Hotel Review: Hotel Kabuki – JDV by Hyatt

I had to be in San Francisco for a night and all of my usual spots were insanely expensive due to a conference in town. I had not stayed at the Hotel Kabuki – JDV by Hyatt in many years (long before it was part of Hyatt and operated independently as a Joie de Vivre hotel). I remembered the hotel as being cute and pretty convenient with lots of great food in the area thanks to its sitting in Japantown. I was not disappointed upon returning.

Anthony’s Take: I found the hotel design cute, the staff friendly, and the suite comfortable. The hotel definitely embraces its neighborhood and I loved all of the playful Japanese touches throughout the property. This hotel does not accept Suite Upgrade Awards, but I was still given one based on my Globalist status.

Booking

I booked a 1 King Bed room on an “Advance Purchase” rate. It was $492 plus taxes and fees. The hotel charges a $35 plus tax Destination Fee. This was waived for me as a Globalist. The hotel falls under Category 5 with award rates for standard rooms ranging from 15,000 to 35,000 World of Hyatt® points.

Transportation to/from the Hotel

I took an Uber Comfort from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the hotel. The ride is 15.1 miles and it took around 23 minutes. It cost $58 and was around the same returning to the airport the next day.

Location

The hotel is in Japantown and near the Fillmore District and Pacific Heights neighborhoods. If you’re looking for Japanese food and culture, there are some excellent spots right outside your door.

The lobby was decked out for Pride and aside from the seasonal decor, it had a fun Japanese theme. There is a good amount of seating throughout.

I loved this tree and the album covers on the wall.

Check-In

Check-in fills the back wall upon entering the lobby. I arrived at the hotel around 2:30 PM and my suite was ready. I had been upgraded to a Loft Suite, which has a confusing name as it is all one floor. The agent told me about breakfast and asked if I wanted a late checkout. I took him up on a 2:00 PM departure. He did not mention the Destination Fee, but it was also not on my folio at checkout (as it was waived for being a Globalist). My keys were printed and I was off to my suite.

Destination Fee

As mentioned, the hotel charges $35 plus tax daily for a Destination Fee. I hate these. Here is what is included:

• State-of-the art fitness center featuring weight training, an array of cardiovascular equipment including Peloton and rowing machines, cardio kickboxing zone and a yoga studio
• In-room coffee and tea
• 24-hour printing for small projects
• Unlimited espresso drinks, tea and filtered water (sparkling, still, hot)
• Morning coffee in the lobby
• Unlimited local in-room calls
• 10% off retail offerings
• 10% off hotel experiences (Japanese Whisky Tasting and more)
• Oculus VR rental
• Discount at Macy’s Union Square
• Discount on Big Bus Tours tickets
• Streaming availability with many apps, including HBO, Netflix, Pandora and more
• Complimentary walking tour with San Francisco City Guides
• $5 off day rate for CITY bike rentals
• 20% off Asian Art Museum admission
• 20% off at Kabuki Spa
• Exclusive discount from Edible Excursions
• $10 off Kyte rental cars
• Complimentary scheduled fitness classes, including boxing, strengthening and yoga
• California Migration Museum walking tour

My suite was towards the back of the hotel. It was only up one level and I took the stairs each time.

There are also elevators.

The elevator lobby and hallways on my floor were both clean and in good shape.

The carpet is a bit worn, but other than that it looked good.

I liked that a lot of the doors were painted to keep with the theme.

Loft Suite (2215)

The Hotel Kabuki – JDV by Hyatt has 225 guest rooms and suites.

The suite opened into the living room.

It held a couch, two chairs, a coffee table, a TV, and several other storage units.

The TV was on the wall near the entrance.

Another cabinet was on the same wall. An ice bucket and glasses were on the counter.

An empty refrigerator was housed below.

The space was all one large room. Further in there was a desk and chair. The Keurig, coffee pods, cups, tea, and condiments were found here.

The king-sized bed and two nightstands were also here.

The bathroom was near the bed. It held a vanity with a single sink, toilet, and glassed-in shower.

The vanity had plenty of counter space.

The toilet was in its own room. I like when these are spaced out.

A bar of Jonathan Adler branded soap and body lotion were on the counter.

The glassed-in shower was a good size. Water temperature and pressure were both fine.

More Jonathan Adler toiletries were on the shower bench.

The most unique feature of the bathroom was the massive walk-in closet/dressing area. A full-length mirror was there.

Robes, umbrellas, an iron, an ironing board, a luggage rack, and the safe were also there.

Public Areas & Amenities

The art throughout the hotel was so cute. Amenities include a fitness center, small market, restaurant and bar, meeting space, and a courtyard garden.

More great art.

The courtyard garden looked so peaceful.

I grabbed a ginger ale from the market.

There were some other items for sale in the lobby as well.

The origami on the lobby wall was also fun.

A photo booth was nearby.

Coffee and tea are on offer throughout the day.

I did not have a chance to go to the fitness center. This photo courtesy of Hyatt.

Overall Impression:

The Hotel Kabuki – JDV by Hyatt is a fun choice when staying in San Francisco. The hotel treats Globalists well and I loved the decor and theme throughout. I’ll definitely be back.

(Fitness Center Image Credit: Hyatt.)