The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel

The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel its something of a San Francisco institution. Housed in a faux renaissance palace dating from 1916, and just a stone’s throw from Union Square, the hotel caters for business travellers in the week and leisure travellers at the weekend - so for the latter, deals can be had and rates can be good. The rooms are minimalist and functional, but with well chosen soft fabrics and crisp colour ways. Rooms on higher floors have great views to Nob Hill to the north and downtown areas to the south, and are flooded with light. The only downside can be the bathrooms, which, unless they have undergone recent renovation, can be cramped and old fashioned. Downstairs, the lobby is dark and womb like, accessed through swing doors from Geary street, and entering, it has the vibe of arriving at your club, with free tea and coffee and iced water a lounge area to the right, and a smattering of glamorous guests lounging around. Revamped in 2001 by Phillippe Stark and Ian Schrager (until recently it was part off the Morgans hotel group), it still retains the dark and velvety vibe of the original makeover, with a giant Alice-in-wonderland style Stark chair as a centre piece, a delight for children to be photographed in. On lower floors there are meeting rooms and spaces for hire and, given it’s location, you can see what this is a popular choice for the convention market. However, this alone is not enough to attract a glamorous crowd, and if it stopped here the Clift would be just another decent midtown business hotel. What makes it special is what lies beyond the reception area, in the depths of the womb - the windowless Redwood Room, arguably one of the best hotel bars in the world. Tall ceilinged and panelled head to toe in dark redwood from the forests to the north of the city, the Redwood Room attracts glamour from all over the city and silicon valley. There is nothing super-hip about this bar - it’s more of a classic, with plush armchairs and sofas and a long mirrored barter spanning most of the length of one wall. But it’s busy without being jammed, sophisticated without being cold or unwelcoming, where people will talk to you at the bar and where their is a palpable frisson in the air in the early hours of the morning. True, you don’t need to stay in the Clift to enjoy the attractions of the Redwood Room. But somehow, staying here. you feel it’s your bar, a place to flop out in after dinner on the town, or to get in the mood and all dressed up before going out, where the barmen and women will welcome you back. The breakfast room next door, serving until 10am, is for wimps. For the rest of us, there are a couple of fantastic all day diners within 100 metres. Enjoy.