Cavallo Point

Character and identity

Set on a sheltered spit of land at the Marin foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, Cavallo Point occupies a former Army post inside a national park, with the city skyline glittering across the water. Half of the 142 rooms sit in restored 1915 Colonial-Revival officers' quarters, each with its own architectural quirks; the rest are LEED-minded contemporary builds with solar panels and denim insulation. Modern art and bamboo ceilings replace the usual lodge clichés. Chef Justin Everett oversees the clubby Murray Circle, Farley Bar, and the Healing Arts Center's Tea Bar, with a spa, yoga, and multi-day learning programmes rounding out the stay.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The pull here is setting and sensibility: a sustainably built national park retreat with the Golden Gate framing breakfast, not a polished urban grand hotel. Book a contemporary room for the eco-build and quiet, or a historic officers' quarters if you want character and creak. Couples and wellness-minded weekenders get the most from the spa and learning programmes.