Rosewood Sand Hill
Photo Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels and Resorts LLC
One might think that Silicon Valley’s hottest hotel, Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, would be filled with digital touch screens, gaming stations and other tech-inspired modernities, but that’s not exactly the case. When it comes to this chic 121-room beauty, most of the bandwidth is dedicated to sumptuous details, exceptional service, beautiful grounds and unparalleled amenities. Here are three other things we love about this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort.
The guest rooms
Refined relaxation aptly describes the rooms at the luxury hotel. Each unit is nicely separated from the next, so you won’t be woken in the morning by screaming kids or your neighbor’s television.
You’ll notice some nice design details. Art adorning the room walls are limited-edition prints from the Bay Area. The sliding-door closet has an equestrian feel — that makes sense since the space is large enough to fit a thoroughbred. The bathroom is undeniably sexy with an oval soaking tub, a rainforest shower and a wall of mirrors.
Need to get some work done? The double-sided desk seats two and has plenty of outlets. Most rooms have a lovely wooden deck with two sitting chairs, making it the perfect place to have breakfast on a sunny day.
The beds are immensely comfortable, boasting linens from Rivolta Carmignani, mattresses by Bouvet Island and Phoenix Down pillows that are 25 percent white down and 75 percent feather. In other words: you’ll wake feeling recharged.
Madera, Photo Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels and Resorts LLC
Madera
There are numerous reasons why this hotel’s signature eatery earned its Four-Star distinction. For starters, its spectacular dining room has a wall of windows overlooking the lush grounds and bright blue pool. An oversized fireplace ensures that diners aren’t cold on chilly evenings. The lighting is low, but the warm color palette and lively atmosphere ensure that Madera feels exceptionally festive.
There’s also an open kitchen bustling with activity. And you can’t forget about the team of sommeliers that oversees a massive wine list with more than 2,000 labels. The vino specialists are huge fans of Coravin, a handy gadget that allows collectors to sip wine by the glass without pulling out the cork. The sommeliers maintain a special bottle list devoted to older, rare vintages that can be enjoyed thanks to the technology.
Chef Peter Rudolph’s multi-course tasting menu is a revelation. Think delicate, melt-in-your-mouth hamachi crudo with leeks and lime; sensational seared foie gras with quince and puffed pastry; and succulent red snapper with roasted cabbage, buttermilk brandade and caviar.
The Event Studio by Colin Cowie, Photo Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels and Resorts LLC
The new Event Studio by Colin Cowie
Colin Cowie, one of the world’s most sought-after wedding planners, brings his services to Rosewood Sand Hill. His new signature events studio allows you to plan the ultimate Cowie experience. If you hope to host an event at the hotel — the facility has 16,874 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including ballrooms and board rooms — you’ll be invited into the impeccably decorated intimate lounge to meet with the onsite event coordinator. Enjoy macarons, chocolate and wine as you get the rundown of the different tiers of events.
Color is crucial to the Cowie, and the studio has 99 different hues of linen napkin to prove it. Seasonal, color-coordinated vignettes that showcase a palette, theme, fabrics and extras provide bridal inspiration. Small booklets display every type of flower that can come in a specific color. Be it tulip shapes or teacup sizes, Cowie’s team of professional dream makers ensures that no detail is so small that it would slip through the cracks.
