12 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 also work for a major travel publication, Afar, and recently had the chance to compile their list of the best hotels in San Francisco. In that process, I made this crazy spreadsheet with every. single. hotel. in the city. After weeding out hostels, 1-star hotels that aren’t actually places tourists would stay in, and generic Holiday Inn-type places that aren’t my (or Afar’s) style, I was left with about 30 or so legit boutique and luxury properties I’d actually recommend to a friend and got down to business. I toured, stayed in, and met GMs from just about every hotel on that list so that I could whittle it all down to 10 hotels to recommend for Afar’s (generally affluent, luxury traveler) audience.

Although I stand by those recommendations, there are a few I had to cut from the list because they didn’t meet Afar’s brand standards, and a few that are just too expensive for me to ever recommend to a friend. Which leads us here: to this real-person list of the best boutique hotels to book in San Francisco, according to a local. If you like design-forward boutique hotels and prefer to stay in quieter, less-touristy parts of a city, then this list of hotels is for you.

In This Article

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

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

  2. ⭐ Kimpton Hotel Enso (website | booking.com): My preferred Japantown hotel. Friendly staff + newly updated.

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

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

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

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

  7. The St. Regis San Francisco (website | booking.com): If you’re going to splurge on one luxury hotel, make it this.

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

  9. Hotel Kabuki, by JdV by Hyatt (website | booking.com): Popular spot in Japantown + great for Hyatt points.

  10. Luma Hotel (website | booking.com): In Mission Bay, best option for games + events, nice rooftop bar. Plus: their “true VIPs are any guests going to the nearby Children’s Hospital” one staff member told me on a recent tour. ❤️

  11. The Proper Hotel (website | booking.com): NGL, location is meh but they have the best hotel food program in the city.

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

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

Most of San Francisco’s hotels are clustered around Union Square or on Market Street (the city’s main thoroughfare). It’s central and easy to access a lot of main attractions from there, but it’s also noisy, busy, and can be a bit chaotic. Although I have recommended one Union Square hotel (Beacon Grand), I generally would steer visitors towards a stay in Embarcadero or Japantown. Both neighborhoods are still very central but much quieter. Embarcadero is nice if you want to be closer to the water, running and bike paths, and the Ferry Building. Japantown is a great option if you want to stay in more of a neighborhood-y area, with access to great restaurants, bars, and shops within walking distance of your hotel.

Nob Hill has a few nice hotel options, though generally on the luxury end (hey there, Ritz). If you’re feeling splurgy, it’s a central area with great views and walking distance to areas like Chinatown, Russian Hill (where Lombard Street is), and Polk Street with great restaurants and bars. I’ve also listed a few hotels in popular neighborhoods (North Beach, Nopa, The Castro) for a more local vibe. North Beach is the historically Italian neighborhood with a rich beatnik history, Nopa is a popular food and restaurant 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, also close to Dolores Park and the Mission.

1 Hotel San Francisco

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

Photo courtesy of 1 Hotel

The 1 Hotel, which opened in 2022, is one of my favorite hotels in the city. Not only is it very sustainably minded (everything in the hotel has been sourced with an eye towards environmental and community well-being; they practice zero-waste principals in the kitchen; and prioritize reusable over disposable items on property) but it’s a luxurious experience too. The rooms are cozy, with upcycled wood furniture, soft linens, and a calm vibe that contrasts 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 outdoor terrace, and the location is central yet chill.

Beacon Grand

A historic property + affordable option in Union Square.

Photo by Jessie Beck

Formerly known as the historic Sir Francis Drank, The Beacon Grand, reopened after major renovations in 2022 and recently re-opened their rooftop bar (all enclosed). Even so, 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. Although I don’t love the Union Square location and the rooms weren’t as quiet as I would have liked, 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.

Hotel Boheme

Beatnik vibes in North Beach.

I’ve yet to stay in Hotel Boheme, but I do love its North Beach location—which was once a hub for the beatnik movement in San Francisco, and the center of the city’s Italian community. The hotel itself embraces the beatnik history of its surrounds, and has (as the name suggests) a very bohemian vibe in line with that spirit. As a small boutique hotel, it’s also a bit more affordable than other places in the city and has great reviews. The building’s a bit older, but overall a great choice for anyone looking for a small, personality-filled hotel in a more neighborhood-y location.

