Hotel Emblem

Themed after San Francisco’s iconic Beat Generation, Hotel Emblem is a hip boutique hotel with literary flair both subtle (carpeting embedded with quotes inspired by Beat poetry) and unmistakable (weekly poetry slams, a fleet of antique typewriters to be delivered to the rooms upon request). Guests are immediately greeted by a wall of vintage books in the lobby, where a person-shaped cutout makes an irresistible spot for selfies. (Cold citrus water from glass dispensers and refreshing rolled towels also welcome new arrivals.)
Past reception, a wall of U-shaped, houndstooth-covered booths make cozy spots to sip an Old Fashioned and pore over a classic. The bar area is filled with decorative tributes to the San Francisco’s counterculture of the 60s: a collection of mirrors inscribed with Beat poetry, a bar cart with classics by Kerouac and Cassady, a large mosaic of Allen Ginsberg, and more vintage typewriters.
The 60s psychedelia and literary motif isn’t limited to the lobby and bar. Replicated flyers for Jimi Hendrix and The Who adorn the elevator landings, little pins above the desks in the rooms declare “Read Banned Books,” even the back staircase is festooned with electrical tape spelling out “Pot is fun.” 
Some might think the decor is a little off the cob (Beat slang for corny), but the overall result is a lovably eccentric boutique option near Union Square. The 1907 building (one of the oldest buildings in downtown San Francisco) naturally has some limitations, mostly in regards to room size, elevators (there’s only one) and soundproofness. Don’t be surprised to hear your neighbors chatting, or their TVs or showers running. But cool cats who want a hip spot in central SF will find Hotel Emblem a great fit.

Hotel Emblem sits two blocks northwest of Union Square, San Francisco’s commercial shopping equivalent to New York’s Fifth Avenue, and near the Theater District. Close by are the charming neighborhoods of Chinatown and North Beach, SF’s historically Italian community and home to Beat landmarks like City Lights Booksellers, Caffe Trieste, and Vesuvio Cafe and Keroauc Alley. Hotel Emblem is a short walk from the posh (and steep) neighborhood of Nob Hill. The hotel is five blocks from the two Powell cable-car lines, which can take you to Lombard Street and Ghirardelli Square or to Fisherman's Wharf near Pier 39. Other attractions include San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (10 minutes by train), Washington Square Park (15 minutes by train), and Palace of Fine Arts and the Presidio (45 minutes by train). San Francisco International Airport is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel (depending on traffic, can take up to 40 minutes) or around 45 to 50 minutes via public transportation.

Guest rooms are decoratively in line with the common spaces, with Beatnik and literary references sprinkled throughout. Bits of Beat poetry and literature appear on the walls and even the bathroom ceiling, where a cheeky “Beyond a point of no return” is printed. Another obvious reference is the collection of in-room books, with titles like James E. Ryan’s “Wait, What” and Coleman Barks’ “The Essential Rumi.” (E-book versions of Beat classics like “On the Road” by Jack Keroauc and “Howl and Other Poems” by Allen Ginsberg are also available.) Above leather-topped writing desks are bulletin board with pins reading “Read Banned Books” and “Pot is Fun.”
Differences between the room categories mostly have to do with square footage. All rooms have the same amenities, like king or queen pillow-topped beds, 55-inch Samsung flat-screen HDTVs (syncable with mobile devices), Nespresso machines, JBL digital clocks, and individual climate control. There are also thoughtful touches, such as glass cups and decanter by the bedside -- to be used at the water-filling station on every floor, where you can also find bagged ice, sliced lemons/limes, whole oranges, and chocolate chip cookies in the afternoons. There are also USB ports by the bed and Bluetooth audio systems. Also available is an array of unusual, on-request items, like a white noise machine, yoga mat, vintage typewriter, meditation bowl, and diffuser with scented oil. There’s no minibars in the rooms, but both mini-fridges and bottled cocktails -- jalapeno-pineapple margaritas, old-fashioneds -- are available, cocktails for a fee.
Bathrooms feature black granite countertops, marble walk-in showers (not rainfall), and big bottles of ROIL by Amanda George bath products: hand wash, body lotion, shine-enhancing shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. (Takehome versions available.) Accessible rooms have tubs. There are also no ventilating windows or fans in bathrooms, but that is a small nit. 
Because this is a 1907 building, you may hear a bit of noise from neighboring rooms. Wi-Fi is free in the rooms.

Because Hotel Emblem occupies a 1907 building -- one of the oldest buildings in downtown San Francisco -- there isn’t a ton of room for extra features. A San Francisco outpost of the Brooklyn-based Bluestone Lane is off the hotel lobby. Open daily from first-thing in the morning until early evening (and mid-afternoon on the weekends), the boutique coffee shop offers a selection of coffee and espresso drinks (including flat whites, cold brews, and Hot Milos -- malted chocolate with steamed whole milk), as well as turmeric and beet lattes and organic tea. For food, Bluestone Lane serves healthy breakfast bowls and toasts, like avocado on multigrain with poached eggs.
The hotel’s lobby bar, Obscenity Bar & Lounge, opens every night in the early evening. It offers bespoke cocktails, like the gin-based Beet Generation (beet juice, lime, simple syrup, egg white, and mint) and H-Owl (Blinking Owl gin, Cointreau, hibiscus syrup, raspberries, and lime). To eat, Obscenity offers an impressive list of bar snacks, cheese and charcuterie plates, salads, and sandwiches. There is an adjacent billiards room and space for special events, like poetry readings and live jazz.
Hotel Emblem's "Underground Concierge" will help travelers see the more obscure side of San Francisco, offering info on self-guided tours around the city with themes like the Beat Generation, art, food, and urban hikes.
There is no on-site fitness center, but the mandatory nightly amenity fee includes access to the off-site Active Sports Club San Francisco. Hotel bikes are also available to borrow.
Hotel Emblem is pet-friendly, for a nightly fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.