Not all hotel club levels are the same.
The Club Level at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco was named “Best in America” by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report.
It offers four tantalizing food presentations throughout the day – breakfast, light snacks, hors d’oeuvres and evening desserts.
There’s no need to eat out, making this just one reason why it was easy to write our Ritz-Carlton San Francisco Club Level review!
Ritz-Carlton San Francisco Club Level review
A Club Level room was our base for a San Francisco visit focused on biking, sailing and eating.
And, yes, eating is a legitimate activity!
We loved the lox and big silver bowls of fresh strawberries and blackberries for breakfast.
In the evening, we sipped Prosecco and sometimes port while reading newspapers by the wood-burning fireplace.
Oh, and for a change, you can always get fresh oysters and Kobe beef at hotel’s main lounge. Though you’ll probably feel no need with the Club Level food and drinks being so good.
Eye-catching design
Ritz-Carltons rarely disappoint.
And you’d be hard-pressed to find fault with this 5-star San Francisco hotel and its magnificent suites and rooms
Originally built for a life insurance company in 1909, the structure’s white neo-classical architecture is eye-catching.
Lions’ heads, winged hourglasses and 17 Ionic columns adorn the exterior.
Inside, crystal chandeliers and 18th and 19th century artworks grace the elegant lobby.
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Ritzy Ritz-Carlton San Francisco rooms
Among the 336 guestrooms, the top two floors are reserved for Club Level guests. And here you step into pure luxury and pampering.
For extra comfort, stay in a spacious 900 to 1,100 sq. ft. junior or one-bedroom Club Level suite.
The calming décor is inspired by the city’s notorious fog, so the color scheme reflects lots of “steely blues” and grey.
And the feather beds are divinely comfy, with 400 thread count sheets.
One of the best hotels in San Francisco
The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco enjoys an enviable Nob Hill location, close to Chinatown and Union Square shopping.
There are also lots of fun things to do in San Francisco at night.
And the Ritz-Carlton is well placed to get you there too, whether you want to catch a blues show, hit Little Italy’s restaurants or venture off to see Alcatraz at night.
That is, of course, if you feel the need to venture out…
Ritz-Carlton San Francisco: Check rates and availability here
Our top travel tips and resources
Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy!
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Flights: To book the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets may be non-refundable.)
Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
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Photo credits: 6 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Remaining photos Ritz-Carlton San Francisco
About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
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Lisa
Saturday 13th of December 2014
I couldn't agree more. We took a "staycation" at the Ritz a couple of years ago and had a hard time ever leaving the Club Lounge. Pretty, delicious, surprising, nutritious, perfect.
Janice and George
Saturday 13th of December 2014
That was our problem too :-). After nibbling on all the goodies in the lounge, we were sometimes too full to go out and eat dinner.
Irene S. Levine
Wednesday 3rd of December 2014
Looks like an absolutely beautiful property. Will keep it in mind when I travel to the Bay area.