12 Best Boutique Hotels to Book for Your Next Trip to San Francisco

hotelscalifornia
Written By Jessie Beck

I’m a travel editor and live in San Francisco. These are the hotels I’d most recommend to visitors.

Courtesy of The Jay

I live in San Francisco and work at travel media company, Afar. A few years ago I had the chance to compile their list of the best hotels in the city. In that process, I made a spreadsheet with every. single. hotel. in San Francisco. After weeding out hostels, 1-star properties, and generic Holiday Inn-type places, I was left with about 30 legit boutique and luxury hotels worth knowing about. Then I toured, stayed in, and met GMs from nearly all of them to assess quality, location, and value before picking the 10 I’d most recommend.

This list is a little different from the Afar one. These are the 11 best boutique hotels in San Francisco (plus one luxury stay) that I’d most recommend to friends who want a design-forward, characterful place to stay, at a range of price points.

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In This Article

While I’d recommend any of these hotels, ⭐ = my absolute top picks. 💰 = best for budget.

  1. ⭐ 1 Hotel (website | expedia): An eco-friendly splurge with a spa in the Embarcadero.

  2. ⭐ 💰 Kimpton Hotel Enso (website | expedia): My preferred Japantown hotel with friendly staff.

  3. ⭐ 💰 Beacon Grand (website | expedia): A historic property + affordable option in Union Square.

  4. ⭐ The Battery (website | michelin.com): Exclusive Jackson Square social club with 14 maximalist hotel rooms. Pricey but unique.

  5. ⭐ The Jay (website | expedia): Beautiful new hotel in quiet Embarcadero location with great views + outdoor bar.

  6. ⭐ The Huntington Hotel (website | expedia): A historic hotel that has just reopened as a vibey, design-forward 5-star stay with an iconic bar and lounge.

  7. The Hotel Castro (website | expedia): Stylish boutique hotel in the Castro, great for a neighborhood vibe.

  8. Hotel Boheme (website | expedia): Best for beatnik vibes in North Beach.

  9. Luma Hotel (website | expedia): In Mission Bay, best option for games + events, nice rooftop bar.

  10. The Proper Hotel (website | expedia): Location is meh but it’s beautiful + has the best hotel food program in SF.

  11. The Metro Hotel (website | expedia): Small boutique hotel; excellent Divisadero location for food + drink.

  12. Bonus: The St. Regis San Francisco (website | expedia): Not boutique, but worth the splurge.

What are the best areas of San Francisco to stay in?

Most of San Francisco’s hotels are clustered around Union Square or along Market Street, the city's main thoroughfare. This is not my favorite place to stay because even though it’s central and easy to navigate from, it’s noisy and generally not the safest/cleanest area.

While I have recommended one Union Square hotel (the Beacon Grand), I’d generally steer visitors toward Nob Hill for a fancier but still-central stay with walkability to Chinatown, Russian Hill, and Lombard Street, Jackson Square for proximity to North Beach and downtown, Embarcadero for waterfront access, or Japantown for a more neighborhood-y feel. All are central but considerably quieter.

Jackson Square sits right near downtown and the Transamerica building, an easy walk to North Beach, and it's where you'll find The Jay, my favorite Marriott property in the city.

I've also included a few hotels in popular residential neighborhoods — North Beach, Nopa, and the Castro — for a more local feel. North Beach is the historically Italian neighborhood with a rich beatnik history. Nopa is a beloved food and dining corridor not far from Golden Gate Park and Haight-Ashbury. And the Castro is the heart of San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community, known for its vibrant nightlife and colorful streets, with Dolores Park and the Mission just steps away.

1 Hotel San Francisco

Photo courtesy of 1 Hotel

⭐ Top pick ⭐
An eco-friendly splurge with a spa in the Embarcadero.

The 1 Hotel, which opened in 2022, is one of my favorite hotels in the city. Not only is it very sustainably-minded — everything has been sourced with an eye toward environmental and community well-being like practicing zero-waste principles in the kitchen, and prioritizing reusable over disposable throughout the property — but it's a genuinely luxurious experience too.

