Hotel Zeppelin’s Game Room
Within San Francisco’s eclectic mix of visitor accommodations, one hotel group stands out as a reflection of the city’s diverse character. The Z Hotels—Zeppelin, Zetta, and Zelos— deliver a blend of modern luxury and urban chic that offers guests not simply a place to stay, but an experience that is as memorable and dynamic as the city itself. Whether you’re drawn to Zeppelin’s throwback charm, Zetta’s playful energy, or Zelos’ sleek modernity, the three hotels provide stylish and comfortable bases from which to explore one of America’s most vibrant cities.
Hotel Zeppelin
Providing a nod to the 60’s counter culture movement, Hotel Zeppelin will likely bring forth fond memories for all the dead-heads out there. For those too young to remember the Summer of Love, Hotel Zeppelin is simply a really cool place to lay your head for a night or more while staying in the city that defined a movement.
Hotel Zeppelin’s lobby lounge features a portrait of rocker Grace Slick
Located at the convergence of Union Square, SoMa and the Financial District, Hotel Zeppelin and its 196 comfortably state-of-the-art rooms present a colorful and carefully conceived celebration of a seminal artistic and rebellious period in San Francisco’s history. Unexpected design accents, including spontaneous black light exposed poetry, pay tribute to the bookstores and cafés of the beatnik era. Bill Graham Presents concert posters pay homage to the City’s former psychedelic heartbeat. A retro Grace Slick art feature greets guests upon arrival, while Jerry Garcia, Huey Newton and other icons of the era grace the hallways. The inviting and imaginative design inspires feelings of an underground urban hideaway.
PLS on Post bar at Hotel Zeppelin
A lobby lounge features cozy sitting areas, as well as the Zeppelin Café, serving coffee drinks and breakfast items. Additional sustenance is found at lobby-adjacent PLS on Post, serving unique smash burgers and inventive, Instagram-worthy, “Groovy Milkshakes.” (Example: the Choco-Nut, with Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter, peanut butter cups, crushed peanuts, Guittard’s hot fudge, and a Luxardo cherry.)A 1,300 square foot lower level game room offers a playful retreat with Skee ball, shuffleboard, a quick-shot basketball wall, an oversized electronic Bingo board, and two jumbo televisions.
Hotel Zeppelin, 545 Post St, San Francisco
Hotel Zetta Playroom loft
Hotel Zetta
From the classic album-adorned walls to the wine bottle-lined lobby bar, the hip and chic Hotel Zetta stands out with fun, contemporary design that exudes a playful yet upscale atmosphere. (Case in point: the lobby’s glistening chandeliers, which at close glance reveal themselves to be crafted via hundreds of pairs of repurposed eyeglasses.) Located in the heart of San Francisco’s SOMA district, the hotel’s amenities include 116 modern guest rooms, 2,760 square feet of meeting and event space, and the ultimate Playroom—an upstairs loft with shuffleboard, pool, pinball machines, and a photo booth. The lobby located S&R Lounge (short for ‘salvage and rescue’) is another gathering spot for afternoon/evening cocktails, wines and beer. Neighboring restaurant The Cavalier (an upscale British brasserie) is the hotel’s room service purveyor, offering a luxe take on Brit faves like fish ‘n chips and meat pies. Its secret speakeasy is rumored to be a favored spot for visiting luminaries who appreciate the anonymity the space affords.
Hotel Zetta’s lobby bar
At the end of the day, a hotel is all about the comfort of its rooms, and each of Hotel Zetta’s four room types ensures a sound sleep. Amenities including imported linens, high-speed Internet access, Illy espresso machines and Acca Kappa bath products. Hotel Zetta is a great choice for travelers who appreciate a modern aesthetic combined with a lively, energetic vibe.
Hotel Zetta 55 5th St, San Francisco
Where Hotels Zeppelin and Zetta are playful, Hotel Zelos is elegant
Hotel Zelos
Last but not least is Hotel Zelos, located in the historic Pacific Building in the SoMa district. A bit sleeker and slightly more serious than its sister hotels, Hotel Zelos features crisp, chic, clean design within its 202 contemporary and spacious guestrooms and suites of varying size. Like Zeppelin and Zetta, Zelos too features provocative artworks and decor that reflect the city’s animated artistic scene. Yet, where the other two are a bit playful, Zelos is elegant, as illustrated by sleek room design in shades of gray with pops of color here and there.
Dirty Habit at Hotel Zelos features a multitude of whiskeys and bourbons. Photo by Fran Miller
Dirty Habit dining room. Photo by Fran Miller
Zelos’ gathering spot is its sultry bar/restaurant Dirty Habit, a favorite of both locals and hotel guests. Inside, Dirty Habit’s softly illuminated bar and dining room promote intimacy, while outside, the twinkle-lit, bamboo-lined rooftop patio with fire pits is one of the city’s best outdoor dining and imbibing spots. The whiskey and bourbon-centric bar features 640 labels. Call your favorite, and order your Old Fashioned classic or smoked. The seasonally-inspired menu includes items like a tasty peach caprese, pimento cheese deviled eggs, oysters, halibut, seared scallops, and a juicy burger with “whiskey onions,” natch.
Hotel Zelos, 12 4th St., San Francisco
Photos courtesy of Z Hotels, unless otherwise noted
