Check In/Check Out The Basics: Opened in March, the $53 million Hotel Vitale is Joie de Vivre Hospitality's first luxury property and San Francisco's first all-new hotel since 2001. Seven years in the making, the hotel bills itself as "post-boutique chic." It's not just talk. The interior designer Colum McCartan eschews flashy trappings for a focus on natural comforts: muted, soothing blue, green, and cream tones, hallways lit by translucent leaf-patterned glass panels, and sprigs of eucalyptus and lavender bringing the outdoors in. Among Vitale's serene, California-style offerings are free yoga classes daily, kayaking weekends on the bay, and custom bath treatments on the roof. One highlight: outdoor terraces on the fifth and eighth floors, each with sweeping views of the San Francisco waterfront and the nearby Bay Bridge, enabling all guests (not just those with waterview rooms) to take in the city's beauty. The eight-floor brick building also houses Americano, a restaurant and bar serving locally influenced nouveau Italian dishes. The Location: Outdoorsy types will enjoy the easy access to the parks and waterfront running paths along the Embarcadero, and foodies will appreciate easy access to renowned restaurants (Slanted Door and Hog Island Oyster Company among them) and specialty grocers in the Ferry Building Marketplace across the street. The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Embarcadero subway stop is around the corner, and it's a 15-minute walk to the Union Square shopping district. The Rooms: Half of the hotel's 199 rooms have water views, and the rest overlook the city and a central building shaft (it's worth a little extra for a room with a view). All have flat-screen LCD televisions, cushy pillowtop mattresses, and 440-count sheets. Glass-topped custom bedside tables display river stones lighted from below. Closet space is limited, even in the largest suites, so you may find yourself stashing your suitcase in a corner somewhere. The Bathrooms: Limestone walls, mood lighting, long mirrors, and glass-partitioned open showers. I was surprised to find that the shower faucet came off in my hand when I tried to turn on the spray. (The front desk staff, chagrined, sent the chief engineer up within minutes.) The subtle, sweetly fragrant bath products come from Fresh. The Crowd: Though the hotel has only recently opened, local business types from the financial district have already discovered the Americano bar, with views across the bay. At 6 p.m., young hipsters spill noisily into the lounge, replaced by around 8 p.m. with a more dressed-up dinner crowd. Amenities: Wireless access is free throughout the hotel (though it is spotty in some locations), as is broadband internet access in each room. There's a small fitness center on the second floor, and guests also receive passes to the nearby Embarcadero YMCA, which has a 25-meter lap pool. There is also free town car service within a mile radius. Room Service: Breakfast ordered at 10:10 a.m. arrived 21 minutes later, with soft-boiled eggs still hot and a free bowl of raspberries and strawberries fresh from the Ferry Building grocers across the street, for $17 plus 18 percent service charge and $3 delivery charge. Service is available 24 hours. The Bottom Line: Fresh, modern feel, fitting for San Francisco. It's not cheap, but the excellent waterfront location makes a stay worthwhile. Rates range from $269 to $1200 for the penthouse suite. |
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