The 18 best San Francisco hotels, from Fisherman’s Wharf to Pacific Heights

Located downtown, steps from SFMOMA, the W is one of the city's trendiest options for a hotel stay. The lobby greets you with an LED map of San Fran above the reception desk, a lively Living Room bar, and fireplaces setting the dimly lit space aglow. The hotel went through a major renovation in 2019, and the guest rooms are all updated, many of which are spacious and include sweeping views of downtown SF. Don't miss the 24-hour gym, featuring a futuristic design with a dome ceiling that lights up in various colors at night, and the onsite farm-to-table restaurant TRACE.

Opened earlier this year after a $70 million renovation, all of the hotel's executive suites and guest rooms are fully refreshed. Like most Hyatts, this hotel has a corporate feel to its guest rooms—while they lack flare, they're comfortable and modern. The hotel shows more personality with its updated lobby lounge, workstation areas and destination-worthy restaurant La Société, a modern brassiere infusing French classics with California ingredients. The Lobby Bar + Lounge is a popular place to get a drink for hotel guests and locals alike, and the Market at street level (a collaboration with Bluestone Lane) is ideal for a morning coffee run.

Inspired by the Beat Generation of the mid-20th century, this boutique hotel expresses itself through dark and brooding public spaces, words printed on the walls and floors, a few mid-mod touches, and typewriters. Situated in the heart of Union Square, guests can enjoy great theater, shopping, eating, and drinking. Cap off the night in the hotel's Obscenity Bar & Lounge, where there is regular live jazz and slam poetry.

A lovely, pet-friendly hotel in a visually unique, towering Edwardian building. Inside is just as charming as the exterior, with the odd floral touch – but not too much. There's an ancient birdcage elevator to get you from floor to` floor, free wifi throughout, and complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea with cookies. Union Square and the Theatre District are a few minutes' walk away, and remember to say hi and bye to The Golden Gate's resident cat, Pip.

Set on Mission Street, this modern sanctuary in the center of San Franciso is nothing short of inner-city bliss. Inspired by Nothern California's landscape and designed with interiors comprised of reclaimed materials, 1 Hotel San Francisco is the literal definition of eco-luxury. Enjoy stunning views of the Embarcadero while clinking glasses up on the rooftop, or take the party indoors with a casual dining affair at Terrane, serving up local produce. And if you're in need of a serious reset, they've got you covered. Head to the wellness spa for a range of treatments that will really help you reconnect with your body and rejuvenate your mind. When it's lights out, the ambient earth-toned rooms offer a soothing respite from the bustle of the city. Anyone else wish their bedroom looked like this?

Time Out tip: Make sure you take the complimentary bikes for a spin across town.

There aren't many hotels that'll let you apply a five-finger discount to their in-room amenities, but Staypineapple (formerly The Alise) positively encourages it. Well, they do when it comes to their robes and slippers anyway, which, let's face it, are the items you ultimately want. The hotel's 'Everything Person' (seriously, that's what they're called) will sort you out with Quick Bites & Bevvies, and guests can enjoy free use of the yellow bikes outside. The Pineapple Pup Package includes a daily pet fee discount, a dog bed, water bowl, treats, and poo bag dispenser.

One of San Francisco's newest hotels, the Clancy opened in SoMa in late 2020 as part of Marriott's Autograph Collection. The City is infused throughout, from the Muni rack lines on the floor guiding guests around the lobby, as well to a graffiti wall installed by local artist Ian Ross using recycled spray paint cans. The hotel also offers an on-site Radiator coffee bar that's popular among locals and tourists alike, as well as Seven Square Taproom, a mid-century modern-styled salon in the lobby with indoor seating and a patio with communal fire pits.

Set in downtown, just three blocks from the blissful Yerba Buena Gardens and a whole bunch of museums, Canopy by Hilton is the perfect spot for you if you like urban elegance. On top of a wide range of minimalist rooms and guest suites on offer (all of which come with a seating area), you can sip cocktails on the rooftop lounge or enjoy a feast at the on-site restaurant, Bean Bar, serving local favorites. And in case you overindulge a little - because who doesn't in a place like this - you can sweat it off at the fitness center.

