San Francisco Hotels

Clift

At a Glance

    Pros

  • good rates compared to similar top-tier hotels in SF, surreal moody interior design, ideal location for shopping and theaters, close to public transportation, discreet and helpful staff

    Cons

  • some guests note thin walls, street noise

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Clift Review

A favorite of hipsters, music industry types, and celebrities fleeing the media onslaught—security discreetly keeps photographers and other heat-seekers away—this sexy hotel, whose entrance is so nondescript you can walk right past it without a hint of what's inside, is the brainchild of entrepreneur Ian Schrager and artist-designer Philippe Starck, known for his collection of eccentric chairs. The moody, dramatically illuminated lobby is dominated by a gigantic Napoleonic chair that could accommodate Shrek, with room to spare. This theatrical staging is enhanced by surreal seating options like a leather love seat with buffalo tusks and a miniature "drink me" chair, all surrounding a floor-to-ceiling, pitch-black fireplace. Spacious rooms—as light as the lobby is darkly intriguing—have translucent orange Plexiglas tables, high ceilings, flat-screen TVs, and two huge "infinity" wall mirrors. Some visitors have remarked on the thin walls and advise booking a room on an upper-level floor to avoid street noise. The art-deco Redwood Room bar, paneled with wood from a 2,000-year-old tree, is known for its "beautiful people." Asia de Cuba restaurant prepares an artful fusion of Asian and Latino cuisines.

    Hotel Amenities

  • 337 rooms, 26 suites.
  • Restaurant, bar, gym, business center, parking, some pets allowed.
  • Rooms have: safe, Internet, Wi-Fi.
  • Credit cards accepted.

Member Reviews

  • mldojnia, from CT
    7/10/08

    Nice hotel but for the price I would have stayed somewhere not so trendy. This hotel is very hyped up because the thirty and up crowds think its important to be seen spending absorbent prices for ok drinks. Concierge was great and extremely helpful.Our bathroom was sooo small. The water pressure was amazing but the water didn't drain well,by time I finished my shower, the tub was 3/4 full. Oh, and if you want to watch a little bit of T.V. on your trip know that ours was a 19 inch and the movies are $14. I wish I had stayed somewhere else and went to the Clift to sight see (if you want to take a look around make sure you do it during the day because you have to show a privilege card w/ your name on it to get in during the evening hours, especially if it is a busy night).

    Ratings details: Room: 3 | Atmosphere: 4 | Service: 5 | Value: 3
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