Joie de Vivre’s Hotel Vitale is San Francisco’s only waterfront luxury boutique hotel and has gorgeous natural light that enters it and pristine views of the San Francisco Bay. When you arrive you are greeted with lavender scented towels to refresh you.
A landmark building, this 8 story building is located across the street from the iconic Ferry building at the corner of Mission and Embarcadero. 200 spacious guestrooms and suites with some of them offering expansive water views have spa-style bathrooms and soothing contemporary interiors.
INTERIOR DESIGN
The concept for design is “Luxury, naturally,” designed by Clark Manus of San Francisco based Heller Manus Architects. Every room was designed to reflect the beauty of one of the scenic views in the world, the San Francisco Bay with the Bay Bridge.
The design is contemporary with warm earth tones and a mixture of solids and patterns. Chaise lounges are topped by a circular lime green pillow to give an accent of color in most rooms. Floor to ceiling windows showcase sailing ships and a Treasure island backdrop. Sheefs of wheat sit on top of each room number to bring an organic feel to the space. This hotel feels like a living thing for its warm ambiance.
WATERFRONT GUEST ROOMS
Hotel rooms include spa-style limestone bathrooms with shower/tub combinations. All bath amenities are by Jonathan Adler. If you need to get some work done, each room comes with a large workstation with an ergonomic desk chair so that you can sit comfortably.
One of our favorite rooms was the Landmark Terrace Suite. Located on the top floor, it has a separate living room and two full bathrooms. On warm days, hang out on a private terrace with views of the Ferry Building, the Bay Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
The Deluxe Panoramic Circular suite is located on the corner of the waterfront hotel on floors 2 to 8. The structure is curved so you get a unique view of the Bay Bridge. The suite has a living area, deep soaking waterfront tub for two facing the water and six large floor to ceiling windows.
ROOFTOP
The waterfront rooftop is multi-tiered and used for events, yoga, guests and weddings. Primely located on Embarcadero street, it has the ultimate San Francisco outdoor ambiance as you can gaze upon palm trees that line the streets and the vintage trains that sit in the middle of the road. For cold evenings, heaters can be rented and when you are there, you can appreciate the building’s architecture. This type of space is not typical for anywhere in the world.
EXECUTIVE CHEF JOSHUA PEREZ – AMERICANO RESTAURANT
Executive Chef Joshua Perez has held prestigious positions at several well-known restaurants in the city including Absinthe, Firefly, and The Liberty Cafe in Bernal Heights before joining Americano.
He started as a sous chef at Americano in 2007, assuming an increasingly active and influential role in the creation of dishes over the years before being promoted to executive chef in 2014. At Americano, Perez pays particular attention to the turning of the seasons, crafting unique and flavorful dishes based on local produce available from area purveyors, as well as from the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market located at the historic site just steps from Americano’s kitchen.
SPA VITALE
At Spa Vitale, guests can indulge in a signature waterfront bathing ritual. Relax and decompress in a personal infinity deep soaking tub hidden in the outdoor rooftop bamboo garden. Your warm effervescent bath is infused with our Lavender Bath Milk and Lavender-scented Pacific Sea Salts to soothe your aching muscles, and promote relaxation. While your body savors the outside elements, your palate is treated to an herbal beverage and fresh fruit, and the tension from your eyes soaked away with cucumber slices and a cool cloth.
Mixed with the background sounds of the city, this bathing ritual creates a unique feeling of serenity that renews both your mind and body. Upgrade to a 50-minute Signature Bathing Ritual, and enjoy a complimentary glass of Prosecco. For a more luxurious experience, add on one of our Aromatic All-Natural Bath Bombs.
