I felt like a lucky Goldilocks at the Hotel Drisco. I didn’t have to try out things that were too large or too small, or too hard or too soft – at Hotel Drisco everything was just right, right from the start.
The hotel bills itself as a combination of a small European hotel and an upscale B&B – an apt description. With 48 rooms (29 bedrooms and 19 suites), it’s larger than most B&B’s, yet it’s still intimate. The decorating is graceful and traditional. The atmosphere is friendly, yet elegant and luxurious. The neighborhood – in historic Pacific Heights – is lovely, residential, and quiet.
Hotel Drisco, like the Hotel del Sol down the hill (reviewed in the October issue of Natural Nutmeg), is a Joie de Vivre (Joy of Life) property. Joie de Vivre, the second-largest boutique hotel company in the country, is committed to incorporating sustainability into their core business operations. Their green practices are designed to reduce waste and toxins, conserve natural resources, educate employees and guests about environmentally friendly practices, and partner with local and environmentally-friendly businesses – while maintaining an impeccable quality of guest experience.
Surprisingly, not that many hotels in San Francisco have earned “Green” Status by San Francisco Green Business. Not surprisingly, most of the ones that have been awarded Green status are Joie de Vivre properties. This company (founded by Chip Conley, CEO, author, speaker, etc., who once said, “The leaders I most admire are those who look at business as enduring and transformational – as opposed to short-term and transactional”) is enthusiastically green, but you might not notice the sustainable practices if you’re not looking for them. Some are almost de rigueur at this point, such as water efficient bathroom fixtures, environmentally friendly lighting, tissues and toilet paper, guestroom recycling, energy-efficient lighting, and the standard towel and linen reuse program. Behind the scenes, the office uses recycled office paper and soy-based inks, and employs two-sided printing; electrical equipment and appliances are Energy Star rated; and the hotel pays for renewable electricity.
Other green practices are more unusual. A tour of the clean and modern kitchen was refreshing – there were posters about recycling everywhere, and there were four bins for recycling, two for garbage, and one for compostable food scraps. Bravo. General Manager John Spear was enthusiastic about the entire program, including training efforts for the staff that resulted in a fabulous team that diligently separates recyclables, gathers half-used toiletries for donation to local shelters and the Clean the World program, turns off lights, and does many more little things that quickly add up to a plus for the environment. In addition, food is locally sourced, the gym uses ‘electricity-free’ equipment, food scraps are composted, and the five-year plan calls for the addition of on-site solar and/or wind power.
Whether you’re green-minded or not, Hotel Drisco strikes me as a perfect hotel for an executive traveling on business, or for a romantic getaway. However, the atmosphere, amenities, and special touches are designed to make any traveler feel special, as evidenced by the fact that they have teddy bears for their youngest guests!
In addition to all the fairly usual guestroom amenities that upscale hotels offer (a good mattress, nice linens, free WiFi, a large-screen HDTV, a safe, a plush robe, an iron, and the daily paper delivered to your room,) they also offer some fun and useful things – things that add some joie de vivre – like a pillow menu, an iPod docking station, free HBO, a DVD player and free lending library, a yummy gourmet honor bar, an umbrella, nightly turndown service with chocolate shortbread cookies, and my personal favorite, a long-handled shoehorn.
You can employ the long-handled shoehorn to help you slide into your shiny shoes – the hotel offers a free overnight shoeshine service. Très continental. In fact, you might need the shoehorn to get into your shiny shoes, if you do much walking. Remember, you are in Pacific HEIGHTS and if you walk downhill…you know what happens next. It may not take much walking to convince you that you don’t need to use the hotel’s on-site gym or the free pass to the Presidio gym, or borrow one of the loaner bikes the hotel has on hand – all things that sounded fun to me, until I walked back up the hill.
That night I doubly appreciated the bed, the linens washed with eco-friendly products (so nice), my custom pillow selection, the breeze from the open window, and the peace and quiet.
In the morning I went to the lobby in search of coffee, and found an adorable sitting room with fair trade organic coffee and ceramic mugs. (Personally, I never feel “just right” when my first cup of coffee is in a paper cup, and that’s not just because I like things that are environmentally friendly.) There was also a huge glass decanter of lemon water, and a selection of teas. A nice experience for a bleary-eyed traveler who stayed out a tad too late.
That held us until breakfast time, when we took the elevator to the bottom level (I know – we should’ve taken the stairs). I pictured a cave-like breakfast area, but the doors opened on a wonderfully windowed, sunny, high-ceilinged room with Queen Anne tables and chairs, white tablecloths, and the best complimentary continental breakfast I’ve ever had, including fresh fruit, fresh juices, a variety of yogurts, including goats-milk yogurts, boiled eggs, fresh pastries, specialty coffees and more, most of which was locally sourced, and ALL of which was recyclable, or, better yet, didn’t leave anything to recycle. For example, the jellies are served in glass jars, not in those contemptible little plastic containers. I hated for breakfast to end. The experience was just right.
Breakfast was so divine that it made me sorry we’d gone into town early the night before, instead of enjoying the evening reception. Each night the hotel serves California wines, local cheese, charcuterie, fruit, and hot hors d’oeuvres.
Here are a few other details to help you plan your trip:
The rooms are lovely and the suites are divine – they’re spacious, and some, if not all, have big windows that look out over the city. Fresh fruit is included, and replenished every day.
On-street parking is safe, free, and plentiful. Business travelers might especially appreciate the complimentary morning town-car service to Union Square and the Financial District; the hotel offers drycleaning and laundry services; the business center, complete with PC, Mac, and a printer is open 24/7; coffee is available 24/7; and there’s also an on-site “green” meeting room. (See http://www.jdvhotels.com/greendreams/meetings.) Other chauffer services also are available for a fee, including rides to and from the airport.
Whether you choose Hotel Drisco because you want a delightful experience, or because supporting such a truly sustainably minded business is the right thing to do, you won’t be disappointed. They put the Joy in Enjoy!