Finance & DevelopmentDevelopmentVirgin Hotels Opens in San Francisco

Virgin Hotels Opens in San Francisco

MIAMI and SAN FRANCISCO—Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, has opened its second property, Virgin Hotels San Francisco. Located at 250 Fourth Street in South of Market (SoMa) near Yerba Buena Gardens and the Moscone Center, the hotel has 192 guestrooms and two Penthouse Suites; multiple dining and drinking outlets, including the brand’s flagship space, Commons Club and Funny Library Coffee Shop; numerous meeting spaces; and a rooftop bar, Everdene. The hotel is also in close proximity to the new Central Subway Station opening later this year, which will connect South of Market with Union Square and Chinatown.

“I love visiting San Francisco, and it has always been very special to Virgin. Never losing its local charm, the city continues to be dynamic and innovative, embodying so much of what our brand stands for. Virgin Hotels and the delightful city of San Francisco make the perfect pair and I’m thrilled to announce that the hotel is now open,” said Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group.

Virgin Hotels San Francisco features collaborative designs from Gensler San Francisco as the designer for the hotel’s rooftop Everdene, Hager Design International (HDI) as the interior designer of record, and Matthew Rolston as the creative director for the hotel’s public spaces and Commons Club. Under his creative direction, Matthew Rolston envisioned the ultimate hospitality destination for the savvy, tech-forward business and leisure traveler, merging an eclectic architectural and decorative mix between San Francisco’s Victorian-era past, the city’s 1960s rock ‘n’ roll appropriation of Victorian styling, and a 19th-century British feel.

Virgin Hotels San Francisco

“There are a lot of wonderful things about this property, but what I’m most excited about is the dynamic yet mystical spaces throughout the hotel; from Commons Club, to the lush rooftop escape on the 12th floor, this hotel will offer visitors a unique experience,” said Raul Leal, CEO of Virgin Hotels. “Guests of Virgin Hotels in Chicago will notice a lot of key brand features like the Chamber design and the Lounge Bed, but this property will feel inherently San Francisco.”

The hotel is owned by Paradigm Hotels Group and operated by Virgin Hotels.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Virgin Hotels as it continues its expansion around the world,” added Jay Singh, owner of Paradigm Hotels Group. “Virgin Hotels is a brand that knows what travelers want and it’s exciting to bring this specific level of service to San Francisco.”

There are 192 guestrooms—called ‘Chambers’—which have Virgin Hotels’ signature two-room concept, and two Penthouse Suites. The ‘Dressing Room’ includes a full vanity, makeup desk, and lit mirror, an extra-large shower with a bench, and a closet for two. A sliding wooden door (complete with a peephole) separates it from ‘The Lounge’, which includes Virgin’s patented ergonomically designed lounge bed, a red SMEG mini-fridge stocked with street-priced snacks, High Definition TV, yoga mat, round wood table, a custom designed bench, and ample outlets for smartphones, laptops, or other devices. The Chambers showcase warm, wood tones throughout and soft textures, offset with black accents. Touches of signature ‘Virgin Red’ complete the design.

Virgin Hotels San Francisco

Additionally, Virgin Hotels San Francisco provides guests with three dining and drinking options including the flagship restaurant, bar and lounge, Commons Club, at the main entrance of the hotel. Commons Club is designed to feel like a “members only” experience that’s open to all. Executive Chef Adrian Garcia, formerly of Benu and Quince, will offer modern California cuisine with international influences at The Kitchen, and will be showcasing seasonal ingredients that have been selected from local and specialty purveyors and producers.

Opening early March, the hotel will have a rooftop bar, Everdene, and the Funny Library Coffee Shop. Located on the 12th floor, Everdene is an indoor/outdoor urban oasis and one of the few rooftops in the city with nearly 360-degree views. Designed in partnership with Gensler San Francisco, the 4,000 square-foot rooftop has three spaces: The Salon, home to a 25-foot wraparound bar and a facade that transforms it into an outdoor experience; The Patio, an outdoor space with a large communal table and a garden trellis; and The Secret Garden Lounge, a VIP lounge only accessible via a signature Virgin-red garden gate crowned with foliage from the surrounding lattice.

On the ground floor, with a separate entrance and located on the 4th Street corridor, the Funny Library Coffee Shop pours coffee by Laughing Man, the brand co-founded by actor Hugh Jackman. The coffee shop will offer a grab-and-go station with San Francisco-style pastries and healthy, fresh light bites curated in partnership with local bakeries Craftsman and Wolves and Firebrand. Funny Library Coffee Shop is a communal work space that houses an assortment of books.

The hotel also has a 24-hour fitness center, more than 7000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, Red Flower toiletries, complimentary yoga mats, intimacy kits, and additional amenities for pets available in the guestrooms.

RELATED ARTICLES