The evidence
Each criterion with what we found, where we found it and when. Anything we could not confirm says so.
NTH criteria
NTH Framework v1.2. Score 47.9 (raw 36.2 of 100), calibrated so the best hotel in this edition (Santa Monica Proper Hotel) reads 90. Evidence retrieved 2026-10-22.
Sleep7.0 / 24
The room as an instrument for deep, uninterrupted, circadian-aligned rest.
Mattress & sleep system
Hotel-reported · in the best room
Luxury sustainable mattress; materials not disclosed.
Bedding & textiles
Hotel-reported · in the best room
Sustainably sourced linens.
Sleep programme & pillow menu
Hotel-reported · in the best room
Wellness package includes a Slip silk sleep mask and Bamford pillow mist.
Blackout
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Circadian & warm evening lighting
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
In-room red light
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Acoustic quiet
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 4 pts
Unknown
EMF & Wi-Fi-off options
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Air2.0 / 12
What you breathe for eight hours a night: filtered, fresh, smoke-free and unperfumed.
In-room purification
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 5 pts
Unknown
Ventilation & building standard
Hotel-reported · across the property
LEED Gold.
Smoke-free policy
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Fragrance-free & low-allergen rooms
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Water5.0 / 12
Clean water to drink, and to shower and bathe in.
Filtered drinking water
Hotel-reported · in the best room
Filtered water taps; all faucets with filtration systems.
Shower & bath filtration
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 5 pts
Unknown
Gentler pool & hydrotherapy water
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Nourishment4.0 / 10
Food and drink that heal rather than merely please.
Organic & local sourcing
Hotel-reported · across the property
Terrene: organic, local and sustainably sourced; rooftop garden and beehives.
Clean-ingredient standard
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 3 pts
Unknown
Clean minibar & in-room hydration
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Nutrition guidance
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 1 pts
Unknown
Movement5.0 / 10
The means to train, stretch and move, indoors and out.
Gym completeness
Hotel-reported · across the property
State-of-the-art gym built with leading trainers; brands and hours not stated.
Classes & studios
Hotel-reported · across the property
Complimentary classes with Love Story Yoga and LuxFit SF.
Swimming
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 1 pts
Unknown
Outdoor activity
Hotel-reported · across the property
Electric bike rental.
Holistic Wellness2.0 / 19
Healing traditions and the recovery technology that complements them.
Spa facility
Hotel-reported · across the property
Bamford Wellness Spa, eighth floor.
Traditional & integrative modalities
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 4 pts
Unknown
Mind & breath
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Heat therapy
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Cold therapy
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Photobiomodulation & PEMF
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Clinical longevity (IV, HBOT, diagnostics)
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 4 pts
Unknown
Materials & Setting11.2 / 13
What touches the skin and surrounds the stay: finishes, products, cleaning, and the landscape beyond the door.
Natural, low-VOC finishes
Hotel-reported · in the best room
Reclaimed barn wood, organic fibres, natural textures.
Clean bath & body amenities
Hotel-reported · in the best room
Bamford bath products (earlier NTH research).
Non-toxic spa & nail products
Hotel-reported · across the property
Bamford products from natural and organic ingredients, certified.
Non-toxic housekeeping & plastic-free operations
Hotel-reported · across the property
Zero-waste methods; tap water to minimise single-use plastic.
Green & blue space
Hotel-reported · across the property
On the Embarcadero waterfront.
Walkability & low-impact mobility
Hotel-reported · across the property
Central and walkable; green transport options; e-bikes.
Our review
At a glance
- Fragrance
- 5 not yet reviewed
- Air
- 5 not yet reviewed
- Cleaning & care
- 4 not yet reviewed
- Sleep & materials
- 5 not yet reviewed
- Water & pools
- 4 not yet reviewed
- Food
- 2 not yet reviewed
- Light & quiet
- 2 not yet reviewed
- Building
- 1 hotel-reported, 2 not yet reviewed
Nothing reviewed yet: every criterion is shown as not yet reviewed.
Nothing reviewed yet25 of 25 not yet reviewed
Counts cover the 25 scored criteria; the other 5 windows are context.
Checked
Read the full profileThe ledger
Fragrance
Added scent is the most common complaint from sensitive guests, and the hardest thing to see on a booking page.
No added fragrance in rooms
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: An optional wellness package includes a Bamford pillow mist ‘made with calming essential oils’.
Our note. That mist comes with a package, not with every room. Whether rooms are scented by default is not stated.
How we know
What we look for. No air fresheners, plug-ins, room sprays or diffusers used in guest rooms.
Why it matters. In a US population survey, about a third of adults reported health problems, such as migraine and breathing difficulty, from fragranced products. Terpenes in many fragrances also react with indoor ozone to form fine particles and formaldehyde.
