The Clift Hotel is a boutique property right off busy Union Square in San Francisco. There is no large sign, so I missed the entrance twice but eventually saw the doorman and he signaled me in to help valet my car.
The lobby area is true San Francisco quirkiness — the high ceiling makes the room look large but the dark mood lighting and fireplace feels homey . There is a seating area for guests to chat over coffee or meet with clients. Surrounding the lobby are oversized, uniquely crafted chairs strategically placed to be seen as art (no sitting allowed). The front desk is tucked away to the left of the front doors. We were quickly helped by the efficient staff and showed to our room.
Our standard king room was surprisingly light — with large windows looking over Geary Street and plenty of lights helping escape the smallness of the overall room. The cream-colored, comfortable sleigh bed dominated the room, but an oversized mirror above the headboard opened the space up again.
The bathroom is tiny — barely enough room to close the door between the shower/tub and standing sink. However, it was very clean and had good quality towels.
My favorite part of the hotel was the Redwood Room — located right off the lobby with red velvet couches and an impressive back-lit bar. This bar was constantly full of locals and tourists alike, welcoming you to enjoy San Francisco’s renowned mixologists.
I will be back to the Clift again — this time I might splurge for an upgrade and get a larger bathroom!
495 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
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