One of a handful of 1 Hotels worldwide, the San Francisco locale is a beautiful example of the brand’s environmental ethos: that those who travel the world should also care about it. The brand launched in 2015 with the opening of exclusive properties in Miami’s South beach and Manhattan’s Central Park, followed by Brooklyn, West Hollywood, Sanya (China), and Toronto. Since, newer locations include Kauai, Nashville, West Hollywood, and Mayfair (London). Properties in Cabo, Paris, Copenhagen, Crete, and Seattle are in the pipeline. And in every destination, a spirit of sustainability is illustrated via design, community, and culinary partnerships.
1 Hotel San Francisco reveals its brand fidelity via biophilic design—the concept of creating a connection to nature via buildings and landscapes. The hotel’s communal spaces feature neutral toned interiors, infused with native greenery, exposed brick, warm terracotta accents, and commissioned pieces by like-minded local artists. The lobby floor is made of reclaimed barn wood, and elevator landings and corridors utilize sustainably salvaged, reclaimed redwood from the original San Francisco Bay Bridge. All hand-loomed rugs and carpets are created from natural plant fibers and recyclable wool. The vibe is calm and soothing—a sanctuary within the hustle and bustle of the adjacent Embarcadero energy.
That sense of calm is heightened within the 186 rooms and 14 suites, many of which feature panoramic bay and bridge views. A small handful of rooms feature private terraces with dining tables and chaises lounge. The 8th and 5th floors are home to furnished communal spaces that allow all guests al fresco viewing of the famous San Francisco fog and its ingress and egress. Stocked mini bars feature natural and organic treats; Nespresso coffee machines utilize biodegradable and compostable capsules. All sheets, bedding, robes, and towels are 100% organic. Even the hotel’s complimentary transportation is ‘green.’ The house car is the fully electric Audi Q8 e-tron; rides within a 15 block radius of the hotel are provided on a first come, first served basis. Guests can also take the car for their own test spin.
Furthering the hotel’s environmental spirit is Terrene, a restaurant that fully captures the essence of California cuisine. Featuring an expansive bay-facing outdoor patio as well as a lovely dining room with a green ceiling featuring 100% preserved plants, Terrene draws inspiration from the region’s legacy of culinary innovation. The menu dishes feature an abundance of local, fresh, organic, and sustainably-sourced natural ingredients, some of which grow on the rooftop chef’s garden and are used in captivatingly creative cocktails, such as the Napa Dreaming: Tito’s handmade vodka, lemon, fresh sage and floral white wine syrup, Napa Cab float, and pink peppercorn, or the Lula’s Heart, a “zero waste” Diplomatico Mantuano rum, Lillet Blanc, avocado pit falernum, and passion fruit cocktail—a collab effort between 1 Hotels and Trash Collective to reduce the bar program’s carbon footprint 1 cocktail at a time.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings are beautifully presented and truly delicious. Sample the bevy of Mediterranean dips before diving into the marinated skewers (shrimp, steak, harissa chicken) which are particularly good. The seemingly simple baby beets salad is a rainbow of color and flavor, heightened by herbed goat cheese and citrus vinaigrette. The roasted carrot dish with whipped tahini, feta, garden herbs, chili honey and toasted pistachios is a meal in itself. And at breakfast, the selection of yummy smoothies, made with a mélange of nutritious ingredients, make Terrene a favorite of everyone who lives or works nearby.
The hotel features a number of activations throughout the week, such as Sunset Sessions with DJ-spun tunes on the Terrene patio, Wednesday Wind Down yoga, Saturday Sunrise Bootcamp, and a Full Moon Sound Bath. The hotel’s full-service Bamford Wellness Spa features bespoke treatments using Carole Bamford’s organic body and skincare products, and the 24/7 The Field House fitness studio features state-of-the-art weight training and cardio equipment, including Peloton bikes. Guests can also borrow one of the hotel’s electric bikes to tour the city in 1 Hotel style.
8 Mission Street, San Francisco
Photos courtesy of 1 Hotel San Francisco, unless otherwise noted