Nov 5

Nov 5 Where to Stay in San Francisco: The Clift Royal Sonesta

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The giant chair that is featured int he lobby #chairsoftheclift

Another great chair at The Clift!

The insane fireplace made to look like the redwoods - back in the day the fire reached the top of the wall (over 100 feet) but the city does not permit that anymore

Nick’s favorite chair - a Philippe Starke bench

The most calming purple walls

The sweetest purple chair in our suite

Loving how many mirrors are in the room - their’s some great ones in the bathroom and powder room too!

A nightcap at The Redwood Room

Midnight snacks at The Redwood Room

Late night mirror selfie

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Almost 2 weeks ago, Nick and I hopped off the plane at SFO and wearily made our way to the Clift Royal Sonesta. I was naturally rubbing my eyes as we walked in, but as I did it almost felt cartoon-like as I gazed upon a larger than life chair, which I later learned was designed by Philippe Starke, along with most of the other seats in the building.

The first thing you’ll notice at The Clift is of course the chair, but it doesn’t just stop there. Every inch of the hotel is purposefully designed. The colors are meant to detox you from your day- soothing purples and dull oranges…even the elevators are calming! The decor isn’t just top notch though, it has history too!

Once we arrived and dropped our luggage off at our room, we moseyed on down to The Redwood Room for a quick drink. It’s been there since 1933 and is a staple of SF. Dark and mysterious, though it has been updated since its inception, one thing they did not edit were the walls. Upon renovating they cleaned the walls (covered in cigarette smoke), which revealed the beautiful paneling of a single redwood. Oooh if those walls could talk. I could only imagine! The Clift is favorite for locals, but also for special events whether for an intimate wedding or a top-secret business meeting. Just wait until you see the view from the room where the original hotel owner used to live. It’s a stunning view of the city.

Back to The Redwood Room, Nick and I had delicious cocktails, along with fried green tomatoes and poke and house potato chips. When got back to our room, we ordered dessert! #roomserviceplease On top of food and drink, The Clift offers complimentary bicycles, a 24 hour business center and fitness center, valet, and is dog friendly! The Clift is also an eco-friendly hotel which isn’t unusual in this day and age (though you can get a $15 voucher by taking part in The Clift’s Stay Green program), but what makes it unique is its bees! The hotel hosts over 10k bees on the hotel roof! Their honey is used in everything from their cocktails, to their dishes. #yesplease to fresh, raw honey!

Anddd the last thing I’ll touch on is the location of The Clift. Located on Geary Street, which is prettttty much near everything you’ll want to be by in SF proper. I get anxiety with Dallas parking in downtown and it is NOTHING compared to trying to find a spot in San Francisco. I swear…everything turns into a loading zone. If you can just walk somewhere, that’s your best bet instead of driving.

Our time at The Clift was very short, as it was the beginning of our Mendocino road trip; however, I can’t wait to visit the city again and experience The Clift for longer than 24 hours! If you’re in the area, please go enjoy the hotel and at the very least go for a cocktail at The Redwood Room and an Instagram photo of the oversized chair!!