As soon as my boyfriend and I decided to book our epic trip to California, I couldn’t wait to start looking for our accommodation. Personally, I love a hotel with character rather than a major chain where the rooms all look the same and could be anywhere in the world. After a bit of searching I came across the Orchard Hotel San Francisco and immediately was won over by its classic charm.
The boutique 4-star hotel, which has recently been named as one of the ‘Top 10 Best Eco-Friendly Hotels in the US’, is also in a prime location for exploring San Francisco, another factor that swayed my decision into booking. Read on for my take on this San Francisco hotel..
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Location
Situated at 665 Bush Street, the Orchard Hotel’s location couldn’t get much better; we were just two blocks away from Union Square, which could be described as the heart of the city, steps away from the Powell-Street cable car line, Chinatown was just down the road, and we were within walking distance of the Ferry Building, as well as Pier 39 and Fishermans Wharf.
Checking-In
Our transfer from the airport with Go Lorrie Shuttles, arranged through the hotel, was straightforward and apart from a bit of a wait at the airport, was quick and painless. The shuttle dropped us just outside the hotel and the friendly concierge helped us unload our bags and ushered us into the hotel’s lobby.
The reception area itself was not particularly large but was exceptionally bright and airy, and as we entered I noticed a more expansive seating area to our left, which we later found out was the breakfast room.
Arriving at the hotel around midday we were expecting to drop our bags off and return to the room later but we were pleasantly surprised to hear that our room was ready for us – very good news after an 11 hour flight!
Having completed all the admin we made for the lifts and were excited to get into our room…
The Room
Our Deluxe King room was located on the 4th floor at the far end of the corridor. As we opened the door into the room we were met with a corridor leading into the bedroom – which was so much bigger than expected!
Being used to European hotel rooms, our 250 square foot room felt enormous, despite being kitted out with plenty of stylish furnishings including a king size bed, work desk and small seating area by the bay window.
To the side of the generous built in wardrobe, we had a small ‘kitchen’ area featuring a coffee machine, complimentary tea bags and coffee sachets, as well as a small fridge fitted below the counter.
The bathroom was pretty impressive too, with plenty of space, a lovely bath and shower, soft towels and bathrooms and a variety of eco-products.
The bedroom was also fitted with a personal safe, flat screen TV (which had access to Netflix and other channels), and a speedy WiFi connection. We truly had everything we could have possibly wanted!
The Food
Waking up on our first morning in San Francisco we decided to treat ourselves to room service and there was only one thing we were craving … American pancakes! You know those soft and fluffy pancakes that you dream about? Well the Orchard Hotel’s were even better! Both Jack and I decided to go for the chocolate chip pancakes, which arrived with a generous side portion of fruit, jams, and of course maple syrup! It was a breakfast that will be hard to beat!
The Verdict
All in all we absolutely loved our stay at the Orchard Hotel San Francisco. The hotel was incredibly comfortable, offering spacious rooms, great service, delicious food and all the trimmings! The staff were so helpful and accommodating and were always willing to go the extra mile, offering recommendations and tips on where to go, what to eat and how to navigate around the city.
It really comes as no surprise that this stylish hotel consistently makes it into the top-15 ranking on Trip Advisors list of San Francisco hotels and I would one hundred percent recommend the Orchard to anyone looking for a place to stay on a business trip or holiday getaway.
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I hope you enjoyed my review of the Orchard Hotel. If you are considering a trip to San Francisco and are looking for a spacious, comfortable hotel with a central location, I would definitely recommend it as the base for your stay! If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch or to leave a comment in the box below. Love V x
