Where to Stay in San Francisco

While staying at Hotel Via make sure to take in a Giants baseball game at Oracle Park, directly across the street. The minimalistic rooms are outfitted in soothing shades of slate grey, white, and azure. In-room amenities include fluffy robes, smart TVs and Illy coffee. The stunning indoor and outdoor rooftop at Via sits 12 floors up with expansive views, fire pits, heat lamps, bars, and private cabanas. Originally filled with industrial factories, today SoMa is trendy with a blend of loft apartments, fashionable nightspots, art galleries, and hotels.

Hotel Zoe is a refined haven in the frenzied Fisherman’s Wharf. This San Francisco hotel has a secluded open-air courtyard to relax in, with warming fire pits lit in the evening. Tea and coffee can be enjoyed in the lobby in the mornings. Warm and sophisticated rooms are inspired by luxury yachts and look over the courtyard or city. Borrow one of the hotel’s cruiser bikes and ride along the waterfront, past the souvenir shops and seafood stalls, all the way over the Golden Gate Bridge.

The knowledgeable staff at the bohemian Hotel Boheme are happy to share their local expertise and will provide a guide on the nearby sites in the Italian-American neighborhood. The hotel has an eclectic, quaint feel, and every afternoon sherry is served in the hotel lobby. Rooms either have a street view or an interior located for added quiet.

The refined Stanford Court Hotel is perched atop swanky Nob Hill, known for its picturesque views, positioned in the heart of the city but away from the everyday hubbub. Inspired by the tech-forward culture of Silicon Valley, the hotel has a mobile check in via OpenKey, Tech Library Loans, and the use of Blix e-bikes. The rotating selection of artwork in the hallways is presented via an interactive digital gallery. The compact, modern rooms are decorated in neutral shades with pops of colour, with interior or city views.

The biscuit-coloured Stanyan Park Hotel, with its lemon cream pie-toned rooms, is right across from Golden Gate Park. The Victorian Hotel was restored in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Complimentary amenities include buffet breakfast, evening tea service with cookies, and a manager’s wine and cheese reception on weekdays. The hotel is steps away from Haight Street with its dive bars, record stores, bookshops, and vintage clothing stores.

The intimate walled garden sets this B&B apart from its peers. The residential Noe Valley neighborhood is filled with cute cafes and restaurants and is popular with young families. A daily cold breakfast buffet offers choices such as fresh fruit, cheeses, and smoked salmon, which can be enjoyed outside in the garden or in the ornately decorated dining room. Sip coffee while admiring views from the balcony. The eight rooms have entertaining names, such as Sheila’s Chapeau Room or the aptly named View Room.

In the electric and LGBTQ-friendly Castro neighborhood is the charming sorbet-yellow Parker House, made up of Edwardian mini-mansions. Guest rooms are equipped with down comforters, terry cloth robes, luxury bath amenities, and flat-screen TVs. The Economy Queen room has a private bathroom but is located in the hallway. Make sure to take advantage of the verdant walled garden to escape to for some respite, or unwind in front of the fireplace while listening to piano music in the lounge.