Review of The Claremont Hotel

Editor's Pick Award

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The Claremont Resort and Spa was a 19^th-century castle before being reborn into its current incarnation in 1915 as a classically beautiful hotel. You will see the Claremont Hotel far before you arrive, its stately white presence on the Berkeley Hills rises high above the surrounding neighborhood, and its aura of elegance is only reinforced once inside.

Incidentally, the Utah Jazz pro-basketball team was staying at the hotel too this weekend, and I got a couple autographs but didn’t want to harass them so mostly just watched them glide through the lobby with their impressive suits and formidable height. At 5’2”, I'm sure it was quite an image when I was standing near them. But enough about them—back to the Claremont.  The concierge was most helpful in several regards, most notably getting us a reservation during a busy Mother’s Day Sunday at the very best table at Scoma’s in Sausalito. If you want to stay in and eat, however, the food at the hotel restaurants is quite delicious: Jordan’s food is delectable and the setting with floor-to-ceiling windows at sunset can’t be beat, and the Paragon Bar & Café also has a great menu, fun specialty drinks, a hip atmosphere, and copious seating available on its balcony overlooking San Francisco Bay. Piano players accompany dinner at the bar, while the Paragon has a live jazz band most nights of the week. (Parking is validated for locals, by the way, who want to enjoy these restaurants.)

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Sculpted and lush grounds surround it, with spectacular, simply gorgeous tennis courts (and many of them!), a great spa with gym, and my favorite part of the hotel: multiple jacuzzis and three pools with lap lanes and without. The larger pool is heated to a comfortable temperature so swimming in the chilly evening is possible, and the smallest of them is a sweet heated baby pool with fountains, perfect for little kids. Beautiful scenery surrounds you while you swim, the Berkeley hills above and the view of the Bay and San Francisco below which you can see from the deck of the pool.  Stunning!

There’s really so much to say about the Claremont that I can’t begin to explain. Visit their site for a more complete introduction:  www.claremontresort.com    If you get a chance to stay here, I'm sure you won't be disappointed!