Located on the upper floors of one of the city’s tallest buildings, this luxury hotel offers sky-high views of the city—from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Transamerica Pyramid to the Bay Bridge. (Yes, binoculars are in every room.) Power lunches take place at the hotel restaurant, Silks, which incorporates California produce into Asian fusion cuisine; MO bar is more casual, offering great cocktails and small plates from the kitchen. While the rooms can feel almost austere—the gold and red accents work hard to perk up the subdued, contemporary furnishings, beige carpet and walls—the staff’s warmth more than makes up for it. Asianinfluenced hospitality extends from feng shui room design to complimentary jasmine tea service, making this Eastern-influenced location one of the most memorable stays in the West.

Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco Amenities:

• 158 rooms. Wireless Internet access. Restaurant, bar. Fitness center. Business center. Pets accepted.