Hayes Mansion

Originally built in 1905, tall palm trees line the road leading up to the old Spanish Colonial Revival style mansion. The property maintains the feel of a turn-of-the-century estate with immaculate grounds, expansive patios around grand archways, ornate ceilings, and white stucco walls. The lobby is small and awkwardly laid out, but old California wealth from a fortune in the mining industry left its mark on the antique furniture, decorative carpeted halls, and mahogany-paneled walls hung with old black and white family portraits.

Hayes Mansion is located in South San Jose, set off from a quiet tree-lined side street. The estate borders Edenvale Garden Park, a green space with walking trails and tennis courts. Other than that there are no major attractions within walking distance in the residential neighborhood, which includes a large mobile home park across the street. First shaped by Spanish colonists in the 18th century, San Jose is now home to a unique blend of Silicon Valley wealth and post-war urban sprawl. The area’s known equally for its old Mission Revival mansions and five-star hotels as it is for its golf courses and tech start-ups. San Jose International Airport is about a 20-minute drive northwest into the downtown area.

Despite their age, the rooms are well-maintained (if a bit dated looking) with white walls and renovations that make them almost too uniformly contemporary. One of the few links to the rest of the property are the decorative carpets and curtains, but the dated wood furniture that would be unappealing anywhere else seems to fit here. Units also have work desks with plastic roller chairs that are incongruous to the rest of the decor. The bathrooms have marble vanities and white-tiled shower/tub combos. Mini-fridges and Keurig coffeemakers are welcome standards. Most rooms have balconies with views of the grounds, but some aren't private, connected to neighbors’ spaces with only a short railing between them.

Formerly the Hayes Conference Center, the hotel maintains an event-centric nature. The grounds, with the stately Spanish Revival buildings as the backdrop, make the venue a popular wedding location. The mansion has an elegant ballroom and several smaller meeting rooms -- each unique, some with old pianos, chandeliers, and ornate wallpapering -- totaling 33,000 square feet of function space.

For dining, Silver Creek Restaurant is known for its champagne brunch, while Palm Plaza Lounge does small plates on an outdoor patio with umbrella-covered lounge chairs and tables. The heated outdoor pool is set in a small courtyard that has a large hot tub. There's also a full-service spa and 24-hour fitness center equipped with treadmills, elliptical machines, and cardio bikes. The hotel's dedicated bar and game lounge has multiple pool tables and is frequently used as a private space for weddings and other events.