53 Best Hotels in The Bay Area, California

With its enormous and elegantly decorated rooms, secluded oceanfront property, and a staff that waits on guests hand and foot, this golf and spa resort defines opulence. Attention to detail is remarkable, right down to the 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. During cocktail hour, view the ocean from the plush Conservatory Lounge or from under a heavy blanket on an Adirondack chair on the lawn; visit the wine bar Cork anytime. The main restaurant, Navio, is suitably decadent, with a kitchen that turns local produce into exquisite dishes. The on-site spa offers coastal-themed treatments that featuring local products.

Straddling the Oakland–Berkeley border, this sprawling 22-acre amenities-rich property dating from 1915 beckons like a gleaming white castle in the hills. Once a private residence, the hotel, club, and spa lure traveling executives, honeymooners, and leisure travelers alike with a 24-hour business center, luxurious suites, multiple outdoor pools, a dozen tennis and pickleball courts, and a holistic spa. Most guest rooms are spacious and have views of the bay.

This elegant boutique hotel is an extremely welcome breath of fresh air of nongimmicky, non-tech-oriented space. It would fit right at home in a European capital, which makes sense given that the general theme is Spanish architecture. Above the small lobby is a spectacular salon that serves as a de facto living room where it’s easy to imagine visiting scholars holding court with Stanford professors. Rooms have pleasant tile-like carpet patterns, lovely pillow-top beds, grand marble bathrooms, and side French doors that open to balconies overlooking the beautiful central courtyard with a fountain.

The balconies at the inn literally hang over the water, and each of its rooms has a "perfect 10" view that takes in wild Angel Island as well as the city lights across the bay. Lovely touches—Bulgari soap and lotion, flowers by the work desk, pleasant contemporary art objects and paintings, large tubs, binoculars in every room, complimentary California wine, lounge chairs on the balcony—abound, and most rooms have wood-burning or gas fireplaces. Though set right by the busy ferry dock, this place is luxurious and tranquil.

This cheerful and refined getaway offers as many reasons to stay on-property—with its views of Mt. Wittenberg and garden setting—as to explore the 71,000 acres of national seashore just steps away. Twenty-two rooms and two cottages offer distinctive design details, from heated floors to suites featuring majestic four-poster beds. Artisanal grab-and-go goodies from the on-site Due West Market make it easy to pack a picnic for the gorgeous grounds or a hike along its creek and groves. Or enjoy cocktails and locally sourced dishes at Due West's restaurant wing, which is one of the best dinner stops in the region.

With the university in its name and images of esteemed alums throughout the hallways, it's clear why many guests stay at this upscale boutique stalwart. The Stanford Park resides right at the border of Menlo Park and Palo Alto, across from Stanford Shopping Center. It’s part of the Woodside Group, a small collection of Northern California low-key luxury destinations. The hotel actually only dates back to 1985, but it feels like it should have opened decades earlier because the architecture is inspired by early-20-century California design visionaries Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck, lending a subtly grand air to much of the decor inside and to the shingle-covered exterior and well-appointed grounds. Among the many notable amenities, the on-site Menlo Tavern is a terrific spot for guests and locals to gather for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks.

The owners of this 1898 Victorian farmhouse, located in the heart of old downtown, brings East Coast charm out West. Named after favorite landmarks on the island of Nantucket, each room is uniquely and tastefully decorated and furnished with spa robes, plush linens, and Hermes bath products. Relax in the tranquil garden or cozy up beside the outdoor fire pit. A generous spread of complimentary wine, cheeses, meats, and delicacies is set out each afternoon, and a hearty gourmet breakfast is provided each morning.

Alongside Richardson Bay, this stylish boutique hotel has bright, perfectly pleasant rooms decorated in soft Zen-like color schemes. Rooms facing west have full bay views (some with views of Mt. Tamalpais), and many feature private patios; all junior suites include soaking tubs and the premium ones feature a wood-burning fireplace. In true Marin County spirit, complimentary mountain bikes are provided for guests. Weekends require a two-night minimum stay during the busier times of the year.

Within a mile of campus and the heart of downtown, the Aiden celebrates the culture of Berkeley with wall art showcasing the campus life and spirit the town is known for. Tech-savvy rooms include large TVs and impressive desk setups for remote workers. Even the smallest rooms feel pretty spacious with floor to ceiling windows, and all rooms have refrigerators. The hotel is two blocks from the North Berkeley BART station. While there is no pool or fitness center, active guests can enjoy the free bikes and yoga mats.

