Hotel Zetta, San Francisco‘s first new hotel since 2008, opens its doors today. The 116-room, eight-story hotel and meeting place is a part of the Viceroy Group’s Urban Retreat Collection. The tech- and dog-friendly Zetta fuses the old with the new, creating an inviting atmosphere that is both timeless and modern. Later this year, it will debut the S + R Lounge and The Cavalier, two spots that are destined to stir up the area’s dining scene. Here are other things you should know about San Francisco’s hottest new hotel:
1. Location. Hotel Zetta is centrally located in downtown at 55 Fifth Street, a crossroads for three of the city’s iconic neighborhoods: shopping mecca Union Square, startup central South of Market and the bustling, business-focused Financial District. The facade of the Zetta (formerly Hotel Milano) was originally built in 1913; the opening marks the 100th anniversary of the historic building. The hotel is also a short walk from the city’s public transportation (BART and Muni) and a quick cab ride from AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
2. Recycle, reuse, repurpose. The hotel’s eco-friendly design scheme is inspired by the green philosophy to recycle, reuse and repurpose as many things as possible. Conceived by renowned Seattle-based interior design firm Dawson Design Associates, Inc., most of the décor is made from recycled materials, such as empty wine bottles, broken glass and collected metal. Retro tech is a theme that runs throughout the hotel, from the massive murals depicting vintage televisions and scrapyards to the hotel mascot, a dog sculpture made from old tools and automotive parts.
3. Work hard. The hotel, which hopes to attract plenty of tech businesses and Moscone Center conference attendees, has three different-sized private meeting rooms that are available for short (30 minutes) or long (one day) rental periods. Each space has state-of-the-art technology, such as televisions with data ports, and is equipped with a white board wall, corkboard wall and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. Elsewhere in the hotel, the industrial-chic rooms have a specially crafted work area with an architect’s butcher block desk and a wireless docking station.
4. Play hard. Both the lobby and second-floor mezzanine offer an interactive and dynamic setting with entertaining divertissements and playful accents. The lobby has a Plinko wall (inspired by The Price Is Right game show) where you can play for prizes, a chandelier made from old sunglass lenses and a bar that serves drinks and snacks. The mezzanine houses the Playroom, a 15,000-square-foot man cave with a pool table, video games and shuffleboard. The space also has televisions, a classic red telephone booth and tablets for Skyping. If you prefer to play outside the hotel, Westfield Shopping Centre and a movie theater are next door and Mint Plaza, the location of the famed Blue Bottle Coffee Company, is across the street.
5. Innovation. All of the rooms have the newest Samsung smart televisions and Illy espresso machines, making the Zetta one advanced hotel. The ultra-modern bathrooms have a shower door with a one-of-a-kind hole to ensure that you won’t get wet when turning on the water. The fourth-floor gym is filled with the latest equipment. As a permanent place for locals and travelers to drop off old technology, the Zetta is also a leader in recycology.
Photos Courtesy of Viceroy Hotels and Resorts
