This Hotel Room View Will Wow You

The

is a luxurious sanctuary in Sausalito, California. A coastal getaway just north of San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge, the waterfront boutique property stuns with panoramic of the San Francisco Bay. Each of the 31 rooms and suites has been custom designed and decorated inwarm earth tones—with custom furnishings and vibrant color accents by Anna Maria Delgado of Anamar—and each features its own private balcony with picturesque views of the city’s skyline (nearly every room boasts a fireplace and soaking tub). Since opening over 21 years ago, the three-story contemporary structure has been renovated three times, most recently in 2013, to ensure a modern environment. The property is owned and operated by the McDevitt family, who first constructed the building in 1961 as an apartment building—it was redesigned and turned into a boutique hotel in 1995.

We spoke with Mark Flaherty, the hotel’s general manager, about the property and what makes it so special.

What room on the property boasts the best views and why?

Every guestroom and suite at The Inn Above Tide enjoys spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the Tiburon Peninsula. The Penthouse and the Vista Suite both have the most direct view of the San Francisco city skyline from the guestroom, as well as from their private furnished decks.

What’s your favorite room?

The Penthouse is a particular favorite.

Because?

It has that wonderful feeling of a cozy pied-à-terre on the Bay, and there is no better place to enjoy a glass of wine than the free-standing spa tub overlooking the water and the city lights beyond.

What special perk or amenity do you offer that no one knows about?

A fresh gardenia blossom is placed in each of our guestrooms daily, which provides a soft scent that our guests come to associate with the hotel. Additionally, Kass Green, one of the hotel owners who is also a map-maker, has custom-designed an Adventure Map providing detailed hiking and biking excursions in Marin County, and our curated Sausalito Hiking Map guides guests through some of the hidden steps, walks and trails in the hills of Sausalito.

What’s your favorite design element on property?

All of our guestroom decks have glass railings which allow for an uninterrupted water view from inside the guestrooms, as well as while on the deck.

If you were a guest, what would you order from room service?

We offer an extensive complimentary continental breakfast which can be delivered to one’s guestroom and enjoyed on the deck. Featuring locally-roasted Palio Coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice, a selection of quiches and fresh pastries, bagels, granola, yogurts, seasonal fruits, and breakfast cheeses, it is a perfect way to start the day.

How would you spend your ideal day at the hotel?

After enjoying breakfast on the guestroom deck, take a leisurely stroll around the shops and galleries of downtown Sausalito and a morning hike up into the hills for a bird’s eye view of the San Francisco Bay. Borrow one of the hotel’s loaner bicycles for a ride to Heath Ceramics for a tour of their original Sausalito factory, then grab a bite of lunch at the nearby restaurant Fish, featuring sustainable seafood. In the afternoon, head to Sea Trek Kayak for a kayaking or stand-up paddle-boarding class before returning to The Inn Above Tide for a relaxing in-room massage. Stop by the Drawing Room for the hotel’s daily wine and cheese reception featuring Napa and Sonoma wines. Then, walk to dinner at the award-winning Sushi Ran or the excellent seasonal Mexican restaurant Copita before curling up by the guest room fireplace for a night cap.