Sources: Steinemann, Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, Fragranced consumer products: exposures and effects from emissions (); Nazaroff & Weschler, Atmospheric Environment, Cleaning products and air fresheners: exposure to primary and secondary air pollutants ()
Source 1: Hotel website: wellnessUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
No scent marketing
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: The hotel lists ‘the natural earth-inspired aroma that surrounds you’ among its mindful touches.
Our note. It does not say whether this is a diffused scent. Ask before you book if you react to fragrance.
How we know
What we look for. No signature scent diffused through the lobby, corridors or ventilation system.
Why it matters. In a US population survey, about a third of adults reported health problems from fragranced products. A scent pumped through shared air reaches every guest, and there is no way to opt out of it once you are inside the building.
Source: Steinemann, Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, Fragranced consumer products: exposures and effects from emissions ()
Source 2: Hotel website: sustainabilityUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Fragrance-free laundry
Not yet reviewed.
Unscented bath products
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: All rooms include Bamford bath products.
Our note. Whether an unscented option is available is not stated.
How we know
What we look for. Fragrance-free toiletries in the room by default, or on request.
Why it matters. Fragrance ingredients are among the most frequent causes of allergic contact reactions to cosmetics. An unscented option lets sensitive guests use what is provided instead of packing their own.
Source: EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products ()
Source 3: Hotel website: roomsUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Unscented spa options
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: Spa treatments use Bamford products ‘made from natural and organic ingredients’, and a bath soak uses CBD salts with ‘natural botanicals’.
Our note. Whether treatments can be given without essential oils or scent is not stated.
How we know
What we look for. Treatments, saunas and steam rooms available without essential oils or scent infusions.
Why it matters. Essential oils are fragrance: the EU’s scientific committee lists several natural extracts, as well as single fragrance chemicals, among established contact allergens. A shared sauna with a scent infusion is hard to avoid.
Source: EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Opinion on fragrance allergens in cosmetic products ()
Source 4: Hotel website: Bamford Wellness SpaUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Know something about fragrance here that we don’t? Tell us
Air
What you breathe for eight hours a night: smoke history, fresh air, filtration and anything burning in the room.
Smoke-free property
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: ‘Smoke Free’ appears in the list of what all rooms include.
Our note. Terraces and public areas are not covered by what is published, so this falls short of the criterion.
How we know
What we look for. No smoking in any guest room, balcony or indoor space.
Why it matters. Tobacco smoke leaves a residue (thirdhand smoke) on surfaces and in dust. A study of California hotels found that non-smoking rooms in hotels that allow smoking elsewhere did not protect non-smoking guests from it.
Source: Matt et al., Tobacco Control, Thirdhand smoke and exposure in California hotels: non-smoking rooms fail to protect non-smoking hotel guests from tobacco smoke exposure ()
Source 3: Hotel website: roomsUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Opening windows
Not yet reviewed.
Filtered fresh air
Not yet reviewed.
In-room air purifier
Not yet reviewed.
No in-room combustion
Not yet reviewed.
Know something about air here that we don’t? Tell us
Cleaning & care
How a room is cleaned, treated and prepared, and whether a request for a gentler clean is actually honored.
Low-chemical housekeeping
Not yet reviewed.
No ozone or biocide treatments
Not yet reviewed.
Low-chemical pest control
Not yet reviewed.
Sensitive-guest preparation
Not yet reviewed.
Know something about cleaning & care here that we don’t? Tell us
Sleep & materials
The textiles, mattress and floor you spend the night closest to, and how allergen-aware the room is.
Tested or organic bed linen
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: The hotel provides ‘locally sourced, sustainable bed linens’, and rooms have cotton bedding.
Our note. No certification is named, so this falls short of the criterion.
How we know
What we look for. Sheets and towels certified to a residue-testing standard such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100, or certified organic.
Why it matters. Certifications such as OEKO-TEX Standard 100 test the finished fabric, down to the thread, against a list of restricted substances, which lowers skin exposure over a night’s sleep.
Source: OEKO-TEX, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (undated)
Source 5: Hotel website: home pageUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Mattress materials disclosed
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: Its mattresses are described as ‘non-toxic, organic’.
Our note. What they are made of, how they are certified and how they meet flammability rules are not specified, so this falls short of the criterion.
How we know
What we look for. The hotel says what its mattresses are made of and how flame-retardancy is achieved.
Why it matters. Flame retardants have been added to mattresses and seating foam, and the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences lists possible effects including endocrine and thyroid disruption. How much a mattress adds to anyone’s exposure is still debated; disclosure lets guests choose.
