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San Francisco: Serrano Hotel Review

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A recent event took a friend of mine and I to the city a few weeks ago, and just around the corner we stayed at the Serrano Hotel.

Serrano Hotel is a one-of-a-kind downtown San Francisco hotel. Centered in the Theater District, our boutique hotel embodies the energy and fun of the city, past and present. The old-world glamour of our historic building seamlessly blends with stylish comfort and warm Kimpton Hotels hospitality.

Talk about glamour and style, take a look at the lobby.  If a lobby is any indication of how your stay is going to go, then I could have moved in and lived there!As often as we were in and out, there were many just lounging about the lobby, with complimentary coffee and tea each morning and a hosted wine hour in the evenings who needs to leave the hotel!

I love choosing a high floor when in the city, it truly boasts the best views to admire and wake up to.The executive suite boasts a lovely king bed with requested foam pillows and a sleeper sofa.  Make sure you you sign up for Kimpton InTouch Rewards program, you can request pillow type and where you prefer your rooms (high, low floor) and if you prefer quiet (who doesn’t?).  Also, for every stay you get a $10 mini-bar credit and free wi-fi! I love the big mirrors in the room, the rainfall shower head, and the scale was fun in the bathroom, I’ve never seen one in a hotel before!Valet parking is available for $42 per night with unlimited in and out requests.  Luckily our event was nearby, but looking for a parking garage and then walking to and from it’s location if necessary is not a plan I care for.  Having everything on site is helpful for the price.

For breakfast, Jasper’s Corner Tap and Kitchen is located adjacent to the lobby and has a delicious offering of traditional and healthier options.  Next time, we’ll have to try dinner and a cocktail.

Visit the Serrano Hotel, http://www.serranohotel.com/ and check out their great deals for the winter, what a beautiful time to visit the city!

Our stay was hosted, gratuities and opinions are my own.

Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak, San Francisco Review

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Social Media and Twitter steered us to Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak for dinner while in San Francisco last weekend.  It was perfect, only steps from our hotel at the Sir Francis Drake.  Bourbon Steak is inside the Westin St. Francis on Powell Street just a revolving door away from some magnificent dining.

When photographing the sign, I realized I was familiar with another Michael Mina Restaurant, RN74 also in the city.  Though I didn’t dine there, I did have a behind the scenes opportunity to see Chef Jason Berthold film a promo for the Food Network, as well as make my own video for a contest.

The restaurant was gorgeous with stunning columns and large mirrors reflecting light, making a dramatic atmosphere.  The menus reflected local ingredients that would make your mouth water, check it out online!

Traveling with my family, I did make sure there was indeed a children’s menu.  Sent via email as it isn’t published on the website, I was happy to see the selection was going to work perfectly for my 11 and 6 year old.

Starting off with drinks, my husband settled for a local brew despite the novel that is the cocktail menu and wine list. I chose the “Peculiar Purple Pie Man” that the server delightfully explained was a play on the Strawberry Shortcake character, I did expect a purple drink, but the coral hues were pleasant.  The drink with Flor de Cana Rum, strawberries and a few other ingredients I had to ask about was delicious, not too sweet and a bit tart.  My daughter and son wanted to join in the fun with their choices of a Shirley Temple and a strawberry lemonade presented grandly to their bulging eyes!

Soon came our appetizer, our server explained the french fries were a style of Michael Mina’s, a signature dish style he calls “trios” presented in three different ways on the same plate that takes simple up a notch.  Duck fat fried, onion dusted fries were crispy and happily palatable to even the little guys who are used to their happy meal style. A sour cream dipping sauce was okay, though the kids opted for the spicy ketchup that appealed to their sense of normalcy and was actually sweet rather than spicy.  The herb flaked fries were a close second place and the paprika hit very hot on the tongue for all of us, though the presentation and uniqueness of the appetizer was an overall hit.

I ordered BBQ chicken that came with two large pieces of breast as well as a glazed thigh that was amazing.  I almost asked for more of just the sauce to dip my drier white meat pieces, but I was pleased by the portion.  To add to our duck-themed weekend (staying at the Sir Francis Drake, duck fat fries, heading to Ride the Ducks), my husband ordered duck for dinner.  The crispy duck breast comes medium rare though he ordered it cooked a little longer.  The fat just under the crisp skin was so full of flavor, I tasted not one but two of his sliced bird.  Excited about the promise of chorizo flavors, none were boldly detected.The kids were presented with a cream corn with popcorn and sweet pork rind side dish that looked exciting.  The corn was sweet, popcorn just a hint of salt, plus the added crunch of the pork rind was a flavor trio in my mouth as well as the kids’.  My daughter’s mac and cheese was creamy and “perfect” according to her rave review, just the right amount for her.  My son’s steak and potatoes were cooked perfectly though he was hoping for a mound of mash, he’s a growing boy!  Before I knew it, he had cleaned the plate and even had some of his sisters dinner.Satisfying meal with stellar attention to service, what a lovely night.  Though our stomachs were too full for an entire dessert, we promised to come back just for beignets, blueberry-peach cobbler, and the signature root beer float!  To kiss our sweet tooth and cap off the night, bourbon caramels for mom and dad and sugared strawberry gels for the kids, thank you I’ll have another!

After a day of shopping at Union Square, step into Bourbon Steak and enjoy a meal!

Our dining experience was hosted to facilitate our review.  Alcohol and gratuities our own, opinions are our own.

San Francisco: Kimpton’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel Review

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Heading to the city over the weekend is a welcome getaway for our family that we don’t do often enough.  Last weekend we headed to the Union Square area of San Francisco for a weekend of fun, food, and well… more fun!

