W San Francisco
Categories:
Lodging, Hotels & Motels, Boutique Hotels, Weekend Getaway Hotels
Details:
Hotel Pool, Pet-Friendly
Message from W San Francisco
Downtown Cool- In the heart of the SoMa district, the city is in reach. Neighbors with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, W San Francisco faces the beautiful Yerba Buena gardens and is a short walk to Union Square's shops, Financial District & the Waterfront. Ultimate Unwind- Your oasis beckons. Unwind in the heated lap pool, Zen on our cabana-ringed outdoor terrace. Melt in Bliss Spa's 5,000 square foot tension-banning oasis. Then relax with the perfect XYZ elixir & warm to Paul Piscopo's delights at XYZ Restaurant. Panoramic views of the Bay Bridge and the city skyline fill each of the 410 guest rooms. Take in the view from the SoMa district's newly renovated W San Francisco combining whimsical Asian influences like Chinese checkers and origami butterflies with the cloud-like comfort of our W signature bed.
Editorial by Citysearch
The SceneThe W San Francisco combines all the amenities and perks you'd expect of a large operation, with the up-to-the-minute style of a boutique hotel. With 31 floors, 423 guest rooms and nine conference rooms, the hotel is set up to accommodate groups and individuals with great panache.
The Details
The hard angles and coldness of the lobby are indicative of the modern decor. A huge bowl of Magritte-like apples is on hand for snacking. Guests can pass the time playing Yahtzee and Clue, or read one of the many books scattered throughout the lobby, ranging from fine-art photography to "Peanuts" comics. Guests will sleep well on pillow-top mattress beds with 250-thread-count linens. Business travelers will appreciate the oversized desks and high-speed data ports. All rooms have 27-inch televisions with Internet access and wireless keyboards. Room service? W's motto: "Whatever you want, whenever you want it."
Key Points
- Panoramic views of the Bay
- 410 guest rooms
- Whimsical Asian influences
The Inside Scoop
- Look Good - Room rates change according to season and availability.
- Know Before You Go - Wide open spaces, sweeping vistas and comfort cuisine; you'll get all this and more at W's restaurant.
- The Extras - For a $100 flat fee you can bring along your dog or cat. Pet services include plush beds, grooming services, dog-walking and even a birthday cake on the pet's special day.
- Parking - Valet service will cost you $45.60 a day.
Insider Pages Reviews for W San Francisco
I love the location and the ambience but have nothing but trouble everytime I have stayed at this property. On one occasion I was attacked by something in the bed, either fleas or bed bugs & the management was unapologetic. On another occasion, the hotel actually checked a stranger into my room, gave him a key and he walked in as I was coming into the entry area, right off the bathroom. I had just gotten out of the shower, so it was a shock to have a stranger walk in the room, with luggage and a key. The manager came to console my shock, but after that, very unapologetic for the terrible intrusion. I was told that it was a computer malfunction.
Posted 12/16/08 | Report Abuse
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The W, in spite of its hipster attitude, remains one of my favorite hotels. I've stayed at quite a few of these hotels, and they seem to be immune to the wear and tear sported by even some of the top chains. This W is no exception. Everything was clean and immaculate. Comfy beds, quiet rooms despite being in the middle of the city, nice amenities. I would definitely stay here again.
The only drawback to this hotel is the prevalence of panhandlers in front of the hotel entrance. I arrived late at night my first night and felt very uncomfortable to be approached for spare change.
Posted 11/23/08 | Report Abuse
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I love this place - if you like the W brand, then you will not be disappointed. If you're looking for a quiet lobby, though, this is not the place. Around 5pm the place is hopping. But - the sleeping rooms are still very quiet and relaxing.
Posted 11/08/08 | Report Abuse
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I love this hotel. I stayed there the night before my wedding and the night of my wedding. Room was small, but clean and well appointed. Located right in the middle of everything. Great little bar scene downstairs. Restaurant is delicious, but pricey. Staff was courteous and professional. They kept the rest of our wedding cake for us in their restaurant kitchen. Room had a great view of the city. Would love to stay there next time I'm in SF.
Posted 11/03/08 | Report Abuse
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We LOVED the whole look and feel of this hotel - very modern and edgy. The lobby/bar/restaurant areas are fantastic but the rooms are extremely small. We could barely move around the bed and this was not a cheap room. So - great design but small rooms.
Posted 02/06/08 | Report Abuse
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We had a corner room, and because of that it was larger than the other room we saw. The room was nicely furnished, though some of the furniture had been marred. What you remember most is the bed. COMFORTABLE. The bathroom was good sized, and had many amenities. Service was spotty, depending upon which worked helped us.