Just a freeway exit away from the NASA Ames Research Center and Google Headquarters, this fun, sharp hotel nicely balances being a dressed-up business hotel with a playful side. Space is the overarching theme but in a subtle way through artwork and decorations. Residing on 10 acres, the Ameswell is kind of its own campus and not walking distance to anything. Luckily, there is plenty to do with an outdoor saltwater pool and fire pits to linger at in the front lawn, plus the contemporary cuisine and cocktails at its restaurant, Roger. Rooms are impressively large and nicely decorated with handsome blue dot-painted wallpaper, modern-style furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the distant mountains from many rooms.

With splendid ocean views and enormous junior suites throughout the property (each is more than 500 square feet), this appropriately named seaside getaway really does help travelers feel at home by the beach. All of the accommodations have balconies or patios and most gaze out towards the Pacific. Each junior suite has a king bed and a queen-size sleeper sofa in a separate living room area. Once guests leave their suites, there's a swimming pool and hot tub to visit along with the ocean practically right outside the door. 

Moorish design and Gothic architecture join with modern amenities at this historic locale steps from the campus, arts venues, and eateries. The Berkeley Women's City Club opened its doors in 1930, designed by one of the university's first woman civil engineers, Julia Morgan. Now a national landmark, her "little castle" features time-honored rooms, a social club, fine dining in lush interior courtyards, a vintage-tiled indoor swimming pool, and a performing arts theater.

This relatively small-sized property has pleasant accommodations with balconies or patios, many overlooking the water and Alameda island. The rooms, which vary in size, have coffeemakers, refrigerators, microwaves, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, sitting areas, spacious bathrooms, and good-size desks. There is a pretty fully-stocked fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool and the Estuary walking path, so it's the rare freeway-adjacent hotel that has ample workout opportunities.

With a striking setting almost at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, this refined, upscale destination is truly the closest countryside getaway to San Francisco. The lodge is rich with history, residing on what originally was Fort Baker, an Army base founded in the 1900s that continued to have military members on-site until the end of the 20th century. The rooms in the old Army buildings are decidedly swankier and green-focused than during their military days (most have fireplaces), while the separate contemporary rooms are downright posh with radiant heat floors and massive windows for viewing the bridge or nearby forest.

Palo Alto doesn’t exactly strike travelers as an all-inclusive luxury getaway like Cancún, but that’s what this impeccable hotel offers. Located just on the other side of the Caltrain tracks from the heart of University Avenue, the suites and amenities really are quite striking. Drinks, meals, and a personal concierge are all included, as is valet parking and twice-a-day housekeeping. All suites have living rooms, giant streaming flat-screen TVs, lovely Matouk linens, and bathrooms featuring soaking tubs and rain shower heads.

Fresh, colorful design and Bohemian flair set the tone at this hotel (a college-themed boutique brand that is now under the Hilton flag) in one of Berkeley's registered historic places, just steps from campus and downtown eating, shopping, and entertainment. Rooms are vintage scholarly-inspired, quirky, and welcoming, with modern tech amenities and a fitness center to keep with the times. In the lobby, friendly and accommodating staff add to the collegiate atmosphere. Henry's Restaurant dishes up delicious farm-to-table pub fare each evening.

There are many hotels with bland, corporate decor—and then there's the Graduate Palo Alto, where every square inch of space seems to have some form of elaborate design or decoration. With a base of very intricate Spanish Colonial architecture, the university town–focused brand completely remodeled what was the Hotel President (named for Stanford alum Herbert Hoover), a popular 20th-century hotel that had fallen into disrepair. Each room has a retro vibe (old-fashioned bedspreads and eye-catching floral and bird wallpaper) and a huge amount of Stanford influence. The shower entry frame is arched like the classic campus architecture, and bed headboards are stenciled with redwood trees, a nod to the Stanford tree mascot.

The Tuscan villa–inspired design is hard to miss at this very pleasant hotel; it’s a welcome refuge from the sprawl and tech-centric culture of Silicon Valley. The lobby is grand with a fireplace, pillars, chandeliers, and plush sofas, benches, and chairs, plus a European-style fountain at the front entrance. It truly feels Old World, even though it only opened in 2002. Rooms are a little more subdued, boasting bright orange walls, an ergonomic chair for the work desk, handsome furnishings and balconies. Dio Deka, the hotel’s Michelin-starred Greek restaurant, is a big draw and certainly one of the South Bay’s leading restaurants (it serves dinner only).

