Nob Hill Spa
San Francisco, CA 94108-2281
Phone: (415) 345-2888
Fax: (415) 345-2880
- Cross Street:
- Taylor Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Day Spa 2007
- Hours:
- Reception desk: Daily 7:30am-9pm, Fitness center/pool: Daily 6am-9pm, Spa: Daily 7:30am-9pm
Editorial Review for Nob Hill Spa – by Greg Dean
The Scene
Located on the lower floors of the Huntington Hotel, this spa is an upscale oasis for well-heeled luxury seekers. Guests negotiate maze-like corridors to reach the reception area and receive plush white robes and locker keys. After changing, they proceed to the indoor, poolside waiting area. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a serene view of the city and the bay and the sound of water lapping against the sides of the pool promotes pre-treatment relaxation.
The Services
The spa offers several types of massages, but most treatments have a more cosmetic slant. Facials utilize ingredients like green tea, champagne and gingko along with the usual cleansers and exfoliants. Among the six available body treatments: a spirulina wrap, an aromatic blue-cypress herbal detoxifying wrap and the vitamin cocktail--a body wrap that delivers massive doses of A, C and E to hydrate and protect the skin from environmental stress.
The Details
Pool (indoor), Jacuzzi, sauna, steam rooms, yoga (fee), weight room (fee). Massage and skin treatments.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
When to GoNo matter what time of year you go, book an early weekday appointment for a quieter visit. Also, in cool weather, request a treatment room with a fireplace; in summer, plan time to relax on the outdoor patio.
The ExtrasPeckish after all the pampering? Order something from the Huntington Hotel room service menu.
Know Before You GoMoms, dads and nannies take note: Guests under 16 aren't allowed in the pool or whirlpool.
ParkingThe Crocker Garage (at California and Taylor) offers spa customers three hours of parking for $15; after that, the regular rate applies.
User Reviews for Nob Hill Spa
07/16/2008 Posted by audreyjl
I recently had a mother daughter weekend with 2 of my best girl friends adn their moms. The 6 of us decided to visit Nob HIll Day spa. I'm a huge fan of anything coconut so I got their Thai coconut massage body wrap. It smelled pretty good but wasn't strong enough in my opinon. The massage therapist was very nice, but way way to weak. Since the treatment seemed to be both a body wrap and a massage I wasn't sure which charaterstics it would have more of. It technically was listed under their massage treatments in which case it was not good - the massage therapist was one of the worst I'd ever had. But if it's just a body treatment, then the slight rub was a nice bonus. I decided to go in with the mind set it was only a body treatment so i wouldn't be disappointed. My skin was not any softer after so only book this treatment if you like the smell of faint coconut for a short period of time. My friend got the same treatment and had Patrick and she was blown away with her massage - next time I will ask for him. the other gals got a variety of nail treatments and different massages, everyone left happy. I have not and will not try their facial treatments as I trust my facials only to Tru spa, but if you're experimental they had some interesting choices. the facilities are very pretty. I like having the option to work out, sit in the tub, pool, and other rooms. We were there on a Saturday so it was jam packed and the other patrons were a bit snooty and didn't seem very happy to be sharing their small patio with us. The staff was very friendly and helpful so you never felt lost. I will definitely return, overall it was a fabulous day.
Pros: hot tub, pool, outdoor area
Cons: expensive
06/10/2007 Posted by jane_smly
I went after reading reviews here and was disappointed. It really depends on your expectations I go regularly to Bliss Spa (SF), Lake Austin Spa Resort (Texas) and my other favorite spas around the world are Oriental Hotel (Bangkok) and various spas of that ilk in Bali, Hong Kong, etc. After the raves here, I thought Nob Hill Spa might be something like that. Firstly, it's not a stand-alone spa. It's really the hotel pool and the top floor of the hotel - thus the treatment rooms are converted hotel rooms. You check in at a gift shop. There is no lounge or wait area with magazines or snacks - you just sit around the hotel pool. There aren't that many magazines and the titles aren't good (for e.g. Bliss always maintains Town & Country, Travel & Leisure, etc.) I heard about the infinity pool and the breathtaking views. I was disappointed as the pool is very small and the view is not of the ocean but landward (you look south of Nob Hill towards Portreo, over ugly rooftops); also the view is not panoramic but partially obstructed. The pool is not an infinity pool - an infinity pool is one that has no edges - the waters spill over the the edge. This small pool's water meets the floor (it is level - but that doesn't mean it's infinity). I did not see any fireplaces and was told that only some treatment rooms have fireplaces - so the common areas don't have a fireplace to curl up against. Overall, the decor is 15-25 years old and needs serious renovation. Staff very nice. The touted "Spa Cuisine Menu" by the pool is only the hotel's room service menu, nothing special (Caesar Salad, Burger & Fries). The burger was very good, but it should not be pretending to be spa cuisine.
Pros: nice staff, good hotel food
Cons: outdated furnishings, hotel pool/heath club pretending to be a standalone spa
