Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero — Hotel in San Francisco

I used to travel to the US two or three times a year and, whenever possible, I’d visit SF. On those trips I’d stay either at one of the Nob Hill hotels or, as a rare pricey treat, the Mandarin Oriental on Sansome. |There were always three reasons to stay at MO: 1) the view, 2) the service, 3) the view! If you put it in ratio form, it’s 80/20 view over service.|The view from this hotel is unbeatable, and under MO, the service was first class. Whoever you were, staff treated you as a valued guest. The smiles, the welcome, the joy of employees who seemed to wake up each day eager to impress their guests. |My August trip was the first to SF since the hotel moved to Four Seasons, so on a nostalgic return I wanted to see how it compared.|Here’s where it gets tricky: it’s not MO anymore. It just doesn’t have that vibe. |Things went downhill fast when I arrived very early. Four hours early! I knew I was early and just wanted to dump bags and get into the city. |To be met by a grinning young clerk pointing out what I already knew, who then tried to switch me to a lower-spec, city view room with no compensation, just so he could check me in immediately.|You’d only notice it was a lower spec if you knew the rooms, which I do. I declined and countered by asking for the Presidential Suite at the same rate. He declined! So, I had to wait, which was cool! |I was promised they’d contact me as soon as my room was prepared. That took 3hrs55mins. I found that a bit pathetic. The poor boy had forgotten who I was by the time I returned! Limited attention span eh!|Here’s where MO would’ve shined: at MO, the room prep would’ve been expedited and my stored luggage would be waiting in my room when I arrived. |Four Seasons sent my luggage up 15 minutes after I got in, which was frustrating since I needed some meds. The delay just felt like a childish ploy to gain a tip. This time, no tip. At MO, service felt like genuine care. At 4S, it feels false and a little grubby!|For travellers planning a stay. A bridge view is a must, preferably GG bridge and even better, corner rooms that used to be called the ‘bridge to bridge’ rooms. |The view remains incredible. I find the ‘nickel-and-diming’ irritating. $10 sodas in the minibar, a $20 club sandwich becomes $40+ after all the add-ons. JP Morgan supposedly said, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it”—and 4S seems to live by that mantra. But I guess this is now just standard for all hotels!|Luckily, there’s a 7-Eleven across the street, plus amazing restaurants, wine shops, and bars nearby that still know how to treat customers.|As for the rooms: they’ve been refurbished since the MO days. Nice wood floors, comfy bed, same incredible views. But odd furniture choices—half-finished TV unit with random non-functional elements to it, a table with a chair. Minor maintenance issues too: a scratched bathroom door, and front doors that slam so hard the whole floor hears it. Not self-closing, self-slamming—like they’re mad at the building.|Service quality varied. The in-room dining server was fantastic (I tipped him twice). One employee I met in the elevator was charming. But another, when asked about the terrace, soured quickly after two questions, like I didn’t have the right to ask! Odd!|Compared to MO rooms, these don’t measure up. My memories of MO include clever touches: binoculars for the view, a chaise by the window, sumptuously soft beds. Four Seasons beds are comfortable, just not sumptuous. The MO rooms always seemed more homely, warm and welcoming. 4S have made them comfy, stylish but a little cold!|My two key factors remain: view and service. The views here are unmatched in SF (tell me if I’m wrong). They’re worth paying for, even just one night, but only if you get a bridge view. The service? Mediocre.|Anyway, my last trip to this hotel. I’ll have very fond memories of the MO days. I’ll forget...

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...

My friend and I spent three nights here during a girls’ weekend in San Francisco, and while there were definite highlights, a few issues kept the stay from feeling truly five-star.

Let’s start with the positives, and there were many. The staff was outstanding from the moment we arrived: warm, professional, and remarkably well-trained. Gavin at the desk was a welcome delight every time we passed him. And our pre-arrival requests were all honored without any necessary follow-up. Check-in was seamless, communication through the app was prompt and courteous, and any requests were handled with genuine care. The room itself was comfortable and well-appointed, with plush bedding, crisp linens, and amenities that felt fresh and thoughtfully maintained. We were lucky enough to be on a top floor with a sweeping view of the bay and Alcatraz; and since it was Fleet Week, we even had front-row seats to the air show right from our window. Truly unforgettable.

That said, a few aspects fell short of the standard I typically associate with the Four Seasons brand. The hotel lacks inviting common spaces, aside from the restaurant, there isn’t really a lounge or sitting area for guests to unwind. The lobby is functional but not designed for lingering, and the few sofas near the restrooms don’t create much of an atmosphere. Food quality was another area that could use attention. Room service and restaurant offerings were somewhat limited, and several breakfast orders arrived either overdone or undercooked. Small requests like omitting meat were overlooked more than once. Nothing was inedible, but the meals didn’t live up to the level of refinement one expects from a property of this caliber.

A few operational issues also impacted comfort. (Before I list them out, I do want to say that I appreciate the night manager Daniel emailing to apologize for them the evening I checked out and prior to my posting this review, but after I began drafting it. Four Seasons is great at record keeping and owning missteps. I just wish there had been amends made in the moment.) Our room was adjacent to the elevator shaft, and the mechanical hum from the high speed elevators was noticeable, especially at night. I’d strongly recommend requesting a room farther from the lifts. Additionally, the air vent above our bed was so dusty that it released visible particles onto the bedding and on my belongings on the side table two days in a row. Maintenance responded quickly to replace the filter and housekeeping handled cleanup efficiently, but as someone with asthma, it made for a restless night. Finally, the water in the building was shut off for “essential maintenance” during our stay; initially announced as a one-hour disruption, but it lasted several. While I understand maintenance is sometimes unavoidable, it was not ideal.

In the end, this property delivers on service, cleanliness, and professionalism, hallmarks of the Four Seasons brand, but it didn’t quite reach the flawless experience I’ve had at other Four Seasons locations. For a future visit to San Francisco, I might consider the city’s other Four Seasons property, or even the St. Regis or Ritz-Carlton, for a comparable stay that might offer a more consistently polished experience. My friend and I still had a great weekend and the memories of viewing the Fleet Week air show from the 48th floor won’t soon...