From barking sea lions by the wharf to cannolis in the cafés of Little Italy, North Beach is a fascinating neighborhood in San Francisco. With sights such as Coit Tower, Pier 39 and City Lights Bookstore all nearby, these hotels will immerse you in this unique area while providing comfort and waterfront views. Here is our pick of the best hotels in North Beach, San Francisco.
Hotel Boheme
Hotel
Hotel Boheme | Courtesy of Hotel Boheme / Hotels.com
Located a block away from Washington Square Park, Hotel Boheme captures the spirit of San Francisco in the late 1950s, with eclectic decor from the Beatnik era and a bright, cheerful color scheme. What this intimate hotel lacks in flashy amenities, it makes up for with charm and comfort with an unbeatable location. Take a curated walking tour designed by the hotel for a comprehensive overview of North Beach.
The white shutters and maritime paraphernalia that adorn the walls at the Argonaut Hotel make it feel more like a beach house overlooking the bay than a hotel in the heart of one of San Francisco’s busiest neighborhoods. The hotel offers guided historic waterfront tours on the weekends and bike rentals for getting around. The adjacent Blue Mermaid Restaurant serves oceanfront specialties such as homemade clam chowder, seafood cioppino, and steamed mussels.
Hotel Zoe is a freshly remodeled boutique hotel located between Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach, with two main cable car lines stopping in front. The hotel trattoria, Pescatore, is a welcoming sidewalk café that serves classic Italian dishes, and the hotel lobby features a full-service bar, Bar Zoe, with live music on Saturdays. The soothing neutral color schemes and high-tech amenities make Hotel Zoe a solid choice for travelers staying in North Beach.
Located right outside North Beach in the adjacent Ghirardelli Square, the all-suite, residential-style Fairmont Heritage Place lies in what used to be the Ghirardelli chocolate factory. This modern, waterfront property features exposed brick details throughout, and each suite includes a private bedroom with en-suite bathroom, fireplace, full kitchen, living room and dining area. Terrace patios include firepits for staying warm while taking in sweeping views of San Francisco Bay.
The whimsical and cheerfully decorated Hotel Zephyr prides itself on being unique with an irreverent style and thoughtful amenities such as work and docking stations, guests rooms equipped with darts and backgammon, and an outdoor terrace and firepit. Situated right by Pier 39, the hotel’s 361 rooms offer views of the waterfront, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. And it includes a very San Francisco bonus: an almost 10,000-square-foot (929-square-metre) yard complete with a camper van-turned-food truck that serves locally sourced, quick-serve cuisine.
