Business Travel Guide: San
Francisco, California
San Francisco is a city that is as dynamic as it is visually stunning, supplying business travelers with numerous hotel, fine dining, arts and entertainment options. Known as the financial center of the west, San Francisco is home to 700,000 residents on a 49-square-mile tip of land between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Some of the country's largest companies have headquarters in the city's Financial District, including Charles Schwab, Gap, Wells Fargo, Bechtel and Levi Strauss & Co. Although the Bay Area is renowned as a high-tech center, the largest industries in the city itself are actually manufacturing, trade, finance and government.
|
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Transportation:
Public
Transportion - The BART,
Bay Area Rapid Transit, connects suburban commuters
and now SFO travelers with the city. For Oakland,
it is possible to take the BART to the Coliseum station, but then travelers must then purchase
a separate ticket and take a bus for approximately
20 minutes to reach the airport terminals. A one-way
fare between SFO and the city will run you $4.95,
and a fare from Oakland International Airport to
the city, including bus fare, sells for $5.70. Locals
refer to the extensive local bus system as Muni,
a name that extends to the city's relatively limited
light-rail system, formally named Muni-Metro.
|
Rental
cars, cabs and shuttles - Hailing a cab is easier in San Francisco
than in most big U.S. cities, but a trip to either
airport will cost between $25 and $50. A shuttle
will be a bit cheaper, averaging between $10 and
$20. Renting a car can be a great way to get around
the greater Bay Area, but for city excursions, consider
a cab, as street parking is hard to find and heavily
restricted. |
Information:
|
|
This
refined, discreet hotel was a hit from the very beginning,
popular for both its acclaimed dining establishment,
the Campton Place Restaurant and its supremely elegant
rooms. It opened in 1983 after an $18-million renovation.
The hotel has just 117 rooms and is never overrun with
large tour groups. The lobby, lounges, snug guest rooms
and large suites are exceptionally attractive and comfortable.
A skillful mix of rich colors complements antique and
contemporary furnishings, plush carpets and fresh flowers.
You'll enjoy in-room
high-speed
Internet access, intelligent
concierges, prompt room service and an efficient brigade
of business and secretarial services.
Located in the Financial District, this property is
close to everything the city has to offer, and yet it
feels worlds away. From the spa to the pool to the dining
room, it immerses guests in contemporary elegance and
refined details. The 277 rooms include 46 suites, and
there is an accommodation to meet your every need. The
princely suites feature formal foyers, dressing areas,
sublime views of the city skyline and up to three separate
bedrooms. In Seasons restaurant, diners enjoy California
style cuisine with a French flair. This hotel has devoted
100,000 square-feet to sports, fitness and spa treatments,
and more than 15,000 square-feet of meeting space. Business
services are also available 24 hours a day.
In what may be one of the oddest configurations in town,
this property occupies the top eleven floors of a commercial
building, the third tallest in San Francisco. The floors,
numbered 38 through 48, place guests above most of the
surrounding Financial District high-rises. Take the
sky bridge from one tower to another—it's like walking
on air. The 158 lavish rooms and suites feature unobstructed
views of the city and portions of San Francisco Bay
as well as high-speed Internet access. Business services,
and the excellent Silks restaurant are located off the lobby. The Mandarin Lounge
offers a small plates menu in the mornings and serves
afternoon Asian tea. Weekday evenings feature piano
entertainment.
Next door to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and just minutes away from the Financial District, the St. Regis Hotel, San Francisco comprises the historic, early 20th-century Williams building and a new 40-story tower, inspired by Rodin's sculpture, "Balzac;" the angled top floors replicate the statue's cloak. A refreshing, streamlined style with an emphasis on white is used throughout the hotel. For guests, amenities include 42" recessed plasma TVs and plenty to please business visitors: dedicated fax lines, Internet access, personalized stationery, work desks and safes with laptop and cell phone chargers.
