The Orchard Hotel

San Francisco Hotel Review

Boutique hotels are quickly becoming the standard bearer for discriminating travelers and business people in San Francisco. But while many are doing the same old thing, or attached to a well-known group like Kimpton, The Orchard Hotel is a world apart. Owned by a Shanghainese family with hotels in Asia, they chose San Francisco as the site to start new and get all the details just right. A new addition, the Orchard Garden Hotel, opening November 2006 is the city’s first environmentally conscious “green” hotel. The Orchard Hotel is a Top Ten best reviewed hotel by San Francisco visitors worldwide.

The building which houses the Orchard Hotel was constructed from the ground up to be state-of-the-art and luxurious, but it does so in the simplest and most comfortable way. There are 104 non-smoking rooms available on 12 floors, so you’re never more than a short walk from the elevator to your room, to the excellent restaurant, or to the nearby cable cars. Right away you’ll notice that the rooms are much larger than typical Union Square hotels dare offer, and have comfortable European-style furniture made from nyatoh wood. All guestrooms also boast a mini-bar, coffeemaker, high-speed Internet, 27-inch Sony TVs, and DVD players with 5-speaker surround sound stereos. The bathrooms are similarly spacious, and feature Aveda bath products, hair dryers, and luxurious cotton robes.

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The location of the Orchard Hotel is excellent as well. The world-famous San Francisco cable cars stop just at the corner, and can take you up Nob Hill to Fisherman’s Wharf or downtown to Market Street. In fact Union Square, with its bustling shopping district, is just 2 blocks away. Stop by the TIX booth at Union Square for day-of-show specials on the city’s many theaters and art venues. The gates of Chinatown are also within easy walking distance of the hotel, and with it some of the city’s most intriguing shops and restaurants. Any other place you plan to go is easily accessible by public transportation. A limousine ride from the airport is only around $75 direct to the hotel.

One of the nice perks at the Orchard Hotel is its included European-style continental breakfast buffet each morning. An on-site pastry chef provides the goods, in addition to other staples like hard-boiled eggs, fruits, meats, and cheeses. In fact the hotel’s Vignette Restaurant is a nice repose: American cuisine with European influences, but focusing on seasonal ingredients. There is also an excellent wine list and selections of loose-leaf teas. The dining area continues the hotel’s theme of comfort and simplicity.

The Orchard Hotel caters mostly to a corporate clientele, but the staff is surprisingly friendly and anxious to please. Frequent guests are greeted by name, and the knowledgeable hotel staff are always smiling and ready to offer advice for getting around the city. Although San Francisco’s hills provide ample exercise for most guests, the hotel does have a small complimentary fitness center, and for a negotiated fee, guests can access the full services of nearby Club One.

All in all, the Orchard Hotel is a pleasant surprise in an otherwise overcrowded region in the city. It’s simple, comfortable, but elegant and smart. The promise of another hotel, the Orchard Garden, opening up nearby only increases the area’s feng shui.

By: Benny Zadik, Copyright SFTRAVEL LLC

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