Quarryhill Botanical Garden

We’ve stayed at the Westin St Francis multiple times over the years and always looked forward to returning. Unfortunately, this once grand old hotel is grand no more. The Powell street lobby entrance has been invaded by a huge bar/lounge that looks cool but doesn’t open until 4pm. It takes up a lot of prime real estate in the hotel and serves no real purpose for the better part of the day. To check into the hotel you now enter on Geary into an area that feels temporary, kind of like the vibe you get at an airport gate under construction. It’s just very disjointed. The fake cherry trees and fake flower wrapped columns in the lobby are tacky, and dusty. Two of my family members had sneezing fits while standing under the faux blooms. They chuckled about the paper flower pollen being particularly bad this time of year. The hotel has also done away with any lobby seating. Your only hope of seating is in the garden cafe, which makes it feel a bit like a Greyhound bus station. Some of the registration staff were better at their jobs than others, who seemed generally malcontent. We stayed in the Tower this trip; the best part was the amazing view from our room and the super fast glass elevators. Happily, the mattresses are wonderful. Our room was ok but could use a refresh. One family member found litter in his room. Thinking back on past stays, maybe the rooms were always a bit outdated but the majesty of the hotel overshadowed any shortcomings. Sadly, for us the magic is gone.

The room was fine however the TV was less than acceptable. I went there during World Cup week and they had no coverage on TV in the room. They had a game room that had no coverage of the room and their spa area closed at 10 and when you’re in San Francisco, when you go out late and you come back in that area was closed. I don’t understand why it should’ve been open at least 24 hours. There’s a small Jacuzzi and then there is a hot room. Also my husband left his shaver charger in the room. When we laughed we checked into another hotel. We realize we left it in the room when we went back to the hotel they refused to check in the room to see if it was in there they said that they did not want to disturb the other party. I mean serious that made no sense to me at all. I will not be staying there again.

Great hotel, does what it says on the tin. Very helpful staff.