Fronted
by palm trees, this hotel offers a nice bay-front location
and quite fashionable rooms for business lodgings. Accommodations
look over the west shore of the Bay and offer incredible
views of the approaching jumbo jets. Décor includes
imported white linens and contemporary touches such
as leather headboards and custom-designed wood furniture.
With high-speed Internet access and cordless phones
in every room, this is a convenient airport choice
for the business traveler. |
Acquerello
1722 Sacramento St. (Polk St.)
415-567-5432
|
Italian
15/20
$$$$$ |
This elegant, refined Italian restaurant in Russian Hill takes its name from the watercolors that adorn the walls of the former chapel in which it's housed. Chef-owner Suzette Gresham's menu changes often. Begin with a delicate Parmesan budino, a custard-like dish studded with spinach and zucchini. Among the splendid pasta dishes is the Swiss chard and ricotta gnocchi tossed in brown butter and sage. Of the entrées, we especially like the filet of branzino atop a warm artichoke and potato salad. The 500-bottle wine list features a notable selection of Italian bottles as well as a number of premium California entries. |
The Dining Room
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
600 Stockton St. (California St.)
415-296-7465 |
French
18/20
$$$$$ |
The Dining Room has been among the best restaurants in San Francisco since it opened as part of the Ritz- Carlton in 1991. Its exquisite, formal décor, top-of-the-line wine list, ultra-professional service and live dinner music combine to create a showcase for the food. The menu has recently taken a decidedly American turn offering starters like chilled corn soup with lobster tartare and golden osetra caviar, and pan-seared quail with spice-roasted figs. The six-course tasting menu (with a vegetarian option also available) is well worth it; it's smart to have wines paired with this option for the maximum experience. |
Jardinière
300 Grove St. (Franklin St.)
415-861-5555
|
French/California
16/20
$$$$$ |
Still glimmering after more than a decade, Jardinière serves as a sort of keyhole into all that's good and fun about high-caliber California-French dining. A balcony-level dining area offers the best view of the party scene below. Chef-owner Traci Des Jardins is brilliant in the kitchen using the finest ingredients with a strong appreciation for local, seasonal and organic ingredients farmed sustainably. Entrées are rich, flavorful and charming without being overwhelming. In addition to serving fanciful desserts, Jardinière is one of the few restaurants in the country with a cheese cellar to keep its superb collection of cheeses at the right temperature. |
Masa's
Hotel Vintage Court
648 Bush St. (Powell St.)
415-989-7154 |
French/Mediterranean
17/20
$$$$$ |
After
a minor slow-down, Masa's is back to its original
glory, and only time will tell if the new chefs will continue
the tradition of three tasting menus which rival the contemporary
French dining experience of Masa's circa 1980. Each
entrée has its glories, like the earthy sunchoke
soup with osetra caviar and melted leeks or the Sonoma
duck breast paired with chive-scented spätzle and
crowned with rhubarb compote. Much like the inside of
its parent, Hotel
Vintage Court, a modern redesign of the dining room
evokes a quiet elegance with moody chocolate-brown walls
and tastefully romantic lighting. The gratifying wine
list and gracious service deserve high marks. |
|
American/Contemporary/California
16/20
$$$$$ |
One Market serves as a sort of festive, highbrow gathering spot for all of San Francisco thanks (as its address suggests) to its keystone location at the tip of Market Street, across from the Ferry Building. The lovely, expansive room and separate bar attract travelers, executives and locals looking to anchor their journey, deal or day with zest and accessible sophistication. Though the restaurant was founded more than a decade ago by chef Bradley Ogden, chef Mark Dommen has now long held the reigns in the famous exhibition kitchen (with one of the city’s most delightful chef’s tables), and can be credited with prettying up the memorable, seasonal, contemporary American menu. |
| Owner Umberto Gibin's razor-sharp tie and impeccable suit match the precision of this two-tiered restaurant's expansive charm and style. The unique yet warm setting soars with exposed brick, red padded booths, comfortable, offset dining areas and an exhibition kitchen. Simple, regional Piedmontese and Ligurian flavors are invoked so well here by chef Staffan Terje that a native might shed tears of hope. Revel in the joys of rich salame al barolo, fatty and fennel-infused lonza, and the memorable ramekin of smooth, shredded ciccioli (pork pâté). House-made pastas here soar with their gravy-like sugos—the pappardelle with braised short-rib ragù and roasted chanterelles makes a person wonder how other places get it wrong. A separate bar menu and a short but well-chosen list of Italian wines and cocktails cull a lively after-work crowd. |
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Dr. (Golden Gate Park)
415-379-8000
www.calacademy.org
Since it opened its doors in September 2008, the Academy of Sciences has been a must-visit for both locals and tourists. Highlights include the gorgeous—and green—design by renowned architect Renzo Piano, and brand-new, interactive exhibits ranging from aquariums (where you won’t want to miss the albino alligator) to a walk-through rain forest to a planetarium show narrated by Sigourney Weaver to a unique "living roof." Allow a few hours to see it all, and if you feel like a kid again, don’t worry: That’s one of the best parts of visiting.
