Looking for an honest review of Hotel Zephyr in San Francisco?
Located in the world-famous Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood of San Francisco, Hotel Zephyr is a family-friendly hotel boasting views of San Francisco Bay and a whimsical vibe. But the true highlight of staying here is its amazing game room and giant outdoor courtyard with fire pits and interactive games.
Here is a Hotel Zephyr review based on our personal experience, along with lots of tips and insight to help you plan your trip!
Hotel Zephyr San Francisco At-A-Glance
- Great location at Fisherman’s Wharf
- Waterfront hotel
- Modern, comfortable rooms and suites
- Outdoor courtyard with fire pits and giant interactive games
- Game room
- Whimsical nautical-themed design
- Fitness Center
- Expensive parking
Family-Friendly Stay at the Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most popular areas to visit in San Francisco, and if you are looking to stay in the heart of it all, Hotel Zephyr is the place for you!
We have stayed here a couple of times when visiting San Francisco, and the location can’t be beat!
With views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, and its location walking distance to Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, Boudin Bakery and dozens of other restaurants and family-friendly attractions in San Francisco, Hotel Zephyr’s location is ideal for families.
Hotel Zephyr SF also provides easy access to public transportation via the world-famous streetcars heading to the Embarcadero and downtown that connect with BART trains, and the cable car line to Union Square is just a five-minute walk away.
Formerly a Radisson hotel, Hotel Zephyr was completely transformed just a few years ago. It has a unique and playful vibe, with a lively outdoor space called The Yard, filled with giant interactive games, fire pits, and seating areas.
This hotel is best for families with older kids who can appreciate and take advantage of all the quirky games and art around the property.
A wonderful industrial maritime theme is carried out throughout the whole property. You’ll see it not just in the décor, but in the form of container ship walls, giant Popeye and octopus murals, furniture and sculptures made from old dock signs and recycled materials, and porthole accents everywhere.
You can also check out the surrounding area and bay through a giant periscope. We especially loved reading the passages from Moby Dick painted on the walls inside the elevators!
Hotel Design & Amenities
Hotel Zephyr is a unique, nautical-themed boutique hotel, but what makes it truly stand out is its fabulous game room and outdoor space. These common spaces make this hotel the definition of family friendly.
The Game Room
It’s game on in Hotel Zephyr’s 800 square foot indoor game room.
The game room includes such family favorites as ping pong, tabletop shuffleboard, board games, billiards, and a photo booth. If you are visiting San Francisco with teens, this is a great spot to let them loose as you know it’s safe and they’ll have fun.
If you’re not quite ready to head for bed, the game room is the perfect spot to end your day and let kids have a little fun after most family-friendly things to do at night in San Francisco close.
The Yard
The Yard is Hotel Zephyr’s most winning feature, a one-of-a-kind outdoor play area with tons of nooks and crannies to explore. It features oversized games (my son outsmarted me on the giant Connect 4 game), four fire pits, shuffleboard, foosball, and San Francisco’s largest periscope.
Grab a s’more kit from the front desk and have fun roasting marshmallows over the fire pit at night.
The Yard is also home to the Camper, a food truck offering snacks, breakfast items, and drinks you can enjoy at the hotel. There were lots of people hanging out around the fire pits in the evening which made for some really fun socializing while we were there.
Hotel Zephyr Rooms
Hotel Zephyr has more than 360 rooms and suites. Standard rooms have one king-sized or two double beds, and many have balconies overlooking the courtyard or San Francisco Bay.
The hotel’s nautical theme is reflected beautifully in the rooms, with porthole windows and hues of navy blue. Bedspreads spell out S.O.S., and whimsical touches appear throughout the room in the form of light fixtures, buoys, nautical maps, and stripes.
In the bathrooms, sliding doors have a porthole, and the theme carries over into the round sink and mirror area. Stripes line the walls in the tub and shower.
We stayed in a room with two queen beds, and the beds were very comfortable. We also appreciated that the room was spacious, so we were able to spread out. There was a small couch near the window and desk, as well as a coffee maker and fridge in the room.
The hotel is deceptively large, as it sprawls across an entire city block with rooms on floors two through four. The first floor is comprised of the lobby, game room, and courtyard, but then the hotel’s rooms rise over other businesses on the first floor around the block. This can make for a long trek down the hall from the elevator to your room.
Connecting rooms are available, making the Hotel Zephyr San Francisco ideal for large families. Cribs are also available.
Parking
Hotel Zephyr offers both self-park and valet parking, but like most hotels in the area, it is pricey. (One of the only cons of staying at Hotel Zephyr, but to be fair, parking is expensive everywhere in San Francisco.)
Overnight self-parking is $64 a night plus tax. Keep in mind, San Francisco is a city where you don’t really need a car! So if you don’t need to bring one, leave it home and take advantage of the city’s public transportation.
► For more help planning, check out some of my other articles about San Francisco below!
- San Francisco Museums the Whole Family Will Love
- 20 Fun Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids
- Why Every Disney Fan Should Visit The Walt Disney Family Museum
- Devil’s Slide Trail: Easy California Coastal Hike
- Day Trip to Oakland: Jack London Square & Beyond
- 15 Magical Things to Do in San Francisco at Christmastime
Final Thoughts: Hotel Zephyr San Francisco
Even if Hotel Zephyr was a basic hotel with no special features to note, the location alone would make it the ideal place to stay on your San Francisco vacation.
But add in the fabulous design, comfortable rooms, and loads of family-friendly games and features, Hotel Zephyr can’t be beat!
- 250 Beach Street, San Francisco
- (415) 617-6565
- hotelzephyrsf.com
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