Loews Regency San Francisco review: Luxury hotel with panoramas that's an absolute treat

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This was published 8 years ago

Loews Regency San Francisco review: Luxury hotel with panoramas that's an absolute treat

By Brian Johnston
The view from a harbourside guestroom at  Loews Regency San Francisco.

The view from a harbourside guestroom at Loews Regency San Francisco.

THE LOCATION

Unless you want to immerse yourself in a specific neighbourhood, Loews Regency couldn't have a better location for the San Francisco overview. It's in the bland Financial District, but close to an airport train station and within easy striking distance of Chinatown, Union Square and the Ferry Building and its string of adjacent piers. Even Fisherman's Wharf is only a 30-minute walk via lively North Beach, a historic district crammed with restaurants and bars.

THE SPACE

Lobby reception area

Lobby reception area

The hotel is brand new yet has pedigree, since it took over the space inhabited by the Mandarin Oriental. It inherited great assets such as the Mandarin Oriental's Asian-themed spa, most of its well-trained staff and luxuriously large guestrooms, yet is striving to be distinctively its own. The ground-level lobby is compact, but that's because rooms occupy the upper floors of a tower block, making the most of spectacular city views which (from north-facing rooms) sweep over downtown, the bay and Golden Gate Bridge – at least when the fog hasn't rolled in. Happily avoiding bling and bustle, this hotel knows its best assets are its location, views and understated luxury.

THE ROOM

Rooms have all the mod cons you'd expect from a luxury hotel – iPod docks, flat-screen TVs, goose-down bedding, bathrobes as soft as marshmallow – and a few you don't, such as generous proportions and complimentary Wi-Fi. The soothing and understated decor in beige and cream won't disturb delicate sensibilities, and includes gorgeous fabrics such as stroke-worthy silk cushions on sofas. But frankly, all this is ignored every time you step inside your guestroom thanks to the panoramas beyond the windows, which are an absolute treat.

 Relaxation Lounge at The Spa.

Relaxation Lounge at The Spa.

THE FOOD

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For the moment, the lobby-lurking Brasserie S&P feels like a slightly gloomy afterthought, though plans are afoot to transform it into a brighter venue with big windows. However, it serves up great American-style breakfasts (hello blueberry pancakes or huevos rancheros) and light, healthy dishes for lunch (crab salad, chicken pits, seared halibut). More robust dinner choices include ribeye and ravioli. Its finger-licking "social hour" nibbles, such as truffle fries or lamb sliders, are just the thing with a California zinfandel at day's end.

STEPPING OUT

Golden Gate King guestroom.

Golden Gate King guestroom.

Put on your walking shoes, because you can walk around most of San Francisco and soak up the ambience of neighbourhoods such as Russian Hill, Chinatown and North Beach. Rent a bicycle and even Haight-Ashbury, Castro and Golden Gate Bridge are only a pedal away. If you want to stock up on US fashions and shoes, Market Street and Union Square are close enough to the hotel for repeated depositing of bulging bags.

HIGHLIGHT

Stunning views, great location and impeccable service.

Brasserie S&P.

Brasserie S&P.

LOWLIGHT

The restaurant lacks an inviting ambience.

THE VERDICT

If your idea of a great hotel is comfort, space and the surrounding destination over unnecessary facilities and expansive public areas, Loews Regency beautifully fits the bill.

ESSENTIALS

222 Sansome Street, San Francisco. Rooms from $668 a night. See loewshotels.com/regency-san-francisco/.

The writer was a guest of Loews Regency San Francisco.

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