First impressions go a long way in the hotel business — and the Hyatt Regency San Francisco makes a big one. Reportedly the biggest hotel lobby in the world, the atrium stretches 17 stories. It’s an arrival you won’t soon forget.
At the center of the lobby is a massive sculpture titled Eclipse by Charles O. Perry. Made of aluminum, the 35-foot piece of art was put in place in the early 1970s, and the hotel was reportedly built around it. Fifty years later, the space continues to wow guests as they check in and make their way to rooms via the hotel’s shimmery glass elevators.
The arrival experience is a good indicator of what’s to come. All 821 rooms at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco offer some kind of view, whether it’s of the city or of the San Francisco Bay.
I stayed in a Bayview Balcony Suite on the 10th floor. Bigger than some San Francisco apartments, it featured a living space, bedroom and two bathrooms. My favorite part was the balcony; depending on which way you looked you could see the San Francisco Bay and Bay Bridge, or gaze through a path of downtown skyscrapers.
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If a private outdoor space is a priority, the hotel features a whopping 180 rooms with balconies offering memorable views. There’s also Hyatt Regency Club® rooms, accommodations with double beds, and accessible rooms. There are more than a dozen room categories to choose from when making a reservation at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco.
Onsite eatery, Eclipse Kitchen & Bar, is open for dinner and breakfast. The dinner menu offers a little bit of something for everyone; think everything from chicken wings and potstickers, to a burger, or vegetable yellow curry.
Perhaps in a nod to the eatery’s proximity to Napa Valley and Sonoma County wine country, along with pouring wine, beer and cocktails, Eclipse offers a pair of wine flights. Served with or without a cheese board, guests can enjoy four three-ounce pours from a list of wineries including J Vineyards, Orin Swift, and Honig.
Breakfast is served buffet-style. Along with hot options the likes of waffles, scrambled eggs and oatmeal, you can expect fresh fruit, yogurt, and assorted pastries and breads. Also in the lobby, The Market, offers an assortment of coffee drinks and an extensive range of grab-and-go items including sandwiches, salads, tacos, and pizza.
A generous 24-hour Hyatt StayFit gym is located just off of the hotel lobby. Along with the expected elliptical, treadmill, and strength training machines, there is a lineup of Peloton exercise bikes.
The gym has everything you need to get in a good workout, but if you’re willing to head outdoors, you can see the sights while getting those steps in. Loaded with shops and eateries, the San Francisco Ferry Building and marketplace is less than a 10-minute walk. Keep going along the Embarcadero walking path and in a half-hour you’ll reach Fisherman’s Wharf where you can hop a ferry to Alcatraz Island or stare at snoozing sea lions. If you want to keep moving, it’s another 10 minutes or so and you’ll wind up at Ghirardelli Square, where you can celebrate your steps with a hot fudge sundae.
Or you can forget all about counting steps and hop on a cable car just steps outside of the hotel.
San Francisco International Airport is a 14-mile drive; Oakland International Airport is a touch farther, requiring a 20-mile stretch behind the wheel.
The starting rate for a King room at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco is $179. Rates for a Bayview Balcony Suite start at $329. There is also a $35 Daily Destination Fee. Wi-Fi is included, but there is an additional fee for valet parking. (Self-parking is not available, nor is onsite charging for electric vehicles.) You can check rates and book your stay at a hotel booking site such as Expedia or Booking.com.
Hyatt Regency San Francisco allows dogs 50 pounds and under. There is a $100 fee for stays up to 6 nights; for longer stays there is an additional $100 deep cleaning fee.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
