Best Luxury Hotels in the South Bay

Best Luxury Hotels in the South Bay

Between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, these six upscale hotels offer the advantages of luxury combined with service and sophistication. Find whatever combination of amenities appeals most: fine dining and craft cocktails, high-tech touches and high-touch personalization, a heated outdoor swimming pool and a deep soaking bathtub plus a rainfall shower. These are the best luxury hotels in the South Bay.

Feature Photo: Hotel Valencia Santana Row

A modern outdoor seating area adjacent to a building with large glass doors opens to a cozy indoor lounge with a lit fireplace. This space at one of the best luxury hotels in South Bay features wicker chairs and small tables with lit candles, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Photo: Courtesy of The Clement Palo Alto

The Clement Palo Alto

Don’t lift a finger: Newly opened in mid-2020, The Clement bills itself as “all-inclusive.” That means each of the 23 guest rooms comes with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, snacks, 24-hour guest pantry, wine, beer and cocktails, room service, Wi-Fi… and more. Also included: Take in views of the Santa Cruz Mountains from a cabana or a fire pit situated around the rooftop swimming pool and whirlpool. Enjoy access to the exercise gym and a 12-person boardroom. Ten-minute walk from Stanford University campus.

TIP:  Forget the cash, really — valet parking and gratuities are also inclusive.

Modern hotel lobby with elegant decor. Features include a large, golden geometric chandelier, cozy seating areas with plush sofas and chairs in warm tones, contemporary artwork, stylish lighting, and a front desk in the background at the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

Find well-appointed accommodation in East Palo Alto right off Highway 101, just 2.5 miles from the campus of Stanford University. True to the reputation of the brand, standards are high, conveniences are modern, design is sophisticated, tech touches are personalized in 200 sunny rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. Craft cocktails and dinner are served at Quattro, the Italian-inspired in-house restaurant and lounge with an adjoining outdoor terrace.

TIP:  Bring a swimsuit and enjoy the outdoor pool.

A modern living and dining area with large windows, reminiscent of the best luxury hotel South Bay offers. The space features a white sectional sofa, leather armchairs, and a glass coffee table. The dining area has a table with red chairs and a chandelier. Sunflowers are in a vase on a side table.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Valencia Santana Row

Hotel Valencia Santana Row

The vibe is old world Spain at the only hotel in San Jose’s preferred location, Santana Row. Surrounded by shops and restaurants, this upscale hotel is just a bit bigger than “boutique,” at 215 guest rooms and 17 suites. In addition to the rooftop pool, hot tub, and fitness center, there’s an on-site restaurant, a swanky full service bar, and outdoor service on the covered patio adorned with strings of lights in the evening. Free Wi-Fi.

TIP:  Check out the Sunday Fundays promotion and special rates for AAA members.

A modern Bay Area living room with wooden walls features a fireplace on the left, a white sofa, and two white armchairs around a wooden coffee table. The room is softly lit, showcasing the outdoor view through large windows at dusk. A pouf and side tables complete the decor.
Photo: Courtesy of Nobu Palo Alto

Nobu Palo Alto

This new Japanese-inspired hotel, bearing the same name as the iconic restaurant inside, is in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. The emphasis is on serenity and relaxation with a touch of high-tech. The smart TV measures 82 inches, Alexa awaits commands, sheer or blackout curtains operate at the touch of a finger, even the mattresses are branded Nobu. Appealing to the minimalists among us, the ryokan is a hotel-within-a-hotel on two floors of the 73-room property.

TIP:  A true jump off point — this hotel is equally convenient to shopping and dining, Stanford University, and Silicon Valley.

A luxurious building with stone walls at Rosewood Sand Hill features an upstairs patio adorned with orange umbrellas and outdoor seating. The entrance is flanked by two tall trees and stairs on either side. Benches and flowerbeds with pink roses line the walkway leading up to the doorway.
Photo: Courtesy of Rosewood Sand Hill

Rosewood Sand Hill

Set between two golf courses on 16 acres in Menlo Park, this expansive property is as good as it gets in the South Bay and Peninsula. Dining is at Michelin-starred Madera; The Library & Bar is a sophisticated place to gather; Sense is the serene spa with garden and mountain views; Alex Chase is the in-house beauty salon. An outdoor heated pool and whirlpool surrounded by olive trees provides another oasis for guests.

TIP:  Get some fresh air — all 121 guest rooms and suites have private balconies or terraces, and some have a fireplace as well.

A grand, resort-like building with multiple turrets and large windows stands majestically on a cliff overlooking a scenic beach and ocean. The sunset sky casts a warm glow on the scene, enhancing the lush green landscape surrounding one of the best group hotels South Bay has to offer.
Photo: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

It may be just half an hour away from San Francisco and Silicon Valley, but the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay feels more like the Scottish highlands than the coast of California. In fact, it looks and feels almost exactly like one of the storied Scottish golf resorts — think Gleaneagles, Turnberry or St. Andrews Old Course. And that’s not by accident: there’s even a bagpiper who strolls the grounds at sunset. The spa is top-notch, with treatments featuring native ingredients such as a redwood scrub. Those who don’t choose to do a spa treatment can still enjoy the excellent facilities, however — a $45 day pass gets you use of the whirlpool baths, sauna, and steam rooms.

HIGHLIGHT: It’s all about the sea here, from the crashing surf directly below the hotel’s bluff-top perch to the salt-and-silver design palate and photos of big-wave surfers on the wall. Even the basic rooms are spacious at 450 feet, while suites start at 1,000 feet and feature extras like a marble bath or personal fire pit complete with Adirondack chairs. Stay in the 5th-floor Club Level and you’ll be treated to breakfast and lunch, fresh-baked cookies, and a lounge well stocked with games.

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