Overall Impression What a view! Blessed with fabulous weather, we were curious of what awaited us behind the discrete Inn façade when we arrived at the narrow Inn entrance. Once inside, we marveled upon discovering the magnificent view from our penthouse suite. The Inn’s promotional materials said, “There are hundreds of hotels around San Francisco bay, but only one on it…” It delivered on its subtle promise of a waterside location and surpassed it with attractive accommodations, capable staff and more. From our suite’s desk, living area and porch we had an unobstructed marvelous view of San Francisco and part of Sausalito. If a picture is worth a thousand words, we had many thousands of words of a picture perfect view.
Connectivity Our room offered complimentary high speed wireless access.
General Manager Mark Flaherty
Handicapped Access An elevator provided wheelchair access to all three floors and some rooms could accommodate handicapped guests.
Length Of Stay Two nights
Location In downtown Sausalito, just outside San Francisco
Owned Bill Mc Devitt
Pets Allowed No
Size The Inn had 29 rooms and suites in a one acre property and was three stories high
Year Opened-Renovated 1994 renovated in 2004/05
Lobby And Common Areas A sleek contemporary style was prevalent at the Inn. This contrasted with the building’s rustic seaside exterior. In the lobby, original artwork included works by Jean Cluseau-Lanauve, Jacques Eitel, and contemporary San Francisco artist Noah Levin.
Bathrooms The bathroom had a large glass enclosed shower with dual shower heads, one of these was rainfall style (vertical spray rather than the angled spray of standard showers), a W.C. in the corner and a pretty frosted glass sink. There was half bathroom near the entrance, adjacent to a small wet bar area where the honor minibar was located. It featured an intriguing full length ceramic sink.
Room Our 700 square foot penthouse suite (#313), decorated in khaki and white, was even more luxurious and spacious than the photos conveyed. We entered through a small hallway leading to a living area with a striped earth tone fabric sofa, a cloth terracotta armless chair to one side and a rattan chair on the other. Facing the sofa was a double level glass and wood table, beyond the table there was a working fireplace and a hanging mirror. To one side of the fireplace was a built-in white recessed bookshelf over terracotta colored wall. On it were decorative vases in various shades of black and green. To the other side, there was an entertainment center with a remote controlled Gateway flat screen TV, a Samsung DVD player and a Panasonic CD player (set to a wonderful classical music station when we arrived). There were many lamps: two on the wall, one on a wooden side by the sofa, another stood next to the entertainment center and a stool/drum. The floor was carpeted in khaki except in the corner where a large Jacuzzi bathtub stood facing the bay and San Francisco. The Swiss plastic tub made by Bain Ultra was set in front of a three paneled window and faced two large windows. Each window offered an electric privacy screen. A beautiful white orchid plant, similar to one at the entrance hallway, kept bathers company.
Our suite was serviced twice daily, regular cleaning in the morning and a turn-down service in the early evening. In the middle of the room, across from the sofa and fireplace, there was a king bed with a wood night table to each side of it. There was a lamp on each night table. The bed had a McRoskey Airflex custom made mattress from San Francisco. On a side wall there was a Gateway remote controlled TV. Favorite features included the fireplace, two skylights – one by the closet and the other over the bathtub, and the porch which was adjacent to the desk area and offered the suite’s best view of downtown San Francisco.
Artwork included original woodblock prints by Hajime Namiki, and objets d’art Zulu basketry from local Sausalito art gallery Spirits in Stone. There were custom-designed furnishings by Jason Lees Furniture Design of Berkeley, California and Franciscan Interiors of San Francisco.
Food Breakfast and afternoon happy hour wine and snacks were served. Breakfast featured 10 kinds of fresh fruits, prunes, cereal and milk, fresh orange juice, organic yogurt, sliced wheat bread, bagels, individually wrapped mini cheeses, cream cheese, butter, jam, muffins, and fruit pastries. There was also coffee, regular and decaf, eight kinds of Azo tea (tea bags) including several herbal infusions and decaf green tea. In the afternoon, there were local wines, various cheeses, crackers, French style bread and a good-looking selection of fruit including berries and grapes.
Amenities Complimentary San Francisco Chronicle in the morning, fruit and bottled water (on our floor), microfiber bathrobes, shower cap, Hermes brand toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, and bath gel.
Facilities Breakfast and afternoon snacks were served in a small room near the entrance,
Pool No
Other Two fragrant fresh gardenias gave the room a special aromatic touch. Guests had the option of parking with the Inn’s valet service or on the public parking nearby. We took advantage of the valet service, which was well-organized, friendly and fast.
Many media had visited the Inn before us and praised it including: “Inn of the month” in Country Living Magazine 2005, Recommended by MS Magazine 2005 Denmark. Recommended by Escape Magazine 2005, Sweden; “Best Place to rekindle a romance” North Bay Bohemian 2005; “Room with a view” featured on Fine Living Channel 2004 & 2005;”Amazing…beautiful inside and out” featured on KPIX Channel 5 Evening Magazine 2004;”Million dollar views “Karen Brown Guides 2005; “My favorite hotel in the world” Santa Clarita Living 2005; Recommended by Atlanta Journal Constitution 2004; Recommended by New Orleans Times Picanye 2004 & 2005; “20 Best Seaside Getaways” Sunset 2004; Recommended by and featured in Disajn Magazine Sweden 2004; and Recommended by Bay Guardian London 2004.
Check-In-Check-Out Excellent, with no wait
Cleanliness Excellent. We happened to be in the room when the Inn’s housekeeping staff knocked on the door. A team of three swirled in and scrubbed, mopped, sprayed, dusted and made every corner clean.
Date Of Review April 2005
Reviewers Article and Photos by Elena del Valle
Would You Stay There Again? Yes
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