San Francisco City Center Hostel gets a fresh new look

Change has come to the San Francisco City Center Hostel -- after several months of gradual transformation, the redesign of the hostel's lobby, lounge, bar, and mezzanine is complete and ready to welcome hostel guests! Feast your eyes here.

Drawing inspiration from the theme of exploration as well as San Francisco's past and present, the new design is a fresh take on an "antique lodge" vibe. With generous assistance from the McWalters Collaborative Architecture and Design firm, many aspects of the renovation were carried out by the hostel's own staff, who contributed greatly to both the design concept and the hands-on work.

Among the changes in the lobby and lounge are classy and inviting couches, a fresh coat of paint, and quirky artwork accents. The major highlight of the area is a vivid one-of-a-kind mural painted onto the lobby floor by former front desk staff member Daniel Foerste, an artist whose talents have since led him to a graduate program at California Institute of the Arts.

Community Engagement Coordinator Anthony Jones played a major role in the overall feel of the redesign, as well as creating many of the decorative touches, such as the "living roof" above the main entrance and the air plants placed around the common areas, bringing touches of eco-friendly green to the hostel.

Upstairs, the mezzanine has been outfitted with a large conference table and a long, rustic wood bar where guests can sit and overlook the lobby -- both the bar and table were made by a local artisan from repurposed wood. While the flags from around the world that once hung from the ceiling are gone, there are accents everywhere that will speak to the hearts of world explorers. In the mezzanine, travelers can spin an antique globe or check out an early 20th century map of San Francisco that hangs above one of the couches and marvel at the way the city has changed.

The geographic theme continues into this century in Ivy's Cafe where a San Francisco beer map highlights the best of the city’s craft brewing culture. Other new accents at Ivy’s include a bar counter top that matches the front desk's new counter, snazzy lighting fixtures, and San Francisco neighborhood-themed posters that help immerse visitors in the city as they enjoy a beer or a bite to eat.