Highlights: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

•Fantastic views overlooking the city of San Francisco and San Francisco Bay

•Guest rooms and suites feature serene Asian décor

•Asian and American cuisine served at the Mobil Three-Star Silks, the hotel’s main restaurant

•Large meeting rooms, business center, and location near the Financial District make this an ideal location for business travelers

•On-site fitness center and access to Equinox Fitness Center across the street

•Convenient location with easy access to major attractions

Amenities: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

• 158 rooms, 13 story. Pets accepted, under 50 lbs; $25 a day fee. Check-in 4pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Restaurant, bar. Fitness room. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel reigns over San Francisco from its elite perch. This exclusive hotel occupies the top 11 floors of the city’s third-tallest building, affording some of the best views travelers have ever seen. The San Francisco property is one of only four hotels in the United States that is part of the prestigious Mandarin Oriental hotel collection. The group, better known for its hotels in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and other Asian capitals, is prized for its serene Asian sensibilities and top levels of service.

The Mandarin Oriental San Francisco offers a convenient location just steps from the businesses of the Financial District. The hotel’s locale, reputation, and amenities make it a natural choice for business travelers, and executives frequently book this location.

The Mandarin Oriental is not just a corporate hotel, however, and leisure travelers will also enjoy the central location and first-class surroundings. The mood is definitely adult, and since the area can be quiet at nights and on the weekends, it’s probably not the best choice for travelers with young children, though San Francisco does offer many child-friendly attractions that are just a cab ride away.

The Mandarin Oriental has two dining options with two distinct personalities. Silks--a Mobil Three-Star restaurant--is the more formal restaurant, with a gourmet Pacific Rim and American menu in a refined setting. The Mandarin Lounge is ideal for snacks and light fare, and afternoon tea is also featured daily.

A fitness center is made available to all Mandarin guests, and those visitors who prefer the amenities of a large facility are invited to enjoy the Equinox Fitness Center, one of the city’s premier gyms, just across the street from the hotel.

(+) Great business hotel that also appeals to leisure travelers
(-) Limited amenities for families with children, but centrally located near attractions that people of all ages can enjoy

Guest Services: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

The Mandarin Oriental San Francisco’s staff is capable and competent. While I was confident that my needs were being met both before and during my stay, I never felt particularly pampered. When I called for reservations, the staff member’s assistance was technically sound, but he neglected to ask me for any personal details that might have enhanced my stay. The conversation lacked warmth, though I knew my reservation had been made and confirmed.

Upon check-in, the staff seemed pleasant but did nothing more than the necessary tasks. I was surprised that I wasn’t given an orientation of the hotel or provided with any interesting area details. My checkout was a bit better, with staff asking if I enjoyed my stay and if they could assist with baggage, but I didn’t feel that the concern was as genuine as I had experienced in other hotels in the area. I did find the housekeeping staff to be quite warm, and they seemed to want to please guests.

(+) Professional staff that provides competent service
(-) Staff assistance generally lacked warmth and individualism

Guest Rooms: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

The Mandarin Oriental San Francisco’s signature views are enjoyed in its 154 rooms and four suites, where multiple windows provide remarkable vistas of the city and the bay. The rooms impart an instant calm with serene Asian furnishings, decorative objects, and rose and gold color schemes. The rooms and suites employ the principles of feng shui to assure proper energy and flow as well as productivity and happiness.

The bathrooms are especially noteworthy for their equally marvelous views -- best enjoyed while soaking in a bubble bath in the oversized tub. The Mandarin Oriental treats its guests to an overview of the city’s most famous sights, from Alcatraz to the Golden Gate Bridge.

My room was especially attractive, and I enjoyed the carryover of the Asian theme throughout the space. Even the toiletries in the bathroom were housed within a round bamboo steamer basket -- a unique and appealing touch. Another enchanting detail was the addition of binoculars in the room. I was happy with the view from the window alone, but the binoculars provided a close-up view to the action.

