Luxury Hotels in San Francisco: Nob Hill, Union Square
For a luxury stay in San Francisco, sleep on Nob Hill or around Union Square: the Ritz-Carlton and Stanford Court sit on the cable car lines, and Hotel Nikko, a block from the square, has one of the few indoor pools downtown. Our base lists ten hotels tagged luxury here, averaging 8.7 across 28,731 guest reviews, with two at five stars and three with a pool. They range from a 1909 landmark to a waterfront warehouse, so they are not equal, and two of them, the Riu Plaza and Club Donatello, I would not call luxury at all. San Francisco is compact but steep, and the hill you sleep on decides if dinner is a walk or a wait for a cable car.
San Francisco packs its luxury into a few hills and waterfront blocks: Nob Hill's grand hotels, the shops and theatres of Union Square, the office towers of the Financial District and the old warehouses of Fisherman's Wharf. Cable cars, fog and steep streets shape where it feels best to stay.
Which San Francisco area suits a luxury stay
San Francisco's luxury hotels cluster in four areas a short ride apart: Nob Hill above the city, Union Square for shopping and theatres, the Financial District toward the Embarcadero, and Fisherman's Wharf by the bay. The cable cars tie them together, and fog and wind make an indoor pool rarer and more useful than in most American cities.
The Ritz-Carlton on Nob Hill is the landmark pick. Its neoclassical building, designed by Napoleon LeBrun and Sons, was finished in 1909 as the Pacific Coast headquarters of Metropolitan Life, with white terra cotta columns and lion's head medallions, and its original wing on Stockton Street is now the entrance. It reopened as a hotel in 1991. In our base it scores 9.1, the best here, from 429 reviews, and accepts pets. A cable car stops at the door, which saves the steepest climb in the city on the way back from Union Square.
Union Square is the practical base. Hotel Nikko, one of the two five-star hotels in our list, has a glass-enclosed indoor pool of about 15 metres with a whirlpool, a real asset in a city where summer fog keeps outdoor pools cold. It scores 8.7 from 3,450 reviews. Nearby, the Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel is an unusual historic address, a club hotel with an indoor pool, rooftop restaurant and library, scored 8.8 from 3,553 reviews. Hotel Adagio, on the theatre side of the square, suits couples going to the American Conservatory Theater.
Toward the bay, the Omni San Francisco stands at California and Montgomery Streets in the Financial District, scoring 9.0 from 669 reviews, and the California Street cable car runs past it up to Nob Hill. The Hyatt Regency San Francisco, at the foot of Market Street by the Embarcadero, offers bay and Financial District views and 1,670 reviews at 8.6. Both are quiet at weekends when the offices empty, which suits travellers who want calm, but evening dining is better in North Beach or the Ferry Building area than on the business streets.
Fisherman's Wharf has one hotel I would pick for character: the Argonaut, in a red-brick and Douglas fir warehouse built for the California Fruit Canners Association, across from Hyde Street Pier and its historic ships. The visitor centre of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is on its ground floor, and all 252 rooms carry a maritime theme. It scores 8.6 from 1,679 reviews and accepts pets. The Riu Plaza nearby is the most reviewed hotel in our list and has an outdoor pool, but it is a large tourist hotel rather than a luxury address.
A traveler's perspectiveFor a first luxury trip I would book the Ritz-Carlton on Nob Hill: the 1909 building, the cable car at the door and Union Square downhill. If a pool matters, I would choose Hotel Nikko, whose glass-enclosed indoor pool works whatever the fog does. For character and the bay, the Argonaut at Fisherman's Wharf, across from Hyde Street Pier, is my pick for a family. I would not book the Riu Plaza for a luxury stay, whatever the label: with more than 11,000 reviews, it is a large tourist hotel by Pier 39.
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
San Francisco
429 reviews
Luxury hotel near Union Square with spa and pet-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is a 5-star hotel a short walk from Union Square and the Financial District, so families can reach shops and cable car stops on foot. Elegant rooms come with Italian marble bathrooms, roomy enough for evening baths with children. On-site dining keeps meals simple, parents can use the spa and the fitness center, and pets are welcome too. Guests rate it 9.1 from 429 reviews, an excellent score for a luxury address.
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.
