping With The Past Compare Rates

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Updated by Ciambella

on Jun 18, 2007

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The sitting room

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Although we spent a great deal of time in San Francisco for many years, we stayed at Archbishop's Mansion only once, in 1997.

We originally booked Der Rosenkavalier room, but when we arrived, the room was under repair of some sort. The B&B's management offered us the Don Giovanni suite for the same rate.

The suite consisted of two very large rooms and an equally large bathroom.

In the middle of the bedroom was a beautiful mahogany four-poster bed with elaborate lace and carved cherubs; the bed was high and a step stool was provided, thankfully, so that a person of my height would not have to scramble up or slide down ungracefully.

Though the bed was remarkably large, the size of the room made it look unsubstantial. The fireplace occupied half of one wall, flanked by arched windows on either side. A pair of damask upholstered wing chairs, a mahogany wardrobe, and a tea table nestled in front of a lace-curtained window completed the picture.

There was enough space in the room for many more pieces of furniture but none was present. This was not a room created to flaunt, but one that conveyed traditional values and an understated affluence.

The sitting room was twice as large as the bedroom, and twice as somber. The fireplace here spanned almost the entire wall space, and the furniture in front of it -- sofas, couches, settees, tables --
were of the same impressive size. Off to one side was a breakfast table where each morning a small repast of fresh baked croissants, fruits, toasts, orange juice, tea, and coffee were served on china, heavy silver, lace, and linen.

Complimentary wine and cheese were served in the sitting room downstairs in the late afternoon/early evening.

Unique Qualities: Taking a bath in the Don San Giovanni suite was an enticing experience. One side of the bathroom had a tub large enough for two people to comfortably share. The other side of the bathroom sported a shower even more spacious than the bathtub! There were seven showerheads strategically pointed at various parts of the body, making cleansing oneself (or one's partner) an act of eroticism. Two very thick bathrobes, an abundance of extra thick and large towels of all sizes, and luxurious bath items completed the opulent experience.

Archbishop's Mansion is rumoured to be haunted, although no one told us of any sights of its past occupants. Nevertheless, for each of the three nights we were there, Charles experienced the same eerie feeling that there was another presence in the sitting room, and that some sort of spirit was watching us.

Note: The mansion was located in a residential area across Alamo Square. Although we walked back and forth from there to every point in the city, most people probably would consider the distance too much to tackle. If walking through several "real" neighbourhoods in between downtown and Alamo Square is not your preferred way to spend time, an alternate option is the bus.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80 » Currency Converter
Address: 1000 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94117

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