Check In For A Dose of Wellness At the Stanford Court Hotel

Presenting the "Maude,'' made with rooftop honey at the Stanford Court Hotel.
Presenting the “Maude,” made with rooftop honey at the Stanford Court Hotel.

San Francisco’s Stanford Court Hotel is buzzing — in more ways than one.

Last year, the Nob Hill hotel added an apiary to its rooftop terrace just outside its Seven Stills restaurant. Now, it’s reaping the sweet rewards of those bee hives — from honey that’s accenting fun offerings on the menu.

I had a chance to try a few recently, when I was invited as an overnight guest of the hotel.

The restored, 3-ton penguin statue by Beni Bufano graces the entrance.
The restored, 3-ton penguin statue by Beni Bufano graces the entrance.
Depictions of horses owned by industrialist Leland Stanford decorate the lobby.
Depictions of horses owned by industrialist Leland Stanford decorate the lobby.
The night-time skyline view from one of the rooms.
The night-time skyline view from one of the rooms.

Take a seat at the bar or one of the tables in the restaurant that’s open to the lobby to order one of the specialty cocktails ($15 each) that are all named for movies that were filmed in San Francisco.

I went with the “Maude,” as in “Harold and Maude,” filmed at Oyster Point in 1971). It’s a blend of gin, lemon, honey from the hotel’s apiary, and rooftop-grown mate leaves. It’s citrusy, herbaceous and slightly medicinal tasting. The honey’s floralness is subtle, and its sweetness is not heavy-handed.

Lobby art.
Lobby art.

Yes, with all the bees on the rooftop, it makes for an ideal place to put in some raised beds for a thriving garden, too. At this time of year, you’ll find the last of the season tomatoes, squash blossoms, peppers, and plenty of herbs such as basil.

Onion flowers in the rooftop garden.
Onion flowers in the rooftop garden.
Peppers growing on the roof.
Peppers growing on the roof.
Garden beds.
Garden beds.
The bee hives.
The bee hives.

The tomatoes and basil were featured in a special Caprese salad ($12) with burrata and syrupy balsamic. I only wish the tomatoes had not been refrigerated, as the cold zapped a lot of their flavor, which is especially a shame when they are grown just steps away and can be picked at their peak.

The Caprese salad.
The Caprese salad.

The best use showcase for the honey was dessert. The honey flan ($10) is delightfully eggy, smooth and jiggly with a drizzle of runny honey cascading down it. It gave the vanilla custard an almost caramel flavor.

Honey flan -- good to the last spoonful.
Honey flan — good to the last spoonful.

If you need to work off those calories later, the hotel offers a range of options to do so, as part of its new wellness focus.

There are electric bikes right outside the hotel’s entrance. Its Urban Sanctuary rooms are appointed with yoga mats, as well as Well + Away VitalKits that contain a cucumber and ginseng facial mist, a morning recovery drink in case you’ve imbibed too much the night before, and vegan and gluten-free snacks such as irresistible Justin’s Dark Chocolate Cashew Butter Cups.

An Urban Sanctuary room, with a yoga mat at the foot of the bed.
An Urban Sanctuary room, with a yoga mat at the foot of the bed.
Well & Away VitalKit, plus herba teas.
Well & Away VitalKit, plus herba teas.
The contents of the VitalKit.
The contents of the VitalKit.

Last year, a 1,500-square-foot gym was introduced, complete with Peloton bikes positioned in front of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the California Avenue cable car line. (Race ya?)

You have to love the sign by the Elliptical machines.
You have to love the sign by the Elliptical machines.
Peloton bikes overlooking the cable cars.
Peloton bikes overlooking the cable cars.

What I especially appreciated are the high-tech FloWater stations in the lobby that dispense for free ultra-purified chilled water.

Water dispensers in the lobby.
Water dispensers in the lobby.
Filters galore.
Filters galore.

If you forget to pack your own water bottle on your trip, there is a reusuable one in your room for easy use. How’s that for service?

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