Hotel Diva Review: Stylish San Francisco Stay Near Union Square
Traveling 365 days a year means staying in countless hotels. Amid the disappointments, we've found true gems worldwide. Each week, we recommend one we've personally experienced. This week's pick: Hotel Diva, an ideal San Francisco base for globetrotting adventurers.
Spot Hotel Diva on Geary Street, just off Union Square, by its signature custom window shades featuring black-and-white silhouettes of curvaceous figures in corsets or fishnets. If needed, check the sidewalk's 'walk of fame' with celebrity handprints, footprints, and signatures.
Stepping into the lobby, the playful exterior gives way to a sleek, sophisticated urban retreat. Staff are helpful, attentive, and effortlessly cool—never intrusive. (Note: They could have mentioned the complimentary continental breakfast on the 7th floor, which we missed.)
Convenient lobby access leads to Starbucks on one side and upscale Colibri Mexican restaurant on the other—room service available from Colibri at no extra charge. After a rainy afternoon lounging with the 36-inch flat-screen TV swiveled toward the plush king bed and luxurious duvet, we craved that coffee.
Hotel Diva's philosophy: It shouldn't feel like home—it should inspire spontaneity and adventure. The ultra-comfortable beds with custom rolled-steel headboards, ideal pillows, sleek leather sofas, and seductive shades encourage just that. Yet, it's equally suited for business.
Workspaces feature spacious desks, ergonomic chairs, and lightning-fast Wi-Fi—perfect for writing, blogging, uploading photos, and browsing. Every other floor hosts 24-hour Diva Lounges: artist-designed meeting spaces with Wi-Fi, ideal for creative brainstorming, though underutilized during our stay.
The fitness center impresses with a full array of equipment—balls, mats, machines, free weights for all, and TVs—far beyond typical boutique hotel offerings.
Built in 1915 as the Somerton Hotel for post-1906 earthquake rebuild workers, rooms were originally compact. Today, Hotel Diva's 118 guestrooms feel generously sized compared to other Union Square-area hotels we sampled during our 10-day visit.
The main drawback? Proximity to the Tenderloin district, two blocks away. It's gritty but not overly risky, especially from Union Square. Ultimately, the prime location and vibrant vibe won us over.
Globetrotter Girls *Silver*
Hotel Diva
440 Geary Street
San Francisco
www.hoteldiva.com