Kimpton Hotel Enso

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

Photo by James Baigrie; courtesy of Hotel Enso.

The Kimpton Hotel Enso is my preferred hotel in Japantown, and one of my top recommendations for the city overall. Kimpton hotels are generally known for their friendly service, and this is no exception. Plus, all of the rooms were recently renovated and updated, and feel fresh, cozy, and welcoming. Part of the update included incorporating more design elements that reflect the Japanese and Japanese-American history of the neighborhood—they’ve even swapped their usual robes for kimonos.

Hotel Kabuki by JdV by Hyatt

Popular spot in Japantown + great for Hyatt points.

Hotel Kabuki is another hotel in Japantown and generally comes highly recommended. I’ve had some fun evenings hanging out in their lobby bar, though I have not stayed the night here. Like Hotel Enso, the location is fantastic and though I still prefer Enso over Kabuki, this is a great option for Hyatt points collectors and anyone seeking a serene, Japanese-inspired retreat.

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 bar. 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 a bit of a modern tech office vibe). Still, it’s quiet, clean, convenient, and has great service.

The Battery

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

Photo courtesy of The Battery; House Bar

Photo courtesy of The Battery; Guest Suite

This exclusive Jackson Square social club offers 14 unique, maximalist hotel rooms, ideal for those looking for a private, members-only luxury stay. All guests of the hotel also get exclusive access to all of the spaces available to social club members—including events, several bars, coworking space, and a restaurant with a truly impressive cheese selection (servers will come around with their infamous cheese cart offering more than 100 varieties). Come for the space, stay for the 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 is located in the Castro, San Francisco’s historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood, but also on the edge of The Mission and super close to Dolores Park. Both neighborhoods are known for being super sunny (hey there, SF microclimates) and having great food. For travelers wanting a stylish boutique experience with a strong neighborhood vibe, The Hotel Castro is an excellent choice.

The Jay

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

Courtesy of The Jay

Nestled in a quiet Embarcadero location with stunning views and an outdoor terrace bar, The Jay is perfect for those who want a peaceful retreat while staying close to the waterfront. Rooms are beautifully designed, quiet, very functional, and spacious. Some even have balconies, which isn’t very common. It’s also a Marriott property, so great for anyone looking to redeem points or make use of their loyalty program. Overall, it’s one of my top recommendations for a hotel in the city—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 those who want to be in the heart of San Francisco’s best dining and drinking scene. Again, I haven’t stayed here but love the location and it has good reviews.

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 kept part of the city. True, you only have to go a couple of blocks to escape into the upscale Hayes Valley neighborhood, the San Francisco Jazz Center, or touristy Union Square, but the immediate surroundings aren’t… great. That said, if you’re prioritizing design, style, and a hotel with an excellent food and beverage program, I would say The Proper does that better than any other hotel in the city. They have multiple restaurants on site, including one of the most well-loved rooftop bars in the city by local San Franciscans. If that’s not enough, the best croissant in the city (Ariscault) is also next door. So, while I’d never recommend this to my suburban-living parents, I have had friends from LA, NYC, and other parts of San Francisco who are kind of used to the chaos stay here and love it.

The St. Regis San Francisco

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

Photo courtesy of St. Regis

Okay, it’s not a boutique hotel, but I wanted to include at least recommendation for a luxury splurge. I’ve toured, partied, and even stayed at all of the major luxury hotels in San Francisco and I’d say, if you’re going to splurge on one, make it The St. Regis. The city has a few other five-star options (Four Seasons, The Ritz, The Fairmont, The Palace Hotel, and The W, most notably) but the St. Regis is my top pick because of their service, modern room designs that exude quiet luxury, and rare-for-San-Francisco indoor pool. Plus, some of the other properties feel a bit dated (even though they still have excellent hospitality) whereas the St. Regis has a modern feel.

Jessie Beck

Jessie Beck is a travel industry professional and creator. In addition to blogging about her travels on wheresjessieb.com, she is a video producer and SEO manager for AFAR Media, an independent travel magazine. She’s originally from Washington D.C. but has called San Francisco home for over 10 years.

https://wheresjessieb.com
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