Irecently became Marriott Gold, in large part thanks to my American Express Platinum (learn now in our e-book). We used to be hardcore Hyatt people but after a lot of somewhat “meh” experiences including some credit card fraud, we wanted to try to explore more Marriott properties, starting with one of our many staycations in San Francisco.
The Hotel Adagio is part of Marriott’s Autograph collection, aka independently owned boutique properties that Marriott manages. Read on to find out what we loved and what we didn’t.
Location: 4.5/5
Hotel Adagio is located in the Union Square area of San Francisco, a very central shopping district with easy access to transportation, the cable cars and Market Street trollies. However, it is also important to know that Union Square in general is also directly butted up against the Tenderloin, an area that is quite a bit rougher than many tourists are accustomed to. As long as you know to be away of yourself while you walk around, then you’re fine. Max and I walk around late at night and have no issues but it is very important to remember to stay aware, regardless of where you are. The Adagio is located about 2 blocks from the actual Union Square and only takes about 4-5 minutes walking to get there. It’s directly next to a very cool bar called Jones that you should absolutely check out.
Lobby & Check in experience: 4/5
The lobby is very cool. They did a great job on the renovation and it feels hip. There is ample seating around the lobby and there is also Seattle’s Best coffee, Tazo tea and water available at all times. The Mortimer is the lobby bar separated by a cool half-wall from the lobby. The bar was also very lively when we walked by.
We were immediately greeted by a front desk agent and check in lasted about 5 minutes. As Marriott Gold, you are entitled to an upgrade as well as complimentary continental breakfast. The rate I booked included a hot breakfast (complete chance- the rate was actually cheaper than the standard rate for some reason). Therefore, I declined the breakfast and accepted 750 points instead. They were unable to upgrade us to a suite, but I did get upgraded from the Act One guestroom to the Applause guestroom. Both are standard rooms, however, the Applause is larger by 50 sq ft. She thanked me for my loyalty to Marriott which is always nice to hear and showed us to the elevators.
Pro tip: always check prices on mobile as well as desktop. You never know when you’ll find a deal on the same exact booking site. Also: have AAA? You can often find great deals by selecting a AAA rate.
Unfortunately, 1 of the 2 elevators were not working which caused some delays getting in and out of the hotel. Also, there is no service elevator which is quite unfortunate since often the in-room dining or housekeeping folks take up a huge amount of space with carts. This is obviously not their fault, but it can be an inconvenience if you are in a hurry.
Rooms: 4/5
We arrived to the 11th floor and saw our room, 1106 was the first room closest to the elevator bank. I always fear the worst when I see this because I have spent many nights in hotels with very noisy people waiting for elevators. However, the moment I shut the door, it was like we were in a sound vacuum. You could barely hear anyone outside. You could also not hear the street noise at all. It was actually really surprising.
The room was a very nice size. There was a large sofa and coffee table, desk, 49 inch tv and king bed with two night stands. The room was nicely appointed but worth noting that there is no refrigerator and no minibar so the website is out of date. I’m sure I could have called and asked for a fridge to put my wine in but it was fine. There were outlets on the lamps but no USB ports. There was an ihome on the one nightstand that you could connect your phone to.
Our view was lovely- a great view facing the city with no obstructions.
The bathroom was small, kind of dark but did have ample towels and Bigelow products.
Overall, the room was quiet, clean and very comfortable so definitely met my expectations.
Facilities: 4/5
The Adagio does offer a fitness center that I did not use but appeared to have the appropriate weight equipment and machines. Nothing fancy but it worked. They do not have a spa but offered to recommend nearby spas that other guests have enjoyed.
Their internet was fast and worked in the room as well as the lobby. Marriott members get free wifi so join for free on their site.
They did offer parking as well and typical of San Francisco, it cost $59 and is valet only. This is in line with other hotels in the area.
Dining: 4.5/5
We ordered room service and thoroughly enjoyed it. The price was actually very reasonable for room service and I can definitely recommend it ($3 delivery charge + 20% gratuity). They also service room service on real plates with real silverware, unlike many hotels these days who are serving room service in “to-go” containers.
We also had breakfast in The Green Room the next morning and thoroughly enjoyed it. We checked out the Elite menu (free breakfast) and it included more than just continental breakfast items so that’s a huge plus for Marriott elites. Since we had the hot breakfast included, we were able to select any entree and beverages on the regular menu. I had the three egg scramble and Max had the eggs benedict. Both were excellent and we found the service of the staff to be really nice as well.
Service: 5/5
I will say everyone we encountered was unbelievably polite and really wanted to please the guests. Nothing was too much trouble and they apologized profusely if they forgot anything. Housekeeping was very friendly and kept thanking us for our stay. I called the front desk a couple of times and they were quick and polite. Upon check out, we left our bags for a few hours and they remembered us when we returned and pulled out our items immediately.
They also offer a chat service through the Marriott app – which sometimes worked and sometimes did not. I hate talking on the phone so I love this service.
Overall: 4.3
Overall, my expectations were absolutely met. We even received a nice bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries while we were out, which was a lovely treat upon return. The hotel had lovely decor, despite being on the older side and the benefits of Marriott Gold (late checkout, free breakfast) make the stay absolutely a great value. The staff is hospitable and try very hard to please and the hotel is in a great location. Will I come back for my next staycation? It’s absolutely on my list.
A shameless plug for AmEx platinum here, but it’s worth it! Check out our e-book to learn about our favorite benefits, which include Marriott Gold.
What are you favorite hotels in San Francisco?
