Just steps from San Francisco’s full of life Union Square lies The Clift Royal Sonesta, an iconic hotel that blends together 19th-century classic vibes with modern 21st-century upgrades.
A landmark of the downtown area of San Francisco, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel was originally built for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition, a world fair that was held in San Francisco in 1915 to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. But the value to the city was even more than that - it was a symbol of recovery and rebirth after the 1906 earthquake. It was a beacon of hope for the future and accomplishment of the past. Originally opened by Frederick C. Clift, the hotel has been an ever-evolving classic, drawing guests from all over the world.
The new renovations and upgrades at The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel are an homage to its century old past while at the same time a true embrace for the moderns, new, and conveniences of life in the 21st century. The updated ambiance engages traditional touches while enveloping the beauty of San Francisco. With a nod to the hotel’s iconic past, the renovation includes dramatically updated guest rooms, an all-new modern lobby experience, and much more – all in the midst of one of the city’s most dynamic regions.
The hotel offers 372 stylishly designed rooms, junior suites and one-bedroom suites or the Spanish Suite & Terrace, a private apartment for intimate events. The accommodations all feature separate work and dining areas, a minibar with curated refreshments, energy saving environmental controls to reduce carbon footprint, 50 inch in-room televisions, STAYCAST™ powered by Google Chromecast, streamed content from personal devices to include popular apps like Netflix, YouTube and HBO, in-room electronic laptop size safes, Keurig coffee makers with locally sourced coffee and tea, and large bathrooms featuring hair dryers, rainfall showers and magnifying makeup mirrors.
Art throughout the guest rooms and corridors is inspired by the Pan American Pacific International Exposition of 1915, honoring the fact that The Clift was built specifically to cater to attendants of the Expo. The guest rooms display images of lifestyle icons of the early 1900s in a modern presentation.
All guest rooms and suites have been updated to a refined neutral palette of color and textures to promote a handcrafted look that augments the warmth and indulgent sophistication of the rooms. The bathroom areas have been enlarged and updated with all new plumbing fixtures and finishes, including period-specific black and white tiles found in many other historic buildings around San Francisco.
The design itself is more than just paying attention to the classic look while bringing in modern technology. Designed by Gensler, an integrated architecture, design, planning and consulting firm, they drew inspiration from a historic Pacific Heights home that was originally constructed by George A. Applegarth, the same architect that conceived The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in 1915. The design team chose more residential tones and palettes for use throughout the hotel. The selected themes for the public spaces and guest rooms looked to bring the original intent of the building back to life: a nod to the Panama–Pacific International Exposition.
The overall design goal of the lobby was to create a lighter and brighter feel - they wanted the guests to feel right at home. The panels on the walls are made of oak, a hardy and durable wood invoking a strong ship in the bay. The lobby itself has a towering, light-filled, gas fireplace that perfectly suits the large-scale space and provides dark contrast to the pale terrazzo. The eye-catching floors of the lobby space are constructed with man-made terrazzo hearkening back to the 1920’s and 30’s. Terrazzo was a customary ground covering in grand hotels of those days. The front office pods and concierge desk were custom constructed by a master millworker in Montana. The lobby lounge was designed as a functional and collaborative space and is enhanced by several custom-built buffets to provide ease of use of the space to offer libations and food.
The brighter look of the lobby features an accentuating palette of warm neutrals with light driftwood, rich charcoal grays and metallic bronze accents. New furniture complements the elegant, modern style while cutouts at the upper level suffuse the space with light. To the left of the lobby is the new Living Room with several seating options for working, having a drink, or just relaxing and people watching. The tones of the Living Room are a perfect complement to the open, inviting lobby space.
The Clift is also home to the famous “Big Chair.” - a larger than life chair with modern silver upholstery that fascinates adults and children and is the setting for a lot of guests’ photo sessions.
Meeting spaces received modern touches and additional natural light. The previous Velvet Room dining area on the first level has been transformed into an event and meeting space. New lighting was added along with A/V equipment, making the room versatile for a multitude of programs. The redwood paneling remains while drapery was removed, exposing new walls in a light neutral color. Blackout shades were added to provide the correct light levels for screen presentations. The meeting rooms on the Mezzanine Level remain the same size but received all new lighting and ceilings. Cut-outs to the lobby below help engage the space with the rest of the hotel and provide even more light. The Fraser Event Space has a large conference table that can seat twenty-six. Meeting organizers have the option of dimming the room with motorized shades hidden in the ceiling when not taking advantage of the abundant natural light. The pre-function areas have finishes similar to the lobby, forming a bridge between the two spaces and encouraging mingling.
The 24-hour fitness center features a Peloton Bike and is located on the second floor, with a selection of free weight, resistance machine, elliptical and Treadmill by Lifefitness.
A legend in the San Francisco nightlife scene, Redwood Room retains its namesake redwood walls and glamorous lighting, only undergoing a change in furniture and flooring. The new Art Deco-inspired furniture, a salute to the post-prohibition era when the lounge opened, is coolly neutral toned to let the original redwood millwork shine.
The new bar is manufactured from an 800-year-old redwood tree found by a custom woodworker in Montana. Additional recessed lighting was added and the mural behind the bar has been brightened up.
The cornice on the back-bar was removed to highlight this inlaid depiction, said to illustrate when the 2,000-year-old redwood that was fashioned into the building was found. The original Gustav Klimt paintings have also been painstakingly restored and re-hung.
Fredericks, an onsite eatery with creative cuisine for any time of day. Chef Dan Corey, formerly of Michelin Star LUCE at the InterContinental, will serve as Executive Chef. Guests can grab food or drink with selections designed to complement the offerings in Redwood Room, including a high-end coffee program, gourmet pastries and snacks, elevated comfort food, and wine, beer and cocktails on tap. The new restaurant has a beautiful black and white floor similar to what adorned the space in the 1920’s, as well as neutral walls with exposed brick, also part of the earlier space. The floor itself was the inspiration for the rest of the decor, which features a classical look from the hotel’s original restaurant while echoing the chic feel of modern-day San Francisco. The restaurant has an area for quick to-go orders with high seating, and smaller tables to sit and enjoy a quick bite or a cup of coffee. The remainder of the restaurant has a combination of booth, banquette and square table seating for guests who want to linger, enjoy their meal, and soak up the ambiance.
In an effort to be more eco-friendly, the Clift has been part of a large city effort to keep bees and features 10 hives with over 10,000 honey bees on the roof of the hotel. The honey produced is proudly used in the hotel's craft cocktail drinks as well as dishes to include the compressed watermelon salad with lavender-infused honey and goat cheese and a local beekeeper is in charge of installing and maintaining the hives throughout the year. In 2015, The Clift was awarded the Good Earthkeeping Award by California Hotel & Lodging Association.
Pets are also welcome at the Clift so visitors don’t have to leave their little furry friends behind.