Club Donatello
San Francisco
685 reviews
Luxury downtown hotel with a rooftop lounge and Italian dining
Check availabilityWhy guests love itClub Donatello is a 4-star hotel just one block from Union Square, so families can walk to shops and cable car stops without planning transport. Rooms are spacious with modern amenities, useful when sharing with children. The rooftop lounge offers panoramic city views, the Italian restaurant makes an easy family dinner, and parents can use the sauna. Guests rate it 8.9 from 685 reviews, a strong score for downtown San Francisco.
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.
Hotel Nikko San Francisco
San Francisco
3,450 reviews
Luxury hotel with city views, a pool, and pet-friendly amenities
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHotel Nikko San Francisco is a 5-star hotel with an indoor swimming pool, a real plus for children in a city known for cool, foggy days. Parents can use the steam room and the fitness center, and rooms offer city views with modern amenities. The family-friendly restaurant serves a range of cuisines, which helps when tastes differ around the table, and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.7 across 3,450 reviews, a long and consistent record.
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
San Francisco
1,670 reviews
Luxury bay-view rooms near the Ferry Building with a 24-hour fitness center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Ferry Building and the ferries to Alcatraz are within a 5-minute walk of the Hyatt Regency, which is why I would book it for a family planning the island trip. Recently renovated rooms look over San Francisco Bay or the Financial District, and the Embarcadero is right outside for a waterfront walk. The 24-hour fitness centre suits parents on different clocks, and pets are accepted. Eclipse Restaurant and Eclipse Lounge cover dinner and drinks. A score of 8.6 from 1,670 reviews is solid.
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 Adagio, Autograph Collection
San Francisco
1,406 reviews
Luxury boutique stay near Union Square with city views and a chic cocktail lounge
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHotel Adagio, Autograph Collection is a 4-star boutique hotel in central San Francisco, a short walk from Union Square and the American Conservatory Theater, a good choice for families planning a show. Rooms are spacious with city views, which matters when sharing with children. The on-site restaurant and bar simplify meals, parents can use the fitness centre, and pets are welcome. Guests rate it 8.5 from 1,406 reviews.
Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco
11,343 reviews
Family-friendly comfort with an outdoor pool near Pier 39
Check availabilityWhy guests love itChildren usually love this part of the city: the sea lions at Pier 39, the Aquarium of the Bay and the waterfront are a short walk away, and the outdoor pool is a rare treat in San Francisco. Rooms have tea and coffee makers and large TVs for quiet evenings. The concierge can book tours, which helps with an Alcatraz trip. Cable cars toward Union Square run from the Fisherman's Wharf area, a fun way to reach downtown.
Stanford Court San Francisco
San Francisco
3,847 reviews
Tech-friendly boutique hotel with spa, steps from the cable car
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Powell and California cable car stop right by Stanford Court is the detail I would sell to children: the ride starts at the door. Union Square, Chinatown and North Beach are a short walk or ride away, so most days need no car. Teenagers can use the lobby MacBooks and iPads, and the hotel accepts pets, rare for a central address. There is also a spa and wellness area. A score of 8.3 across 3,847 reviews is solid.
Local tips
- 1On Nob Hill, use the cable car that stops at the Ritz-Carlton's door to come back from Union Square: the walk up is one of the steepest in the city.
- 2Summer fog keeps outdoor pools cold in San Francisco: Hotel Nikko's glass-enclosed indoor pool of about 15 metres with a whirlpool is the reliable choice for a swim.
- 3At the Argonaut, visit the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park visitor centre on the ground floor, then cross to Hyde Street Pier and its historic ships.
- 4The Omni at California and Montgomery sits on the California Street cable car line, which climbs to Nob Hill from the Financial District without a change.
- 5Financial District hotels such as the Omni and the Hyatt Regency are quiet at weekends: good for sleep, but book dinner in North Beach or at the Ferry Building.
- 6For theatre nights, Hotel Adagio is a short walk from Union Square and the American Conservatory Theater, so you avoid a taxi at curtain time.
- 7Two of the ten luxury hotels in our base carry five stars, Hotel Nikko and the Ritz-Carlton, and eight of the ten accept pets, Stanford Court included.
- 8Stanford Court on Nob Hill is next to a cable car stop and scores 8.3 from 3,847 reviews: it suits travellers who want the hill without the Ritz-Carlton's formality.