Sometimes looks can be deceiving. Despite its 25 floors and 532 rooms, San Francisco’s Hotel Nikko is of imposing proportions but elects to behave like a graceful boutique property. Its location is prime, with proximity to Union Square, high-end shopping and the performing arts while reliable public transportation in the area puts it in perfect alignment for the systematic traveler.
Entering the marble lobby with its subtle glass waterfall, I was granted a moment’s repose from the din of the bustling Financial District. I ambled up a set of stairs to reception and was struck by a set of display cases with geisha slippers and lacquered fans, tokens of Japanese culture that I’d soon discover the Nikko has down to a science. I secured my key in record time and upon exiting the elevator on the 22nd floor, I received a text that read “If we can be of assistance with anything, anytime, anywhere, simply text us.” Nice touch. Texting is promoted here for a range of requests from wake-up calls to restaurant reservations, the efficiency of which I admired, not to mention it’s sometimes reassuring to have spelled out confirmations on hand.
The Nikko is a member of the Japanese-owned JAL Hotels group and in the décor, it shows. Our soundproof room was a sizeable 360 square feet, and its earth tones, Asian furnishings, and imported paintings exuded authenticity. The bed was fit for an emperor making it difficult to emerge each morning, while the bath boasted a separate tub and shower (the latter, I’ll note, had fine acoustics) and bamboo-infused amenities from Lather Inc.
A few points to keep in mind when booking your reservation: Imperial rooms are situated on the 22nd to 24th floors, and grant access to a private lounge that includes complimentary continental breakfast along with beer and wine-tasting in the evenings; rooms with the finest views are those facing northeast and ending in 01-05, with the 05 corner suites affording views of the bay; and, if you intend to splurge, the prestigious Japanese Suite is straight out of Kyoto with sliding screens and a meditative rock garden.
San Francisco is exalted for its culinary scene and while we always recommend feasting at as many restaurants as possible, the cuisine at Nikko’s Anzu shouldn’t be slighted. Both western style and Japanese breakfast buffet options are available each morning, and the dinner menu offers everything from artfully crafted specialty rolls (the Albacore Delight wins) to tortellini with black truffles and a bistro-worthy beef onglet. Downstairs from Anzu is the modish Kanpai Lounge, offering sake bottle service and cocktails nightly in addition to DJ-spun Sake & Sound Tuesdays, and a rousing sing along Broadway Bingo Wednesdays. Adjacent to the lounge is Feinstein’s at the Nikko, a cabaret seating 140 and the hotel’s joint venture with Great American Songbook ambassador and entertainer Michael Feinstein.
It’s usually a toss-up if we factor in exercise during a long weekend, simply because even the finest hotels sometimes have cramped and rundown workout quarters. We were pleased that Club Nikko’s gym was surprisingly comprehensive with a host of cardio and weight machines; the fact that it’s open 24 hours a day is an added bonus. Here you’ll also find an indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi located in a spacious solarium that leads to a sun deck where the room service menu is available. And for those who prefer a different means of decompression, the Shiatsu Center offers massage at typical hotel rates of $125-250 for one-to-two hours of unadulterated indulgence.
Above its dining options and amenities, it was the hotel’s etiquette we relished most. The Japanese are lauded for their personalized take on hospitality and the Nikko staff has seamlessly adopted these practices. Upon relating our culinary preferences to the concierge, she promptly emailed a succinct list of local restaurants that would suit my tastes; when I needed to store bags for a few hours, I dropped a text to the bell captain and he whisked them away within minutes. A hotel this size is often compromised in terms of the level of service and these instances bring to mind a printed card with the following maxim placed on the bed at turndown – “The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.” Simple words to live (and serve) by.