Elite Traveler Fall 2019

Clift Royal Sonesta PRIVATE APARTMENT

The century-old hotel, dating back to 1915, has had many lives (it was formerly a Four Seasons and boutique hotel) and, in 2018, it officially reopened as the Clift Royal Sonesta. The hotel was designed by French interior designer extraordinaire Philippe Starck and boasts a glam Art Deco influence with avant-garde sculptures and furniture. Pieces from cult label Ray and Charles Eames and artwork by Salvador Dalí are dotted throughout the hotel. Its notable history is referenced everywhere, especially in the 1934 former nightclub turned bar, the Redwood Room (perhaps the most famous bar in the city). We suggest ordering the Gold Rush cocktail, an homage to San Francisco’s gold-mining era, in the legendary bar before retreating to the sumptuous Private Apartment. The one-bedroom apartment evokes a Parisian sensibility with clean walls and simple decor, as well as a neutral color palette of white and ivory with pops of color like orange lucite side tables and pastel purple chairs. Its understated glamour really shines in the details, such as Venetian Murano glass and Starck-designed custom English sycamore furniture. The apartment perfectly pairs modernity with the rich history of the building. San Francisco sights Guests of the Private Apartment can dine on a four-course meal during an exclusive dinner. End the night with a tasting of Louis XIII — white-glove service included. This is one of the few hotels in the city where you can sip on the beloved cognac.

Rate from $2,500 per night Contact Jill Plemons, director of sales and marketing, jplemons@sonesta.com, +1 415 929 2365, sonesta.com