High above SoMa, where glass towers rise and the city hums below, W San Francisco is proving that sustainability can be as stylish as it is delicious. The hotel’s Buzz & Brunch experience brings guests quite literally to the top of the hive, an urban rooftop encounter that pairs beekeeping immersion with a honey-laced brunch amidst sweeping skyline views.
Rooftop Encounters with the Hive
The journey begins with an unexpected transformation: slipping into a beekeeper’s suit and stepping onto W San Francisco’s rooftop, where rows of active hives thrive under the care of expert apiarist Roger Garrison. Guests are guided through the intricate inner life of the hive, its movement, hierarchy, and essential role in pollination, while gaining a new perspective on how urban rooftops can nurture biodiversity in the heart of the city.
“There’s nothing quite like seeing the surprise on guests’ faces when they meet the bees for the first time,” says Garrison. “That’s what makes this experience so special. It opens people’s eyes to the role urban spaces can play in protecting biodiversity.”
Rooftop-to-Table Brunch
The rooftop immersion segues naturally into the hotel’s culinary centerpiece: a chef-curated prix fixe brunch built around honey harvested mere steps away. Dishes and cocktails are infused with the delicate, floral sweetness of the rooftop hives, offering a true rooftop-to-table experience. The effect is both playful and refined—proof that sustainability can translate into indulgence.
As a final flourish, each menu is printed on seed paper embedded with wildflowers, a take-home touch that lets guests continue supporting pollinators long after brunch has ended.
A Sustainable Statement in SoMa
Now in its second season, Buzz & Brunch underscores W San Francisco’s reputation as one of the city’s leaders in sustainable hospitality. The property holds the distinction of being the first LEED-EB Platinum certified building in North America, a testament to its longstanding commitment to eco-conscious design. From transforming rooftop space into pollinator habitats to weaving locally sourced ingredients into seasonal menus, the hotel’s approach to sustainability feels both purposeful and experiential.
The Hotel Behind the Hive
With 411 guest rooms and suites set in the heart of San Francisco’s SoMa district, W San Francisco balances urban energy with contemporary comfort. Guests can gather over cocktails at The Living Room Bar, recharge at FIT—the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center—or dine at TRACE, its signature restaurant. Panoramic views sweep from the skyline to the Bay Bridge, while cultural touchstones like SFMOMA and Yerba Buena Gardens are just steps away. It’s this mix of design-forward hospitality, prime location, and sustainability leadership that makes W San Francisco an ideal stage for an experience like Buzz & Brunch.
The Details
Buzz & Brunch takes place Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with group bookings available beginning in September. For guests, it’s a chance to encounter San Francisco from a new perspective: part education, part indulgence, and wholly unforgettable. Click here for reservations.
Photos courtesy of W San Francisco, unless otherwise noted