Cavallo Point

We recently returned from a few nights at Cavallo Point and it is one a one of a kind hotel, luxurious but not stuffy. Set on what use to be Fort Baker, they have done a beautiful job in restoring the historic buildings. The two main buildings house the reception area, a gift shop, Farley Bar and Murray Circle restaurant.
Up on the hill you will find buildings that are modern and contemporary with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Each room offers a private balcony or patio, fireplace and sitting area.
The historic rooms are down on the main property and offer a lot of architectural elements, shared patios and sun rooms.
From the moment we checked in the valet, bell staff, and front desk staff was really friendly, helpful and accommodating.
We were in a room up on the hill, where there is no self-​parking, so the bell staff loaded our luggage onto a golf cart type vehicle. Drove us to our room, lugged the bags up to the second floor, set them up for us, gave us an overview on the room. He showed us how to use the fireplace, TV, safe and fridge. We walked back down the hill to the welcome wine reception, snagged a glass of red wine and made ourselves comfortable on the porch of the reception building in wooden rockers and watched the bay and city, it was stunning.
On property you will find Farley Bar which offers wine, beer, cocktails and a nice menu of bar food, but elevated. Murray Circle restaurant is their fine dining option for dinner, and they also serve breakfast and lunch.
The hotel offers a shuttle into Sausalito which will drop you at the ferry terminal and you can easily walk the town from the drop spot, or take the ferry across to San Francisco for a day in the city.
If you want to forgo the city, and are more of an outdoor person, there are some nice hikes right from the property. You can also walk to the Golden Gate Bridge from the property and then up to do the bridge walk. Just a short distance from the hotel, you can drive through a historic one lane bridge and over to the Marin Headlands where there is more hiking, historic bunkers a great little visitors center.
The spa on property is beautiful. Set among trees, it is peaceful and relaxing. Guests can use the pool at the spa, you can order food to be delivered to the spa and a few short steps from the spa is a nice fitness center. The spa staff was fantastic and helpful.
If you are a foodie, check their schedule as they have a beautiful and modern culinary center where they offer cooking classes.
The property is very pet friendly, so if you have allergies, request a room that is pet free.
While pricey, it is well worth the stay.

My daughter and I spent two nights here a few weekends ago. Staff was friendly and professional from check in to check out. Very dog friendly
Special shout out to Jayne Reichert director of the cooking school. We had signed up for a jam making class which unfortunately was cancelled.
Jayne had sent us an email telling us of some of the local foodie happenings in lieu of the class. In an effort to ease our disappoint about the cancelled class Jayne offered… and we happily accepted … her kind invitation to go with her to the Marin farmers market for a very special 3 hour chef’s tour and tasting. We had a great time!!!
We then came back to the resort for a relaxing drink at the outdoor terrace before departing home. Although she was under no obligation. It was very thoughtful of her to extend herself and her time. We really appreciated it.
Good times. We will be back!!!

Had a wonderful 3 days at this charming, historic inn. The setting is gorgeous at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge with large property… Stunning views, eucalyptus trees surrounding, beautiful spacious rooms (stayed in a newer building perched high above) kind staff, complimentary wine, lovely breakfast. Loved every minute here.

