Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero

After an extensive journey across the globe, I wrapped up my U.S. leg in San Francisco. My stay began with a few nights at the legendary Fairmont—an old-world grand dame worth experiencing, despite my usual preference for something a few levels above. But for my finale, I wanted something different: a place to indulge while also focusing on the work I had been skillfully procrastinating. I needed an oasis—one with breathtaking views and service that didn’t just meet expectations but anticipated them. Enter the Four Seasons San Francisco at Embarcadero. Having spent much of my trip in Aman and Mandarin Oriental properties, I thought I knew what to expect from luxury hospitality. But from the moment I arrived, I was in for a surprise. The welcome—from the bell staff to the front desk—was anything but formulaic. It was warm, personal, and unexpectedly tailored, something I hadn’t necessarily associated with the Four Seasons brand before. But what truly set this stay apart wasn’t just the flawless execution of service. It was the people. A diverse team that wasn’t just going through the motions but was given the freedom to be themselves—whether it was a perfectly curated recommendation or the smallest details of service, there was an authenticity here that’s rare in corporate luxury hospitality. I’ve stayed in every Aman, many One and Only, Oberois, Singita, Awasi, in a hundred Relais & Châteaux, Explora, Cheval Blanc, Oetker Collection, Airelles, Mandarin Orientals, and etc etc worth mentioning, yet this was something new: top-tier service that felt effortless, unforced, and full of personality. Seeing a staff member with a delicate, edgy nose ring deliver the most impeccable, polished service? That’s a level of modern luxury I genuinely appreciate so very much. A highlight of my stay was meeting the General Manager, Jason de Vries—a breath of fresh air and a shining example of the next generation of hoteliers. Passionate, engaged, elegant and classy while the same time refreshingly unstuffy and emphathic and real, he shared insider insights into the city, pointing me to hidden gems rather than the predictable tourist spots. And speaking of insider knowledge—the concierge and front desk team were exceptional. Every recommendation they gave was spot on, leading me to the city’s coolest, most authentic experiences rather than the usual guidebook staples. Then there were the small but significant touches—the kind that make you feel like things are happening for you, not to you. Like the illustrated postcard series left in my room, along with a note: “Postcards from our city. Write a love note to someone special while basking in the afternoon sun or watching Karl the Fog roll in. Just address this card to your loved one and drop it in the lobby mailbox. We’ll take care of the rest.” It’s these thoughtful gestures that make a place unforgettable. And the views? Worth every cent of the upgrade. My one-bedroom suite had a perspective over the city that was almost surreal—Golden Gate Bridge, the newly modernized by Foster Transamerica building, and the entire Bay unfolding below. The bathtub with that view? A moment that no camera could truly capture. For those seeking a hotel where hospitality isn’t just about precision but about passion, where a new generation of hoteliers is setting the standard, and where luxury isn’t stiff but deeply personal—Four Seasons Embarcadero is it. The perfect ending to my journey. And as a bonus? The location is unbeatable. Walkable to everywhere that matters. P.S. As someone who’s constantly on the move, I rarely take the time to write reviews. But this young, dynamic team made such an impression on me—bringing a level of passion, authenticity, and sheer joy to hospitality—that I felt compelled to open a profile just to share this experience. They deserve to be recognized.

I really debated whether to give the hotel 3 stars or 4 stars. It is a nice property, but I will explain why I went with 3 stars below. I used Amex's Fine Hotels and Resorts program to book my stay, which includes several benefits ($100 food and beverage credit, $60 for breakfast, early check-in when available, guaranteed late 4pm checkout, and a room upgrade when available). I booked a Deluxe Room and I assumed the room upgrade would be to the next level up, meaning a bigger room. By the terms of the program, participating hotels are only asked to upgrade to the next category up. I learned this property, however, has MANY categories of rooms -- the vast majority of which are really the same room just with slightly different views. That is a weird way to think of what constitutes an upgrade -- it assumes the view makes a huge difference to you. Moreover, many hotels I've stayed with will often make the experience special for you, if they have the inventory to do so. When I checked in, I learned I had been "upgraded" -- from a Deluxe Room with a "City View" to a Deluxe Room with a "Bay View." So I had the same room with a slightly different view. I had checked the inventory of the hotel for the time of my stay and they had at least half a dozen suites available. I told the receptionist I was disappointed at what they considered to be an upgrade, so she changed my room to a "Premier Room," which is basically the same size but on the top floor. Since I had already complained, I wasn't going to argue with them -- technically they upgraded me "several levels" at that point. So I go up to my room, and I never once was asked whether I was happy with it -- standard practice in these situations at nice hotels. The view from the room was nice, but it was just a regular room. It would have been one thing if the hotel was fully booked, but it wasn't. I think this was a huge missed opportunity to make my stay special. They lost a star for that, and I have no plans to stay here in the future. They lost the other star because the gym is just standard in terms of equipment. Pretty much every basic hotel has a gym like this. This one is just more nicely maintained. The $60 credit is also not enough for two people to eat breakfast (a promise of the Fine Hotels and Resorts program); I spent around $80 just for myself. And finally, there are only two elevators, so going up and down can be slow.

This was without a doubt, one of my most memorable Hotel stays in 2024. From the moment of check in by agent - Sequoia to meeting the bar tender Anton with his delicious one of the kind secret cocktails to the special anniversary set up done by the Sales and the GM. We were truly touched and not to mention the stunning breath taking view from our room. The location and the intimate size of the hotel, make it so unique in SF. Definitely coming back to stay in the future.

Lovely stay at Four Seasons. We only had one night on a stop over - checkin was seamless, Concierge willing and helpful, and the Doormen were lovely. We had a gorgeous meal in Orafo restaurant - the pasta is handmade and delicious. We ordered the Rigatoni Pomodoro again the next day, it was that good. One staff member really stood out, thank you Rami Hammadi - we enjoyed chatting with you and you made sure our last hour in the hotel was really enjoyable! Hopefully see you again when we return for 1 night at the end of our trip back home again.

Such a beautiful 5 star hotel in the heart of San Francisco🌟 Everything is clean and the hotel is well thought out. Great gym with lots of high quality equipment. But the absolute highlight for me was Rosemary at Concierge - I would give her 6 stars if I could ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Her warm friendly manner, incredible restaurant knowledge, her ability to get anything and everything done, and to top it all off she brings such warmth to reception making you feel like you have arrived home😊 So, it’s 5 stars for the hotel and 6 stars for Rosemary😃