Chinatown
Bush Street & Grant Avenue
www.sanfranciscochinatown.com
Rising from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire,
Chinatown is perhaps the most authentic neighborhood
in the city, still feeling very much as it must have
a century ago. Two good sources, the Chinese
Culture Center and the Chinese
Historical Society Museum trace the demographics
of the borough. The comestible center of Chinatown was
once Wentworth Alley, where fresh and dried fish, brine-preserved
eggs and produce were bought and sold. Now, most of
the epicurean commerce centers on Stockton and Grant
Avenues, where kitchenware stores, grocers and restaurants
fill the air with enticing smells. Presidio
Golf Course
300 Arguello Blvd.
415-561-4653
www.presidiogolf.com
Built on the Presidio army base in 1895, this 18-hole
golf course opened its doors to the public in
1995. The hilly course, with its tight fairways and
strategically placed bunkers, is as beautiful as it
is challenging. Between shots, take in views of San
Francisco's famous Victorians, its dramatic coastline
and the park's 100-year-old Monterey Pine
and Eucalyptus trees. Top
of the Mark
999 California St.
415-392-3434
san-francisco.intercontinental.com
Is
it worth the troublesome parking, the long elevator
ride, the sky-high drink prices? Absolutely. The top
of the InterContinental
Mark Hopkins San Francisco hotel is the city's
most popular view for a reason—it's stunning.
Whether you're there for a sunset, a foggy Saturday
afternoon or a crystal-clear night, the panoramic views
are phenomenal. This is one of the city's
most romantic cocktail lounges, and guests can expect
excellent drinks coupled with live Jazz every evening. The
Nob Hill Spa
The Huntington Hotel
1075 California St.
415-474-5400
www.huntingtonhotel.com
Influenced by San Francisco's culturally diverse
neighborhoods, the 11,000-square-foot spa's
design elegantly mixes Japanese, Chinese, Italian
and Victorian motifs. The gorgeous indoor swimming
pool is an exercise in pure fantasy. It is surrounded
by floor-to-ceiling windows featuring panoramic
views of the city, and the pink glow from the skyline
makes a theatrical effect. Unwind in the antique-strewn
and Feng Shui-arranged spa, and enjoy treatments
such as the ScenTao, the Green Tea Facial or the
Bali Ginger Spice Scrub. Then sip complimentary
tea as you enjoy an Ayurvedic treatment. Or feel
free to try a yoga, tai chi or Pilates class. |
(Updated: 01/27/10 HC)
|
America's capital city might have started out a swamp, but now it's a destination for tourists and heads of state alike. Whether you're here to inspect the Constitution or to check out artifacts from the first Apollo mission, we'll help you fit it all in.
Once a relatively isolated provincial town, Seattle is now recognized worldwide as the home of high-tech and as a gateway to Asian trade centers. From the charm of its 100-year-old Pike Place Market to its striking steel-and-glass central library, the city lures many a business visitor back as a tourist.