(+) Attractive, serene rooms with Asian décor feature some of the best views of the city

Facilities & Activities: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

The Mandarin Oriental San Francisco Hotel appeals to fitness fanatics with its choice of an in-house facility or access to the Equinox Club across the street (day passes are available through the hotel for $20). The hotel’s fitness center is open 24 hours and offers yoga classes and massages in addition to cardio machines and weight-training equipment. True athletes will appreciate the Equinox access, since this gym is considered one of the best in the city.

San Francisco is a true delight, with a number of recreational choices for visitors to enjoy. Active pursuits are plentiful and include a nearby golf course just four miles from the hotel, and biking is one of the best ways to really see the city. The hotel’s Financial District location places it near the shops and restaurants of Union Square as well as the attractions of Fisherman’s Wharf. This city has some of the best restaurants in the world, and the hotel will gladly offer advice and secure reservations for gourmet-minded travelers.

Other ways to spend an afternoon absorbing the beauty of this City by the Bay include exploring the posh neighborhoods of Pacific Heights and Nob Hill, heading to Chinatown, visiting Ghirardelli Square, and sampling San Francisco’s famous chocolate, or visiting Alcatraz. The charming seaside towns of Sausalito and Tiburon are just across the Bay and are wonderfully enchanting.

(+) Convenient access to tourist attractions and recreational activities

Dining & Lounge: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

There are two dining outlets located within the Mandarin Oriental, and room service is available 24 hours a day. Mobil Three-Star Silks, the hotel’s main restaurant, is located on the second floor with a rich Asian style decor of royal blue and gold tones used throughout the sophisticated space. The menu focuses on Pacific Rim cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood. Martinis are mixed often at this restaurant.

Breakfast was especially popular during my stay, making for a noisy atmosphere, but I thought the table set with Bernardaud china was elegant. Though the service was certainly competent, it was a bit more inattentive than I was expecting, and I was surprised at the long wait I experienced for service.

Just off the lobby, the Mandarin Lounge is a relaxing spot with live piano music. Its Paris-meets-Asia décor is pleasing to the eye. Afternoon tea and cocktails are among the treats offered here, and the lounge also offers a tempting selection of small plates as a causal alternative to the restaurant in the evenings. Rather than offering a tiered silver tray filled with scones, clotted cream, and tea sandwiches, the Mandarin Lounge takes a refreshing approach to this very English tradition. Six gourmet teas, including Rainforest Mint, Silver Jasmine, and Chrysanthemint, are offered, and the tea is served in a classically Asian cast iron pot. A simple but beautiful bento box accompanies the presentation and is filled with such selections as Thai curried beef, unagi, shitake triangles, and Asian sweets. It’s a truly unique take on a classic.

(-) Breakfast service drops when restaurant becomes busy

Business Services: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

Business travelers often book a room at the Mandarin Oriental San Francisco Hotel because of its convenient Financial District location and its many amenities catering to executives. The hotel’s well-staffed business center provides secretarial services, executive computer workstations, laser printers and color copiers, overnight express services, and rental options for laptops, pagers, cell phones, and fax machines. The hotel’s 3,900 square feet of conference room space (four meeting rooms total) is quite ample for meetings, and technical support staff is available to set up and manage equipment during meetings and retreats. The multi-lingual staff is well prepared to help with any translation services for business and international visitors.

During my stay, the center staff member I encountered seemed slightly bored, but she was very helpful once I asked her for assistance. The center’s size is deceiving since it offers a comprehensive collection of equipment and services. Assistants are on staff to handle word processing, and the center also offers a complimentary notary public.

The guest rooms and suites are quite large, providing ample space for conducting business while enjoying the privacy of your room. Internet service and dual line telephones are among the tools found in the accommodations. The hotel also maintains a staff dedicated to planning and executing private functions.

(+) Great location for business with good in-room services and business center