Edwardian manor in Pacific Heights, high-end Californian discretion without the flashiness of large chains.
Hotel Drisco
From
855.61 €
“Continental breakfast and evening Californian wine included, served in a moulded lounge facing the bay.”
L'Hotel Drisco holds the heights of Pacific Heights since 1903, in a white Edwardian building with columns. We slept in a cream and taupe room, thick carpet, Frette bedding, Italian marble bathroom. The bay view from the upper floors alone justifies the detour, Golden Gate Bridge in sight in clear weather. Room service operates 24/7, continental breakfast and evening wine are included in the rate, served in the ground floor lounge. From 856 € per night, it is one of the most expensive addresses in San Francisco, but the discretion and attention to detail compensate. We recommend for a romantic stay or special occasion, not for a quick city break. The 9.5/10 rating on 75 reviews reflects a rare consistency in this range ✨
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend the Drisco to couples in their forties and older, seeking residential calm away from the bustle of Union Square. It is an address for wedding anniversaries, discreet proposals, child-free weekends with dinners in Presidio Heights. Business travellers appreciate the overnight room service and proximity to the financial district without its noise.
The building
Architecture and interiors
The Hotel Drisco occupies an Edwardian manor from 1903, white facade with columns and bow windows typical of Pacific Heights. Interiors refurbished in the 2000s: original mouldings restored, oak parquet floors, central dark wood staircase. Rooms measure between 25 and 40 m², ceilings at 3.20 m, neutral cream and taupe tones, classic American furniture without flourishes. The scale remains intimate, 48 rooms spread over four floors, period lift modernised.
At the table
Restaurants, bar, service
No restaurant on site, but continental breakfast served each morning in the ground floor lounge: local pastries, fresh fruit, Peet's coffee. Evening Californian wine, included in the rate, is taken in the same spot between 5pm and 6pm, rotating selection from Napa and Sonoma. Room service operates 24/7 in partnership with neighbourhood tables, restricted but well-executed menu. For dinner, we walk ten minutes to Fillmore Street, concentration of bistros and Italian tables.
Highlights
- Edwardian building from 1903, renovated with original mouldings and oak parquet floors
- Continental breakfast and evening Californian wine included in the rate
- View over San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate from the upper rooms
- Room service 24/7, Frette bedding and Italian marble in all bathrooms
- Booking rating of 9.5/10 on 75 reviews, one of the best in the city
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in San Francisco
The Drisco stands at the top of Pacific Heights, corner of Pacific Avenue and Broderick Street, the most affluent residential neighbourhood in San Francisco. Union Square fifteen minutes by car, Presidio and the Golden Gate ten minutes. No metro nearby, buses 3 and 24 at the bottom of the street, but we recommend Uber or car to explore. The neighbourhood is quiet after 8pm, Victorian houses aligned, plunging view over the Marina and the bay. Fillmore Street five minutes on foot for shops and cafés, but the address remains off-centre for those wanting to do San Francisco on foot.
Good to know
Before you book
- Parking
- Valet included, limited spaces, advance reservation recommended.
- Children
- Accepted, extra beds on request, rather adult atmosphere.
- Pets
- Policy to confirm directly with the hotel, not specified.
- Wi-Fi
- Included in all rooms and common areas.
- Check-in
- 3pm standard, early subject to availability, request at booking.
Facilities
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness centre
Room service
Facilities for disabled guests
Family rooms
Location
Where Hotel Drisco is located
Exact address
Hotel Drisco
Address
2901 Pacific Avenue
In the same city
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The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
The Four Seasons at Embarcadero bets everything on the bay view and impeccable service, in a financial district that empties in the evening.