Review: St. Regis San Francisco, where ‘suite dreams’ come true

Introduction

Step inside any St. Regis around the world and you’ll find white-glove service, opulent rooms and diverse restaurants which tickle your taste buds in all the right ways. Naturally, St. Regis San Francisco hits the bullseye on all three – and more.

Following a complete update of its guestrooms and public spaces via a multi-phase property redesign in 2020, the iconic outpost now welcomes travellers with a luxe new look, while still retaining that classic St. Regis feel.

Location & Impressions

Nestled in the up-and-coming SoMa (South of Market) neighbourhood, the hotel is a fine choice for business and leisure.The Moscone Center is just a block away, while San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMa) – one of the largest modern art museums in the country – and Yerba Buena Gardens are just across the road.

The five star hotel boasts 260 newly-redesigned rooms and suites.

It’s a short 15 minute drive from San Francisco International Airport – served by United Airlines from Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Qantas is expected to add flights ex Sydney from May 2023. 

Exploring further afield is easy. The upscale shops and restaurants of Union Square can be reached in about a 10 minute stroll, Chinatown in 15, and, if you’re headed east toward the bay, you’ll reach the iconic Ferry Building and Embarcadero boulevard in 20 minutes.

The hotel occupies floors five to 17 of the 42-storey St. Regis Museum Tower. The Museum of the African Diaspora – a contemporary art museum celebrating Black history – fills the first three floors, while the upper levels are home to the St Regis Residences.

The signature 'Golden Gate Mary' is a must-try at the St. Regis Bar.

Stepping inside, you’re greeted by a decidedly cosy living room vibe and, in tune with its artistic surroundings, a swanky lobby decked out with sculptures and paintings from renowned modern artists.

While by no means a small hotel, it does have an air of intimacy about it, resulting in a more boutique feel than many others in the brand.

Room

The St. Regis San Francisco offers a varied lineup of room options, ranging from the entry-level Superior through to the sprawling, 297 sqm Presidential Suite.

We checked into the 64 sqm Astor Suite with private butler service, consisting of a bedroom and separate living area plus a large bathroom.

The Astor Suite is furnished in a warm, neutral palette.

Interiors were refreshingly modern, with dark fumed-oak floors accenting the light, neutral palette and floor-to-ceiling windows spanning almost the entire width of the outward-facing wall.

The suite itself is spacious, with a broad sitting area consisting of a large couch and two comfy lounges, glass-topped coffee table, and a 55-inch TV with access to local and cable channels to match. A neat office is tucked nearby.

Venturing deeper inside, a small hallway leads to the bathroom on the left and the bedroom on the right, which comes with a plush king-size bed…

Soak up the view without even leaving the bed.

... and easy access to bedside power outlets with both AC and USB outlets.

A mountain of fluffy pillows, padded headboard, second television and wardrobe containing an iron and ironing board, robes, and slippers round out the bedroom.

Across the hall is a large marble-clad bathroom, where double vanities…

…a deep soaking tub and a walk-in rain shower are all stocked with a pampering selection of Remède toiletries.

Attentive, personalised service includes a 24-hour butler staff available to cater to your every need. From two garment pressings per day to a late-night cocktail delivered to your room, you name it, you’ve got it.

Also standard are complimentary bottled water, a decked-out minibar (prices are standard for a hotel of this calibre), Nespresso machine and twice-daily housekeeping, including turndown service.

Work

While there’s no executive lounge on-site, there is a small business centre where you can take care of any essential tasks like copying, printing and scanning for a fee.

Thankfully, the room comes well-appointed with a large desk set up against a windowed corner.

On the downside, the hotel charges an extra tariff for fast in-room WiFi, unless you’re a Bonvoy Gold or higher member. While this two-tier approach is common, high-speed internet should be standard considering we're in the gateway to Silicon Valley. 

The wide desk has plenty of room to spread out, though the view can be somewhat distracting.

Conveniently-placed power points at the desk and a comfortable chair also means that you can stay working for several hours while keeping your devices juiced up. The living area of the Astor Suite is perfectly suited to host meetings.

Alternatively, the lobby is another area you may find suitable to set up for a casual business rendezvous.

Eat

On the dining front, the hotel has you covered with three enticing options: Astra restaurant, The St. Regis Bar, and the Astra Tea Salon, where guests can indulge in afternoon tea.

Welcoming guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, Astra is the hotel’s flagship. Featuring a refined service and fresh seasonal ingredients, it offers exquisite Californian-inspired dishes with French and Italian influences.

Astor takes on a different feel from day to night.

At dinner, we glanced over the menu and opted to start with the chilled oysters, which came with cucumber mignonette and truffle hot sauce…

… followed by the Spanish octopus with romesco and charcoal potatoes, which hit the spot.

A highlight of the dinner was the Ora King Salmon, presented with a tasteful lemon beurre sauce, sunchoke, arugula and a soft touch of basil oil.

Breakfast is also plated up each morning from 6:30-10:30am. Some of the options at hand to start our day included the St. Regis Benedict, truffle omelette and avocado on toast.

When that natural gravitation for a post-dinner drink calls, The St. Regis Bar is moments away in the lobby.

Here, shimmering brass features and intimate groupings of chairs and sofas backdrop a thoughtfully curated selection of mixologist-crafted cocktails.

The St. Regis Bar is directly adjacent to the lobby.

Relax

Whether in need of an energising early morning gym session or a good dose of pampering after a long day of work, the St. Regis offers a range of options for relaxing and staying fit.

Sadly though, most of them were not available during our stay due to renovations.

Gym-bound travellers will find plenty to help stay active during their stay.

For those who prefer to sweat out their stress, an extensive 570 sqm fitness centre boasting the latest cardio, weights and aerobics equipment is available for complimentary use – and you can even request your own personal trainer.

To complement it, a two-level luxury spa – expected to open this year – will offer signature treatments such as a detox massage and elaborate ‘rituals’, while an indoor swimming pool – also opening in 2023 – will provide the perfect spot to soak away your cares.

Verdict

Overall, the St. Regis San Francisco is an impressive property that more than lives up to the brand’s reputation. As a base for business in San Francisco, the hotel is as good as it gets thanks in large part to its central location.

However, it’s more than just a business hotel, with comfortable rooms, personalised butler service and a myriad of attractions nearby making it an excellent choice for leisure too.