Claremont Club & Spa
Got meetings in San Francisco? Do as Behiye Hassan did and Take a couple days out to visit Claremont Club & Spa, you’ll be glad you did
As we drove over Bay Bridge to make our way to Oakland our taxi driver pointed out our hotel, “It’s known as the white castle in the hills’ he said. After a delayed 10-hour flight and a long wait for luggage it was relief to see our final destination.
Once we arrived at the Claremont Club & Spa we went straight to our signature suite. Just one look at the king bed, separate seating area and stunning views of the bay and we could instantly feel effects of the long haul flight fading.
Nestled in 22 acres of hills overlooking the San Francisco Bay, the Fairmont hotel sits between Berkeley and Oakland and is just 20 minutes’ drive from downtown San Francisco. With a mix of rich history and modern amenities it is the perfect destination that allows you to get away from it all without being too far away from anything.
The property dates back to the California Gold Rush when William Thornburg, a Kansas farmer who struck it rich and built an English castle-inspired home for his wife and daughter on 13,000 acres in the Oakland Hills.
Sadly, a fire in 1901 burnt the family home to the ground and Thornburg then lost his ruined property in a game of checkers to Frank Havens and Borax Smith who had plans to build a resort on the land which led to Claremont Club & Spa finally opening its doors in 1915.
Today the luxury hotel has award-winning cuisine, a world class spa, an extensive health club/fitness centre and 276 guest rooms and suites that offer breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay.
In 2015 the property went through an extensive renovation as part of its 100th anniversary and the rooms were renovated to apply modern décor and amenities to compliment the hotels classic architecture. Their top suites include the hotel’s iconic Tower Suite with exclusive views from a private outdoor deck and the Presidential Suite which includes a private office.
They have 22,000 square feet of event space including two ballrooms, several function spaces and flexible rooms that can be divided into multiple meeting areas.
This year they were named one of Meetings Today’s Best of the West 2017, one of the 16 hotels in California to earn the distinction as one of the best venues for meetings and events. They were also named Best Wedding Venue in Diablo Magazine’s 2017 Best of the East Bay List.
When it comes to dining, guests have plenty to choose from. Their signature restaurant Meritage showcase’s the culinary team's attention to detail and freshest local produce. It has received a Four Diamond rating from AAA, Four Star rating from Forbes, and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
Bay View Café offers a casual outdoor setting with salads, sandwiches, hamburgers and other snack favourites at poolside.
The Lobby Lounge and Bar has an extensive wine list and a selection of local artisanal beer. They also serve Afternoon Tea on weekends featuring some of the world’s best tea.
Meanwhile Limewood Bar and Restaurant serves regionally-sourced cuisine for lunch and dinner daily. The restaurant recently celebrated their one-year anniversary and were also named one of the best burger spots in Oakland by KQED Bay Area Bites.
If you’re not looking to indulge then The Club at the Claremont is the destination for enjoying an active healthy lifestyle with 10 tennis courts (complete with three tennis pros), three swimming pools and an outdoor Jetstream whirlpool.
For those looking to relax Claremont Spa is devoted to holistic health and well. Complete with 32 treatment rooms—including two couples’ suites—and a full-service hair and nail salon, the treatment menu emphasizes natural healing therapies.
Treatments are designed to restore your balance and melt away your stress. There are also eucalyptus steam rooms, saline whirlpools, deluge showers and multi-head bathing showers.
Claremont Club & Spa has something for everyone and offers a true escape. However, should a business emergency arise you’re only a 20-minute drive away.
A signature suite at Claremont Club & Spa costs $1149 (£871 ) per night