The Best Boutique Hotels to Book in San Francisco

Amid the towering high-rises of San Francisco’s Financial District, this historic building scrapes the sky with the best of them. It’s a couple of blocks to Union Square, and the eclectic eateries of Chinatown and North Beach are within strolling distance. The hotel itself is with a handsome 1900s Art Deco building, and the lobby with its swirling Art Nouveau fireplace and 1920s chandeliers retains the old-world feel. Rooms are pristine white with worn hardwood floors and pops of color courtesy of contemporary artworks on the walls. Get a taste of the outdoors at the Park Terrace, an urban garden with a walking track, and perk up with a quality coffee from the Blue Bottle coffee shop just off the lobby.

Just one block from the hustle and bustle of Union Square, the Donatello is a four-star boutique hotel in San Francisco’s very center. It’s the little extras that make a stay in one of the king or double rooms a memorable one – daily newspaper delivery, complimentary shoe-shines and the Buon Giorno breakfast service to start the day. In keeping with the hotel’s Italian-inspired decor, the Zingari Ristorante serves up a menu of gourmet pasta and specialities like wild boar with white truffle sauce.

Central yet low-key, there’s something of a boho beachy vibe to the Laurel Inn. On the edge of Pacific Heights, it’s a couple of blocks to the Presidio, packed with parkland cafés, walking trails and iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Rooms are a soothing medley of duck-egg blue and white, with long windows letting in natural light and city skyline views. Most rooms come with a kitchenette, stocked with locally baked goodies. Those staying in standard hotel rooms can still take advantage of the complimentary lemonade and cookies served every afternoon. In the evening, the Laureate Bar and Lounge is the perfect spot to sample an ultra-local craft beer or California-inspired cocktail.

Of all San Francisco’s boutique hotels, this one retains the feeling of the old city. The classic Victorian facade means that big windows let the natural light flood into spacious rooms. Choose between a selection of king and queen suites and rooms, all decked out in a neutral palette of chestnut and cream. Fisher Loft, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, may look charmingly old fashioned with its wood-paneled bar, but the menu is a sophisticated, modern affair.

The Warwick pitches it just right, with that perfect mix of old-world charm and chic modernity. Designed by the same architect as Coit Tower and City Hall, it’s housed in a beautiful Beaux Arts-style building dating back to 1913. Inside, tufted Chesterfields and Art Deco wallpaper in the European bar whisper of bygone times, and rooms have quirky, period touches like typewriters and ornate headboards. Come dinner time, BOTA serves up a menu of authentic Spanish paella and tapas dishes with a wine list the length of a novel.

In terms of location, this might be one of the best boutique hotels in San Francisco. It’s just steps from buzzing Union Square, and the surrounding streets are packed with fine-dining restaurants and rooftop cocktail bars. The compactness of the hotel allows for a more intimate feel, with staff tending to just 30 rooms and suites. A glass of champagne (or bottle of water) awaits at reception on arrival, and every floor has its own lounge with Art Nouveau fireplaces, board games and complimentary chocolate chip cookies.

Hotel Emblem is, quite possibly, the coolest hotel in San Francisco. It sits downtown, where Nob Hill meets Union Square and the Theatre District, and the eclectic interior reflects the trendy streets of the surrounding neighborhood. There’s a book-filled alcove in the lobby, and wall art in bedrooms is decidedly bold, brash and a touch rebellious. Bottled cocktails are delivered to your room on demand, and the Underground Concierge is ready and waiting to offer you ultra-local recommendations and walking tours of the city’s wayward and artsy side.

Perched atop a hill in Pacific Heights, Hotel Drisco is a truly luxurious experience for anyone who wants to enjoy the city’s beauty away from the hustle and bustle. The plush rooms here have some of the best uninterrupted views in San Francisco. However, the best thing about Hotel Drisco may be its amenities – the hotel offers nightly wine receptions featuring local wines, artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, fresh fruit and hors d’oeuvres. There’s also a gourmet continental breakfast, and loaner bikes for those who’d like to explore the neighboring Presidio Park and Golden Gate Bridge.

The swanky motor court-style hotel evokes a 1950s beach vibe, and is a go-to for traveling musicians playing the nearby Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and Great American Music Hall. Describing itself as “a temporary home to musicians and other artistic vagrants,” the rooms at the Phoenix Hotel have as much retro character as the property’s exterior. The pool is just one of the many perks the hotel has to offer – the on-site Chambers Eat + Drink is also a great place for food and a cocktail (or three).

Hotel VIA is the ideal accommodation for anyone traveling to San Francisco for a baseball game – the property is just across the street from Oracle Park. However, this hotel is much more than just convenient South Beach lodging. The sleek, contemporary style of Hotel VIA is a modernist’s dream, and the rooftop bar boasts spectacular city views from 12 stories above the pavement.