Everyone should visit San Francisco. The beautiful scenery, picturesque, hilly streets and the outstanding night life make the city by the bay an ideal urban getaway. There is literally too much to see: Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Chinatown, North Beach, Golden Gate Park. But let’s take a side trip to charming, historic Ghirardelli Square.
History, Ambiance, Fun
Centering on the chocolate factory founded by Domenico Ghirardelli in 1895, Ghirardelli Square is on the National Historic Registry. Since a redevelopment campaign in the 1960s, the square has become one of the city’s leading restaurant and retail meccas.
From Ghirardelli Square, the Fairmont Heritage Place is the perfect home base for your San Francisco vacation.
Set on the city’s waterfront, just across the street from the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the hotel offers great views, incredible amenities and some of the best accommodations in San Francisco.
As soon as I walked in, I felt like I was home. The Fairmont team had gone out of its way to wish a happy birthday to my friend Summer, decorating the kitchen table with treats, including lots of Ghirardelli chocolates, birthday cupcakes, a balloon, wine and other swag.
“The whole team focuses on the Private Residence Club feel,” said Edward J. Roe General Manager of Fairmont Heritage Place. “This feeling of home is evident throughout the property, from the bowl of Ghirardelli Chocolate that is conveniently located at the Concierge Desk, breakfast, all day coffee & treats, and the afternoon wine & cheese reception that’s served daily in the Owners Lounge – all guests are soon made to feel as if they are one of our “Owners”.
Let’s Get Fancy
After settling in, we were off to Spottswoode Winery’s 35th anniversary event at AT&T’s Gotham Club. The Fairmont arranged transportation with their partner, E&R limo service – a leisurely way to kick back and enjoy the sights. We were dropped off at AT&T Park, took in the bay, then headed into the Gotham Club, a haven for baseball lovers. The Club is located inside the out-of-town scoreboard, with unique views to the Field and McCovey Cove, and features a stunning bar/dining area.
We walked up the staircase, walls lined with bats, and were greeted with a friendly smile and glass of Sauvignon Blanc – my favorite.
“Spottswoode chose The Gotham Club because it is a beautiful, exclusive venue with beautiful views that they thought would be exciting to share. Because it is a private club, this was the opportunity for many of guests to experience it,” said Beth Novak Milliken Spottswoode President.
For those who couldn’t attend this event, Spottswoode welcomes visitors by appointment at their property in downtown St. Helena.
Waterbar Restaurant
After the event, we headed to our next destination, Waterbar – a waterfront restaurant on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, featuring panoramic views of the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island and the San Francisco skyline.
“Oysters are the most popular item at Waterbar, especially with our own proprietary oyster the Golden Fog and our daily featured oyster for $1.05. The other special touch with oysters is that we donate 5 cents from each oyster to a local charity,” said Pete Sittnick, Waterbar Managing Partner. “This quarter we are focused on Restaurants Care, a cause to help those restaurant industry workers who were directly impacted by the North Bay fires.”
Next, it was time for the main attraction – the seafood platter. Even after a reception and oysters, there’s always room for lobster. For dessert, there was an assortment of handmade chocolate confections. Stay tuned for new menu items at Waterbar.
“We are currently working on a new dinner menu format that will feature more dishes to share at the table. Examples are a roasted shellfish platter with lobster, crab, clams, mussels, and shrimp topped with French fries and brown butter hollandaise and a whole roasted 2 ½ pound sea bass,” said Sittnick.
Back to the Fairmont
Fairmont Heritage Place offers guests and owners residence accommodations starting with 730 square foot one-bedrooms all the way to three-bedrooms at 1800 square feet. Each residence features a living area, fireplace, kitchen, private baths, and contemporary art. We were fortunate to book a two-bedroom residence with tall windows that connected to a large terrace with firepits looking out over the bay and Alcatraz.
The master bathroom had stone tile floors and dark wood cabinets, and the living room was bedecked with dark wooden floors, an open loft-style ceiling, exposed brick and comfortable contemporary furniture in front of a slated, hearth-framed fireplace.
Every kitchen is fully equipped and features a sub-zero refrigerator, Wolf appliances and a built-in wine refrigerator.