We pulled up to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel on Powell and were greeted by a doorman dressed as an infamous Beefeater. Originally built in 1928, the hotel showcases a debonair new design that is a contemporary interpretation of the classic attitude and elegance that was typical of the era of Sir Francis Drake.  Recently restored,  you enter the lobby straight out of the Italian Renaissance – with antique crystal chandeliers, gilded ceilings, and a sweeping staircase.As I checked in, the children oohed and ahhed at the amazing designs, fun furniture, and stared wide-eyed at the red statue of the hotel’s namesake above the grand bar.  Don’t be disillusioned, there were plenty of families and children checking in, it’s a very family friendly hotel, plenty of people dressed in city casual, I almost panicked myself.  Check-in was a breeze with Ryan, let me know all the ins and outs of the hotel and invited me to Harry Denton’s Starlight Room which my husband and I will visit on our next kid-free trip.

An 18th floor room was assigned and the first thing I did was head to the windows for the view! Short of the coastal fog, it was gorgeous!The room had two double beds, perfect for the four of us for the weekend.  The kids claimed one bed and jumped atop of it and eagerly AHHHed in unison.  The room’s decor is stylish, sophisticated, smart, and comfortable, everything we look for in a hotel.

My eyes were taking in all the contemporary beauty of the silver and lavender with elaborate detailing.  THEN, the pop of red color was a gorgeous contrast!

My six year old is always the sweetheart, “they EVEN have the Disney Channel on this TV, they knew we were coming!”  The iHome was perfect to charge the electronics (great call Kimpton), the room was immaculate, and though small, the bathroom was efficient, clean, and the soaps and shampoo smell wonderful.The artwork was even unique, something I’ve found in many of San Francisco’s hotels.

The desk is nice for your laptop when work does come into play.  We were happy to know that room service comes from Scala’s Bistro adjacent to the hotel if you don’t want to leave your bed!  Speaking of food, now through September 3, kid’s eat free at Scala’s Bistro with a paying adult. Mention the rate code SUMMR when booking!  During our stay the restaurant was packed and on the morning of checkout we enjoyed our meal with a very short wait.  The kids had more than enough to fill their bellies, and my husband and I satisfied our cravings with eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, and fresh muffins and fruit.

After checking out and heading to our next adventure, we realized my daughter left her stuffed bear in the room.  I jumped on Twitter and tweeted with KimptoninSF about the dilemma.  Shortly after I was tweeted back the following:

Great, we think we’ve found him playing with our Beefeaters. DM us an address and we’ll send him home.

That was it, superior customer service via social media, I love it!  The photograph was priceless and the news made one 6-year old very happy.

Parking is available via valet for $57 with tax.  If there is a recommendation I’d suggest it is for a coffee make in the room, honestly I thought it was pretty standard.  We will go back and stay in the heart of the city.  Walking distance to Market St., cable cars, food, shopping, and much more, the Sir Francis Drake is an amazing hotel to stay in.

Our stay was hosted short of parking and gratuities. Our meals were partially covered with the summer special though all our opinions are 100% our own.

San Francisco: Hotel Diva Review

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Have you ever stayed in a hotel room that made you feel sexy, sensual, AND just a room away was ideal for children?  It does exist and it’s in the heart of the Union Square district of San Francisco, Hotel Diva.  Known for it’s uniqueness, Hotel Diva is part of the Personality Hotels group for being sexy, sleek, and full of, of course, personality.

Each room includes silver accents, rolled steel headboards, and in the Kid’s Suite parent’s side a remarkable print shade that can elicit a romantic mood immediately.  If that doesn’t do it, then maybe the Ozeki Sake and wasabi peas welcome plate will!  Also within the room you have your own Keurig coffee machine with teas, coffee, and hot chocolate to enjoy, along with a desk and chair for business needs, wi-fi is free!

The Kid’s suite includes a full bath with separate sink, dressing area that splits mom and dad’s room from the kid’s FUN room.  Be careful, your kids may not to see the city when their room has everything kids love and more!  Bunk beds are decorated with fun colors and unique pillows, all on a thematic metal frame.  A cabinet full of toys was like my daughter was in heaven, let’s not forget the dress up clothes, high heels, and feathered boa on the wall!

My son squealed when he saw the Wii (something we don’t have at home), Karaoke machine, and stack of kids’ movies and games available to use.  To keep my tween happy, usage of an iPod Shuffle was loaned to her, slightly disappointed though, the pre-loaded music was Dora, the thought was nice!

Within the hotel, your mystified at the blue-lighted elevators that the kids wanted to ride in non-stop.  On a variety of floors you’ll find cutting-edge Diva Lounges styled by SF’s hottest artists and designers offering guests inspirational space for meeting friends, checking email, or unwinding.  Like the rest of the hotel, the lounges have their own personality and style.  They are open 24 hours a day and offer complimentary use of a computer if you’ve left yours home!

In the lobby you have your own entrance to the adjacent Starbucks for that necessary coffee run, and on the other side of the building Colibri Mexican Bistro is available for room delivery.

The hotel is tucked in on Geary Street is within walking distance of San Francisco’s finest shops, theaters, art galleries, restaurants, and nightlife, the hotel is located is a perfect place for tourists.  Parking lots around the area go for about $25 per night, yet you can valet park through the hotel for $37 with free in and out privileges through your stay.

My family is begging to go back for the Kid’s Suite as well as experiencing the dynamic city of San Francisco.  I owe them a Cable Car ride, so it may be sooner than later!

We were hosted for our stay.  All opinions and experiences are our own.

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