Source: US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Flame retardants (undated)
Source 5: Hotel website: home pageUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Hard floors
Not yet reviewed.
Allergy-friendly rooms
Not yet reviewed.
Pet-free rooms
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: Dogs are welcome, up to two per stay, with no extra fee.
Our note. Whether any rooms are kept pet-free is not stated.
How we know
What we look for. Rooms or floors where animals are never allowed, cleaned to a separate routine.
Why it matters. Pet allergen can stay on carpets and furniture for months and travels on clothing. For allergic guests a room animals never enter matters more than any amenity.
Source: US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Pet allergens (undated)
Source 6: Hotel website: pet-friendlyUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Know something about sleep & materials here that we don’t? Tell us
Water & pools
Drinking water, shower water and pool air.
Filtered or tested drinking water
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: ‘All faucets are equipped with low-flow fixtures and water-efficient filtration systems’, and every room lists filtered water taps.
Our note. The filter type and maintenance schedule are not stated, so this falls short of the criterion.
How we know
What we look for. Drinking water filtered at the tap or refill station, or treated and tested on site, with filters or tests on a schedule.
Why it matters. Public water systems in California are regulated and monitored by the State Water Board, though older building plumbing can still affect what reaches the tap. Filtration mainly improves taste and removes chlorine, and it replaces single-use bottles; private wells need regular testing.
Source: California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (undated)
Source 2: Hotel website: sustainabilityUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Water safety plan
Not yet reviewed.
Shower filters
Not yet reviewed.
Shown for information; not scored.
Outdoor or low-chloramine pools
Not yet reviewed.
Shown for information; not scored.
Know something about water & pools here that we don’t? Tell us
Food
Allergen care first; where the produce comes from second.
Allergen-aware kitchen
Not yet reviewed.
Garden or organic produce
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: At Terrene the chef ‘serves up organic, local and sustainably sourced fare’, with ingredients from a rooftop garden and honey from on-site beehives.
Our note. How much of the kitchen’s produce the garden supplies is not stated.
Shown for information; not scored.
How we know
What we look for. A meaningful share of the kitchen’s produce is grown on site or certified organic.
Why it matters. A large review found detectable pesticide residues about four times as often in conventional crops as in organic ones. Over a short stay the difference in exposure is small, so we show this as a note on the kitchen, not a scored health factor.
Source: Barański et al., British Journal of Nutrition, Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses ()
Source 1: Hotel website: wellnessUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Kitchen note, not scored.
Know something about food here that we don’t? Tell us
Light & quiet
Darkness and silence at night, and radio-quiet options for guests who want them.
Darkness and quiet
Not yet reviewed.
Radio-quiet options
Not yet reviewed.
Shown for information; not scored.
Know something about light & quiet here that we don’t? Tell us
Building
The materials a hotel was built and renovated with, how it handles damp, and what third parties have certified.
Low-emitting materials
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: The lobby floor uses 7,000 square feet of reclaimed barn wood, and public spaces have plant-based, handwoven rugs.
Our note. Paints, adhesives and finishes are not described, so this falls short of the criterion.
How we know
What we look for. Low-VOC paints, adhesives, finishes and flooring specified in construction or renovation.
Why it matters. Paints, varnishes and adhesives release volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde among them, most heavily when new. Low-emitting products reduce that load.
Source: US EPA, Volatile organic compounds’ impact on indoor air quality ()
Source 2: Hotel website: sustainabilityUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Leak and mold response
Not yet reviewed.
Building certification
Hotel-reportedacross the property
The hotel says: ‘1 Hotel San Francisco is LEED Gold Certified.’
Our note. Not yet checked against the USGBC directory. LEED is mainly an environmental certification, and no year is given.
Shown for information; not scored.
How we know
What we look for. A third-party certification such as WELL, LEED or a green business program, recorded with its level, and its year where the certifier gives one.
Why it matters. WELL assesses air, water and light in occupied buildings. LEED and green business programs are mainly environmental, with some indoor-quality elements. A certificate records what was designed or checked at a point in time, not what a room is like today.
Source 2: Hotel website: sustainabilityUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Context only. A certificate supports specific criteria only where its scope covers them.
Know something about building here that we don’t? Tell us
Notes & sources
- Hotel website: wellness, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: sustainability, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: rooms, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: Bamford Wellness Spa, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: home page, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: pet-friendly, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
Room count: Not stated on the hotel’s own site. Hotel website (opens the hotel’s website)
Photographs: 1 Hotel San Francisco; 1 Hotel San Francisco; 1 Hotel San Francisco; 1 Hotel San Francisco; 1 Hotel San Francisco; 1 Hotel San Francisco; 1 Hotel San Francisco
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