Posted 09/15/05 | Report Abuse
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
Spa is no big deal.
by bernardob
I tried a couple of their Bliss Spa products and found just average results.
Spa is no big deal compared to usual high standards San Franciscans expec
Posted 04/09/09
The friendliest staff I have ever encountered
by sjwharton
As a stand up comedian I travel ALOT and am very tollerant of most places but when ever I stay at the W in SF I don't feel like i'm working... Its more of a mini vacation.
FYI... The best cure for a good SF hangover is a early am dip in the pool. Order the fruit plate and coffee.
You'll be feelin better in no time.
Posted 10/26/08
Great Hotel
by asherrin
Love this W. XYZ is a lot of fun and brings in locals. The place was renivated last year and the rooms are fantastic. Get romantic and order the cheese plate to your room
Posted 08/25/08
Popular SF Hotel
by nberry18
The hotel was very nice and clean. The beds were really comfortable. The sun deck was perfect for enjoying breakfast and reading the newspaper. The Bliss Spa as expected was also a wonderful treat. As a hotel guest I received 20% off their products. However, you might try to book your apointment early as I had to get on the wait list and was only able to be squeezed in for a 30 minute massage. The lounge was very contemporary and popular. Saturday night was packed! Drinks are a little pricey but to be expected. Overall the experience was great! However, parking is a huge downfall. The hotel charges $49 a day to valet your car. You can park next door at the SF MOMA for $30 but you will not be able to come and go as you would like.
Pros: Bliss Spa
Cons: Parking
Posted 05/27/08
The Best Dog-Friendly Hotel & Best All Around
by beautifulday78
I have never been disappointed by any W Hotel around the world. I don't care if they are faking it -- but they know how to take care of their dog-loving guests. Nearly every detail is taken care of from water bowls & treats near the taxi stand outside to the comfy dog beds and goodie bags given to the dogs. The best part is that every staff member from the front desk to the housekeepers all genuinely appear to love dogs and always have a friendly smile or petting session for your dogs. The dog-friendly part is just the cream on top. All Ws are beautiful. Modern, clean and always an inspiration for fans of contemporary design. Pay the little extra money -- it is definitely worth it! We have stayed at the Westin, Four Seasons and other luxury hotels -- this is by far the best. If traveling with our dogs, or without, we will never stay anywhere else.
Pros: Spacious & beautiful rooms, AMAZING city views, super dog-friendly & loving
Cons: Wish the valet charge was included with the cost of the room
Posted 09/23/07
My second home!
by newjerseydiva
A very clean hotel with a great location, W San Francisco has a warm and highly accomodating staff. Amazing to see how hard core they are about respecting the "do not disturb" sign. Perks include bliss products, a discount on bliss purchases, and priority booking for spa services. The gym and pool are 24/7. All cardio equipment features built in tvs; the treadmill has a fan in it! Some stranger things about the W: each guest room features a "see through" bathroom door...yes, you can see what's going on in there!!! Ice buckets are only big enough to hold 1 of whatever you're trying to chill. And the most annoying feature of the W are the guest rooms' cooling/heating system. I kept waking up in a pool of sweat and eventually found out the air system works by sensor; it shuts off when it doesn't sense movement in the room! Must be a lot of sweaty people at night at the W!!!
Pros: Highly accomodating staff, CLEAN!, great location
Cons: Air system shuts off, tiny ice buckets, see through bathroom door!
Posted 07/21/06
As usual, The W was great
by kap911
I've liked every W Hotel I've ever stayed in. The rooms are always very small, but everything else outweighs that. They're modern, but not too modern that it looks cheap and is uncomfortable. The staff is great. Never in the way, but always there to help when you need them. The hotel is a little out of the way, but it also makes things feel a little quieter and more relaxed. I've stayed at a few hotels in SF and the W is by far the best.
Pros: great beds, nice bathrooms, AMAZING views
Cons: small room
Posted 03/20/06
This Hotel Was Just OK
by mcpete
We stayed for three nights. The staff was genuinely friendly and very helpful. It was definitely swanky and fun. However, we thought it was over priced. Our 400 sq ft room may have been that on paper, but with the walls, desk, bench, stool and bed, in practicality, it was a 100 square ft. We stayed there because their website hyped their comfy beds. They were more comfortable then a regular hotel bed, but we've had better for less (LeMeridian in Minneapolis). My wife loved the Bliss bath products. So much so we brought them home. It was nice to be close to SFMOMA, but I think next time we'll go to a hotel closer to the subway and cable cars. Respectively, 4 & 6 blks doesn't sound like much, but after a long day, it'd be nice to get off the MUNI and not walk so far to hotel.
