Hotel Zephyr: Shipyard chic
One wouldn’t expect to find a hipster haven smack-dab in the center of Fisherman’s Wharf, but that’s what you’ll get at Hotel Zephyr. Seagull-inspired “bird bot” sculptures from art consulting firm Soho Myriad greet guests in the entryway, and old shipping containers comprise wall panels throughout the ground floor of the hotel. “We wanted a modern maritime theme that felt different from the typical nautical decor of waterfront hotels,” says Director of Sales and Marketing Jill Plemmons. “The result is what we like to call shipyard chic.” In keeping with that theme, words from Moby Dick are scrolled on the elevators’ interiors in a striking blackand-white wall covering, which feels both nautical and hipster. Head straight through the lobby to the Yard for more obvious references. The 8,000-square-foot patio is decked out in fire pits made from recycled soda cans, shuffleboard and life-size games such as Connect Four and Jenga. At the center of the outdoor lounge is a fire pit sculpture by Burning Man artist Charles Gadeken (composed of metal replicas of archaic computer monitors and CPUs) commissioned especially for the hotel. There’s also the Camper, an 18-foot vintage Shasta trailer refashioned as a food truck serving small bites, craft beers, and California wines. Twice-weekly DJ sets are open to the public. Back inside, you’ll find a game room with chalkboard murals and a Smart TV art exhibit — a digital art collection curated by San Francisco-based Daylighted — featuring rotating monthly works by mostly local artists. Guests can purchase any piece on-the-spot via iPad kiosks. And because cycling is such a key component of hipster culture, there’s also a bike parking station with a wall-size map of the city’s bike paths, marked lanes, and hill-free routes. Rooms starting at $229 per night; 250 Beach St., S.F.; (415) 617-6565. www.hotelzephyrsf.com.