Hotel Spero

Hotel Spero San Francisco is a historic hotel that dates back to 1923, when it opened as the Hotel Californian. It’s seen several incarnations since, as well as some renovations, most recently in 2018. Posh interiors here adeptly blend contemporary style with hints of yesteryear – it feels classic, yet with a modern touch. The grand lobby is airy and striking, thanks to tall ceilings that feature beautiful, intricately painted wooden beams and molding. Wrought-iron lanterns hang suspended from the ceiling, while eclectic art adorns the walls. Furnishing is upmarket, with an array of seating in tasteful nooks accompanied by stylish details like colorful rugs and shelving artfully stocked with coffee table books, ceramics, and other knickknacks. Farther in, the front desk area features a decorative carved wooden ceiling. In contrast, the restaurant and bar, Jasper’s, feels a lot more casual and ho-hum compared to the stylish lobby. The space has a diner feel complete with booth seating lining the windows.
The hotel prides itself on its eco-friendly practices, including recycling and composting programs, using environmentally friendly cleaning products, replacing single-use toiletries with larger bottles, and offering guests who decline housekeeping services vouchers to the on-site restaurant.

Hotel Spero San Francisco is conveniently located a five-minute walk from Union Square, an area known for its couture shops and upscale restaurants. With enormous outposts of Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., and Louis Vuitton, among others, Union Square is to San Francisco as Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive are to New York and L.A., respectively. The neighborhood is also well-connected by public transportation, with a BART station (Powell Street) within a six-minute walk of the hotel. Many of the city’s top attractions can be reached within a 10- to 15-minute drive (or 25 to 30 minutes via public transit), including Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, and AT&T Park. Chinatown is within a 15-minute walk. San Francisco International Airport is around a 30- to 35-minute drive.

Hotel Spero rooms come in several different categories, but they’re all stylish, with chic decor that utilizes lots of geometric prints, including in the carpeting and headboards, and a mostly gray-scale palette. Cool planters crawl against the bedside wall, sprouting grass, and there are large leaves made out of twigs too. Chic leather chairs provide seating.
Rooms are on the small side (typical for San Francisco), with entry-level rooms starting at 210 square feet. Suites add more space, maxing out with the 510-square-foot One Bedroom Suite. Suites have living areas with sofas and pops of color from wall art and accent pillows.
Amenities are a bit limited but consist of 50-inch flat-screen TVs, irons and ironing boards, electronic safes, bathrobes, and free Wi-Fi. No tea- or coffee-making facilities are provided, however, free coffee and tea are available in the mornings in the lobby. Bathrooms are small but modern, with stylish patterned tiling in the walk-in showers, alongside toiletries and hairdryers. Some suites have tubs.

A handful of features add convenience to a stay here, though the amenities aren’t exhaustive. Hotel Spero’s restaurant, Jasper’s Corner Tap & Kitchen, is an eatery and bar set in a casual space. It serves American classics for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, plus also offers a daily happy hour special. Note that room service is not available (but Jasper’s does offer take-out).
The 24-hour fitness center houses modern Precor machines with built-in TV screens, free weights, and two Peloton bikes. There are no spa or pool here, though that’s consistent with most boutique properties in San Francisco.
A small co-working space offers a place to get some work done, with the comforts of business center amenities like a Mac computer and printer. There are also five meeting rooms here.
Note that rates include a mandatory “Guest Amenities Fee” that covers things like Wi-Fi, use of fitness center, a welcome gift, free morning coffee and tea in the lobby, a voucher to use in on-site restaurant, and more. It does not cover parking, however, which can get pricey – the hotel only offers valet parking (for a fee), which is normal for the area.