Warning: This is going to be a long review, but for a very good reason.
Upon arrival: We were greeted by a very approachable Valet attendant, named Josué. Made sure that he’ll be waiting on us after checking in to make sure we get to our rooms with no hassle and no difficulties. Driving to our room was very informative. Josué told us the history of Fort Baker and what things were before the whole turned into lodging.
Reception: Our front desk concierge was very friendly. Made sure that our booking was handled. Do not hesitate for an upgrade, as they will make sure your stay will be something that you’ll forever brag about. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for a late checkout. They had some technical difficulties as far as which rooms were available, I’m sure it’s a glitch in the system, totally not the rep’s fault. But they definitely made it up to us in such a huge way that we were speechless with their gestures of apology, accommodation, and taking actions. Segway to our upgraded room to Contemporary King Suite… And this is the best part of this review.
Room/​Suite: besides the obvious Contemporary design, each furniture is designed with exquisite taste of modernity. Each room is catered to not only the aesthetic sense of your stay, but to cater to the the amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Kudos to the architect and interior designer, and double kudos to the furniture pieces designer/​maker. You can never go wrong with ample supply of caffeine. Not only does the room provide Nespresso coffee maker with amazing coffee-​tasting pods, they also provide an automatic hot water pot for your tea! Complementary wine and cheese is an icing on the cake. Oh, I haven’t mentioned the plush robes with velvet His & Hers slippers! The balcony boasts with spectacular view of the historical Fort Baker, lawn chairs with a small table to place your complementary wine & cheese… AND…it also comes with an outdoor heater! Switch is located on the wall by the bay view couch, curtain side. Only input on the whole design though, I wish the flat screen TV could swivel so you can watch TV from either the living room side or the bedroom side.
Room service and food: Having been drinking (free) wine since we first stepped foot there, my taste buds could possibly be off. But we ordered the mussels, burger, truffle fries, and their soup for dinner… and they tasted great! Their breakfast tasted good as well. But I’m sure waking up really relaxed and happy with our amazing view may have also been an influence.
Checkout: We called for a bellboy and a ride to the reception area since we were high up and it’s quite a ways to get down with our luggage. Check out was quick. We told the concierge that we will be eating at Murray Circle first for a late lunch meal, and they kept our car with the Valet attendant until we were finished.
It was a clear day so the view of the Golden Gate Bridge was amazing! Fort Baker is such a lovey place, and Cavallo Point Lodge made this experience so memorable and definitely would be talking about our stay for weeks on end. Thank you to all the superb staff! Exceptional! I cannot wait for the next R&R and this place is definitely worth all the pennies.

Delightful porch and restaurant dining. Comfortable and dress as you like. Staff outstanding! Ill be there again soon.

My wife and I just love it here. The service, location, amenities-​everything-​is top notch. We have overnighted here numerous times, and though we live only 45 minutes away, feel as if we have traveled to a European destination.
One of my favorite places here is the art gallery, behind the Mercantile store. It is a hidden gem with local artists photography, painting and the like. Well worth a visit.
Highly recommended.

We booked this hotel thinking it would be nice for a long valentines weekend, however when we arrived the man at the check in was very rude and said that my card, with which I booked the room a couple of days earlier, was declined even though it the whole amount came out of my account and I had a conformation e mail that stated it was paid in full. He then rolled his eyes and annoyingly said that I had to give him another card so that he could put it on file to make sure — I didn’t think he would run it again but he did and the amount for the stay came out of my other account as well — however which was interesting it wasn’t the same amount. When I asked him later about it when I saw it came out of my account again he explained that there are different fees however he didn’t elaborate on the specific fees or why they differ. I got kind of suspicious at this point especially because when asked to refund one of the charges he made, he rudely denied and stated that I couldn’t have been charged twice which I was because he ran both cards — I showed it to him on my accounts and he still refused — I still hope I will get it back!
When we finally got to our room, we had no view, even though we requested and payed more for a room with a view but all we saw was a handicap parking spot! Another disappointment was that we had our dogs with us and actually booked this hotel because it was advertised as being very dog friendly, however the room didn’t have the dog bed or bowls and dog biscuits in it as it stated it would! When we checked out our bill was $ 350 more than it should have been– when I asked about it the same guy, again very rudely, snapped at me and said that those are resort fees, which are stated as $ 25 on their webpage and not $ 350!!! Their pricing is very misleading and there are many hidden costs they don’t tell you upfront, which is very disappointing in a hotel like this. I can’t believe a man with that attitude is a manager of a want to be upscale hotel like this! It was a very disappointing stay and it kind of ruined our time in San Francisco– next time we will definitely stay somewhere else! Safe yourself the headache and book a room somewhere else! The room was definitely not worth the money they are asking for it!

Love it! Good, ambience, drinks, food! it’s ALL good! Fabulous view of the bridge. The bar is a great option over the more formal restaurant for dining.

