2016 - Wedding Ideas Magazine Feature
Perfect for a truly special getaway,Hotel Nikko is just steps away fromUnion Square in the heart of thecity known for its charming history andstyle. The hotel offers over 500 elegantrooms plus luxurious suites – enjoy the15-metre heated pool and whirlpool, ortake a trip to the health club, steam roomsand dry saunas – they have it all!Home to one of San Francisco's mostacclaimed restaurant's ANZU, the chefsat Hotel Nikko are passionate aboutcreating delicious dishes using only organicingredients. A favourite of ours was TheRock – thinly sliced Wagyu beef cookedtable side on a sizzling Japanese river stone,served with a trio of sauces.
Feinstein's at the hotel is an elegantyet intimate 140 seat nightclub wherethe venue presents performances byartists from a variety of genres includingBroadway, cabaret, drag, jazz, as well as ourfavourite, rhythm and blues.
If you're keen on a great cocktail orsake, Japanese rice wine, then you will lovethe Kanpai Lounge with its hot pink styling– it's an intimate and sophisticated place torelax and toast the day.
If you are thinking of getting marriedhere, the hotel's exquisite ballroom isa stunning venue for weddings. Withfantastic views of the city, it can cater for upto 800 of your nearest and dearest.
What's to love about san fran?
San Francisco is a friendly and wonderfullymulticultural city. Hop on to one of the bustours and in the space of a few blocks youcan travel from the tourist-hippy Haightthrough to Little Italy, Chinatown andJapantown where, along the way, you willsee the beautiful and colourful Victorianhouses on the steep hills overlooking thebay. San Francisco is one of those rarecities where it's easy to see and do a greatmany things in a short period of time. SanFrancisco has a natural beauty, with itscombination of hilly terrain and being inthe middle of the Pacific Ocean and theBay. Just over the bridge you will find themammoth redwoods of Muir Woods andeven closer you can take a stroll throughGolden Gate Park or along the beach wereyou may get lucky enough to see somewhales jumping out of the sea.Who does it suit?
Whether you're into cool cafés, quirkyshops or trendy bars the neighbourhoods ofSan Francisco offer something for everyone.There is world class art to be seen, too –whether it's in the museums or in the graffitifilledstreets, the city is full of interestingand creative people living unconventionallives… And everything is accessible on footor public transport.What's the Weather like?
Staying in June, the weather will be warmbut windy with the hottest month being July.The coldest and wettest is January. If youfancy a dip in the seathen August is whenthe sea temperature is at its best.What did you do?
Keeping busy while you're visiting the Cityby the Bay is not a problem, especiallywhen you're a guest at Hotel Nikko. Thehotel is within close proximity of manytop things to do… Like shopping! Fromboutiques to major department stores, theshopping in Union Square has it all and SanFrancisco is one of the world's top shoppingdestinations.
Running every single day of the year,cable cars are a great and fun way to geta feel for San Francisco and enjoy somespectacular views.
Spend days exploring Fisherman'sWharf enjoying the fresh food, streetentertainment and, of course watching thesea lions sunbathing at Pier 39. You canenjoy a walk over the most photographedlandmark in the world – the stunning andinfamous Golden Gate Bridge.
A highlight of any trip to San Franciscohas to be Alcatraz Island – catch a ferryto the former federal prison whose mostfamous resident was Al Capone, but don'tforget to wrap up warm because it gets quitechilly out there.
Where is it near for a day trip?
Enjoy a wine tasting day trip to Napaand Sonoma and walk through beautifulvineyards, learning about the history ofwinemaking. If wild beauty is more yourthing then spend the day enjoying thebreathtaking sights of Yosemite NationalPark. Take a scenic stop at Inspiration Pointto see Half Dome and El Capitan.How long is the flight?
Flights leave from London Heathrow andare approximately 11 hours long. Prices startfrom £550 return per person.What to know before you book
The US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP)allows most British Citizen passport holdersto visit the US for up to 90 days without avisa, but you may need to get authorization from the Electronic System for TravelAuthorisation (ESTA) before you travel.Find out more
Visit hotelnikkosf.comFacebook @HotelNikko
Twitter @HotelNikkoSF
january 2016 | weddingideasmag.com