The rooms are cozy, with upcycled wood furniture, soft linens, and a calm vibe that contrasts beautifully with the city right outside. Plus, it's one of the few hotels with an on-site spa (rooftop bath soak, anyone?), a lovely ground-floor restaurant with an outdoor terrace with views of the Bay Bridge, and an Embarcadero location that somehow manages to feel central yet not chaotic.

Beacon Grand

Photo by Jessie Beck

⭐ Top pick ⭐
A historic property + affordable option in Union Square.

Formerly known as the historic Sir Francis Drake, The Beacon Grand reopened after major renovations in 2022 and recently unveiled a buzzy, enclosed rooftop bar called the Starlite Lounge. The building retains all of its Art Deco charm, with a few clever nods to the city in its decor (look for the sourdough motifs in the wallpaper).

Beds are comfortable and bathrooms feel luxurious thanks to the marble tiling and modern design. Although I don't love the Union Square location and the rooms weren't as quiet as I would have liked (we still heard some noise from the streets below), overall it's a fun property — particularly if you want to make use of the rooftop bar — and you can often find rooms for under $200 per night.

The Huntington Hotel

Courtesy of The Huntington Hotel

⭐ Top pick ⭐
A design-forward, splurge-worthy stay in Nob Hill

The stunning, 12-story Georgian-style building that houses The Huntington Hotel has been around for more than a century—first opening its doors in the 1920s. But in 2026, the hotel re-opened after major renovations that embrace the building’s architectural heritage and a design that centers around moody, Art Deco decor. Its Nob Hill address puts it in one of the city's most coveted—and central—locations.

On-site, there’s also a buzzy restaurant popular among locals and guests alike called The Big Four—a dark, vibey spot perfect for enjoying a martini and one of their famous pot pies—and a soon-to-open cocktail lounge called Arabella’s. A rarity for San Francisco, the property’s pièce de résistance might just be its luxurious spa complete with a pool overlooking the city.

Note: when looking at reviews, pay attention to date. I don’t think anything prior to 2026 truly reflects the current hotel.

Hotel Boheme

Courtesy of Hotel Boheme

Beatnik vibes in North Beach.

I've yet to stay at Hotel Boheme, but I love its North Beach location, which was once a hub for the beatnik movement and the heart of the city’s Italian community. The hotel embraces that history, with a bohemian vibe very much in keeping with its surroundings. As a small boutique property, it's also a bit more affordable than other options in the city and has great reviews. The building is older, but overall it's a great choice for anyone looking for a personality-filled hotel in a more neighborhood-y part of San Francisco.

Kimpton Hotel Enso

Photo by James Baigrie; courtesy of Hotel Enso.

⭐ Top pick ⭐
Boutique hotel in Japantown with Japan-influenced decor + friendly staff.

The Kimpton Hotel Enso is my top pick in Japantown, and one of my top recommendations for the city overall. Kimpton hotels are known for their friendly service, and this one is no exception, with staff ready to greet and help guests on arrival. All of the rooms were recently updated and feel fresh, cozy, and welcoming, with design elements that reflect the Japanese and Japanese-American history of the neighborhood woven throughout — they've even swapped the usual robes for kimonos and host sake tastings in the lobby from time to time.

Planning a trip to California? Here are 7 Dreamy California Hotels Worth Booking

Luma Hotel

Courtesy of Luma Hotel

In Mission Bay, best option for games + events, nice rooftop bar.

Located in Mission Bay, Luma Hotel is the best option for attending games or events in the area, with a fantastic rooftop lounge serving Latin American cuisine. It’s also close to the UCSF Children’s Hospital—during a tour of the property with their GM, he said that families staying there for treatments were “the true VIPs” 🥹. The rooms are spacious and comfortable though not my favorite in terms of design (it was giving me “modern tech office vibe”). Still, it’s quiet, clean, convenient, has great service, and the rooftop bar and restaurant is a nice bonus.

The Battery

Photo courtesy of The Battery; House Bar

Photo courtesy of The Battery; Guest Suite

⭐ Top pick ⭐
Exclusive Jackson Square social club with 14 maximalist hotel rooms.

