In the City of San Francisco there are many hot areas for travelers to find accommodations to suit their needs, but when you are looking for a place to say within the prestigious Nob Hill Area of San Francisco, look no farther than the Award Winning Huntington Hotel and Spa.
Built in 1924 and newly remodeled in 2003, the Huntington Hotel and Nob Hill Spa gives guest a chance to enjoy the stunning views Huntington Park, California Street attractions and of course the San Francisco Skyline. The Huntington Hotel and Spa is just a couple block walk from the Financial District and a short Cable Car ride from Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, and stores like Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton and Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square. The famed cable cars are as simple to catch as opening the front door of the hotel as they glide right past the entrance for your convenience. Any of the 135 rooms and suites will meet the demands of the business or leisure traveler. They put you so close to all of the action, you can almost smell the famed sourdough bread at the Boudin Bread Factory at Fisherman’s Wharf.
As one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Huntington Hotel and spa is everything a business or leisure traveler is looking for. From the minute you valet park your car to the check in process we were able to unwind in our room in less than 20 minutes.
Just like some of the surroundings of the hotel itself, you will find this hotel offering many cool things to take in. The lobby is a true gem and has plenty of history of the Victorian Era of the surrounding area.
Our room was a large one bedroom Star Suite with a living room area, kitchenette and one huge marble lined bathroom. It was spotless and beautifully decorated. I loved that I could open the windows to let in the fresh ocean breeze. The room gives you a great entertaining area with the overstuffed chairs and table. The warm tan and white combinations in the room are very calm and relaxing. The linens on the bed also are a good match for the entire room. You will find it hard to get out of this bed in the morning as it sets the bar for comfort to a completely different level.
The bathroom was very nice. In addition to the plush towels, they also had robes, cotton swabs, cotton balls, etc. The soaps and shampoos were some of the best I've ever had at a hotel. This could be that they are exclusive to the hotel and are the Nob Hill Spa branded products. The scents are very refreshing and something you would want to bring home and add to your own bathroom.
Each morning you can expect a local paper delivered to your room. The maid service was excellent. They kept everything organized and placed our shoes at the foot of the bed with a fresh towel below them.
The best way to really enjoy and unwind is to take in hotel is to visit the Nob Hill Spa. One word describes the entire experience, fabulous!
As we walked in the spa we were greeted by their staff and shown the facility which for a smaller hotel like this one, it certainly packs a mean punch in a small area.
If you are looking for a unique service, the Bindi Herbal Body Treatment is one of the best your skin can experience. The treatment adapted from 5000-year old Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapies, the treatment includes a botanical body mask, exfoliation, application of aromatherapy oils, which were very light in scent and then finished off with a herbal wrap of the entire body. This is one of the first body treatments where the ancient arts really made a difference in the feel of the skin after the treatment. The oils were not heavily on the body after the treatment and the wrapping process is one of best sensations your body will experience.
The spa experience doesn’t end with your wonderful services, check out the infinity edge pool which overlooks the city again and is full of windows creating the outside feeling without worrying about the elements. Take in the Jacuzzi and enjoy their fruit, water, and snacks, attentive service, eucalyptus steam room, and sauna. The spa facilities are complimentary for hotel guests so take advantage, you will be sorry if you do not.
While we really enjoyed the spa services, it is the Big 4 Restaurant that steals the show. From the history behind the name to the menu items and the quaint bar area, this is a true dining delight from the many choices San Francisco offers.
For those who want a bit of history lesson during dinner, the inside of the Big 4 offers
everything that the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad could offer from their “Big Four” Collis P Huntington, Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins an Leland Stanford.
The four who started behind the counters at hardware stores in Sacramento became the who’s who of the Pacific Coast Newspaper as their activities had their names appearing in the headlines almost daily as some of the most distinguished gentleman of the area.
All of the history lining the walls of the restaurant will help patrons relive the time that these pioneers who lived in mansions surrounding the restaurant ruled the Bay Area and laid the groundwork for an experience like the Huntington Hotel.
Once you have looked over the interior, wait until you have a chance to see the menu and you will see why the Big 4 is considered one of the top restaurants in San Francisco.
If you are looking for selections that are uniquely San Francisco, the Big 4 offers those as well as some signature items that can not be missed such as the Lobster Bisque that is baked in a puff pastry with Sweet Maine Lobster. This could easily be an entrée in itself and is one of the two items from that steals the show on the dinner menu.
The other must have that comes from their Bistro Fare is the Chicken Pot Pie. This one is better than your grandma’s and is packed with some of the freshest vegetables and huge chunks of chicken. If you like the idea of a good home cooked meal, then for $17.00 try this one, you will recommend it to plenty of folks, we already have.
If you like unique items for entrees, then the Big 4 has some items the C.P Huntington himself would have thoroughly enjoyed. While they say there is a first for everything, our staff has sampled almost everything, but the Himalayan Yak Rossini, was a definite first.
The Yak which is served Pancetta Crusted and topped with Foie Gras and Baby Italian Porcini Mushrooms is better than expected and the taste was better than some filets we have tried over the past three years. The Creamed Spinach and Black Truffle Jus make this the most unique and possibly the best item on their menu.
While many will try the Big 4’s Cowboy Steak, our second choice was the Dungeness Crab Cakes. Served with Corn Salsa, Crispy Artichokes, Haricot Verts and a Creamy Caper Vinaigrette, it has an island flavor, but is uniquely San Francisco.
One thing you will have to do is save room for dessert, as the seven options will have you wanting to order some to take back to your room as well. Sweet tooth’s be careful, their desserts are highly addicting.
The Crème Brule duo and Warm Cinnamon Bread and Butter Pudding are not to miss. These are so good you will want the recipe to try this at home.
Beyond mouth watering is the way to describe the ending of night at The Big 4. Finish the evening off with a drink at their quaint little bar, which was packed both nights we stopped in. The pub fare along with drinks is a great idea.
If San Francisco is calling you for your next business meeting, then The Huntington Hotel offers 2,476 square feet of generous and flexible space for meeting and conferences. Individually decorated with signature artwork, the San Francisco meeting facilities lend an exclusive flair to small conferences and special banquets for groups from 10 to 70. Designed with an eye on modern functionality, the facilities include four meeting rooms with the Tobin room topping out at 619 square feet, more than enough to make this home to your next meeting or function.
Overall, if you are looking to plan a relaxing weekend that you won’t be disappointed with in the near future, try the Huntington Hotel and Nob Hill Spa, the experience will leave you yearning for more…. and maybe have you not wanting to leave at all.
The Huntington Hotel is located on the corner of California and Taylor Street and is approximately 20-25 minutes from the San Francisco International Airport.
