Where to Stay in Union Square, San Francisco

Good for

• First-time visitors
• Couples

Travelers who want a calm, well-run, contemporary hotel close to Union Square without staying directly on the square itself.

Why we like it

• Calm, uncluttered contemporary design that feels a step above the typical big-box hotel
• Indoor pool and skylit atrium, a rarity among downtown San Francisco hotels
• Close enough to walk to Union Square, Chinatown, and the Tenderloin's restaurants in minutes

What to know

• Two blocks from the square itself, in a transitional stretch near the Tenderloin — fine by day, worth being aware of at night
• A large hotel with meeting and event space, so lobby and elevator traffic can pick up during conventions
• Parking is valet-only and priced in line with other downtown hotels

Good for

• Couples
• Architecture lovers

Couples who want a romantic, historic hotel with real character, a block from Union Square's shops and cable cars.

Why we like it

• Ornate 1928 lobby with a gold-leafed dome, restored as part of a recent renovation
• One block from Union Square and its cable car lines
• Rooftop bar on the 21st floor with panoramic views over downtown

What to know

• An older building — rooms are smaller than in newer hotels, and layouts vary by floor
• Powell Street-facing rooms can pick up cable car bell and street noise
• Recently rebranded from the Sir Francis Drake name — some travelers may still see it listed under the old name

Good for

• First-time visitors
• Architecture lovers

First-time visitors who want a landmark address directly on Union Square, within a few steps of the cable car lines and shopping.

Why we like it

• Directly on Union Square, steps from all three cable car lines
• Original 1904 landmark building with a grand, marble-columned lobby
• Rooms in the newer tower offer skyline or bay views on higher floors

What to know

• Rooms in the original 1904 building are smaller and more traditional than the tower rooms — ask when booking if you have a preference
• Street-facing rooms on lower floors can pick up traffic and cable car bell noise
• Self-parking is off-site, and valet parking is expensive, as it is at most Union Square hotels

Good for

• Families
• First-time visitors

Families and groups who want a full-service hotel with larger, modern rooms right on the square, without the historic building layout of the older nearby properties.

Why we like it

• Modern tower rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, many with skyline or bay views
• Directly on Union Square, an easy walk to the cable car lines and Chinatown
• Rooftop restaurant on the 36th floor with panoramic city views

What to know

• As a large convention-oriented hotel, common areas can get busy when events are in-house
• Lower and courtyard-facing rooms have more limited views than upper, square-facing rooms
• Parking is valet-only and priced like most Union Square hotels