Inside San Francisco’s 7 Most Exclusive and Luxurious Hotel Suites

Credit: Ralph Esposito

With its iconic bridge, hilly streets and historic cable cars, there certainly is something magnetic about this coastal stretch of California. Even the city’s famously chilly summers and year-round fog aren’t enough to put off visitors. It helps that San Francisco’s most exclusive hotels can hold their own among the very best in the US. Whether you’re looking for no-holds-barred luxury or something a bit more pared back, there’s a wide range of options to cater to every taste. From an eco-luxe haven overlooking the Bay to a tranquil inn perched on the edge of the Golden Gate strait, these are our favorites.
Credit: St. Regis San Francisco

Located in the heart of the city’s trendy SoMa district, the St. Regis is indisputably one of San Francisco’s hottest addresses. The hotel has been given the celebrity seal of approval; Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Brooke Shields have all been spotted here. With the city’s modern art museum right next door and the leafy Yerba Buena Gardens across the street, there is plenty to explore nearby.
Credit: St. Regis San Francisco

Set within a 40-story tower, the hotel itself is sleek and stylish. The property is home to an excellent fine dining restaurant, Astra, and an intimate bar with an impressive selection of cocktails (you can’t go wrong with the Golden Gate Mary – the hotel’s take on a classic Bloody Mary). Between 5 and 6pm there’s also a daily champagne cart serving the finest vintages with caviar pairings, and down at the bar, those with a penchant for fizz can attend a nightly Art of Sabrage service that includes opening a bottle of bubbly with a saber (a ritual dating back to the 19th century).
Credit: St. Regis San Francisco

If it’s killer views you’re after, it doesn’t get much better than this. Spanning 3,200 sq ft, the sprawling presidential suite features an expansive living and dining room, a luxurious bathroom complete with a soaking tub and its own library. Naturally, you’ll be treated to the St. Regis’s signature butler service.
Credit: Luxury Collection

The Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco is the city's grande dame. When it first opened in 1875, it wasn’t just the city’s first luxury hotel, but one of the first of its sheer scope across the world. Located in downtown San Francisco and occupying an entire city block, the unapologetic opulence continues through to today, with the Gilded Age West Coast glitz and glamor updated for the 21st century. Much of the grand Beaux-Arts architecture remains, and yet inside guests will find a thoroughly modern hotel experience, in which everything has been thought of, from the iconic heated pool under a glorious glass ceiling to the 24-hour state-of-the-art gym.
Credit: Luxury Collection

The best room across the whole hotel to truly live life like a turn-of-the-century Californian socialite is, undoubtedly, the 2,000 sq ft Presidential Suite. Spacious, stylish, and wonderfully designed, this one-bedroom suite is a real masterclass in all-American decadence without ever feeling kitsch.
Credit: Luxury Collection

Overlooking the bustling Market Street, arched windows usher in brilliant light across the suite, while a formal dining room is perfect for that aforementioned in-room dining. Other highlights include a baby grand piano, a collection of modern art scattered across the space, and utterly gorgeous ceiling moldings throughout.
Credit: The Ritz-Carlton

Next, we head to another of San Francisco’s hotel heavyweights: The Ritz-Carlton. Set within a grand neoclassical building in the city’s swanky Nob Hill neighborhood, this is the place to go if it’s all-out luxury you’re after.
Credit: The Ritz-Carlton

The grand lobby sets the tone; expect soaring columns, glittering chandeliers and gleaming marble floors. Rooms are a picture of refined elegance in shades of cream and marine blue (many boast panoramic views out over the Bay). There’s also a chic cocktail bar, wine-tasting lounge and signature restaurant, Parallel 37. On the last Sunday of every month from January through May, the hotel hosts a special ‘Madame Clicquot’ afternoon tea – glasses of fizz served with a selection of freshly baked sweet treats and sandwiches.
Credit: The Ritz-Carlton

Located on the top floor, the Presidential Suite is one of San Francisco’s most prestigious accommodations. French windows open onto a sizeable terrace – the perfect spot to watch the sunset with a chilled glass of wine.
Credit: Ralph Esposito

