Guest room at the Stanford Court Hotel / Courtesy of Stanford Court Hotel
San Francisco isn’t short on incredible hotels, which can make it hard to choose the perfect property. Location, amenities, and views are all important factors. And of course, there's the price. From the not-as-touristy and super charming location in Nob Hill to rooms with incredible views to a relaxed price point, a stay at Stanford Court San Francisco ticks all the boxes. Here’s what we experienced.
The property pays homage to the past as the hotel's history that dates back nearly 140 years, back when it occupied the site of a private mansion of one of the famous “Big Four" railroad moguls, Senator Leland Stanford. The entire neighborhood oozes wealth, and, despite the hills, it’s a joy to walk around.
Despite the historic roots, a recent renovation transformed this property to be redesigned for the digital-age traveler—appropriate for a tech hub — but certainly nothing too complicated. Guest rooms are outfitted with plenty of charging ports, a Google Chromecast-equipped HDTV, and plenty of functional furnishings. Rooms also have reusable water bottles that can be filled throughout the hotel, which is a nice touch — and wallet-friendly, too.
The check-in desk is situated in the middle of the lobby, making customer service a major focal point. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful.
Seven Stills Nob Hill is the hotel’s restaurant and offers a fine selection of craft beer and whiskey, which makes for the perfect post-meeting or after-sightseeing cocktail. The hotel also serves a robust breakfast in this area, with hot items, pastries, salads, fruit, cheese and meats, plus high-end coffee ($22).
Those who want to be in the heart of the city will love this property. It’s easily walkable to major attractions. It also provides a lot of comfort and class for a reasonable price point. (The beds and sheets are some of the best we've slept in.)
There aren’t a ton of amenities for children at this property, but we did see plenty of families, mostly with older children.
The hotel has created local partnerships, most notably with San Francisco-based healthy startup Well + Away dubbed the "Urban Sanctuary" experience. For an additional cost, guests are privy to a ton of amenities including: The opportunity to rent Gaiam gear and access to just-released activewear; yoga mats and meditation cushions; 30-day complimentary access to the Aaptiv fitness app; 30-day complimentary access to the Calm meditation app; a copy of “The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide to Ancient Self-Care;” Buddha Teas CBD teas; oxygen-boosting Léon & George plants; and Well + Away VitalKits with healthy snacks and drinks. An example on rates: The Urban Sanctuary package rate for one night in July is $275 for a standard room.
Your room is included in the rate, as is access to the 24-hour fitness center, which features complimentary Peloton bikes and Kinima.fit virtual personal training, a Nod Hill sleep menu, Blix electric bikes, New Albion bicycles, FloWater filling stations, and reusable water bottles. In addition, the hotel provides a tech library for guests’ use including Jambox speakers, GoPro cameras, iPads, MacBook Air, and Chromebook computers. Coffee and tea are in the lobby. There's a nightly $30 urban bundle fee.
All food and drink cost extra. The hotel also lets you bring two dogs (25 lbs. max) for a $50 fee per stay. Parking costs $60 per night for valet service.
Check the hotel's website for deals, but you can find rates starting at just $229 per night in both high and low season, which is a great rate for a major-city property.
The hotel is located in the Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, and located directly across from the cable car. The hotel is within easy walking distance of Union Square, Chinatown, and the Financial District.
San Francisco Airport is about an hour's drive from the hotel. Expect a rideshare to cost about $70 each way. It’s also accessible by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) for about $10.
For the tech-savvy, health-conscious, or even the leisurely traveler that wants to be in the city's best neighborhood, a stay at Stanford Court San Francisco perfectly fits the bill.