Luxury hotel review in San Francisco
HOTEL REVIEW: Beacon Grand, San Francisco, California
By Bronwen Gora
If you’re after a slice of true 1920’s elegance with a dollop of decadence look no further than this impressive establishment. Opened in 1928 as The Sir Francis Drake, it was not only the most glamourous hotel San Francisco had ever seen but California, being the most expensive built in the state at the time and most luxurious on America’s West Coast. All chandeliers, marble and gilt galore on the inside, the exterior was just as ornate. Thousands of onlookers stood outside on inauguration day simply to marvel at its grandeur, while the opening party was attended by Hollywood’s biggest stars of the day along with the city’s high society and its governor. One of the most wonderful things about the hotel now is that so much of this original splendour has been retained amid the usual upgrades. The latest refurbishment was the most extensive, taking place across two years before the hotel reopened as Beacon Grand in early 2022.
The best location in San Francisco
You cannot get much better than the Beacon Grand’s posse on the major thoroughfare of Powell Street. Here you’re within walking distance to Union Square, major stores, galleries, theatres, and the city’s fabled Chinatown, the oldest in America. San Francisco’s famous trams run right by the hotel with a stop near the front door. Also only a few blocks away is one of the city’s best known attractions Fisherman’s Wharf and ferry terminals to infamous Alcatraz Island and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
The foyer
On entering the double doors I ascend a wide marble staircase and step straight into the past: the towering, two-storey high foyer is something to behold, still awash in yesteryear’s European marble walls, parquetry flooring, antique chandeliers, elaborate gold leaf ceilings and hand-painted murals. I’m warmly greeted at the reception desk located at the far end of the foyer beyond an assortment of elegant velvet couches and armchairs lies the reception desk where I’m warmly greeted, check in and take the old-world lift to my room.
European luxury in San Francisco hotel
All 418 guest rooms and suites within the 21-storey hotel are refurbished in historic style. Think European oak floors, wainscoting and deep blue walls alongside modern conveniences that include premium Illy coffee makers, mini fridges, 55” 4K Ultra HD televisions, clothes steamers in the wardrobes, and C.O. Bigelow eco-luxury toiletries in the elegant, white-tiled bathrooms. I’m fortunate enough to overnight in one of the Grand Guestrooms which is larger than a Classic Guestroom and features a living area with settee and armchairs. A lovely touch is the welcome gift, a High Tea-style tiered cake stand filled with chocolate coated strawberries and macaroons delivered to my door soon just moments after I arrive.
Where to dine in the Beacon in San Francisco
I feel instantly comfortable in The Post Room, the intimate all-day bar, lounge and dining room located on a mezzanine reached by a staircase above the foyer. It’s cosy and welcoming, with a friendly barman who proudly shows off his container of homemade bitters floating with herbs and aromatics before whipping up a truly excellent Pisco Sour. The food also lives up to The Post’s stellar reputation, my dinner of Ahi Tuna sashimi and the hotel’s signature lobster ravioli truly superb as is the glass (or two) or chardonnay from Cakebread, one of the most famous wineries within California’s renown Napa Valley. Through a discreet doorway beyond the dining area is The Hidden Library, the hotel’s version of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, filled with old fashioned high-backed armchairs and where patrons order nightcaps from a menu of aged whiskeys and other tipples. Those after San Francisco nightlife head to the rooftop’s Starlite, the iconic bar that found fame as Harry Denton’s Starlight Room in the hotel’s golden days and is now open till 2am. Scene-y to the hilt, Starlite’s jewel-tone chairs and private nooks ooze vintage chic and big city cool.
Wonderfully comfortable, historic to the max, stylish in spades and rich in truly elegant, palatial old-world décor, Beacon Grand is not only an iconic but exceedingly pleasant place to stay in San Francisco. Only 20min to 30min driving time from San Francisco International Airport.
Beacon Grand – A Union Square Hotel
450 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102-1504
www.beacongrand.com; (844) 223-3713
