The Best Historic Hotels in San Francisco
San Francisco rebuilt itself after 1906, and many of its most interesting hotels date from the decades that followed. This page gathers the ones that keep that history visible: a club near Union Square with its own museum and theater, a red-brick building at Fisherman's Wharf, an antique-filled hotel in Victorian Pacific Heights, a 1920s-style address on the cable car line and a flatiron building on Market Street. I have also flagged the two listings tagged historic whose descriptions point to modern or themed rooms, so you know which stays really put you inside an old building.
San Francisco is a city of steep hills, cable cars and neighborhoods with strong identities, from the Victorian houses of Pacific Heights to the piers of Fisherman's Wharf. Much of downtown was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake and fire, which gives the Union Square and Financial District hotels their early 20th-century character.
Old Buildings With Stories in San Francisco
A historic hotel in San Francisco means more than period decor: it often means a central address on a cable car line, near Union Square or on the waterfront, in a building that survived or followed the 1906 earthquake. The trade-off is usually smaller rooms and older layouts, which I mention where the guest scores suggest it.
Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel Union Square is the most distinctive historic stay in this list and the most reviewed, with more than 3,500 reviews and an 8.8 score. A short walk from Union Square, it combines guest rooms with a rooftop restaurant, a library, a gym with an indoor pool, a spa, a 564-seat theater and a Living Memorial museum. That mix of club, museum and hotel is rare in any American city. It also accepts pets. For travelers interested in military history, or simply in a hotel with a sense of purpose, I think it is the clear first choice.
On the waterfront, Argonaut Hotel, a Noble House Hotel, sits in a historic red-brick building at Fisherman's Wharf, a few steps from Hyde Street Pier and the ships of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Rooms take a nautical style, some with bay views, and the hotel offers in-room spa services and a seafood restaurant. Its 8.6 score from more than 1,600 reviews shows that the old building and modern comfort sit well together. It is the base I would choose for slow mornings by the water and walks along the bay toward Ghirardelli Square and the cable car turnaround.
Two hotels capture different eras of the city. Hotel Majestic, in Victorian Pacific Heights, keeps early 20th-century architecture and French and English antiques, with a café and a lounge, and scores 8.3 from more than 2,300 reviews; it suits travelers who prefer a residential neighborhood to downtown. Omni San Francisco, at California and Montgomery Streets in the Financial District, has elegant rooms with 1920s decor, a spa and a restaurant, sits directly on the historic California Street cable car line and holds the best score here, 9.0, which makes it the most comfortable historic choice.
Around Union Square and Market Street, the historic label covers more varied stays. Cartwright Hotel Union Square - BW Premier Collection is a historic hotel a three-minute walk from the square, with family-friendly rooms and a 7.9 score. San Francisco Proper Hotel occupies a historic flatiron building on Market Street with noise-proof rooms and a spa, but its 7.2 score is the lowest in this list. Hotel Emblem draws on the Beat Generation in its rooms and Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf describes modern decor, so I would not book either one for historic architecture.
A traveler's perspectiveFor a historic stay in San Francisco, I would book Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel Union Square: its museum, theater and library make it far more than a hotel, and Union Square is a short walk away. For a waterfront trip, I would choose the Argonaut Hotel in its red-brick building beside Hyde Street Pier.
Omni San Francisco
San Francisco
669 reviews
Elegant downtown luxury with historic charm and family-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe California cable car line runs past the Omni San Francisco, which I would use as the family's ride to Chinatown and the Embarcadero. Union Square, the Ferry Building and Fisherman's Wharf are all within easy reach from California and Montgomery Streets. Rooms have 1920s-inspired decor, the on-site restaurant simplifies dinner, and parents can use the spa. Pets are accepted. A score of 9.0 across 669 reviews is excellent.
Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel Union Square
San Francisco
3,553 reviews
Historic luxury with a rooftop restaurant and indoor pool near Union Square
Check availabilityWhy guests love itAn indoor pool is rare near Union Square, and it is the family argument at the Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel, five minutes on foot from the square. The building is a Living Memorial museum, which gives older children something to look at between outings. Rooms are spacious with free WiFi, the rooftop restaurant has views over the city, and the 564-seat theater adds an evening option. Pets are welcome, so the dog can come too.
