There’s one place in particular you need to visit if you want an insider look at San Francisco’s burgeoning craft brewery scene: the Hotel Triton. No, they’re not brewing the stuff up in the lobby, but the boutique property’s Triton On Tap package is like an all-access pass to the best of the Bay Area’s beer makers.
The Triton, a colorful, character-rich and pet-friendly part of the Kimpton Hotels portfolio, is located across from the iconic Chinatown Gate and a quick five-minute walk from the restaurants and shopping of Union Square.
With Triton On Tap you not only get deluxe accommodations but also individual tours of four of the city's best breweries, in addition to other noteworthy perks. The best part might be the first: upon arrival, you are greeted with an ice bucket brimming with local craft beers, along with two Hotel Triton beer steins that are yours to keep. Very refreshing. A San Francisco Brewers Guild Official Brewery Map is also there for charting further adventures.
Your itinerary includes visits to the Magnolia Dogpatch Brewery, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, ThirstyBear Brewing Company and Triple Voodoo Brewery and Tap Room. And of course, there’s a copy of the brewery enthusiast’s bible, All About Beer magazine. If by any chance you find you’ve hand enough beer, the Triton hosts nightly wine tastings in its lobby at 5 p.m., sometimes accompanied by live music, poetry, tarot-card readings and chair massages. In-room spa treatments are also available for those fond of indulgence.
Speaking of further exploration, other surprises at the Triton include their luxury suite personally-designed by the late Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. The J. Garcia Suite features a self-portrait by the legendary star hanging alongside a number of his original watercolors. The wall is also autographed for good measure. Upholstery on the suite’s furnishings is done using the same luxury silk fabrics found in the J. Garcia fashion line.
Other spaces at the 140-room hotel are inspired by the work of local artists, and pops of color are frequently encountered; as are quirky, cool touches like Beat Generation-themed rooms. They come in green color palettes, evoking the San Francisco Bay and the Chinatown Gate, and feature excerpts from Jack Kerouac’s On The Road. A Chinese red dragon stencil tagged with spray-paint (referencing San Francisco’s rich street art culture) also appears in unexpected pops throughout the rooms. Rooms start at around $269 per night on weeknights. The Triton on Tap package starts at around $204 a night.
