The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel

Overall a great 5 night stay here. The rooms are a tad dated, but they're clean and spacious. The bathrooms are very modern with a great shower. Most of the staff are friendly and helpful, most of all Albert on the door who was just charming and so full of knowledge and hints and tips of where to go. Sadly not everyone is like Albert! The staff in the breakfast area were particularly morose - not a smile or even a 'good morning' welcome. We joined our daughter and her partner at breakfast - they were already drinking a coffee. The 'waiter' passed the table and I asked for two more coffees and had an abrupt "at the counter"! I'm English, we're polite (mostly!), I asked nicely! That a service charge was added to the bill was even more insulting! I ordered granola with yoghurt for breakfast and this was literally 'dumped' on the table in front of me in a plastic container! The Clift claims to be a 4* hotel - I do not expect to eat my breakfast, in a 4* hotel, out of a plastic container! The diner on the corner serves granola and yoghurt in a bowl, even decorated with some fruit, and it costs less than at The Clift. Not surprisingly, we never ate breakfast at The Clift again! But the position of The Clift is excellent. Yes, as someone commented, it is on the edge of Tenderloin, but we never experienced any of the problems other reviewers have commented on. And just walk in the other direction! You don't have to go into Tenderloin! I would certainly go again!

Booked through a work website and the room type we chose wasn’t available when we got to the hotel so had to choose a different room and were charged extra fees on top of an already paid price. Should’ve checked the fine print. Room service also seems to stop early so we were left with few food choices within walking distance. Otherwise the accommodations were comfortable and clean and furnishings were modern and well kept.

Centrally located in downtown SF. Comfortable bed, clean and spacious rooms, hallways and lobby. Excellent workout gym with first class equipment. Restaurants had good service and delicious food. Front sidewalk was clear and clean. Parking is offsite, but close to hotel.

Staff were wonderful, particularly the concierge, Steve. We needed a babysitter at the last minute and he connected us with a great service (Destination Sitters). Very appreciative of all the help while travelling with 4 kids and 5 adults.

The rooms are nice, the staff are wonderful, the bar has tasty drinks and good company, and the location is perfect. But, some of the cutbacks take this hotel down in status and comfort. Removing valet is the latest blow, making arrival and departure complex and stressful. Using a parking garage and having to wheel your luggage down the street; yikes! Not restoring room service like some of their competitors is also a disappointment and a ding. I much prefer the Clift to the Westin, the The Beacon Grand, or the Hilton, but I'm starting to think the lack of amenities will push me elsewhere. The Royal Sonesta has made blunder after blunder with this hotel since they purchased it, starting with the disastrous redecoration, and seem to have chosen to continue on that pathway. The staff however, are amazing, I'll say again.