Tetra Hotel, Sunnyvale, California

You’re headed on a tech-themed vacation to Silicon Valley? Where should you stay? The new Tetra Hotel, a sophisticated, eight-story concrete and steel ode to modern architecture with big style, bigger art, and insanely fast Internet gets my vote.

Situated at the center of the epic Google campus, Tetra just opened this year in Sunnyvale. You’ll see employees riding the signature rainbow bicycles around the streets on any given day – even weekends. You might even catch a driverless vehicle or two from Waymo, a subsidiary of Google, making its way around town. Tetra, a new entry in the Autograph Collection of Marriott, holds a few nifty surprises up its sleeve too. It doesn’t disappoint.

Tetra Hotel’s Fun Design Elements

The hotel occupies only a modest amount of acreage. Yet, thanks to the team at New York design firm Gabellini Sheppard, fun design elements lurk around every corner. Take, for instance, a pool patio suspended like a bridge between the two hotels – the Tetra and sister property, the Marriott AC Hotel Sunnyvale Moffett Park. Located on Level 3, the “swimming hole” is surrounded by olive trees and plenty of outdoor seating. Sit back and thrill to the unforgettable view of the valley when the buildings glow at sunset.

The Tetra vibe effortlessly blends Japanese simplicity with modern design. An open-concept lobby features see-through dividers and a black slatted ceiling. Be sure to study the first mobile by artist Sharon Levy. It features a canopy of pale green leaves that dance with the wind. Another one by Christina Watka celebrates tech with gold threaded reflective octagons representing silicon.
A study in understated, the hotel presents a modern palette of grays, and touches of black and white.  Brass accents make it all pop.

Tetra Hotel’s Guest Rooms

Naturally, design elementscarry over to the guestrooms where the amenities take the stage. The fabulous Dyson hair dryer (available for purchase) proved my favorite. And a “Curated for You” note card lists other items for sale such as the Fellow electric kettle for $159 and the Bellino hooded robe for $99. All accommodations feature Bellino linens, the U.S. equivalent to Frette. A pillow top mattress insures a good night’s sleep. Baths deliver a space-age feel as they are surrounded by frosted glass walls and doors, frosted boxes in a sense, that illuminate when you turn on the lights.

More Perks at Tetra Hotel

When a food craving strikes, head to Adrestia for dinner, which marries New American fare with a touch of the Far East. Thinly sliced, perfectly plated, and accented with tiny jalapeno peppers, the Hamachi Crudo delights. I also recommend the tri-colored carrot salad and seared mushrooms. A perfectly cooked Branzino and the farro risotto rank as standouts.

Special programming provides another big perk for the hotel. Every Wednesday, Tetra offers free yoga and a complimentary whiskey tasting. Once a month, the hotel stages a Sunday afternoon mixer by the pool. And periodically, guests receive the opportunity to attend free lectures by local academic and tech luminaries. Imagine … in this one small hotel, brains, tech, and design all converge to leave you smarter, tech-savvy, and more discerning of the latest art. That’s certainly not the norm these days with most hotel stays.