HotelChatter

Hotel Video Tours / Photo Gallery / San Francisco Hotels / Joie de Vivre Hotels / Guess The Hotel / → All Tags

How To Jazz Up A Hotel Room, J-Pop Style, at Hotel Tomo

Where: 1800 Sutter St. [map], San Francisco, CA, United States, 94115

We didn't fool anyone with Friday's Guess The Hotel--both commenters were right in fingering the hotel with the manga in the bedside table as Hotel Tomo, or as it's also known Best Western Hotel Tomo, a Joie de Vivre Hotel. (And formerly known as the Best Western Miyako Inn.)

We checked into this Japantown hotel last week so we could be near the great shopping on Fillmore Street. A wise move, since the day we were there it rained and it poured, and we were glad we could scurry back to our room and let the J-pop mural and bright colors keep us from getting the rainy day blues.

more ›

VIP Hotel Reviews / VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Ben Lerer / JDV Hospitality / Thrillist / → All Tags

Where The Thrillist Boys Party in San Francisco

Where: 1800 Sutter St [map], San Francisco, United States, 94115

We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.

Our next VIP in the series is Ben Lerer, the co-founder of Thrillist.com, a daily e-newsletter for guys detailing the best in food, drinks, events, gear, services and travel. Thrillist just recently launched a San Francisco-centric edition and here's where Ben stayed on his last trip to the City by the Bay. Enjoy.

[Photo: Michael Verdi]

On my last business trip to San Francisco, I was put up in the Hotel Tomo in Japantown. I can't say I was giddy about the lodgings -- Tomo's essentially a Best Western, and Best Western isn't exactly the sexiest company out there* -- but I was completely blown away by my experience.

The property was cool, with a boutique hotel feel, the service was great, and the price was fantastic.

more ›

Hotel Video Tours / JDV Hospitality / → All Tags

Crying Baby Disrupts Stay at Hotel Tomo

Where: 1800 Sutter Street [map], San Francisco, ca, United States, 94115

It's no secret that SFO Media publisher Mark Johnson is in San Francisco. After all, he did get to ride on the virgin Virgin America flight from NY to SF.

So where did Mark rest his travel and Branson-weary head? Why at the Hotel Tomo. If you recall, the Tomo just re-opened in Japantown. In its former life, it was a Best Western but has since been done up in Japanime style by California hotelier--JDV Hospitality.

While the rooms certainly look cool, the thin walls are not. In fact, the crying babe who can be heard at the start of the video actually forced Mark to request a new room. Apparently babies don't like Japanime.

Related Stories:
· Inside Hotel Tomo in San Francisco's Japantown [HotelChatter]

Chip Conley / San Francisco Hotel Reviews / Hotel Openings / → All Tags

Hotel Tomo Taking Reservations on June 1

Where: 1800 Sutter Street [map], San Francisco, ca, United States, 94115

While Jason Pomeranc's 6 Columbus keeps working out the kinks, Chip Conley's newest hotel, Hotel Tomo is set to start taking reservations on June 1.

The hotel used to be the Best Western Miyako Inn in San Fran's Japantown but the only thing that remains is the Best Western handle. Inside Hotel Tomo, you will find lots of Japanese pop-culture artwork, (think anime), 26-inch LCD flat-screen TVs, iPod docking station and radio, J-Pop wall murals and what looks like Ugly Dolls on each bed.

There's also a restaurant called Mum's which specializes in shabu-shabu -- "thinly sliced meat and vegetables cooked at your table in an iron hot pot, and served with savory, special, house dipping sauces."

But the best part might be the two "gaming suites" available which include PS3 and Wii, bean bags, sofa bed, 6-foot LCD projection screen, microwaves and mini-refrigerators (What? No Guitar Hero??)

Related Stories:
· Inside Hotel Tomo in San Francisco's Japantown [HotelChatter]