In the heart of downtown San Francisco is one of the city’s most exciting properties. A 32-story translucent blue tower, the InterContinental San Francisco is not just a sleek, modern hotel; it’s also a fantastic example of green hotel design. We recently stayed there for one night as part of a family/museum weekend in San Francisco and loved the hotel. Here’s why I think you’ll like it, too.
The InterContinental & sustainability:
The InterContinental San Francisco leads the way in the future of accommodations in California with a LEED Gold certification. What does that mean exactly? LEED® stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certification and its used to rank qualifying buildings for sustainable, green architecture. The hotel was given LEED Gold, the second highest rating possible, for conservation in energy, design, room amenities, and more. This is no small feat for a building of its size! It is the largest LEED Gold Recipient of existing buildings in California and the third largest in the U.S.
The hotel takes other steps to promote sustainability, most notably offering electric zip cars for guests to use. Guests can use one for $50.00 (normally $85.00) and earn it back with $50.00 in driving credits by visiting the Zipcar website. I’d like to see the hotel do away with single-use plastics for toiletries, but after a bit of research, I learned that the chain has already begun phasing them out. This will happen eventually as the California has already passed a measure banning the distribution of single-use plastics in hotels.
You can learn more about the hotel’s green initiatives here.
Read more: My favorite hotels and inns in Northern California
Is the InterContinental San Francisco kid-friendly?
Yes! Though the hotel doesn’t feature any specific kid amenities, we felt welcome as a family and noticed other families with kids of all ages in the lobby. We opted for a junior suite with two beds, which had plenty of space for us to spread out during our stay and two queen-size beds for the four of us.
InterContinental San Francisco amenities:
- Michelin-starred restaurant, Luce (note that it’s closed for renovation through August 23, 2019)
- Easy express check-in/check-out
- Newspaper in the lobby
- Indoor heated swimming pool
- Fitness center
- Supervised child care/activities for an additional fee
- 24-hour room service
- Multilingual staff in a variety of languages
Room features:
We noticed that the InterContinental San Francisco is quieter than other hotels we’ve stayed in in San Francisco. This is due partly to the fact that there are just 22 rooms per floor, giving the hotel a more intimate feel.
The room’s main feature is the floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around the room, which result in fantastic city views day and night and better efficiency in heating and lighting. While we stayed in a more spacious junior suite, standard rooms are smaller but also have the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Each of the InterContinental’s rooms has the following features:
- Drapes that you can control from the bed
- iPod docking station
- Robes
- Iron and ironing board
- In-room safe
- Coffee and tea maker
- Climate control that prioritizes comfort and efficiency
What to do near the InterContinental San Francisco:
The hotel is located in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood and is a short walk to the SFMOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and Yerba Buena Gardens. A visit to the museum, lunch at its cafe, and a short walk through Yerba Buena Gardens is an excellent choice for half a day in San Francisco.
The hotel is also a short walk from Union Square, where you can find upscale dining and shopping. Architecture fans can enjoy the glass domed ceiling inside Neiman Marcus on Union Square and the Frank Lloyd Wright design just down the street.
Read more:Â 30 things to do in San Francisco
Where can I park at the InterContinental San Francisco?
The hotel has valet parking for about $70 per night, which is standard for this type of hotel in San Francisco. Using the valet service is the most convenient and safest option, but if you’d like to park yourself, there’s a garage nearby at 5th and Mission, which runs about $30/night. Whatever you choose, don’t leave valuables in your car.
The bottom line:
If you’re looking for modern luxury in San Francisco, and if you’re especially interested in sustainability like I am, the InterContinental is the place for you.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary stay at the InterContinental San Francisco. The top two photos are courtesy of the hotel; the other photos are mine.
