Signia by Hilton San Jose reopened in 2022 in the building of the former Fairmont San Jose, which opened in 1987 and closed during the pandemic amid financial difficulties. Hilton took it over under Signia, its convention-hotel brand, with 500 rooms including 42 suites.
It faces the Plaza de César Chávez in central San Jose.
The address, 170 South Market Street, looks onto the Plaza de César Chávez and within sight of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The San José Museum of Art is next door and the Tech Interactive, the city's technology museum, stands across the street. Light rail stops are close by, and Diridon Station and the airport are a short ride away.
Rates climb on event dates downtown, which matters for anyone travelling around a trade show.
The concept
The Fairmont opened in 1987 and shut during the Covid years. Hilton brought it back in 2022 as a Signia, the large-scale version of its meetings offer. The positioning is that of a conference hotel rather than a leisure address.
Event space totals 55,000 square feet (about 5,100 square metres), according to the hotel's own site. The second-floor ballroom is presented as the largest hotel ballroom in Silicon Valley, with smaller meeting rooms around it. Other sources give 65,000 square feet, a gap that probably comes down to what is counted as event space.
Rooms are generous for a downtown property, with a lit work desk, a large television, a small refrigerator and an armchair. A limited number open directly onto the pool, with an outdoor seating area and a fire table. Dogs are accepted up to about 50 pounds for a $75 non-refundable fee.
Dining & wellness
Two outlets are reported since the reopening. AJI Bar and Robata dominates the lobby and serves Japanese-Peruvian cocktails, among them a passion fruit pisco sour, with a mocktail list and small plates such as potstickers, chicken wings and beef skewers.
The Fountain restaurant handles breakfast and weekend brunch, with pancakes, French toast and shakshuka.
