The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco sets the bar for traditional elegance and cutting-edge hospitality in the City by the Bay. The only AAA five-diamond hotel in town, it welcomes guests to a 1909 neoclassical landmark on Nob Hill, which borders the financial district near Chinatown and Union Square. A cable car stops right outside the door.

The hotel earned the AAA’s ultimate rating for the twentieth consecutive year in 2014—the same year it debuted a total transformation of its ballroom, conference rooms, and boardrooms. While the reimagined spaces take their cue from the world of haute couture, they also incorporate the latest technology, floods of natural light, and a distinctly modern feel. From planning through event time, teams of dedicated meeting professionals ensure that even the smallest detail meets Ritz-Carlton’s standard of perfection.

Delegates settle in to a choice of 336 accommodations, all with intricately detailed furnishings, feather beds with Frette linens, the latest electronics, and original art celebrating local scenes. The on-site rewards go on to include a spa, fitness center, and one of the city’s most highly acclaimed restaurants. Called Parallel 37, it matches handcrafted cocktails with globally inspired cuisine made from Bay Area ingredients at the peak of their seasons. The Lounge pairs tradition with an up-to-the-minute sensibility as well. Its light, casual menu accompanies cocktails infused with a connoisseur’s collection of locally made spirits.