Situated on one of the most lively and pleasant streets in San Francisco, right around the corner from Union Square, the Hotel Rex is in a prime location for first-time visitors and veterans alike.
Sutter Street is one of the main shop, café, and restaurant hubs of the city proper. Its central location makes it easy to catch a trolley (half a block up is the famous Powell Street Cable Car line) or to walk to your desired destination.
As it was my first trip to San Francisco, I felt constantly wide-eyed and overwhelmed by a city so very different from those I am familiar with on the east coast. The Hotel Rex was no exception to my amazement
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Sutter Street is one of the main shop, café, and restaurant hubs of the city proper. Its central location makes it easy to catch a trolley (half a block up is the famous Powell Street Cable Car line) or to walk to your desired destination.
As it was my first trip to San Francisco, I felt constantly wide-eyed and overwhelmed by a city so very different from those I am familiar with on the east coast. The Hotel Rex was no exception to my amazement, as I was highly impressed the minute I entered the lobby. The building itself was initially constructed in 1907, but restored by Joie de Vivre Hospitality only six years ago.
The ‘theme’ is a literary one. Everywhere you look there are portraits of famous writers. Quotations written in flowing calligraphy adorn the walls. Additionally, all of the guestroom walls are covered in the work of local artisans. The entire place feels cozy, like a dimly lit library. The lobby contains a large bookshelf with old, wrinkly looking volumes. The small sitting room where the bookshelf is located also contains a computer where free Internet access is available to all guests (I was infinitely grateful for this amenity!) The sitting room preempts a wonderfully spacious bar area with small tables to sit and relax at (we actually saw Janet Reno sitting in on a meeting here!) The hotel staff also offers a wine sampling for its guests every evening around 5 p.m.
Most importantly, the rooms at this Joie de Vivre establishment are comfortable and plush without any impractical pretense. In each of the 94 guest rooms, there is a writing desk, two-line cordless phones (with voice mail), cable TV, CD players, irons, bathrobes, lighted makeup mirrors, hair dryers and a well-stocked honor bar. The beds are soft and the perfect thing to fall into after a long day of walking around the hills of San Francisco.
To say that the staff at the Hotel Rex goes out of their way to make sure you enjoy every second of your stay, is a vast understatement. The front desk personnel were not only helpful with local information (directions, restaurant suggestions, etc.), but they were always friendly and pleasant. I highly recommend the Hotel Rex if you’re looking for a centralized accommodation in San Francisco with all of the comforts and amenities you could really hope for while you’re far from home.
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