We were there with the Blue Angel madness, as we were leaving we decided to get a drink instead of getting stuck in parking lot traffic hell. So we traipsed across the large dried out field in front of the hotel. My friends have been beckoning me to go for sometime, so I was surprise to see it, now mind you, it’s part of a fort system, & it looks the part. It reminded me of a youth hostel that I stayed at in France decades ago. They have vast balcony seating & a cool gentlemen’s quarter bar inside. Golden hue with beautiful wood bar & leather club chairs. We couldn’t order a drink to save our life… too busy but an employee said we can sit in a lounge area outside & take our cocktail with us. We decided to bring our own goods to the outside area & partake in impromtu picnic. Seating is limited but there are super friendly tourist that will gladly share their space, kids allowed & dogs (in that area). All the employees I ran into were courteous & apologetic. Again, we did not eat nor get any drinks.

One of my favorite places in the SF Bay. It’s the only hotel where I truly love their dog beds. Morning dog yoga on the activity lawn, ocean side walks, and evening tasting dinners with my humans at Murray Circle.
If my humans ask if I want to go to Cavallo, the answer is always yes.

We had a very memorable stay at Cavallo Point. The king contemporary suite was very spacious and we had a great view of the Golden Gate. We took a midnight walk out to the lookout point about ½ a mile away. It was totally worth it!
The valet was great. They can drive you to your room if you don’t want to walk, which you might not want to do because the property is very spread out. I would love to stay again, perhaps in a historic room.

I come here regularly, 10 different stays in the past 11 months, mostly winter months. This will always be my favorite Bay Area mini vacation.
Service and staff is great. Rooms are always large and cozy. Had an issue with room #104 and they moved me right away. There was a sink right in the middle of the room, see pics.
In short, they’re very accommodating and everything about this place is 4 stars.
They treat everyone exceptionally well and it shows, especially with loyal customers.

Pretty pretty lodge. Had breakfast with my team before doing our hiking. Service was friendly and super attentive and the room was spacious. Love the décor as well!

Disappointed! Sad to say because we typically love Cavallo Point. I have previously given them 5 stars but I post reviews for every visit. Both my husband & I agree that if this was our first visit there, we’d never go back again.
Why? The room was terrible! I believe we must of had the worst room in the entire place. I will post pics of our glorious view of the handicapped spot. & tiny room that cost $ 540 a night! The room was called the «king contemporary,» so do yourself a favor & only stay in the historic rooms. Once we arrived to our room with huge disappointment, we immediately called management asking if they had another room to put us in. They said no but would call us back to let us know if they were able to arrange something… crickets, they never called.
There was zero wi-​fi as well! We couldn’t receive texts, calls & emails from our children or parents (who were watching our children while we had a night off)… So frustrating!
To get to our room, we had to climb way up the hill, zero parking by the room. Unreal. You would think they would charge ¹⁄₃ the price for these rooms. Very disappointed & am questioning our return.
Fortunately, we went to the spa and had great massages the day we left. Therefore, I’ll write a review with 5 stars for the spa.
The spa was the only thing that helped save the terrible room they put us in.

I don’t usually get comments from another manager (who was not present) defending rude behavior of another manager — it is now turning into the ‘camp fire story of Cavallo Point.‘
Wait maybe I am wrong here — did I miss something?
So I checked the data — and low and behold — other Unilocal reviewers have found the same thing at Cavallo Point — Ray C, RM, Linda B, Heather K — almost identical, curious, especially in that the ‘manager’ or staff were rude… a smile and how are you goes a long ways folks.
And here is a real simple lesson — when a guest criticizes take the high road and simply apologize — gosh — or wait — defend your managerial staff — as per they weren’t even pleasant, nor were you there.
The defensive comment — yuck — only reinforces my decision to post more about the incident, avoid your place (*until the managerial change comes) and go to some other places I like in Marin until then — there are plenty of other great options: The Lodge at Tiburon, De Angelos, Il Davide etc…

Breathtaking views of the Golden Gate bridge from amazingly appointed, contemporary rooms. I lucked out and even got a direct view of the bridge from my room. They offer cool meeting spaces including a chapel on top of a hill.
Be aware, if fog rolls in at night, the fog horns will blow constantly, in which case, pack some ear plugs

Stayed here for 2 nights with the wifey for our birthdays and anniversary. OMG. Super nice. It’s like the Golden Gate Bridge is in your back yard! Love the morning coffee and pastries reception and you def can’t beat the wine reception either. The staff was great– everyone from the valet to the front desk was super nice. Loved Cooper, the golden retriever hanging out in the lobby…
We also got some really great ideas from Nancy, the chef concierge. We ended up «test driving» one of the Lexus’ they have for guests to use… for free! We ended up driving up and down the coast area– Muir Woods, Stinson Beach… it was awesome!
We stayed in one of the historic buildings and it has so much character. Loved the soaking tub!
We will most definitely be back!

