Hotel Review: Enter into a lobby saturated with elegance through rich Zebrano wood and Italian travertine flooring paralleled with a 16-foot fireplace highlighting the class and sophistication of the St. Regis San Francisco. Warmth and hospitality exude from the hotel the moment you arrive. Paired with the 100-year tradition of anticipatory guest care and butler service, the St. Regis soars above its competition and was named one of Travel + Leisure's 500 World's Best Hotels in 2010.

After checking into the hotel, a personal bellman assisted me to my room while explaining where I would find the amenities and restaurants within the hotel. Awaiting my arrival, the grand Bella Crèma marble and Mozambique wooden door opened up to a hallway in the Executive Premier Suite. With views overlooking the City and the Yerba Buena gardens, the floor-to-ceiling windows allowed for vibrant natural light to fill the suite and create a more spacious feel. Pratesi linens hugged the King-sized bed as a crème Barcleona bench decorated the foot of the bed.

For its guests, the suite offers a spacious work area with the option of a fax, scanner, printer, or copy machine delivered upon request. Atop the desk, a plate of cherries, peaches, and plums greeted me and proved a welcomed treat after a day of traveling. The contemporary interior of the room was sleek and modern with a recessed closet system to conceal shelving, drawers, and a mini-bar to optimize space. A 13" LCD panel next to the bed allowed for a touch-screen controlled system to manage all wall coverings, recessed lighting, climate control and privacy indicators.

Inside the leather-stitched walls of the bathroom, a deep soaking tub sat next to the frosted glass-enclosed stone shower with a detachable showerhead. After returning to my room in the evening, the turn-down service showed a dedication to detail with slippers and water by my bed, curtains lowered, a bathrobe near the tub and ice inside the ice bucket. As expected, all details were taken care of so that my evening would be spent in relaxation and tranquility.

The 9,000-square-foot Remede Spa inside the hotel also offers guests an exploration into relaxation through massages and unique treatments specifically customized for each guests' skin type. The spa's experienced Estheticians formulate a treatment based on each guests' personal needs. The new expanded menu boasts reformulated skincare collections to protect and correct skin from damaging environmental aggressors and the natural aging process.

Located downtown, just blocks from the shops off Market and Union Square, the St. Regis boasts the perfect location for enjoying the sights and sounds of the City. For dining within the hotel, the Vitrine Restaurant features breakfast and lunch items such as Sonoma duck confit, black truffle omelets and Wild Halibut filet wrapped in Squash Blossom. Vitrine features a chic dining room with custom designed banquettes, along with tables and chairs laced with sage greens and white hues.

For dinner options, consider the menu at Ame which showcases seasonal New American cuisine. Treat yourself to the sashimi bar, an assortment of cheese plates and luscious wines and desserts within the comfort of your hotel. Ame offers a fine dining atmosphere, within an L-shaped dining room, a striking red wall, and bronzed window screens to offer diners privacy from sidewalk traffic.

Whether in town for a night or a week, the St. Regis will create a home away from home with a staff ready and pleased to accommodate your every request. Upon leaving the hotel, I felt a sense of urgency to return again and enjoy the lavish amenities and generous hospitality of the staff. Within a city known for its colorful nightlife, beat poets and writers, the juxtaposition of the refined St. Regis provides a brilliant backdrop to your San Francisco vacation.