Category Archives: Hotels

Top of the Mark

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*** (3 stars)

Sad to say, this favorite haunt of my youth has fallen on hard times, and now just seems a bit seedy. The views are still great, except that the former dark and romantic lighting has been replaced by a brightly lit (and completely empty) dance floor and a big screen TV, both of which are brightly reflected in all the windows. Drinks are decent if pricey (presumably to pay for the view), and the menu is basic bar food, although nicely presented. Service was efficient.

Top of the Mark
1 Nob Hill
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 392-3434
http://www.yelp.com/biz/top-of-the-mark-san-francisco

Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection®

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**** (4 stars)

Spacious, modern rooms and nice bathrooms are the highlight at this hotel, located conveniently right across the street from Berns Steakhouse. I’m not a fan of the hotel restaurant, which is too austere, but the rooftop bar is great.

Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection®
1207 South Howard Avenue
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 999-8700
http://www.yelp.com/biz/epicurean-hotel-autograph-collection-tampa

Ritz Hotel

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***** (5 stars)

This is a review of the hotel and restaurant, not the high tea that many of the reviewers here have written about.

If the the founder of the Ritz could see his hotel a hundred years later I think he would be very pleased. Its maintenance and refurbishment are tip top, and its staff still cleaves to old-time standards of service. While the strict enforcement of the no jeans or sneakers rule may irk some, and the requirement of a jacket and tie in the restaurants may seem old fashioned, they work to enforce the tone attempted here, which some may find a bit snooty. So be it; if that’s not your thing, there are plenty of alternatives. But if you’d like to step back to the glamour of a past age, this is the place to do it.

The Restaurant at the Ritz offers a similarly rarefied experience, at rarefied prices. But actually the tasting menu, which included eight courses for 95 pounds, was a good deal. While the food is not likely to garner Michelin stars, several courses were quite good. The matching wine pairings were generous, but few actually matched the food. Service was, of course, impeccable.

Ritz Hotel
150 Piccadilly
London, W1J 9BR
+44 20 7493 8181
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ritz-hotel-london-2

Le Parc Suite Hotel

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**** (4 stars)

We’ve stayed at several upscale Beverly Hills hotels on our annual Thanksgiving trips, but decided to try something different this year, and were quite happy with Le Parc Suite. It seems to be a converted apartment building in a residential neighborhood. The pluses are:

Very large rooms with kitchens, easily sleep four.
Convenient (but expensive) parking.
Great room rate.
Convenient location.
Decent work out room and restaurant.
Gas fireplaces in rooms.
Fairly quite area.
Free fast Wi-Fi.
Friendly staff.

There are really no downsides, and I am sure we’ll be back.

Le Parc Suite Hotel
733 W Knoll Dr
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 855-8888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/le-parc-suite-hotel-west-hollywood

Rosen Shingle Creek

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**** (4 stars)

Lovely hotel, built on a Vegas scale, with superb convention facilities, and an interesting collection of small cafes.

Unfortunately on our first visit the Italian restaurant, Cala Bella, was disappointing in both food and service. The oddly named steakhouse, A Land Remembered, was a better bet.

For kids who want to spend the vacation in the pool, this is a great choice, because there are plenty to choose from. And if golf is your thing, it’s right outside.

I love the secluded feel of the property, with the long entry way and manicured grounds, yet it’s really conveniently located near attractions and I-Drive.

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Update, one year later:

On a busy convention night, we were only able to get into Cala Bella. We sat at the “Presentation Bar” which faces directly into the kitchen, and it was, ironically, the quietest spot in the house. Service was attentive and knowledgeable, and the food was excellent. Unlike the bland cioppino of our first visit, the flatbread was bursting with fresh flavors and tasted just like the sidewalk pizzas in Italy. Chilean sea bass was perfectly cooked, and the mushroom side dish with our entrees was another standout. A completely different experience from our first visit, and I’ll happily return.

Rosen Shingle Creek
9939 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 996-9939
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rosen-shingle-creek-orlando-2

L’Ermitage Beverly Hills

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***** (5 stars)

If you like hotels that make you feel like you’re coming home, this is the place to stay. Great friendly staff, huge rooms, nice view. It can be pricey, but sometimes there is a stay 3 nights get one free deal that makes it more attractive. Nice gym facility. Convenient location. Includes free wifi (I’m always annoyed that the cheap places give it for free, the expensive ones tend to charge, so this is a plus.) We used to stay at the Four Seasons because of its homey atmosphere, but this place tops it, so we’ve stayed here three years in a row.

L’Ermitage Beverly Hills
9291 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 278-3344
http://www.yelp.com/biz/l-ermitage-beverly-hills-beverly-hills

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

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**** (4 stars)

This is a beautiful (if barren) setting, and the hotel creates a delightful oasis, with wandering lanes linking the room, and a pleasant pool. If the weather is hot, that does mean a hot walk to the main building for meals, but that’s why you’re here, I suppose. Dinner in the dining room is good, if not inspired, and if the weather permits the outdoor dining is delightful, with live music, and a view of the craggy surroundings. Breakfast is a nice buffet. Compared to other Four Seasons, the resort seems a bit short on amenities, as beyond hiking in the desert or swimming in the pool, there is little to do. But for a relaxing getaway, it’s a pleasant place. Wifi is free.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
10600 E Crescent Moon Dr
Scottsdale, AZ 85262
(480) 515-5700
http://www.yelp.com/biz/four-seasons-resort-scottsdale-at-troon-north-scottsdale