The Battery is probably one of the best-kept secret places in San Francisco. It is a private club that only resident members have access to. There’s a long waitlist to join this private and elite club, but, luckily for you and me, there is a way around it: book a night at one of  The Battery’s 14 tastefully luxurious guest rooms. With the reservation, you become a Resident Member and are granted access to the club’s facilities for the duration of your stay. For this year’s Mother’s Day, I got an incredible treat to enjoy a staycation at this fabulous place.

The Battery is located in the historic Barbary Coast district, on the fringes of the Financial District, close by to North Beach and the Embarcadero. It‘s tucked away anonymously behind a row of old oak trees and a series of frosted windows. I actually missed the entrance twice while arriving, simply because I couldn’t believe such an elite club’s door is so understated. And inside, the same tone of quiet discretion is carried throughout the club. Business chat is gently discouraged, photography is prohibited everywhere, and mobile phone use is confined to a couple of designated places (in one of The Battery’s cool Wes Anderson-esque phonebooths, for example) and hours. Digital devices must be shut down and put away before 6 p.m. Technology is, however, always allowed in The Library, one of my favorite rooms in the club. I was granted permission to take photos for this blog when there is no members in the location where I was shooting. Both the hotel and I fully respect the privacy as well as the comfort of the hotel guests and members.

The Battery is not a typical boys’ club that you may have heard of or experienced from elsewhere, It is so much better than that. Truly fitting into the cultures of San Francisco, The Battery has this dark, moody and bohemian vibes. You don’t feel like you are in a hotel, but a very handsome stylish English house. There are two restaurants, 14 beautifully designed rooms, a spacious Penthouse with roof terrace, a library, a photo booth room, conference room, an upstair bar that leads to a secret room, a wine cellar, a gym, and a spa area .

Every guest room in the hotel is individually designed. We stayed at the fabulous Courtyard room, which has an incredible attention to details, from the brick walls, to the complimentary coffee and tea service, from little Hermes box on the desk to the chic Master & Dynamic headphone paired with the TV. There are also beautiful coffee table books and travel guides for San Francisco for you to enjoy and gather ideas. The ensuite is equally amazing with shower unit, a deep bathtub, and a full set of amenities. The whole room is just so pretty and cosy that you just don’t ever want to leave.

There are several dining spaces in the The Battery. One called the “Living Room”, the other called “The House Bar” with a counter in the middle of the restaurant, and finally an outdoor sitting space “Garden Bar”. They all serve the same menu, but have totally different atmospheres. The “Living Room” has more formal sitting arrangements like an elegant English Pub, whereas “The House Bar” is much more spacious with high ceilings and sailing sculptures on the sides and has a more casual look. It is the perfect place to mingle and chat. “The Garden Bar” has super-laid back yet chic look. With the twinkling string lights, the space looks extra magical in the evenings. They hosted many events and special celebrations for the guests and members in these spaces. On the Mother’s Day, the hotel staff set up this amazing brunch for the Moms. I am talking about not just a good variety of delicious dishes, but also little crafts and activities for the families. Both kids made two of the cutest little succulent plants for me.

One of our favorite part of the Hotel was The “Musto Bar”, not only because it is super chic bar, but also it has a secret door! Yes, a SECRET DOOR. With a touch on a particular object in the book shelves (not going to tell you which one), one of the shelves will swing open and reveal a hidden and stunning green room to you. We felt like living in a super cool spy movie. The kids and I loved it! Side Note: The kids went into this room when it was closed. No alcohol was served during our visit. In fact, no one else was there.

I was given the privilege to visit the infamous Penthouse with the roof Terrace. One word, “WOW”! Hermes blanket as the comforter on the four poster bed, a giant ensuite with freestanding bathtub looking out to the terrace, a huge outdoor terrace with comfortable outdoor sitting and dining areas, a outdoor jacuzzi pool facing the skyline of San Francisco, surrounded by tall bamboo plants. All of these luxury and comfort come with a price tag of $15,000 a night. If any of you would like to invite me to stay, feel free to email me.

I can go on and on about the library, the photo booth, the spa, the gym, and even the bathrooms. Not get me even started on the artworks throughout the house! The collection is simply incredible, way better than a traditional art gallery, in my opinion. A huge hat off to Ken Fulk, the world-renowned interior designer, for his impeccable taste and work.

If you ever think about visiting San Francisco and want to stay at The Battery, which I highly recommend you do, please make a reservation as early as possible. With only 14 rooms (unless you are thinking about the Penthouse), this boutique is sold out as hot potatoes. Trust me, it is totally worth trip!