 French
Savoir Faire in San Francisco
By Poppy Carew
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Big
city grandeur just outside of the city |
Sofitel
San Francisco Bay is a best-kept secret. Because of
its off-the-radar location, it's not usually a first choice
for a holiday. But the locale, united with savvy style,
is what makes this hotel so appealing. Ten minutes from
the airport and 25 from the city, it is pleasantly removed
from urban annoyances, residing quietly on the Redwood
Shores Lagoon, like a destination resort with an outstanding
amenity—all of San
Francisco—just a short drive away.
Because
the hotel is also near Silicon Valley, it attracts corporate
types for product launches and computer-oriented conferences,
providing meeting space for up to 600. Yet the atmosphere
is anything but geeky. The bedrooms are lovely and filled
with light, using clean lines and soothing sand hues as
their base. Along with in-room high-speed Internet and
Wi-Fi access, amenities include a seasonally heated swimming
pool, fitness center, easy parking and a free shuttle
to and from the airport.
|
|
Bright rooms with sandy hues |
Poolside
in San Francisco Bay |
Of
particular note is Bay
223, a highlight of the mid-Peninsula's dining scene.
Grab a seat in one of the groovy modern booths or out
on the terrace for American cuisine with a French twist.
Chef Vincent Cachot, formerly of the Ocean Club in the
Bahamas, has turned what could have been yet another mediocre
hotel restaurant into a hotspot for locals, especially
those who work nearby at companies like Oracle. After
dinner, crowds drift to the Bay Bar, an even sleeker venue
with its space age pod chairs. Techno music and specialty
cocktails such as the Stamina (energy drink, Svedka Vanilla,
orange juice and cola) and Blue Tropics (Hypnotique, Malibu
rum and pineapple) give the bar its edge.
 Going
to San Francisco? Check out our guide. |
| P071906 |
(Updated: 06/27/08 HC) |
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