San Francisco Chic The city that spawned the boutique hotel phenomenon has quietly put that concept to rest. San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels, a pioneer in the sector, no longer uses the "B-word" at all anymore. Instead, its concept is now called "lifestyle" hotels. The same goes for the eclectic collection of Joie de Vivre Hotels, which just opened the city's newest luxury hotel gem, Hotel Vitale, in a striking location on the Embarcadero waterfront. Business: It has been a while since a brand-new hotel opened in San Francisco's financial district. To attract the commercial crowd, all rooms offer free high-speed internet and large desks. There is an executive boardroom for meetings, and the roof (with views up and down the waterfront and across the bay) is available for special events. Inside, the Hotel Vitale emphasizes rich natural materials, subtle colors, and as its promotional material quips, "a post-hip ambience that sidesteps trendy boutique hotel design." The result is a destination hotel (nothing boutique-y about it) that embodies the Northern California "good life" of light, luxury, and simplicity. Pleasure: Kick back after your meetings in one of the hotel's "Circular Suites" with panoramic 270-degree views of the San Francisco Bay that can be enjoyed from your bed or deep-soaking tub. If you are there on a Saturday morning, take a walk across the street and see, smell, and taste the agricultural bounty of the Bay Area at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. |
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