San Francisco Proper

"What's this place like? Give us the wide-angle view.Walking up to the Proper at 5 o'clock on a Friday night, there was an hour-long wait down the block to get into Charmaine's, the hotel's hip, swanky rooftop bar—who could resist firepits and views of the city skyline? The high-end hotel opened in November of 2017 to much fanfare; a month later, it was still tough to find a seat for a drink in the lobby, which is decked out in the artsy-cool stylings of designer Kelly Wearstler. Pattern and color reign supreme at the Proper, with bright florals on furniture, rugs, and pillows, mixing with mirrors, eclectic groupings of paintings running up and down the walls, and graphic black and white prints. It's a lot, but it's fun—and a serious shift from the neutral tones that run rampant in San Francisco's other hotels. What’s the crowd like?The Proper is the height of cool; on a Friday night, you can see cocktail dresses and blazers, leather and boots. When LCD Soundsystem performed in San Francisco, the band stayed there. The good stuff: Tell us about your room. Here's something you don't see at a lot of hotels: a bunk room, albeit way fancier than the one you had as a kid. At The Proper, these walnut double-deckers have built-in brass ladders, outlets, USB ports, and TVs with built-in headphones. If ladders to beds aren't your jam, don't fret. The Proper also has plenty of regular rooms, both standard size and junior and premier suites. Regardless of the size you choose, Wearstler's fizzy aesthetic carries into the rooms, with graphic and floral wallpaper—sometimes on adjoining walls—geometric lamps and tables, and patterned throw rugs on wood floors. The hotel was also able to preserve the original windows of the 19064 flatiron building. How's the bed situation? Did you get a good night's sleep?Guests in beds of all sizes sleep in California Aireloom king mattresses tucked in crisp Italian Bellino Fine Linens, topped with down comforters and striped Kelly Wearstler cotton blankets; the comfort factor is dialed way up. And the amenities? Anything you desperately wanted to sneak back with you?So much. Oblong marble coffee tables, tablets in every room, Bluetooth speakers, and Google Chromecast for streaming. Even the bunk rooms have rainshowers. All bathrooms are stocked with Aesop beauty products, Bellino Fine Linens towels, and Kelly Wearstler cotton kimono robes. I'd take one of everything, given the choice. Anything stand out about other services and features?The property has a complimentary car service for guests, that will take you anywhere in a 3-mile radius–but get in line early, as it’s first-come, first-serve. Bottom line: would you stay here again, and why?The location is going to be a turn-off for a lot of travelers, but it's very swanky and hip; it's also convenient for business travelers who need to run off to meetings in the Mid-Market neighborhood." - Elise Craig