This was a great place to stay. We spent the day in Sausalito, then doubled back to the resort to enjoy a great dinner. The restaurant has little nooks for you to sit in and a number of fire places. There are a number of fire pits on the property and rocking chairs on the decks for you to enjoy.
A short drive to Mill Valley…
We stayed in the newer contemporary rooms (2405) which were quite nice and comfortable beds!

This review is based on our experience attending a wedding on site (did not stay at this hotel). The grounds are immaculately maintained, with some nice views of the Golden Gate Bridge. I was a bit disappointed since I thought the bridge view would be completely unobstructed (from the lodges), but there was a hill /​trees that blocked the view.
Since the wedding ceremony was held on higher ground, it was nice to see the view from that perspective. We also had some light drinks and appetizers at the café/​restaurant at the lodge, with some outdoor seating available for small parties.
We ordered the following:
(1) charcuterie plate (half size) to share amongst 4 people
(2) prosecco
(3) guacamole & pita chips
(4) another alcoholic drink
****
The cocktail hour was held near the restaurant, outside of the ballroom. It was a great time and thank goodness the sun was out and the weather was nice in July!

Look at me. I’m so cool eating fancy food eating in a fancy place while looking at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco where I am a local. Not a tourist just to be clear. Really happy with fare. My life on Unilocal is awesome.

We would never stay here again. We’ve traveled extensively and as «technology geeks» we neither resemble nor kowtow to the ridiculous stuffiness of the über-​elite. That’s not to say we make asses of ourselves or try to stand out as rebels; rather, we prefer to keep to ourselves and, at a minimum, be treated respectfully.
The staff here, including the manager, was visibly rude, wanted us out of the Farley Bar, after having paid for expensive champagnes over 2 different evenings, which included a lavish dinner two nights previously. (We wanted to treat ourselves for our birthdays).
We were not rude; we are kind, quiet people. But we do wear jeans, even though we were not inappropriately dressed. I guarantee we have more money in our accounts and less tied up in debt than the majority of this establishment’s patrons. Sadly, I believe that based on our non-​designer wardrobe, and our non-​designer rental car (even though we drive an expensive luxury car at home — why waste money on getting around on vacation???), we were treated poorly. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a sign of substandard accommodations.
We thought that a quiet getaway at this Ft. Baker resort would be worth the $ 425/​night price tag. However, we learned our lesson and would pay more to stay in the City, with better access, better treatment (we know, because we’ve stayed elsewhere in San Francisco), and without the toll fees each time we desired to travel into the city for sightseeing.
We had a great time in San Francisco. We’d never hold Cavallo Point against this beautiful municipality. But we WOULD hold it negatively against other elite properties.
Consider your «Country Club» atmosphere preserved. We won’t repeat our business, nor excessive tipping, in an attempt to improve your substandard service.

Overall, our experience here has been mediocre. Do not expect any modern amenities in the «historical» rooms. Our TV barely worked and the fridge wasn’t working with the complimentary cheese slowly rotting inside.
The worst part of it was our experience at the bar and restaurant. The hostess was extremely rude — after calling us out for «loitering» in the entry way (when we were simply waiting for the rest of our party) she said that she couldn’t accommodate us, which is fine, but then, she refused to let us order food to go, insisting that we go back to our room to order room service. We left, but when I went back to ask them another question, the hostess and the manager were obviously gossiping about us. Before I even asked my unrelated second question, the manager felt the need to reiterate again that they would not serve us food to go.
The best part of this whole stay was the spa — the staff there was vey nice and welcoming. But I won’t be coming back again.
P. S. The coffee is disgusting. Be warned.