Another landmark hotel luring guests to Nob Hill is the Fairmont. The historic Beaux-Arts property opened in 1907 – exactly one year after the Great Earthquake and subsequent fire that destroyed the city – and quickly became a symbol of San Francisco’s rebirth. As the luxury brand’s flagship, it’s seriously glamorous. The lobby is unashamedly extravagant; expect soaring columns, enormous potted plants and gilded accents at every turn. A favored spot among the rich and famous, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole are among the stars to have graced its hallowed walls.
Credit: Fairmont San Francisco

There are quite literally hundreds of rooms to choose from (606 to be exact) set across the historic main building and 23-story modern tower. Dining options are plentiful; be sure to grab a bite to eat and a cocktail at the Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar. Crafted by a Hollywood set designer (who else?), the focal point is the hotel’s former swimming pool which has been transformed into a ‘lagoon’. For something a bit quieter head to Laurel Court – an opulent restaurant decked out with Tuscan-style frescoes, plush velvet chairs and a grand piano. Seafood is the star of the show here, from hearty chowders to crispy calamari and grilled Pacific swordfish.
Credit: Fairmont San Francisco

Sprawling 6,000 sq ft, this extravagant abode is decorated in regal shades of gold and blue. Artworks by the likes of David Hockney adorn the walls and there’s a gorgeous terrace ideal for hosting parties. The suite even has a secret passage behind one of the bookcases. Count us in.
Credit: Travis Watts

Tucked between the mansions of San Francisco’s well-heeled Pacific Heights neighborhood, this hilltop hideaway is only a couple of blocks from the Presidio National Park – a sprawling expanse of greenery overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Every evening between 5 and 7pm, the hotel treats guests to a complimentary wine reception with a smorgasbord of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. You can also ask to borrow a bike to explore San Francisco (the hotel provides locks, helmets and backpacks).
Credit: Travis Watts

With its wood-paneled lobby and walnut furnishings, the property itself feels more akin to a country inn than a flash hotel. This is very much a boutique experience; Hotel Drisco has just 44 rooms in total, including 16 suites. Expect more than a touch of luxury from the Egyptian cotton sheets and goose-down comforters to the Bulgari toiletries.
Credit: Travis Watts

We love the look of the aptly named City View Suites. Decorated in a soothing cream-and-gray color palette, it’s hard not to feel enveloped by a sense of calm from the moment you step through the door.
Credit: Paul Dyer

Last but by no means least in our list of the best hotels in San Francisco is this charming inn. Located on the edge of the Presidio National Park close to the Golden Gate Bridge, this is one of the most tranquil retreats in the city.
Credit: Paul Dyer

The red-brick Georgian Revival-style property is home to 22 accommodations, including 17 suites with crackling fireplaces. Steeped in history, the building was constructed in 1895 to serve as a military barracks for the US Army. After long days exploring the beautiful park, evenings can be spent relaxing on the porch or by the firepit with a glass of wine. Bliss.
Credit: Paul Dyer

Our favorite accommodation is Funston House – a renovated officer’s home close to the main building. Ideal for groups, the entire property can be booked for an unforgettable stay.
Credit: Four Seasons

Four Seasons has two ultra-luxe hotels in San Francisco just a few blocks apart. The original outpost – which opened back in 2001 – is located within a modern tower, moments from Union Square on Market Street. Guests have access to the super exclusive Equinox Sports Club complete with a full-size basketball court, swimming pool, well-equipped gym and several yoga studios. Be sure to take advantage of the complimentary fitness classes.
Credit: Four Seasons

With its sweeping downtown views and cozy leather booths, the hotel’s stylish restaurant – MKT – is a nice spot to while away an evening. The vibrant menu showcases sustainable seafood and seasonal veg; expect dishes like foraged mushroom gnocchi and seared bass drizzled with a citrus lobster emulsion. After dinner, stop by for a nightcap at the Veranda Terrace – a moodily-lit bar overlooking the city’s modern art museum.
Credit: Four Seasons

For a home-from-home vibe, book the Presidential Suite. The oak flooring, carefully curated artwork and bespoke furnishings make this cozy abode feel more like an (impeccably designed) apartment than a hotel room. It’s a great spot for hosting dinner parties; the wine fridge is stocked with more than 30 bottles specially chosen by the Four Seasons’ sommelier.