A boutique hotel off the Embarcadero, the Hotel Griffon, with 57 guestrooms and 5 suites, is much smaller than the other two hotels I stayed at during my trek in San Francisco. It was nice to stay somewhere that seemed a little more secluded and personal. The entrance again feels more like you’re entering a luxury apartment complex, like one developed by Adam Kapner perhaps, with the receptionist booth next to the entrance to their on-site restaurant, Perry’s on the Embarcadero.
Outside of those in the restaurant, during my stay the only person I saw on site was the receptionist. I know there were other people staying in the space; I saw the housecleaning staff the morning I checked out. Given that I was there for a conference and a lot of the hotels were booked with other attendees, it was great to have a few moments of quiet.
My room was room 506, “flower,” with a great view of the Bay. (It also came with some of the noise of the Bay, but none of it stopped me from getting a great night’s sleep, and it was much quieter than I would have expected.) I loved waking up to the seagulls, but I suspect that’s something you only love if you live close to the sea – and it wasn’t a huge flock of them.
While the bathroom was on the small side, it made great use of space and had eco-friendly touches, like a bar exfoliating soap with a large hole in the center, keeping a standard size for less waste. I’m glad they’re going the eco-friendly route in general – apparently their pens and stationery are made with recycled materials, and recycling and avoiding waste is encouraged in the standard hotel signs on the desk and bed.
With an in-hotel restaurant, and nearby access to the Embarcadero, shops, and spas, it’s the kind of place you’d visit if you wanted to feel like had your own private space away from home.
Hotel Griffon
155 Steuart St
San Francisco, California 94105
Image credits: Hotel Griffon