San Francisco, the amazing city that is famous for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, historic cable cars, and vibrant neighborhoods, is delighting visitors day after day with its unique mix of culture, innovation, and natural beauty. Within this bustling city lies The Four Seasons San Francisco at Embarcadero, a luxury hotel that serves as a peaceful retreat. High above the city streets, this wonderful hotel offers stunning panoramic views of the bay, the skyline, and the nearby landmarks. Merging contemporary elegance with the exceptional service synonymous with the Four Seasons brand, this hotel is the ideal base for discovering everything San Francisco has to offer.

Location & Hotel

As its name suggests, the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero is one of this prestigious brand’s luxurious properties, located in the captivating city of San Francisco. Nestled in the Bay Area on the west coast of the United States, San Francisco draws countless tourists each year, eager to see the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, visit the world-famous Alcatraz Island, or meet the charming sea lions at Pier 39. The city’s story began as a Spanish mission and pueblo, but its transformation into the San Francisco we know today started in 1848, when the Gold Rush lured fortune seekers to the region. As waves of prospectors ventured west, San Francisco grew into a thriving hub of opportunity, marking the beginning of a new frontier. The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero stands on a site deeply connected to this history—situated in the Financial District, near the Embarcadero, at the base of the city’s iconic hills, and along its vibrant waterfront. The Embarcadero, which runs along San Francisco’s eastern shoreline, is a vital piece of the city’s waterfront. Built on reclaimed land and supported by a strong seawall, this historic area takes its name from the Spanish verb “embarcar”, which means “to embark.” As such, the phrase ‘’at Embarcadero” in the name of the hotel, gives away it’s location in the city.

The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero is situated in the Financial District of San Francisco, at a central location on Sansome and California Street and from that perspective makes it a perfect location to discover the city. Of course, if you are in town for business, the Financial District is always a good location. The corporate headquarters from companies such as Salesforce.com are literally only footsteps away. But also if you are visiting as a tourist, we believe that this area of the city is absolutely perfect. From the hotel, we personally walked to the Ferry Building, and followed the water all the way to famous Pier 39 and even to Ghirardelli Square. The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero is situated on the top eleven floors of a building which consists of forty-eight floors. The building was built in 1987 based on a design of the acclaimed architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill but has undergone several transformations throughout the years. The property was purchased by Westbrook Partners in 2019 and transformed in the luxurious The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero which opened its door in 2020.

Even though the hotel section of the building consists of the top floors, still the lobby is situated at ground level and can very easily be accessed from the street. Once you walk in, you meet the exceptionally friendly staff which is knowledgeable and helpful, making the check-in process seamless and hassle-free. While the lobby is modest in size, it still exudes the elegance you would expect from a Four Seasons property. You will be impressed by the gorgeous sculpture Ohlone by Guy Dill, which takes a prime location in the center of the lobby.

The elevators, located further down the hallway, provide quick and convenient access to all floors, taking you directly to your room, without the hassle having to change elevators halfway up. Although we were supposed to head right after exiting the elevator at the floor where our room was situated, we couldn’t resist turning left to explore the stunning glass bridge, where breathtaking views of the city awaited us. And then we had not even walked into our room yet… Believe us, the incredible views over the city of San Francisco, seen from these glass bridges on every floor, or from within the comfort of your room, are going to be a memory which you will still enjoy long after your stay in the hotel was finished.

From San Francisco International Airport The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero can be reached via a taxi journey of about twenty minutes.

Rooms & Suites

The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero offers its guests 155 rooms, of which twenty-eight are suites. The rooms are situated at the highest floors of the building and as such guarantee impressive views over the city. Once you open the door of your bright room, you will be drawn to the huge windows, which enable views that you will never forget. We looked outside for several minutes before even having a look at the interior design of our room. It is hard for an interior designer to compete with these views and to create a design that still attracts the attention but we have to admit that interior design firm Marzipan did a wonderful job.

The interiors, with natural wood floors, contemporary furnishings, and a warm color palette accented by vibrant colors, which express refined elegance and inviting comfort, make these rooms very easy to be adapted as your home away from home. We found it rather impressive that attention was paid to use wallcovering with threads of gold woven through in the bar area to highlight the connection of San Francisco with the gold rush. The bathrooms are spacious and have bathtubs. The branded amenities were from … Understated luxury describes in our opinion best the way you experience the rooms in this hotel.

Gastronomy

At the ground level of the hotel, not far behind the lobby, you will find restaurant Orafo. While heading to the elevators coming from the lobby, you walk by the restaurant which has an interesting look from the outside. Once in the restaurant, you are surrounded by green velvet and leather seating and industrial lighting. Head to Orafo if you are in the mood for California-Italian-inspired food, paying homage to Italy’s regional cuisine. The restaurant can seat 118 people at full capacity.

Hotel Assets

The hotel asset at The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero that we liked most, were the incredible views all over the place. Whether it is on the bridges at every floor, or in the guest rooms, the views make this hotel so unique. But of course, also traditional hotel assets such as a gym or a business center can be found. The gym is at the third floor and features cardio and strength training equipment by Precor and Hoist Fitness.

Why go?

You should consider whether you want to visit San Francisco. For us, it’s an easy decision—we absolutely love the city. The Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero offers the exceptional service you would expect from the brand, with a prime location and breathtaking views. If you’re seeking a fantastic hotel with an ideal location, elegantly understated luxury, and attentive staff who care for you from the moment you arrive until you leave, then the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero is the perfect choice. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and highly recommend the hotel.