A Luxury Time At The San Francisco Proper: Hotel Review
A Luxury Time At The San Francisco Proper:
Hotel Review
If you’re going to California, be sure to splurge for a stay at The San Francisco Proper Hotel. I recently booked a stay there to explore “The City” and see Dermott Kennedy in-concert nearby. I spent two days and one night in The San Francisco Proper’s Premier King Room, and despite two small miscommunications with hotel staff, The Proper was a luxury stay of dreams! Read my full review of the hotel below:
san francisco proper
The Property and Amenities
While researching hotels in the city, I wanted to find a spot that had great food and drinks, historic design and modern amenities.
My search brought me to The San Francisco Proper. I’d heard of the Proper Hotels brand before, but I had yet to stay in one, so their San Francisco location seemed the perfect place to start. With plenty of guest comforts and three highly-rated restaurants inside a landmarked flatiron-style building, it was just what I were looking for!
I arrived to the Beaux-Arts era flatiron building that holds The San Francisco Proper around noon on a Friday. Located in San Francisco’s Mid-Market neighborhood, the hotel was about a one minute walk from the nearest BART, trolley and bus stations.
I ended up driving to the hotel, but I’d now recommend Ubering or taking one of the nearby public transportation methods listed above. The hotel is not as much of a trek from the Oakland or San Francisco airports as I had originally envisioned!
If you do plan to drive like I did, The Proper also has offsite valet parking in an enclosed structure available for guests at $70/night*. And while I’ve never personally felt unsafe in San Francisco, it’s best to take some precautions with your car. You’ll be visiting a city that’s more prone to car break-ins, so always take all of your bags and loose items out of your car with you.
At check-in, I was immediately engulfed into the world that Kelly Wearstler dreamed up for the hotel, a space that seemed to breathe life and youthful exuberance into the historic building, making it perfectly fit for the modern traveler.
Since I arrived in the afternoon, I was treated to a welcome glass of champagne, the perfect way to kick-off the weekend! Early morning arrivals were also greeted with a welcome drink: boxed waters and wellness shots.
From the bellhops to reception to the restaurant servers – everyone was quite welcoming during my stay.
However, I still did experience a few staff miscommunications. The first was with valet and the second was with breakfast, but I’ll get to the details of the breakfast later. For valet, since the hotel’s parking structure is off-site, it can take the valet up to 25-35 minutes to get one car. Unfortunately, this was only communicated during check-out. The night before, I ordered my car so I could drive to the Dermott Kennedy concert. Because of how long the car was taking, I ended up canceling my request and Ubering to the venue so I didn’t miss the show! Not the end of the world, but definitely not ideal since I didn’t know in advance!
Getting back to my check-in experience, this was when I also saw one couple and their Maltese walking through the lobby!
The Proper allows guests to bring up to 2 dogs under 35lbs for just $100/each per stay. And not only that, but they provide in-room bowls, treats and donate a portion of the pet fee to Best Friends Animal Society! Talk about dog-friendly!
I almost regretted leaving my senior dog, Charlie with a friend back in LA, but I knew that with San Francisco’s many hills, she would have almost definitely been confined to our room. Plus she doesn’t do to well on planes, so it was ultimately for the best!
Had this been a longer stay, I might have also visited the property’s 24/7 Fitness Center, which has equipment from the likes of Peloton, Tonal, Life Fitness and more. Just another reason to come stay at another Proper Hotel though – I’d love to get some use out of one of their Peloton Bikes!
san francisco proper
The Rooms
The Proper offers four room types and two suites:
- Deluxe Queen
- Bunk Room
- Premier Double Double
- Premier King
- Junior Suite
- Premier Suite
I stayed in a Premier King room overlooking San Francisco’s Market Street, the quieter side of the hotel.
Once in my room, I to enjoy a bit more of the welcome champagne and checked-out all the included amenities. The bathroom came with La Bottega Custom Bathrobes, A Full-Size Hairdryer and Aesop Soap, Shampoo and Conditioner. The natural geometric tiles and the rich marble countertops felt like the perfect juxtaposition of new and old San Francisco.
