Japantown, United States
Right by the Japan Center, with dining options and shops
Chic, inviting common spaces, including a hip lobby
Stylish rooms with 55-inch flat-screen TVs and capsule coffeemakers
Some units have balconies or couches
Cool lobby bar offering light bites and a happy hour
Impressive 24-hour fitness center with Life Fitness machines
Yoga studio with free classes and meditation garden
Lovely courtyard Zen garden with koi pond and fire pit
Breakfast buffet with locally sourced ingredients (fee)
Meeting and event space
Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel
Daily amenity fee added to bills
Rooms run small
No full restaurant
Hip interiors and a dose of Japanese influence make for a charming and characterful ambience at Japantown's upper-middle-range Hotel Kabuki. This 218-room boutique hotel has a courtyard Zen garden, complete with a koi pond and fire pit, and an impressive modern gym with Life Fitness machines. A chic lobby bar offers light bites and Japanese whiskies, beer, and sake, while the breakfast buffet is full of high-quality, locally sourced fare. Rooms are small but stylish and decked out with modern amenities like 55-inch flat-screen TVs, capsule coffee machines, and mini-fridges. A daily amenity fee garners some complaints, but covers things like Wi-Fi, bike rentals, and fitness classes (plus most hotels in San Francisco have one). The nearby Kimpton Buchanan is a comparable alternative, but its gym is not as nice.
Scene
Stylish boutique hotel with trendy spaces and lovely Japanese courtyard
Hotel Kabuki, a Joie de Vivre property is a charming boutique that was revamped in 2018 (thanks to a $30 million renovation), into a stylish, design-savvy property that impresses with its chic interiors. Lots of windows and the industrial-chic architecture of the lobby make it feel loft-like, and there is ample seating clustered about the space. Gritty cement textures combine with rustic wooden ceiling beams, while eclectic furnishings are paired with hip touches including record covers lining a wall, bookshelves filled with books, patterned area rugs, and potted plants and trees. There's also a courtyard Japanese garden, complete with a koi pond and a fire pit. It attracts a mix of business and leisure travelers.
Location
Away from the crowds in the heart of Japantown, with easy access to major attractions
Hotel Kabuki is situated in Japantown, a roughly six-block area with designer Yoshiro Taniguchi's five-tier, 100-foot Peace Pagoda as its centerpiece. It's right next to Japan Center, a shopping center with many inexpensive restaurants, a Kinokuniya Bookstore, and shops with Japanese items like antiques, bonsai trees, toys, and cat-themed knickknacks. Other than a few lackluster bars, there isn't a lot whole lot to do in the neighborhood after 8 p.m., but the Fillmore District, known for producer Bill Graham's legendary Fillmore Auditorium, is around a 10-minute walk away. The location is great for accessing many of San Francisco's major attractions, some of which are easier to get to from Japantown than from downtown. The Golden Gate Bridge is around a 15-minute drive away (50 minutes by public transportation, via a bus that stops a five-minute walk from the hotel), while Haight-Ashbury is a 12-minute drive (or around a half-hour via public transit). The Presidio is a 15-minute drive (45 minutes via public transportation). San Francisco International Airport is around a half-hour drive (without traffic) or about an hour by public transportation, while Oakland International Airport takes around an hour by car or public transportation.
Rooms
Small but stylish rooms with large flat-screen TVs and capsule coffeemakers
Rooms here are stylish, if small, and range in size from 215 to 310 square feet (approximately 20 to 29 square meters), but they make efficient use of space. Colorful art pops against slate-hued accent walls and there are plenty of Japanese-inspired touches, such as characters painted on the walls and graphic design prints. Stylish furnishings include sleek dark-wood desks paired with leather chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the spaces with natural light, and some rooms have private balconies. Rooms are well-equipped with all the modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi, 55-inch flat-screen TVs, capsule coffeemakers, mini-fridges, electronic safes, and Bluetooth-enabled alarm clocks. Sleek, modern bathrooms have wet room-style rainfall showers. Jonathan Adler toiletries are supplied, as are hairdryers and bathrobes.
Features
Inviting lobby bar, buffet breakfast (fee), impressive gym, and meeting and event spaces
This hotel has an impressive set of features and stylish common spaces for relaxing, from the light-filled, design-savvy lobby to the tranquil Zen garden complete with a koi pond and fire pit. The lobby bar is an inviting space for a cocktail or Japanese whisky, sake, and beer. Light snacks and Japanese-inspired dishes are also served here and happy hours are available on weekdays. Though there's no full restaurant here, there is a breakfast buffet (for a fee) served in a pleasant dining room. The spread includes local goods such as artisan breads and pastries, as well as fresh fruit, vegetables, and eggs sourced from nearby farms.There's also an airy, modern fitness center that's well equipped with modern Life Fitness machines, including treadmills, ellipticals, and strength-training machines. There's also a heavy bag for boxing, a yoga studio (with free classes for guests), and even a small meditation garden. It's open around the clock. Meeting and event spaces are also available for rent, and there are loaner bicycles available for guests. Valet parking incurs a pricey daily fee, but there is more affordable public garage parking in the area. Note that the hotel tacks on a "Daily Amenity Fee," allegedly to cover things like free Wi-Fi and yoga classes, which may put some guests off from staying here.
Deluxe Corner King Room
Deluxe View Corner King Room
Deluxe View King Room
Deluxe View Room with Two Double Beds
Executive Suite
Family Suite
Japanese Suite
Kabuki Club King Room
Kabuki Room
United States