This exclusive Jackson Square social club offers 14 unique, maximalist hotel rooms, ideal for those looking for a private, members-only luxury experience. Hotel guests get full access to all the spaces available to social club members, including events, several bars, coworking space, and a restaurant with a truly impressive cheese program (servers will come around with their famous cheese cart offering more than 100 varieties). Come for the space, stay for the community and vibes.

The Hotel Castro

Stylish boutique hotel in the Castro, great for a neighborhood vibe.

I'm a bit biased, but I think this is one of the best locations in the city. The Hotel Castro sits in the heart of San Francisco's historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood, right on the edge of the Mission and steps from Dolores Park. Both neighborhoods are known for their sunshine (hey there, SF microclimates) and excellent food. For travelers wanting a stylish boutique experience with a strong neighborhood feel, it's a great choice.

The Jay

Courtesy of The Jay

⭐ Top pick ⭐
Beautiful Marriott hotel in quiet Embarcadero location with great views + outdoor bar.

Nestled in a quiet Embarcadero location with stunning views and an outdoor terrace bar, The Jay is a perfect retreat for anyone who wants to stay close to the waterfront without the noise. Rooms are beautifully designed, quiet, functional, and spacious — some even have balconies, which is rare for the city. It’s also a Marriott property, making it a great option for anyone looking to redeem points or take advantage of a loyalty program. Overall, it's one of my top recommendations in San Francisco, whether you’re here on business or for fun.

The Metro Hotel

Small boutique hotel; excellent Divisadero location for food + drink.

A small boutique hotel with an excellent Divisadero location, The Metro Hotel is ideal for foodies and anyone who wants to be in the heart of San Francisco's best dining and drinking scene. I haven't stayed here, but I love the location — walkable to so many great bars and restaurants — and it has strong reviews. Of all the hotels on this list, this one feels like it would be the most like actually living in the city, thanks to its design, neighborhood, and charming backyard garden.

The Proper Hotel

Location is meh, but they have the best hotel food program in the city and beautiful design.

There's no getting around it: the Proper Hotel’s Civic Center location is not the best part of the city. True, you’re only a couple of blocks from the upscale Hayes Valley neighborhood, the San Francisco Jazz Center, and the general buzz of downtown — but the immediate surroundings aren’t great.

That said, if you’re prioritizing design, style, and a serious food and beverage program, the Proper does it better than almost any other hotel in the city. There are multiple restaurants on-site, including one of the most beloved rooftop bars in San Francisco among locals. And if that’s not enough, the city’s best croissant — from Arsicault, right next door — is basically steps away. I'd never recommend it to my suburban-living parents, but friends from LA, New York, and other parts of the city who are used to a little urban chaos have stayed here and loved it.

Related [video]: The Best Croissants in San Francisco

Bonus: The St. Regis San Francisco

Photo courtesy of St. Regis

Top pick for a luxury splurge, and one of the few hotels in SF with a pool.

Okay, it's not a boutique hotel, but I wanted to include at least one recommendation for a luxury splurge. I’ve toured, partied, and even stayed at all of the major luxury hotels in San Francisco (aside from the newly re-opened Huntington Hotel), and if you're going to go five-star, make it The St. Regis. The city has a few other options at that level — the Four Seasons, The Ritz, The Fairmont, The Palace, and The W, most notably — but the St. Regis is my top pick for its service, modern rooms that exude quiet luxury, and a rare-for-San-Francisco indoor pool. Some of the other properties feel a bit dated despite their excellent hospitality, whereas the St. Regis feels genuinely current.

This article was originally published in 2024 and is updated regularly. Although I use AI to copy-edit and fix typos, all recommendations on this list were researched and approved by the human behind this blog—Jessie B.

Jessie Beck

Jessie Beck is a travel writer, video creator, and SEO professional. She’s originally from Washington D.C., but has called California home for over 11 years. She’s passionate about sharing lesser-known places to travel and unique hotels in California and beyond at wheresjessieb.com. Her work can also be found on Afar, 7x7, and Carryology.

https://wheresjessieb.com
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