Moving into the bedroom, I was greeted with the most design-forward, yet comfortably-plush bed. Outfitted with Fili D’oro Fine Linens and Kelly Wearstler Custom Throws, the bed was also made up with a Bellino Italian Comforter & Hypoallergenic Pillows.
For in-room entertainment, I had a few options available: HDTV with a Google Chromecast, premium Wi-Fi access and a Vifa Bluetooth Speaker – which by the way, I later learned could be brought home for an additional charge.
Between that and a curated, but reasonably-priced mini bar with premium liquors, low-ABV drinks, snacks, candies and electronics, I was completely set!
I even almost took home one of the mini bar’s electronics: a high-speed phone charger and a blue and grey braided nylon cable.
san francisco proper
The Food and Drinks
The Proper has three different restaurants and bars, including a rooftop deck that’s popular with both guests and locals alike.
I first arrived at the hotel a little after noon and decided to have lunch at Villon, a New American restaurant located just off the lobby. I was immediately impressed with the restaurant’s allergy-labeling system. Not only did Villon have distinctions for dairy-free customers like me, but also for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free patrons.
I went all-in on the the dairy-allergy-friendly Beef Tartare. And of course, ordered some wine to go with my meal, specifically the Donkey & Goat Gadabout 2020 (Chardonnay Blend). I loved that Villon’s wine list featured mostly organic, biodynamic or natural selections!
Coming down for breakfast the next morning, I had a mixed experience.I quickly spied an unmanned food and coffee station in the lobby featuring selections from La Bande and Villon and remembered reception explaining at check-in that there would be a complimentary station set up in the morning for guests, so I pounced on it. The food was delicious – I helped myself to a spread of sausage, bacon, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, seasonal vegetables and overnight oats!
Since Villon was so close to the spread, I took my plate and sat down inside to eat. My server offered pots of coffee and tea, which she said warned would cost extra from the items already in the lobby. I declined and kept to what I already had, but then she came back with a bill. I was confused at first, since the station was meant to be complimentary, but she then dropped the bomb that it was actually only the coffee and tea that were free-of-charge.
Now, I’m no stranger to hotel breakfasts costing extra, so this wouldn’t have been a huge deal, but the unmanned food station mix-up ended up costing $59 per person! So I was slightly disappointed with the lack of staff and signage to communicate this distinction in advance. But however mixed this breakfast experience was, I will say that there was still one Proper dining experience that outweighed any bad:
Before heading down the street for dinner my first night, I decided to visit Charmaine’s Rooftop Bar & Lounge just above the hotel.
Charmaine’s is extremely popular amongst locals and visitors alike. And just before my trip, I actually tried booking an online reservation here, but wasn’t able to find any available tables. But I was saved at check-in after learning that Charmaine’s always holds space for hotel guests, so I wouldn’t have to worry about scoring a spot.
I enjoyed this guest-only perk around 5PM. It was a bit windy – as San Francisco always is – but it was still a beautiful day. Charmaine’s had both indoor and outdoor tables available, so I opted for one of their outdoor black and white striped seating areas.
My first thought, besides how beautiful the interior and the rooftop views were, was “thank goodness for the fire pit!”. And there wasn’t just one for my table, but one for every single outdoor seating area on the roof. So whenever I felt a shuddery chill from the wind, I was then almost immediately embraced by the warmth of dancing flames around me. It was the perfect level of cozy that you could hope for at a hotel as opulent as The Proper.
While I didn’t order food because I had a separate dinner reservation that night, I almost couldn’t resist the menu’s dairy-free Pork Belly Skewers and Spring Vegetable Crudité!
And as far as drinks go, I opted for The Proper Cup, a botanical gin-based cocktail that reminded me of a fancier take on an Arnold Palmer!
san francisco proper
The Verdict
Even with the small mix-ups with valet and breakfast, I had a great time staying at The San Francisco Proper Hotel! The beautiful interior, bespoke in-room amenities and amazing guest-only perks made this luxury boutique completely worth the splurge!
I can’t wait for a chance to stay at another one of their properties soon!
San Francisco Proper Hotel
Mid-Market, San Francisco, California, USA
Type: Luxury / Design
Price: $$$$
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