These Are the Coolest New Hotels in San Francisco
From posh rooftop bars to campfire-boasting courtyards, new and updated hotels are cropping up in San Francisco’s most celebrated, storied neighborhoods. Ahead, you’ll find a cozy Kelly Wearstler-designed property that’s revitalized a century-old Mid-Market building, a quirky, atomic-inspired Pacific Heights boutique with fresh-baked cookies on offer, and five other new and soon-to-open stays that are giving the City by the Bay fresh appeal for travelers.
Hotel Zeppelin, Theater District
Kitschy seventies touches like psychedelic wallpaper in the bathrooms and turntables in guest rooms give this 196-room property a playful vibe — one that's rounded out by a game room outfitted with Skee-Ball and shuffleboard. But despite the pops of avocado green and mustard yellow, Zeppelin feels fresh and modern. With its affordable price point — not to mention the high-energy Mantel Bar, complimentary bike rentals, and convenient location just west of Union Square — it's an ideal destination for travelers looking for a place with a youthful spirit. Doubles from $199.
San Francisco Proper Hotel, Mid-Market
Reimagined by L.A.-based interior designer Kelly Wearstler, this 114-year-old flatiron building now has remodeled interiors, two restaurants serving globally inflected American cuisine, and a fitness center. The lobby is outfitted with citrus-hued velvet settees and mismatched wallpaper patterns punctuated with Cubist-style paintings, while each of the 131 guest rooms has retro gilded accents and bathrooms stocked with Aesop products. The rooftop bar (whose quirky cocktail menu was conjured up by the Trick Dog team, with drinks like a negroni-topped piña colada) has become a sceney gathering spot on this still-scruffy stretch of Market Street, a few blocks from high-profile tech companies Twitter and Uber. Doubles from $350.
Hotel Kabuki, Japantown
A $31 million renovation added a Japanese-garden-facing fitness center and yoga studio to this soaring, 16-floor hotel. Nods to the neighborhood's cultural history are woven throughout: you'll find shou sugi ban (Japanese charred wood) in the lobby, shibori fabrics in the guest rooms, and a curated selection of Japanese beers, whiskies, and sakes in the bar. The hotel's proximity to the Kabuki Spring & Spa (where guests have complimentary access), Fillmore Street boutiques, and excellent sushi and ramen bars boosts its appeal. Doubles from $179.
Laurel Inn, Pacific Heights
Set amid stately Victorian mansions and within walking distance of the Presidio, the Laurel Inn is a cheerful four-story hideaway in San Francisco's toniest neighborhood. The blue-tiled 50s-era façade and wood-paneled elevator retain the original building's breezy California spirit, but the 49 rooms have been renovated with expansive windows, Midcentury Modern furnishings, and a modish pastel color palette. Rare residential comforts — en suite kitchenettes, fresh-baked cookies, full-size Jonathan Adler toiletries, and pet-friendly amenities — make it ideal for a longer stay. Doubles from $249.
What's Next
The Bay Area's hotel surge hasn't slowed down yet: the Financial District's Galleria Park Hotel unveiled its extensive redesign in February, and the 42-room Lodge at the Presidio will open this summer, offering access to 24 miles of trails with glittering views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Later this year, the 194-room Virgin Hotel San Francisco comes to SoMa, with two decked-out penthouse suites.
