Celebrate the Holidays at The Westin St. Francis

San Francisco is beautiful during the holidays – and sometimes, the hotels are even more spectacular than some of the other settings! Case in point: the legendary Westin St. Francis.

Located directly on Union Square and directly across the street from the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink, there is no better place to get into the holiday spirit. The brand new “St. Francis Sugar Tree” and the “St. Francis Sweet Shoppe” combined with festive decorations make it a truly grand getaway.

St. Francis Sugar Tree

On November 26 at 11 a.m., Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Francois Houdré and his team will unveil the never-seen-before “St. Francis Sugar Tree” in the celebrated Landmark Lobby. This magnificent 12-feet-tall tree features over 1,000 pieces of glistening candy made from pulled and blown sugar. Rows and rows of brilliantly colored, intricately handmade snowman, sugar ribbons, gift boxes, Christmas trees, candy canes, elves, stars and ornaments will adorn this rotating tree. This exciting event is open to the public and will feature music and complimentary coffee and cookies. The St. Francis Sugar Tree will be on display November 26 – January 2.

St. Francis Sweet Shoppe

Holiday treats here we come! Indulge in sugary goodness at the inaugural St. Francis Sweet Shoppe. Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Francois Houdré and his team will offer a delicious selection of freshly baked decorative cookies, brownies, gingerbread men and rice crispy treats available for purchase. There will also be a special “cupcake of the day” and “dessert of the weekend.” For those who want to take home some extra treats, boxes of Chef Houdre’s famous macarons and jars of housemade cookies are available to go. Open Saturdays and Sundays from November 29 – December 21; 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Dazzling Decoration

On November 21, The Westin St. Francis will be transformed into a festive oasis, embellished with spectacular holiday decorations from Joe Vincent Designs. The historic Landmark Lobby will be adorned with 15 miniature trees decorated with white LED lights to add a festive and elegant ambiance. In honor of the hotel’s 110th Anniversary, the Tower Lobby will feature a 15 feet tree with 10,000 LED lights that showcase the historic images of years past featured throughout the tree. A mixture of 20 gold and green trees with accent pieces will embellish the front desk. Travel down the shopping arcade to find the perfect gift, enjoy a delicious seasonal meal at The Oak Room Restaurant and indulge in a spa treatment at the St. Francis Renewal Spa & WestinWORKOUT gym. On display through January 2.

Make it a holiday tradition by treating yourself and your loved ones to a luxurious overnight stay at The Westin St. Francis. Choose from a selection of festive holiday packages and promotions. For reservations, call (888) 627-8546 or visit www.westinstfrancis.com/holiday-events. All packages exclude tax and are based upon availability.

photo credit // Peter Medilek

Originally published on November 20, 2014. Last Updated on January 10, 2019 by Pattie Cordova