Hyatt Regency Club: Inside San Francisco’s Exclusive Enclave

Atop the Hyatt Regency San Francisco lies not just another hotel lounge but an experience that puts a unique spin on what it means to hold elite status or book a club-level room.

That spin is, in fact, quite literal. At one point, the top floor of the Hyatt Regency San Francisco slowly rotated, offering 360-degree panoramic views of the city skyline and the San Francisco Bay. And as of May 2024 — after a 17-year hiatus — it spins again.

Getting to experience the rotation, though, is a somewhat exclusive experience, as the top floor houses the Regency Club Lounge. To access it, you must book a Regency Club guest room, which is typically more expensive than a standard room. Or, you can gain Hyatt Regency Club access by holding the highest tier of World of Hyatt elite status, Globalist.

Hyatt invited NerdWallet to tour the San Francisco Hyatt Regency Club. Here’s a glimpse at what it’s like, how to get in, and a breakdown of whether it’s worth the effort (and cost).

A rotating restaurant, The Equinox, which previously occupied the spinning space, closed in 2007. After that, Hyatt used the floor — albeit in static form — as its private Regency Club for World of Hyatt members.

The Hyatt Regency San Francisco marked its 50th anniversary in 2023 — upon which the property underwent a $50 million renovation. That included a refresh of the 42,000-square-foot lobby with a 17-story indoor atrium, which holds the Guinness World Records for the world’s largest hotel lobby. It also entailed bringing back the club’s rotation.

Hyatt Regency San Francisco’s Regency Club is open throughout the day on most days of the week, though it rotates for just six hours (three hours in the morning and three in the evening).

Floor-to-ceiling, curved glass windows provide abundant natural light and offer panoramic views of the water and downtown. The spin is slow, requiring 56 minutes to complete a 360-degree rotation.

Most mornings, there’s a continental breakfast featuring fruit, yogurt, pastries, quiche, eggs and potatoes. Throughout the day, there’s coffee plus light snacks like cookies.

In the evenings, hors d’oeuvres are hefty enough to comprise a full dinner for some people. Dishes vary daily, but generally include roasted root vegetables, assorted salads, locally-sourced charcuterie, plus bread and cheese including Acme Bread and Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt Tam cheese.

When we visited, hot foods included beef empanadas, cheesy bread with caramelized onions and gluten-free pasta.

Although alcohol is available, it’s not free. Served honor bar style (where you write down on the accompanying piece of paper what you drank), expect a room charge for whatever you pour.

There are a few ways to get inside.

Hold elite status: Hotel guests with World of Hyatt Globalist status can get in for no additional charge. To earn that ultra-high status tier, you must spend at least 60 nights with Hyatt or earn 100,000 base points per calendar year. Base points are earned when paying for certain purchases with Hyatt, including eligible room rates, on-site dining or spa treatments.

Pay at check-in: You can also pay for the privilege. At check-in, you can purchase Regency Club access for $125 per night, which covers everyone in the room (up to four guests).

Pay in advance: When making your reservation, there’s sometimes the option to book a Regency Club room or package. Prices vary by day and can be somewhat unpredictable.

But often, the price difference between a standard room and a Regency Club package costs much less than $125, making booking the package in advance more economical. NerdWallet found dozens of summer nights where the price difference to upgrade to Regency Club access was only about $60.

The club’s value comes down to whether you’ll take advantage of the refreshments — and how much you pay to get inside.

If you have Globalist status

If you hold Globalist elite status and you’re staying at the hotel anyway, you may as well pop in at some point (or perhaps multiple points).

If you’re considering a paid upgrade

Since Regency Club access is issued by room rather than individual traveler, you’ll milk more value if multiple people share one room. After all, it’s $125 per person if you travel solo, versus $31.25 per person when split across four people sharing one room.

Considering up to four travelers could graze throughout the day on Regency Club food, the $125 upgrade could be worth it if you’ll mostly eat at the hotel.

And it’s not just the food, but the experience, too. Views are comparable to San Francisco’s other top-tier panoramic bars. You won’t need a reservation, nor will you feel rushed out. This lounge typically has ample seating. Plus, the rotation is just plain cool.

If you have Globalist status and aren’t sure which of Hyatt’s dozens of San Francisco Bay Area hotels to book, could this rotating experience be enough to compel you to book the Hyatt Regency San Francisco?

Consider the property’s closest, Hyatt-owned competitor: the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA. Not only are they part of the same Hyatt brand, but the two hotels are less than a mile from each other.

While both Hyatt Regency properties are located in downtown San Francisco, they serve different clientele. The former’s location is unbeatable for tourists given its proximity to major attractions such as the Ferry Building Marketplace and Pier 39. The latter is closer to The Moscone Center convention complex, making it more business-friendly.

From the unique lobby design to the unparalleled Regency Club views, the Hyatt Regency San Francisco itself might end up being the highlight of your San Francisco trip. The SOMA version of the Hyatt Regency’s lobby is a bit bland in comparison. And while SOMA’s Hyatt Regency has a Regency Club, it neither rotates nor offers panoramic views.

Book the Hyatt Regency San Francisco if you prioritize a memorable hotel experience.