I don’t think you could wish for a better location. Being right on the waterfront means no hills, making it easy to walk or bike all the way to the Ferry Building/Bay Bridge/AT&T Park in one direction or Chrissy Field the opposite way. “We truly are an Urban Resort. With the unique collection of independent restaurant and boutiques that are woven into the historic chocolate factory buildings, coupled with our famous Ghirardelli Chocolate shop, there is something for everyone,” said Roe.
Eat and Drink at Ghirardelli
There was plenty to explore around Ghirardelli Square, and we were looking forward to getting a taste of some of the local flavors and shops.
Our first stop was Wattle Creek Winery, which offers Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and more.
Visiting Wattle Creek is like getting a taste of Sonoma Wine Country, but in the city.
When famous French vintner, Jean-Charles Boisset brought Wattle Creek into his Boisset Collection, he transformed the space to create a unique experience for guests, including a ceiling full of floating Baccarat butterflies.
“The tasting room is a brilliant white, and our colorful Baccarat butterflies that symbolize our change and regrowth, but at the same time pays tribute to the beautiful winged creatures that live off of our namesake, the wattle tree,” said Dusty Rhodes, Tasting Room Manager.
The tasting room is open seven days a week, and you don’t need to worry about making a reservation. Just head in and enjoy some fine wine on the square.
Breakfast and Lunch
The Fairmont has you covered for morning bites. Every day, they offer a free continental breakfast with oatmeal, baked goods, hard boiled eggs, bagels, toast, croissants, juice, coffee and more.
Also, try The Pub at Ghirardelli Square. I stopped by for their weekend brunch and recommend a mimosa and their thick cut French toast, hand-dipped in their special egg and spice recipe, grilled, flash fried and topped with fresh strawberries and housemade whipped cream. “Mimosas are always a “go to” brunch drink of choice – but our Uncle Clayton’s Bloody Mary is also a favorite, said Ken Dultz, The Pub General Manager. “We use a special house infused pepper blended vodka and a secret bloody mary mix also made in house. Our bartenders are creative and always have a special cocktail just waiting for you.”
The Pub also offers Carolina and Texas-influenced BBQ.
“Our Triple Crown option is popular. Guests can share 3 meats and 3 side dishes. This is a great way to sample the best of the best. All of our sauces, marinades, dressing are made in house. All of our meats, ribs, brisket, pork, are smoked in house,” said Dultz.
The Pub is definitely a convenient eatery for visitors, but they also welcome locals. “Starting in March, The Pub will be offering special late night food and drink happy hours and industry nights to show our appreciation to our local guests,” said Dultz.
Dinner on the Square
McCormick and Kuleto’s Seafood and Steaks is a one-minute walk from the Fairmont. You can enjoy a meal in a beautiful dining room that features – you guessed correctly – more expansive bay views. Options include seafood and shellfish, steaks, garden-fresh salads and more. One of their most popular dishes is cioppino – it is San Francisco after all.
“Based loosely on the French seafood dish bouillabaisse, ours is a spicier version served with fresh Dungeness crab, mussels, clams, squid, shrimp and rock fish in a rich tomato broth,” said Toby Hughes General Manager of McCormick and Kuletos.
Thirsty? How does their Lemon Bar cocktail sound?
“This drink, incorporates Rusty Blade gin (a local barrel-aged gin that has a brownish complexion due to it being aged in old French oak wine barrels), St Elder flower liqueur and fresh lemon juice served with a Myer lemon sugar rim. Perfect bitterness and sweet balance,” said Hughes.
McCormick and Kuleto opened their doors for business in 1991 and have not looked back. They are a staple for many locals.
And for Dessert
Finally, you cannot pass up sundaes at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop.
Of course, there’s a lot more than just tremendous ice cream. You can sample some of the famous Ghirardelli chocolate squares in a super lively environment, or get a bit more adventurous with any of the other sweet options. There are plenty of chocolate and coffee drinks, the perfect for a pick-me-up in the morning or on a brisk day.
Many authentic San Francisco experiences await you in compact Ghirardelli Square. You can spend a whole weekend investigating the nooks and crannies. Plus, throughout the whole excursion, you’ll have a comfortable and gorgeous home away from home at Fairmont Heritage Place.
About the Author:Jennifer Boden is a popular travel writer who features luxury lodging, top restaurants and events. She works and plays in Sonoma County. Follow her social Instagram or Facebook channels for her latest travel news. For inquiries or appearance requests, please email her at cawineandtravel@gmail.com