Forty-four "hills" make up San Francisco's rolling landscape of distinct neighborhoods and meandering urban pockets. Perhaps my favorite hill in town is Nob Hill, anchored in a quadrant by the city's legendary hotel properties: the Fairmont Hotel, the Mark Hopkins Hotel, the Stanford Court, and the Huntington Hotel, which I visited on my most recent trip to San Fran. Here are my favorite highlights of the Nob's most dashing hotel.
The Big 4: The Huntington Hotel's Big 4 restaurant is hard to ignore. Like a ridiculously attractive suitor, one can't resist the charm and mystic of such a well-thought approach (to lounging, in this case.) So named after the four chief entrepreneurs of the building of the Central Pacific Railroad, including Collis Huntington, The Big 4 restaurant is dressed floor to ceiling in chocolate wood paneling dangling with memorabilia from the railroad era. A pianist plays nightly, and the crowd is a refreshing set of locals and non-intrusive tourists. Grab a fun cocktail, such as the Cable Car-Spicy martini or a scotch, as it would look appropriate in this nostalgic outcropping. I could linger in this intimate spot for hours.
Spa on the hill: Another spot of the Huntington Hotel where I could relax for hours on end is Nob Hill Spa, named a “2010 Top Ten Urban Hotel Spas in the World” by SpaFinder‟s Reader‟s Choice Awards (awards given by quite the discerning set of spa goers). The Nob Hill Spa actually offers an all day package, the "Ultimate" Day at Nob Hill Spa, featuring an Ultimate Massage, Ultimate Facial, and Ultimate Pedicure along with light spa cuisine lunch, smoothie, and Nob Hill Spa goodie bag. A day pass to the Spa can offer the same relaxation experience: watching the city from the infinity pool out of 18-foot high windows is an immediately soothing delight. Or, cozy up in the new Zen room, complete with blue chaise loungers, scrumptious trail mix, and chocolate. (Yes, chocolate! I love a spa that just doesn't put out green tea and two apples.) Locals must love this spa, too. A "series service" menu showcases facials and manicures intended to be used over several months, such as the MAX 7 LED Radiance Series.
High on the hill: Crystallized in a time, Nob Hill is a historic escape, and the Huntington Hotel puts its guests within and around its historic gems. Just across the street from the Huntington is the largest Episcopal cathedral on the West Coast, Grace Cathedral, which sits regally as San Fran’s gothic goddess. Frequent concerts pipe out of its woolen tapestry floors and bronze doors, cast byLorenzo Ghiberti originally from the Baptistery in Florence. I like the dual labyrinths, so made for contemplative walking. A few blocks from the Hotel, I selected one of KAYO Book store’s offbeat books and sat in Huntington Park, the epicenter of the Hill with benches for gazing at the Fountain of the Tortoises or tourists taking a break from huffing up the Hill.
Learn more: www.huntingtonhotel.com
