by Zach on January 20, 2012
The Super Bowl is so close we can hardly contain ourselves, but there’s still one last round to go before the AFC and NFC can duke it out for ultimate supremacy — and that fabled trip to Disney World. Check out the best places to stay if you’re going to the game (or just looking to watch with like-minded fans). We couldn’t help but make our own predictions, too. But if you need us for anything Sunday, you can find us glued to our TV.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS VS. BALTIMORE RAVENS at Foxboro Stadium, 3 PM EST Sunday
Where to stay: The Liberty Hotel; Boston, MA
The Lobby at the Liberty Hotel; Boston, MA
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Now that the madness of Week 1 is over (and the embarrassed Falcons can hang their helmets for the season), it’s time to get down to football business: The best versus, well, the not best. This weekend we’ll see Tim “Touched by an Angel” Tebow battle it out against the genetically-blessed Tom Brady (I swear, I really am a Giants fan); Big Blue is heading up north to face the practically indomitable Green Bay Packers; and the quietly looming 49ers are playing host to (the also indomitable) New Orleans Saints. The most curious match up, though, is happening in Baltimore, where the Ravens are taking on the…err…Texans. (Is it bad I keep forgetting they’re involved?) We scouted the home fields for some sweet hotel picks for this weekend’s epic games.
HOUSTON TEXANS VS. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Where to Sleep: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill; Washington, D.C.
The neighborhood at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill; Washington, D.C.
Why Here: Forgo Baltimore for D.C., as its just about a 40-minute train ride from the capital city — and offers up plenty more to do. (Sorry, Baltimore! We still heart you.) And as a bonus, the Hyatt Regency is just a five-minute walk from the train station you’ll need to hop on to get to the game. The hotel offers up a huge heated, indoor pool — great for families — along with an amazing fitness center and soundproof, guest-room walls. (Great for couples, perhaps?) Plus, the property is in prime sightseeing territory, practically steps from the Capitol Building — so make sure to snap a few great pics before heading out of town. Read More »
Credit: Marion Curtis/startraksphoto.com
We love our Anthony Bourdain over here at Oyster.com — not only does he entertain us with his hilarious quotables, but he’s also able to check out some of our fave hotels, too, on his new program, The Layover (check the Travel Channel — our BFFs! — for show information).
For this week’s stop in San Francisco, Bourdain frequented one of our favorite Bay Area hotels, The Fairmont San Francisco. We love the Fairmont for its iconic history (it was built back in 1907), modern room amenities — think oversize flat-screen TVs — and of course, location: The hotel is perched atop Nob Hill, an upscale area of the city that also affords most guest rooms with killer views. If it’s your first visit to the city, you needn’t go far to start touring — there’s a cable car stop right outside of the hotel. While the vibe of the Fairmont can feel stuffy to some at times, the hotel does offer a relaxed atmosphere at its Polynesian-themed tiki bar, the Tonga Room.
Although the hotel offers a decent main restaurant and coffee shop, no one discusses the Fairmont without talking Tonga Room. Dating from an early 1960s obsession with Hawaiian culture, the Tonga Room features faux straw huts, a floating band, and what it claims is the best mai tai in the city (served in a fake coconut, natch). On this week’s episode of The Layover, Bourdain and a few of his pals set up camp at said tiki bar, where after a few cocktails, he declared, “If you have no love in your heart for this place, you are a sick, twisted lonely f*ck with too many cats.” Drastic, perhaps, but we agree: A visit the Tonga Room is well worth the trip.
CHECK OUT PHOTOS OF THE TONGA ROOM AFTER THE JUMP >>
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Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
In the middle of San Francisco’s Walter S. Johnson Park, sits the Palace of Fine Arts, an easily recognizable piece of San Francisco architecture. You’ve likely seen it in many photographs, with attractive shots both by day and by night.
The Palace was designed as part of the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, an event hosted by San Francisco to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. It was also seen as an opportunity for San Francisco to rise from the ashes of the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire.
The Palace of Fine Arts today features a performing theater, and has been the site of many televised events, including the 1976 Presidential Debate, as well as a variety of concerts, lectures, and corporate events.
It’s also home to the Exploratorium, a museum founded by Dr. Frank Oppenheimer of the Manhattan Project. This museum of science, art, and human perceptions hosts an array of hands-on exhibits focusing on science, nature, art, and technology. It’s a great stop for kids of all ages, engaging them in some amazing ways, and draw lots of visitors to the city as well as local kids on field trips.
