ABOUT
The Jay, Autograph Collection opened in November 2023, and quickly established itself as San Francisco’s newest luxury hotel. Formerly Le Méridien, the 360-room hotel is located in the Embarcadero neighborhood.
What sets The Jay apart is its sleek, contemporary design and thoughtful attention to detail. The Jay was designed by award-winning, global design firm AvroKO, who was tasked with reimagining the building originally designed by renowned architect John Portman, designer of the Embarcadero Center. AvroKO’s San Francisco studio wove the city’s rich cultural heritage into every design detail, telling the story of San Francisco's dynamic past and gilded future.
AvroKO transformed the Brutalist shell of glass and concrete into an ode to San Francisco’s history and historical figures. From artist Peggy Caserta to the iconic Ruth Asawa, San Francisco’s most famous tastemakers inspired elements throughout the hotel. The Jay emphasizes a warm, tranquil respite that delivers a balance between the intimacy of Portman’s home and a contemporary destination.
The Jay partners with the renowned Omakase Restaurant Group to bring exceptional dining experiences to the property. The Third Floor Restaurant & Lounge offers a welcoming and sophisticated ambiance with three daily meals, handcrafted cocktails, and seasonally inspired dishes. Meanwhile, Prelude brings fine dining Southern cuisine, combining innovative culinary techniques with locally sourced Bay Area ingredients.
Elements of John Portman’s personal homes influenced the design of The Third Floor, a modern take on the classic hotel lobby restaurant and bar, including the grand circular staircase leading from the Ground Floor and opening to The Third Floor’s bustling environment. Tucked behind the 360-degree bar is a moody and secluded lounge with dark leather walls and low lighting for guests looking for a furtive locale.
Perched above the city, The Jays’ Third Floor Terrace serves as a serene urban oasis, one of San Francisco’s few rooftop lounges. The terrace features plush seating, personal firepits for cozy gatherings, and overhead heating to ensure comfort on cooler days. Native plants line the terrace walls, creating a tranquil, garden-like atmosphere that softens the Brutalist urban design and cityscape beyond. A fully equipped bar and comprehensive F&B service complete the experience, making this rooftop retreat as functional as it is beautiful.
Guest rooms offer angled floor-to-ceiling windows giving guests glimpses of the Bay, Coit Tower and the downtown skyline, while also providing copious natural light on each level. Featuring warm wall coverings, soft furnishings and clean lines, guest rooms offer vignettes of space for rest, relaxation and work. The color palette highlights creams, burgundy reds, blacks, bronze, whites and warm woods that bring a casual air to the refined, modern design details, creating a distinct ambiance throughout the rooms.
The hotel features a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center and over 13,000 square feet of renovated event space accommodating up to 200 guests and spreading across two floors, including 16 meeting rooms, many featuring floor-to-ceiling window views of the surrounding cityscape.
The hotel was honored by California Home+Design as a 2025 Hotel Design Award winner.