One of my favorite places to go to on a mini getaway. I am in love with the location which is just a short walk away to the Golden Gate Bridge. There are also hiking trails on the property. I chose this place because I was looking for a place that was dog friendly. It costs about an extra $ 75 to bring Fido. Actually, the cost includes two dogs and includes a dog bed, dog bowl, and a little package of dog goodies.
We have stayed in the traditional and contemporary rooms. We’ve stayed twice in the Contemporary King Suite with the Golden Gate Bridge view. The Golden Gate Bridge room view is lovely, even at night when the bridge is lit up. Downside to the contemporary rooms is that you need to catch one of the golf carts up or hike it up a small hill. Not bad though, if you don’t mind the wait for the cart or like the exercise. But it’s something to keep in mind.
I have also stayed in the Historic 2 Bedroom 1 Bath Suites a couple of times with family who were visiting from out of town. It was perfect, especially considering that there were 7 of us. 2 in the king bed, 2 on the queen, the kids on the sofa bed. Sofa bed is of course, not comfy at all. You might want to request the air bed instead. It’s actually more comfortable then the sofa bed. When booking this suite, the lady in reservations that I spoke to was very friendly and helpful and said that the suite could accommodate up to 12 people if we wanted to request extra air beds.
This has been one of my favorite places to come stay at. Love the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the fact that you can walk so very close to it. Love that they have trails nearby and such great areas to walk the dog, and myself for that matter.

I surprised my sweetie with a weekend getaway a few weeks ago at Cavallo Point, and am already thinking about when to go back! Upon surrendering our car to the valet at check-​in, we were whisked off to our contemporary room with a Golden Gate view and fireplace in a brand new Lexus SUV. They’ve got a small fleet that they use to shuttle guests to and from the spa, lobby, etc. and also have four or five other cars they loan out to guests for the day. We totally took advantage of this and took a sporty model out to Stinson.
The grounds are spread out and they do a great job orchestrating impeccable service despite the distance. We had room service twice, which was good. Didn’t make it to the restaurant but plan to soon.
The spa is fantastic. Quiet hot tubs outside each locker room, wonderful masseuses, and a cozy sitting area with fireplace and meditation pool outside. Great tea bar, too.
The only caution is the wifi and cell service is pretty spotty. Enjoy being unplugged!
Highly recommend. Well worth the splurge.

PROS: gorgeous grounds, secluded atmosphere only 10 mins from SF
CONS: overpriced, ultra rude staff
I drove over to Cavallo Point today, as my partner was doing a plein air painting seminar on the grounds. I called the day before and tried to book anything at the spa but they were fully booked. The spa told me to come anyway, and that the Farley Bar and Restaurant are great for a meal or small plates, so I did. When I got to the restaurant I was turned away, as it turns out it’s closed for a private event. No problem, I’m sure there’s somewhere else on the sweeping grounds I can get some champagne and lunch.
I walked over to the reception area and asked if there was anywhere I could work or get a drink or food, and the male at the front desk was extraordinarily rude; he Pretty Woman-​ed me! «The restaurant is closed, this area is closed, the entire resort grounds are closed.» When I voiced I just wanted to hangout I for an hour or so he handed me a map of Sausalito and snapped «I have no options here for you». Even the woman working the front desk with him cringed a little bit. I asked if there was anywhere else in the area I could get food, and he recommended a hotel 10 minutes away when there’s a restaurant at the Yacht Club right across the lawn.
+10 to the great spa staff, but –100 to the rude front desk staff. I’m a software engineer at top company, and had plenty of money to spend. I won’t be coming back, and will continue to take my business to the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn.
I write almost no negative Unilocal reviews, but you guys really got one out of me :(

We had our engagement photo shoot and our wedding here. so we HAVE to love it! Cavallo Point has one of the BEST views of the Golden Gate Bridge and also the San Francisco skyline. The grounds are well maintained (historic military grounds) and the service is top notch without being invasive.
My favorite things about the property:
1. The View
2. The Spa (well appointed, not to big or too small) and Tea Bar
3. Chairs Everywhere — Rocking chairs on porches and adirondack chairs on the lawns — plenty of places to sit
4. Firepits — great at night
5. The Chapel — yoga in the am
6. Gift Shop — many handmade San Francisco items (not tacky)
7. Wine — great by the fire and large selection (close to wine country after all)
The food was good (not 5 star but a solid 4), and the staff was very accommodating (5 star). There is a Cooking School on-​site and we hope to try it in the future. When considering a room, the contemporary rooms with Golden Gate Views are the best!
We will continue returning to our memory making spot.