Pros: Comfy Bed, Bliss Bath Products, Friendly
Cons: Small Room, Not many Extras, A bit over $
Posted 11/06/05
We stayed at the W for our honeymoon
by wordforyou
We had a blast at the place. The concierge was always on hand to help us make reservations and he even gave options on chinese deliveries to the hotel. The only problem we had there was checking in late. We weren't able to go into our room till after 5 pm and we were definitely annoyed but then they made it up by sending up a bottle of wine. Oh, and the parking fee there is pricey but if you like great views and being in the middle of everything, stay there!
Pros: Modern, Chic, Accomodating
Cons: Expensive parking
Posted 05/12/05
Coolest Hotel in SF!!!
by petra55
Had a Grand time at the W. Service was outstanding, particularly Ku the concierge who made the best reservations for us (spa, restaurants) at the hottest places. Would go back in a heartbeat! Thank you, W!
Posted 09/07/04
What's all the fuss about?
by amersinnc
If you like trendy people, ultra modern decor and techno music playing 24-7 than this is the place for you. Unfortunaltly, I prefer to be treated nicely when I'm paying an arm and a leg to stay at an overrated hotel. We were actually scolded by a bellman! They charge you $45 per day, plus tax and tips just to park your car! I think the only nice person who works there is the bar tender.
Pros: Good Location
Cons: , Annoying Techno Music, Not great service
Posted 09/01/04
Most wonderful experience
by niva78
Our two-night stay at this hotel was easily the best travel experience we ever had; staff was phenomenal and absolutely went out of their way to make our stay exquisite - we had the house car at our disposal on a couple of occasions, and one of the staffers even procured a bottle of wine that waited in our (me and my boyfriend's) room the last night of our stay - all of this without us dropping hundred dollar bills everywhere. We were treated the same way sitting at the lobby bar in our sweats and flip-flops AND returning the same night in a suit and Armani dress all of this because we had no attitude - not the other way around! Weve made some great friends at W, and will be returning on every occasion we get amenities are excellent, and staff is like family you wish you had!
Pros: excellent rooms, feels like home, hopping bar/lounge
Posted 05/02/04
bad service, bad attitude ... nice bar
by neil310mccaully
Indifferent front desk staff, terrible concierge who act like they have a million better things to do than recommend a decent restaurant and make reservations for you ... and when they finally do give a recommendation it ends up being one of the worst restaurants in the city, also really teeny tiny rooms, and their overnight parking fee is ridiculous ... $40 a night!!! On the plus side, you are near all the nightlife, the views are great, the beds are comfy, and the rooms are decorated nicely ... really nice bar too. Tip of the day: Stay at another hotel, then just visit the W bar for a drink.
Pros: comfy bed, nice bar, nice views
Cons: terrible service, tiny rooms
Posted 10/21/03
ALL THE SAME INCLUDING THE ATTITUDE
by dheim
If it all about the attitude then the W has it down to a science. The attitude is bi-coastal from New York to San Francisco, and you have to wonder why. Isn't the business here suppossed to be "all about the customer?" So why is it that they make you feel like you are bothering them from the time you check in to the time you check out? Best part of the stay is the bed and the Aveda products.
Pros: bed, aveda products
Cons: , employees w/ attitude
Posted 02/20/03
very poor service
by travel_lover
a hotel trying hard to be different. It is in many ways, good and bad. the real significant difference, unfortunately, was the unfriendly attitude at the front desk. watch out those unprofessional ladies.
Posted 01/25/03
terrific fun!
by divinespark
Great hotel. Very comfortable rooms and beds, in fact I bought one of the beds and sleep on it at home.
Posted 01/15/03
No hip, no style, and well overpriced
by brbarnett
If you are not 20something and wearing black then you best turn right around and leave the building. I repeat....leave the building before the show you the door. It is an extremely exclusive hotel that only looks for blonde bomshells and models. They don't even know what hospitality is...
Posted 09/15/02
Absolutely Awesome
by tallredhead1
This hotel has a hip gathering area at the bar, the drinks were terrific and the service awesome. The hotel check-in staff was friendly and knowledgable. This is a great place to just hang out. But if you have a chance to stay I give it a "10"
Pros: comfy bed
Posted 07/29/02