Clift Hotel
495 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA, USA
Neighborhood: Union Square
Check availability as rates may vary for dates. Best rate guaranteed.
Once San Francisco’s grandest old-fashioned luxury hotel, the century-old Clift underwent a thorough re-imagining at the hands of Philippe Starck, who has transformed its faded Victorian elegance into its nearest modern equivalent — all black, ivory and steely grey, with rich textures in hardwood, velvet and leather, it’s the last word in hyper-modern boutique decadence.
Hints of the hotel’s Art Deco heritage remain, from the choice of furnishings in the surrealist-inspired lobby to the noir-ish lighting effects throughout. The famous Redwood Room was the focus of the original Clift, and it’s still here in all its wood-paneled splendor, decked out in some of Starck’s most serious lounge furniture. And the adjacent Velvet Room restaurant is hardly less dramatic, draped with, yes, massive red velvet curtains and lit with hand-blown Murano glass lamps.
Guest rooms are stylish, but not precious — they’re sedate, almost monochrome, with accents in soft lavenders and greys, amplifying the effects of the natural light. Bathrooms are smallish, but clever, and the living spaces are spacious, many with astonishing views; the Clift is a high enough building to make for some spectacular sightlines.
It’s a bit of a scene, as any Morgans Hotel Group production is intended to be — that’s a large part of the appeal for the people who make up the Clift’s clientele. This is Starck at his most elegant, and his eye for a well-placed surprise only deepens this place’s mystique. It would seem there’s some mileage yet left to be wrung from this partnership.
- 372 Rooms
- Style: Cutting-Edge
- Atmosphere: Happening
- 113 Guest Reviews
- Clift Hotel
- 495 Geary Street
- San Francisco, CA, USA
- Neighborhood: Union Square
Hotel amenities and services
- 100% non-smoking hotel
- 24 hour concierge
- 24 hour front desk
- 24 hour gym
- 24 hour room service
- Babysitting (on request)
- Bar
- Business center
- Central air conditioning
- Restaurant
- Self service parking (charges apply)
- Spa
- Spa treatments (on request)
- Valet parking (charges apply)
- Wi-fi (charges apply)
Other San Francisco Bay Area hotels
113 Guest Reviews
All reviews are from Tablet guests with verified stays.
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- Michel
- Stayed October 2011
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
Style and atmosphere!
What the hotel could do better:
Nothing, had a wonderful stay!
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- Ashley
- Stayed September 2011
- Rating: Good
What I liked:
Upon entering the Clift you are overwhelmed with style, beautiful lighting, and a space that feels little like a hotel. The location is central and close to shopping and restaurants.
What the hotel could do better:
The rooms are small and not as shiny as the rest of the hotel, but the bed was comfortable and my room felt very clean. Do not stay here if you're looking for a super quiet place, it is definitely a hotel with a nightlife. We got woken up twice in the middle of the night by screaming women through the halls!
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- Eric
- Stayed September 2011
- Rating: Excellent
What I liked:
Rooms are very large and have great high ceilings. Ask for a corner room, they have these cool dressing areas - my wife loved that. Best bar in town with proper drinks. Reminds me of the Sunset Tower Bar in LA. (my hometown). The breakfast setup in the dining room was sensational in that huge room with chill music. Although it closes at 1030 - which is way too early. All staff was very helpful and pleasant. Lobby is a great place to hang with lots of nooks for reading.
What the hotel could do better:
Bathrooms should have been updated when they did the lobby, etc. A bit late 90's feel and that P. Stark sparse feel is old and can make you feel like you are staying in a really sexy Hostel - But pretty decent for SF standards. Also, its absurd that you have to pay for LOBBY wifi - $15.
