The Orchard Hotel
San
Francisco Hotel Review
Boutique hotels are quickly becoming the
standard bearer for discriminating travelers and business people in
San Francisco. But while many are doing the same old thing, or
attached to a well-known group like Kimpton, The Orchard Hotel is a
world apart. Owned by a Shanghainese family with hotels in Asia,
they chose San Francisco as the site to start new and get all the
details just right. A new addition, the Orchard Garden Hotel,
opening November 2006 is the city’s first environmentally conscious
“green” hotel. The Orchard Hotel is a Top Ten best
reviewed hotel by San Francisco visitors worldwide.
The building which houses the Orchard Hotel was
constructed from the ground up to be state-of-the-art and luxurious,
but it does so in the simplest and most comfortable way. There are 104
non-smoking rooms available on 12 floors, so you’re never more than a
short walk from the elevator to your room, to the excellent
restaurant, or to the nearby cable cars. Right away you’ll notice that
the rooms are much larger than typical Union Square hotels dare offer,
and have comfortable European-style furniture made from nyatoh wood.
All guestrooms also boast a mini-bar, coffeemaker, high-speed
Internet, 27-inch Sony TVs, and DVD players with 5-speaker surround
sound stereos.
The bathrooms are similarly spacious, and
feature Aveda bath products, hair dryers, and luxurious cotton robes.
Orchard Online Reservations
The location of the Orchard Hotel is excellent as well. The
world-famous San Francisco cable cars stop just at the corner, and can
take you up Nob Hill to Fisherman’s Wharf or downtown to Market
Street. In fact Union Square, with its bustling shopping district, is
just 2 blocks away. Stop by the TIX booth at Union Square for
day-of-show specials on the city’s many theaters and art venues. The
gates of Chinatown are also within easy walking distance of the hotel,
and with it some of the city’s most intriguing shops and restaurants.
Any other place you plan to go is easily accessible by public
transportation. A
limousine ride from the airport is only around $75 direct to the
hotel.
One of the nice perks at the Orchard Hotel is its included
European-style continental breakfast buffet each morning. An on-site
pastry chef provides the goods, in addition to other staples like
hard-boiled eggs, fruits, meats, and cheeses. In fact the hotel’s
Vignette Restaurant is a nice repose: American cuisine with European
influences, but focusing on seasonal ingredients. There is also an
excellent wine list and selections of loose-leaf teas. The dining area
continues the hotel’s theme of comfort and simplicity.
The Orchard Hotel caters mostly to a corporate clientele, but the
staff is surprisingly friendly and anxious to please. Frequent
guests are greeted by name, and the knowledgeable hotel staff are
always smiling and ready to offer advice for getting around the
city. Although San Francisco’s hills provide ample exercise for most
guests, the hotel does have a small complimentary fitness center,
and for a negotiated fee, guests can access the full services of
nearby Club One.
All in all, the Orchard Hotel is a pleasant surprise in an otherwise
overcrowded region in the city. It’s simple, comfortable, but elegant
and smart. The promise of another hotel, the Orchard Garden, opening
up nearby only increases the area’s feng shui.
By: Benny Zadik, Copyright
SFTRAVEL LLC
Orchard Online Reservations
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