Rosewood Sand Hill

For instant immersion into the heart and soul of Silicon Valley and proximity to Stanford University, the Rosewood Sand Hill is the place to stay.

• The contemporary California architecture that gives a nod to laid-back living with outdoor fireplaces and lovely gardens
• The excellent daily yoga classes at the spa
• Madera restaurant, which is the place for power breakfasts and lunches for the Valley’s VIPs

Rosewood Sand Hill is a Silicon Valley institution, thanks to the role it has come to play as the area’s power nexus. After all, this is where the IPOs of Facebook and Google were announced and where the major venture capitalists have their lunch meetings daily in Madera restaurant. (Vanity Fair even devoted a feature article to its “Cougar Night,” the Thursday evening cocktail hour that lures young tech wizards looking for a social life and their potential female prey or predators). Just coming for a look at the sports cars in the parking lot on Thursdays is worth an ogle. And for those staying in the area, whether to visit Stanford (one mile east) or to do a deal in the Valley, there is no more comfortable place to call home.

The sixteen-acre resort has a distinct Northern Californian sense of place with lots of outdoor decks, cedar wood, landscaped gardens and views of the Santa Cruz mountains. Even though it draws lots of business travelers and dealmakers, the property feels more like a resort than a business hotel. Families congregate around the central swimming pool and outdoor grill, and the spa offers daily yoga and fitness programs locals and hotel guests can join.

Madera, the main restaurant, celebrates California cuisine and seasonal ingredients in a dining room with indoor and outdoor seating that evokes a Napa country house. Large glass windows frame the mountain views and cedar and cherry wood accents and paintings by local artists emphasize the California aesthetic.

The 121 guest rooms, too, embody the best of Northern California living; the understated, chic décor pays homage to the natural beauty outside, with large balconies and outdoor gardens that are ideal for breakfast with a view of the mountains. Rooms also, however, feature all of the latest technology from Nespresso machines and a Philips SoundBar for a state-of-the-art surround-sound entertainment system to a single remote that controls lights, temperature, TV and music systems. The best rooms are the villas with private lawns and large living rooms with fireplaces. The Sense Spa at the back of the property features a full salon, 13 treatment rooms and a separate outdoor pool. And for those who prefer outdoor excursions to the extensive gym, the hotel can arrange hiking, biking, golf and horseback riding nearby.

Anyone doing deals in Silicon Valley who wants to be taken seriously and anyone visiting Stanford University who wants to stay in the nicest resort in the area.

Rosewood Sand Hill is located 35 miles south of San Francisco and 14 miles north of San Jose so the property is easily accessible from either city’s airport.