For a boutique hotel, Stanford Court’s San Francisco roots run deep. Located in the sought-after Nob Hill neighborhood, the hotel sits on the site where railroad tycoon Leland Stanford’s mansion once stood. Honoring Stanford’s legacy, the property embraces its namesake and past, while providing guests with an impressive array of high-tech hospitality offerings. Think old school meets hipster with harmonious results.
Stanford Court offers 400 rooms spread throughout eight floors. Premier View rooms offer more space than you might expect from a city hotel room. With the San Francisco skyline and bay views, some offer king beds, while others have queens. Along with a cushy sitting chair and small table, there’s a desk large enough to spread out and charge electronics. Easy-to-reach electrical outlets and USB ports make it simple. In addition to a mini-fridge, coffee and tea supplies, every room has a reusable water bottle. Self-service water filling stations and ice machines are located at assorted points throughout the hotel.
The bathroom has a single sink and a vanity with plenty of room for two. An iron and full-size ironing board is stored in the bathroom, and there’s plenty of room to put it to use, if needed. In addition to being a nice perk, the floor-to-ceiling mirror makes the space feel bigger.
A pocket door separates the toilet and the bath/shower combination from the vanity area, making the space usable by more than one person, while still maintaining some privacy. A nice assortment of toiletries are provided, including a dental kit, shaving kit, comb, and deodorant. You’ll also find a pair of earplugs in the mix. A city hotel, noise from cable car lined streets, is part of daily, and nightly, life.
Spacious for a city hotel, the 24-hour fitness room offers a variety of equipment including Peloton Indoor Exercise Bikes, kettlebells, treadmills, free weights, and yoga mats. In keeping with the hotel’s high-tech theme, there’s also a virtual fitness training program that uses a wall-mounted video monitor to provide on-demand training and fitness classes for guests.
Stanford Court charges a resort fee. Dubbed a “nightly urban fee,” the daily $30 charge covers a unique assortment of amenities, ranging from tech-inspired perks to old-school nostalgia. Guests can borrow old-fashion pedal bikes, or if they’re feeling a little intimidated by San Francisco’s hills, check out an electric bike.
For those who would rather cruise around the city by foot, a walking tour of Nob Hill is available to guests that download the Vizzit phone app. The property’s Business Center is stocked with iMac computers; the tech library offers a long list of loaner equipment to guests like GoPro cameras, iPads, and MacBook Air and Chromebook computers.
Music is woven into Stanford Court’s personality. Elevator music changes monthly, playing tribute to Bay Area local bands. Music fans can pick up a record player from the front desk, and head back to their room to spin their favorites from the hotel’s vinyl collection. Guests can even pick songs to be played in the hotel lobby if they download the Rockbot app.
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Seven Stills Nob Hill, the hotel’s onsite restaurant, serves dinner in a casual setting. Menu options include the likes of pizza, mac & cheese, burgers, French fries, onion rings, and salads. In addition to cocktails, wine and spirits, craft beer flights are available. Commons Café serves breakfast seven days a week from 6:30 am to 10:30 am. The Continental Breakfast buffet costs $22 and includes fruit, yogurt, pastries, deli meat, cheese, juice, and coffee. The Full Breakfast Buffet includes all of the above, along with hot items like oatmeal, cooked to order eggs, pancakes, French toast, bacon, and sausage. It costs $28.
Located in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood, Stanford Court is close to many of the city’s top attractions, including Chinatown and Union Square. The concierge team can organize an assortment of activities, including tours of nearby Grace Cathedral.
Premier View rooms range from $389 to $409. You can also check rates on Booking.com or Expedia. The additional $25 nightly urban fee covers Wi-Fi and an assortment of amenities including tech library loans, bikes, and digital magazines and newspapers. Valet parking is available for a fee.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by Stanford Court, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