This 120-plus-year-old hotel is a tribute to late-1950s North Beach when the neighborhood was a hotbed of Beat Culture. Allen Ginsberg even called room 204 of the Boheme home during his final years. Ginsberg may be gone, but he and his fellow Beats live on in the photos, poetry, and sheet music that adorn the hotel’s rooms and hallways. In true North Beach fashion, most rooms are small but smartly styled in vintage color schemes and wrought iron. You can’t beat the location among the neighborhood’s plentiful sidewalk cafes.

New to San Fran’s hotel scene, this four-star spot is a design lover’s dream. The place is packed with beautiful muted colour palettes, sculptural furnishings and California-style accents. The plush, modern minimalist rooms all feature custom designed bath products, signature bedding, state-of-the-art technology, and locally curated mini bars, while the third-floor restaurant serves up seasonal plates and has a terrace with fire pits and stunning views of the city, perfect for sipping cocktails on sunset evenings. 

In the early 20th century, The Palace was a place for wealthy and powerful visitors to see and be seen. American presidents frequented the hotel, and one, Warren G. Harding, never left – he died of a heart attack in his upstairs room in 1923. Today, it’s no longer cutting edge, but The Palace’s tasteful yet simple guest rooms make a nice counterpoint to its lavish lobby and dining room. With Austrian crystal chandeliers (each weighing 750 pounds), Ionic columns of Italian marble, and a domed glass ceiling, the 8,000-square-foot Garden Court remains one of the most magnificent dining rooms in the state.

Head to the top of Nob Hill (where else?) for pure luxury Fairmont-style. If you’re a fan of old-school glamour, then we think you’ll appreciate the macro and micro details of this five-star Beaux Arts building. It’s the public areas of the hotel that we particularly love – the quirky tiki bar (perfect for cocktails), luxe Laurel Court (Afternoon Tea, anyone?), and the endless stunning city views from throughout the hotel. But the best time of all to visit is during the holiday season when the hotel is transformed into a wintry paradise with a life-size gingerbread house and a huge, huge Christmas tree.

Added bonus? All three cable car lines meet right by the hotel, making transportation around the city a doddle.

This nautical-themed hotel has been a mainstay of San Francisco’s best hotel list for years. Constructed of red brick and Douglas Fir back in 1907, this Fisherman’s Wharf behemoth pays homage to San Francisco’s Barbary Coast days with ship paraphernalia and sea mythology galore. Despite the anchor prints and porthole-shaped mirrors, the Argonaut stays classy with dark fabrics and careful attention to detail (like a yoga mat in every room) that keeps guests coming back year after year. With fantastic views of the San Francisco National Maritime Park, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge, this is a great luxury hotel for the whole family, including the pets.

That staircase, huh? Grandiose old-school drama doesn’t get any more… grandiose? Dramatic? Than it does at the Beacon Grand. Handily located super close to Union Square, this lush hotel knows how to deliver in the style stakes. Painted ceilings, wooden panelled walls and filigree iron railings on the stairs will have you feeling like you’ve walked into a gothic dreamworld. But before you get too carried away with the vintage look, rest assured the Beacon also delivers on modern comforts including a great fitness centre.

SoMa’s Hotel Zetta juxtaposes its historic neo-classical exterior with unexpected shapes and colors of an ultra-modern interior. The 116-room hotel features explosive artwork and a variety of sculptural elements made from repurposed materials, such as chandeliers made of discarded spectacles in the hotel’s entryway. Large functional rooms cater to the Silicon Valley crowd with high-quality electronics and plush beds with luxury linens. Burn off some steam at the pool table, giant Plinko wall (30 feet!), or full-service bar S&R (Salvage and Rescue) in the playful-yet-stylish lobby.