Arrival/Check-In: I drove from Los Angeles to San Francisco on a weekend; the weather and traffic were manageable. The InterContinental sits on a busy one-way street in the heart of the city, adjacent to the convention center, so congestion is common. The hotel driveway was backed up when I arrived, and I waited about five minutes before handing my car to the valet. The lobby blends white marble and dark wood with jewel-toned seating and lounge areas. The registration desk is off to the right. A friendly staff member assisted with check-in and escorted me to the elevators positioned midway through the lobby. On the way, I noticed the bar and Luce, the on-site Michelin-rated restaurant, located farther into the first-floor space.
Guest Quarters: My corner king room offered sweeping panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline. Upon entering, the room felt warm; this property uses a key-card system that activates the climate control, so it took less than 15 minutes for the room to cool down. Near the entrance there was a small closet and a full-length mirror, with a spacious bathroom to the right. The marble single-sink vanity was well lit and provided ample counter space and drawers for personal items. The shower/tub combination was a comfortable size, with strong water pressure and pleasant, clean-scented amenities.
The main area opened to floor-to-ceiling windows that filled the room with natural light and framed the urban views. The king bed faced the windows and opposite it sat a long dark-wood dresser with a flat-screen television and a stocked minibar. A sizable desk with convenient outlets offered a functional workspace; I worked there briefly but spent most of my time on the chaise lounge nearby, reading and relaxing.
Services/Amenities: The Club on the fourth floor features a welcoming lounge and plenty of seating for breakfast and light meetings. I enjoyed a mimosa on Sunday morning and sampled snacks before evening meetings. A large patio provides a comfortable outdoor space in good weather. The fitness center is well-equipped with cardio machines and free weights, and the hotel also offers an indoor lap pool—ideal for San Francisco’s cooler climate.
Luce, the Michelin-starred restaurant on site, is an excellent option for dinner with friends and is suitably quiet during the day for business lunches or meetings.
The Experience: Located in SoMa (South of Market) and directly adjacent to the Moscone Center, the hotel is within walking distance of Union Square and its shopping and dining options. The overall stay felt familiar and efficient—exactly what many business travelers need. The main drawback is the expensive overnight parking fee, which was $53 at the time of my visit.
GT CHECKLIST
[checklist]
[item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item]
[item]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item]Separate tub and shower[/item]
[item check=yes]Large vanity[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item]
[item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item]
[item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item]
[item]Complimentary bottled water[/item]
[item check=yes]Stocked minibar[/item]
[item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item]
[item check=yes]In-room coffeemaker[/item]
[item check=yes]Iron and ironing board[/item]
[item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour room service[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[/checklist]
InterContinental San Francisco
888 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94103
tel 415 616 6500
ihg.com