The Jay, Autograph Collection

🌟 The Jay, Autograph Collection, 433 Clay Street🌟

🛏️ Number of rooms & suites: 360

💰 Price: The range is wide. If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member, you might find some advantages, such as upgrades and free WiFi (check with them). Realistically, a standard room is going to start at $300–$500 per night, depending on dates/season/room type, and increase from there for premium view rooms and suites.

🧀 Dining: The Third Floor Restaurant & Lounge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is a gathering spot to meet, socialize, conduct business, or work quietly in a corner on your laptop. The space features several distinct areas: the dining room, a lounge/bar area, and an outdoor rooftop terrace where you can enjoy drinks and snacks around fire pits, offering stunning views of the skyscrapers. Prelude is situated on the hotel’s street level and offers an upscale experience, featuring southern-inspired dishes served à la carte or as part of a tasting menu. It’s considered one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. The restaurant’s bar is super cute and cozy, too, and they serve nibbles if you just want to soak up the atmosphere without committing to a sit-down dinner.

🗺️ Neighborhood: In the heart of downtown, walking distance to Chinatown, North Beach, Cable Cars, the Ferry Building, Oracle Park, museums, and more. This is a great home base for exploring all the things to do in San Francisco.

📚 Why book: The thoughtful and comprehensive renovation of the former Le Méridien hotel is gorgeous, and transformed this 25-story hotel into a hip and trendy downtown pied-a-terre that opened at the end of 2023. Though the exterior is considered “brutalist” architecture, but nothing about The Jay, Autograph Collection feels unwelcoming. The rooms and suites vary in size and configuration, making it easy to travel as a couple, in groups, or as a family. The decor is neutral but far from bland, utilizing accents and textures such as brass fixtures, leather chairs, and patterned fabrics to add just enough visual glamour and pizzazz. An outdoor terrace above the street level is rare in SF, and The Jay’s draws locals, an after-work crowd, and guests. It was hopping on the warm Tuesday night I was there. A morning coffee bar in the lobby makes it easy to caffeinate on the go as you head out to explore San Francisco.

👀 Nearby attractions: Ferry Building, Chinatown, North Beach, Museums, the Embarcadero, Cable Cars, Coit Tower, Oracle Park. Read my guide for things to do in San Francisco.

💫 Highlights: Views, location, the Third Floor Roof Terrace, Prelude

❤️ My heartthrobs: The roof terrace was a lovely surprise, tucked beneath San Francisco’s skyscrapers with plenty of seating around fire tables and outdoor heaters. The in-room mini bars feature products made in San Francisco. Super-soft bathrobes. The custom bath amenities in their signature scent.

💔 My heartbreaks: Charging for WiFi. Nickel-and-diming guests for internet access is so passé.

The Third Floor Roof Terrace inspires locals and guests to gather