One of the first of the new wave Silicon Valley hotels, this Autograph Collection property is the closest place to stay near Meta’s campus. Even though the location is right by a highway and the general office park environs are sterile corporate, the hotel exudes all kinds of energetic boutique vibes. Rooms have a polished, chic look, and the nicest suites have panoramic views of practically the entire Peninsula. Arguably the biggest draw is the fun outdoor courtyard with a bar, pool, and lawn games. Silicon Valley titans love to meet up here in the morning because the café serves Santa Cruz’s acclaimed Verve Coffee.

This historic boutique hotel sits amid Berkeley's downtown arts district, just steps from the UC campus and a short walk from North Berkeley's best bites. The elegant property, built in 1910, emphasizes its turn-of-the-20th-century glamour in its unique design, but from HDTVs with streaming in every room to the excellent remote work desk setups, the hotel is completely upgraded and modernized. ZINO, the on-site restaurant, specializes in Mediterranean fare and well-crafted cocktails.

This outpost of a Texas-based boutique hotel group is located in the glossy, Disneyland-ish Santana Row shopping area on the outskirts of San Jose. The Valencia has beautiful Spanish Colonial architecture and large, well-appointed rooms featuring marble bathrooms and large flat-panel HDTVs. Suites and some deluxe rooms have lovely balconies. The main attractions are a rooftop pool and patio along with another courtyard situated by the third-floor lobby, bar, and restaurant.

Uptown Oakland is a hip neighborhood with many great restaurants, theaters and bars—but just one place to rest overnight: this ultra-chic Hyatt-flagged property. It's quite the refreshing design spectacle, from the exterior Beaux-Arts grand arched windows to the loosely art deco lobby. Guest rooms are on the upscale minimalist side with small works of abstract art on the walls and hardwood floors partially covered by rugs. All rooms have helpful blackout curtains and some of the nicer options have a private patio on a courtyard terrace.

The only hotel in downtown Mill Valley comprises one of the area's first homes, the Creek House, which has smart-looking Victorian rooms; a main building with 16 rooms; and two small cottages nestled in a grove beyond a creek. Beds are made with crisp white linens, starkly contrasting with the deep browns and greens of the ferns and towering redwoods just outside the windows. Hiking and biking trails are steps away, as are Lytton Square and downtown shops, restaurants, and performing arts. A continental breakfast is provided each morning, and there's an evening wine-and-cheese reception.

Abutting 40,000 acres of state and national parks, this airy wooden inn sits on the skirt of Mt. Tamalpais, where you can follow hiking trails all the way to Stinson Beach. Sunrise-facing rooms are built for romance, each mixing huge views of pristine wilderness and the sweeping San Francisco Bay with some combination of balcony, fireplace, and whirlpool tub. Superior rooms feature upscale cabin decor, including wooden vaulted ceilings and bed posters, while the other categories are a bit more standard in design. The on-site bar is a popular spot for guests (and tired hikers) to unwind after a day of exploring the Marin hills.

While most upscale hotels on the Peninsular coastline are indeed on the actual coast, this delightful bed-and-breakfast resides right in the heart of Half Moon Bay's pleasant downtown. In many ways, that location brings together the best of both worlds—a short jaunt to the beach in the daytime and then walking distance to restaurants in the evening. The small B&Bs design theme is inspired by the island of Nantucket on the opposite coast, and rooms are split between the main house and a garden cottage.

When Silicon Valley tech money meets the country’s biggest celebrity sushi chef, you get this ultra-contemporary luxury hotel with, of course, a Nobu restaurant included. Japanese design elements are sprinkled throughout the public spaces and guest rooms, including yukata robes for guests and specific ryokan suites that include deep-soaking teak tubs. The sharp, serene room aesthetic emphasizes clean lines and beautiful furniture, rather than crowding walls and tables with art. And it’s hard not to escape one of the biggest assets of all—that you can order Nobu's restaurant food for room service.

Oceanside luxury is at its best at this venerable vacation favorite in the quaint Princeton-by-the-Sea area of Half Moon Bay. Every traveler to the coast knows about the fierce winds and fog in the area, so the fact that every guest room here has its own fireplace is an enormous asset. There is an overall upscale nautical theme throughout the space, split between the primary suites, giant villa rooms, and an 11-room adjacent inn. There is an on-site restaurant and bar, plus it's walking distance to a handful of great places to eat and drink.