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Dungeness crab cake Benedict at Epic Roasthouse
Oh sure, folks go on and on about the burger at Epic Roasthouse in San Francisco, a half-pound behemoth ($20) made from the trimmings of all that primo Prime grade beef on the menu.
Burger at Epic Roasthouse in San Francisco
But one cannot live by burgers alone. Well, not all the time, anyway.
To that end, there’s also brunch. The restaurant, a short hop from the Harbor Court Hotel, San Francisco, offers brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Take a seat inside or outside this restaurant, which is right on the Embarcadero and boasts picturesque views of the Bay.
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Laurel Court at the Fairmont San Francisco
There are three things I feel are necessary when it comes to afternoon tea, and the beautiful Laurel Court restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel San Francisco atop Nob Hill excels at each. The first is the tea itself. It should be very high quality. It should be loose leaf, not served in tea bags! The service should be attentive and never rushed, because tea is meant to be leisurely and relaxed. Finally there should be abundant food. Although the meal is named after a beverage, it often features three separate courses of food. Generally served on tiered trays, there are finger sandwiches, scones with cream and finally pastries, often petit fours.
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Smores at Masa's
Hong Kong-born and San Francisco-raised, Maggie Leung is turning out irresistible modern interpretations of classic desserts at the elegant Masa’s restaurant in San Francisco, a short stroll from the Campton Place Taj Hotel, San Francisco.
Leung, who became executive pastry chef there this past summer, has given sophisticated spins to a chocolate walnut tart, made dainty and memorable with a fleur de sel flourish and a scoop of Earl Grey ice cream; strawberry pain perdu with a distinctive rose-geranium creme anglaise; and s’mores with housemade graham cracker ice cream, hot fudge, toasted marshmallows, candied hazelnuts and hazelnut powder between two chocolate cookies.
After studying molecular biology in college, she turned to the science of baking, enrolling at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. After earning a degree in pastry art, she went on to work at Masse’s Pastries in Berkeley, where she focused on elaborate French pastries and intricate wedding cake designs.
Afterward, she joined the staff of Americano in San Francisco, before becoming executive pastry chef at the Lark Creek Inn in Larkspur (now the Tavern at Lark Creek), where her lemon-blueberry cheesecake parfait was featured in a story in Food & Wine magazine.
– Carolyn Jung of FoodGal
Photo courtesy of Masa’s
by Jane on August 18, 2010
The iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
If you’re looking to get away for Labor Day, don’t fret — some of our favorite hotels are on sale now for the holiday weekend. We’ve already told you about our great finds in Miami and Los Angeles, but if you’re looking to cable-car your way down Lombard Street or visit iconic attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Haight-Ashbury, you’re covered now, too — check out our favorite San Francisco hotels that are on sale now for Labor Day and book today! Read More »
Domaine Carneros in the Napa Valley
Everyone knows that San Francisco is an amazing city, full of culture, natural beauty, and great food. But many people go to San Francisco and miss the opportunity to taste some of the country’s greatest wines, just a stone’s throw away in the Carneros wine region. In less than an hour you can be sipping a fine sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, or Chardonnay while breathing in fresh, country air and feasting your eyes on never ending hills and vineyards.
Here are a few suggestions on where to sample California’s finest:
If you are looking for grand, there are few grander estates in the Napa Valley than Domaine Carneros. This manor on a hill offers tableside tasting service as well as several tours daily. Though a teensy bit touristy, I am still glad we visited as their bubbly is top notch, and the architecture is something out of the French countryside.
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by Angie on July 21, 2010
The jacuzzi at the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf is family-friendly.
If you’re planning a summer getaway with the family but don’t know where to head, we highly recommend San Francisco – it’s a city chock-full of fun sights and activities for the whole clan. At Oyster, we understand that traveling with the kids can be tough. Luckily for you, we’ve identified the five hotels in San Francisco that we think are most accommodating to children and families to help ease your travel stresses. So whether it’s a spontaneous jaunt with the family or a long Labor Day weekend with kids in tow, check out our picks for the most kid-friendly hotels in San Francisco.
The rates shown below are for Labor Day weekend; feel free to click the “Book Now” button and check the rates for your travel dates, if they’re different.
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