TL;DR

Victorian charm: Stylish Nob Hill mansion brimming with British glamour and Californian star power.
One-of-a-kind decor: Bold patterns and colors that shouldn’t work but do.
Exclusive feel: Less than 30 rooms, with fireplaces and unique design touches.
Great location: Cable car access and sweeping San Francisco views.
Check prices here

Our headcanon is that this Nob Hill boutique hotel was dreamed up by a young Twiggy, present-day Mary Berry, and peak Janis Joplin when they went in together on an old Victorian mansion.

The house is brimming with vintage British glamour, combined with an easy Californian star power that makes it feel like a stylish, laid-back, home.

Walls, upholstery, curtains, and carpets made to catch the eye boast bright patterns and high-contrast coloring that should clash.

Instead, it feels like the height of fashion, even if you’re not sure what fashion it’s going for.

With under 30 rooms and one-of-a-kind decor, the hotel creates an air of exclusivity that you’ll carry throughout your visit as you hop on and off cable cars and enjoy unparalleled views of San Francisco and the Bay.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 26 total, each with its own style and features.
Cozy comfort: Fireplaces, sitting areas, and a stocked mini-fridge in every room.
Bed options: Queen or king beds, with suites offering added space and seating.
Bathrooms: Soaking tubs or walk-in showers with Mistral Verbena amenities.
Groups: Abbey Suite has a queen bed, sleeper sofa, and accessible bathroom.
See each room in detail here

Every room has a fireplace with at least a small sitting area, if not a separate lounge. Mini-fridges provide water and soft drinks, closets are roomy, and a selection of books awaits your convenience.

Rooms have either queen or king beds, while the Suites offer king beds with gorgeous seating areas. Bathrooms have soaking tubs or walk-in showers, stocked with Mistral Verbena amenities and plush hotel robes.

Large groups will want to check out the Abbey Suite, a two-room affair with a queen bed and cozy sleeper sofa.

The Suite also features an accessible bathroom with grab bars, a roll-in shower and shower seats.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Breakfast included: Fresh pastries, coffee, and tea every morning.
Evening treats: Wine and snacks hour for guests to unwind.
Room service: Delivered by Del Popolo, one of SF’s best Neapolitan pizza spots.
Social spaces: Cozy lounge with board games, books, and a lively atmosphere.
Extras: Discounted passes to a nearby gym for fitness-minded guests.

The dining is classic inn/B&B, with breakfast provided every morning and a fantastic wine and snacks hour in the evening.

They’ll introduce you to a variety of local pastries, coffee & tea brands, and wines that you’ll remember long after you leave.

Room service is provided by the White Swan’s famed neighbor Del Popolo.

The food-truck-turned-successful-restaurant will bring some of San Francisco’s best Neapolitan pizza to your door, paired with even more delicious wine.

Don’t forget to spend some time in the hotel lounge and common area.

You can grab board games from the front desk if you need an activity, bring a book, or just hang out.

You’ll enjoy the refined yet lively atmosphere no matter what you do.

If you’re not getting enough exercise climbing up and down the famous San Francisco hills, you can grab a discounted pass to a nearby gym. Most guests don’t bother, however, given the location.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Nob Hill: Steep streets, amazing views, and plenty of steps to climb.
Cultural venues: Close to the Theatre District and Masonic Auditorium.
Easy access: Cable car connections to the Financial District and beyond.
Downtown nearby: Upscale shopping, ferry terminals, and street art.
Public transport: Powell Street BART station links you to Mission, Castro, Oakland, and Berkeley.

Nob Hill is, and this might blow your mind, a hill. Thus, you’ll likely do a lot of walking up and down slopes.

The good news, the views are incredible, the other good news, you’ll definitely get your daily steps in staying at the White Swan Inn.

Head south for the Theatre District to catch a show, or north to the Masonic Auditorium, which attracts some of the biggest and best of names.

Neither area is far, making it a great place for theatre buffs and music lovers.

The final piece of good news: you’re not too far from one of the city’s famous cable car stations. From here, you can scoot over to the Financial District, enjoying the sights and stopping whenever you want.

Once you’re there, exploring Downtown will be easy; you can find upscale shopping, great street art, and eventually the ferry terminals in Embarcadero that can get you to the mainland.

If you go all the way south you can grab the BART at Powell Street. This will take you to the Mission and the Castro, Downtown, or all the way out to Oakland and Berkeley.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

”The hotel was everything I had hoped for! I had a wonderful stay, and very much enjoyed the large room with gas fireplace, and the breakfast area and sitting room. I would definitely return, and have already recommended to others….”

”Loved staying at the White Swan Inn. Enjoyed the complimentary breakfast and the wine and nibbles in the evening. It was such a great way to unwind after walking around the town the whole day. The communal living room space gives very cozy vibes with fireplaces, bookshelves, and comfy sofas and chairs. It was also in an excellent location- within walkable distance to many places to explore….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”Breakfast could be improved to fit in with the remainder of the excellent hotel facilities but nothing too much to complain about there….”

”These are smaller gripes but the room furniture and upholstery are getting a little beat up and ragged. I’d like to see a little more protein options like eggs available at the breakfast too…..”