Hotel Zeppelin, San Francisco

This boutique hotel is more than just a base in the city – it’s a celebration of the city's forward-thinking and contemporary culture, reflected in the hotel’s avant-garde interiors. Despite the name, the hotel is not a shrine to Led Zeppelin, but certainly exudes a rock and roll appeal. The exposed brick lobby with its enormous fireplace and cowskin chairs is a stylish foretaste to rooms and suites, the entrances of which are all dark walls and monochrome murals. Inside, expect black leather, song lyric-adorned walls, vintage turntables and bohemian touches with bold bright artwork. Black marble bathrooms, psychedelic wallpaper, velvet furnishings and smart TVs add to the sense of urban cool, and suites go one further, with roof decks and open fireplaces.

The bottom floor ‘den’ is all high ceilings, pinks and purples, down from a sweeping staircase of the brick and steely furnishings of the lobby bar. A second offering lies in Rambler which also serves as a restaurant, where a black and white tiled floor, oversized canvas’ and bubble chandeliers are the setting for classic, fresh Californian fare. The use of quaint red bicycles are offered on a first come, first served basis – and the hotel's location on central Post Street couldn’t be better for exploring. Guests are moments away from the delights of Nob Hill, Chinatown and Union Square, whether you want to spend days shopping, seeing the likes of the Golden Gate Bridge and Coit Tower, or sampling the food and drink for which California is so famous.