Argonaut Hotel, a Noble House Hotel
San Francisco
1,679 reviews
Nautical luxury in Fisherman's Wharf with bay views and spa services
Check availabilityWhy guests love itArgonaut Hotel, a Noble House Hotel, occupies a historic red-brick building at Fisherman's Wharf, where children can watch the boats and the sea lions of Pier 39 are a short walk along the waterfront. Rooms have a nautical style, modern comforts and filtered water, and some offer bay views. The seafood restaurant keeps dinner close, parents can book in-room spa services, and pets are welcome. Valet parking is available. Guests rate it 8.6 from 1,679 reviews.
Hotel Emblem San Francisco
San Francisco
883 reviews
Beat Generation-inspired boutique hotel near Union Square with live music
Check availabilityWhy guests love itUnion Square is a four-minute walk from Hotel Emblem, so a family can reach the cable cars and the shops on foot from the Theatre District. I would choose it for parents who like character: rooms take inspiration from the Beat Generation, with literary furnishings and original art. Live music in the evenings may suit older children more than toddlers. Rooms have smart TVs and a Nespresso machine, and room service helps after a long day. A score of 8.5 from 883 reviews is good.
Hotel Majestic
San Francisco
2,342 reviews
Historic elegance in Pacific Heights with antique charm and modern comfort
Check availabilityWhy guests love itPacific Heights gives the Hotel Majestic a quieter, residential setting than downtown San Francisco, which I find suits families who sleep early. The building dates from the early 20th century and is furnished with French and English antiques, so I would keep an eye on small children. Many bathrooms have claw-foot tubs, convenient for bathing little ones, and robes are provided. The café and lounge handle breakfast and evening drinks. A score of 8.3 from 2,342 reviews is solid.
Cartwright Hotel Union Square - BW Premier Collection
San Francisco
793 reviews
Historic charm near Union Square with family-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would pick the Cartwright for a San Francisco stay that is about location and character rather than facilities. It is a historic hotel a three-minute walk from Union Square, with no resort fee, and guests rate it 7.9 across 793 reviews. Rooms have free WiFi, a flat-screen cable TV and a coffee machine with local organic coffee, and the lobby has a fireplace. A business center is available, and the setting suits families who plan to walk.
Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco
San Francisco
1,087 reviews
Heated outdoor pool, hot tub, and pet-friendly near Fisherman's Wharf
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Fisherman's Wharf waterfront is a three-minute walk from the Hyatt Centric, so the sea lions, the piers and the boat departures are close for a family. A heated outdoor pool and a hot tub are rare in this part of San Francisco and help after a day of walking. Breakfast is served at The Wardroom, and the 24-hour Marketplace covers snacks at any hour. Rooms have modern decor and a 47-inch HDTV, and pets are welcome.
San Francisco Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels
San Francisco
67 reviews
Boutique hotel in a historic building with urban style and a spa
Check availabilityWhy guests love itSan Francisco Proper Hotel occupies a restored historic flatiron building on Market Street, a design-forward base for families who want to explore the city by transit and on foot. Its noise-proof rooms are the key point for parents, as children can sleep despite the busy street outside. The hotel is family-friendly and pet-friendly, a spa and wellness center offers a break, and the Proper App handles concierge requests from the room.
Local tips
- 1Choose Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel if you want a historic hotel with a museum, a theater and an indoor pool near Union Square.
- 2Book the Argonaut Hotel for Fisherman's Wharf; Hyde Street Pier and the Maritime National Historical Park are a few steps from the door.
- 3Ride the California Street cable car from Omni San Francisco, which sits directly on the line at California and Montgomery Streets.
- 4Pick Hotel Majestic if you prefer the quieter streets and Victorian houses of Pacific Heights to the downtown crowds.
- 5Expect smaller rooms in older buildings; read recent reviews for the Cartwright and the Proper, whose scores are lower than the others.
- 6If architecture is your priority, skip Hotel Emblem and Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf, whose descriptions point to themed or modern rooms.