Your best bet is probably Union Square area.

It's the center of shopping, public transportation is plentiful. Various tour buses run from there also.

Your budget and length of stay will dictate your lodging. Hotels can run from almost affordable to very expensive. Look for the best deal, check hotel reviews, and always check the hotel's website for comparison.

If you're going before mid-September, beware that summer in SF is not like summer in the rest of the country. Warm days althernate with cold foggy days; it's called the summer pattern. I see, every summer, people in shorts and wearing an Alcatraz sweatshirt to try to keep themselves warm.

Here is something I wrote a couple of years ago:


San Francisco Hotel Areas

It seems that about once every week, there is a discussion about “where to stay” while visiting San Francisco – especially for first timers. Most people ask about either the Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Embarcadero, or the Marina hotel areas. Here are some thoughts, with a little of my bias thrown in:

1. Union Square - This is downtown’s fashionable shopping/dining/hotel area. The “Grand” hotels are here, and a few blocks north on Nob Hill (very steep to walk there, however). The big department stores are close by, along with many smaller shops and “boutique” hotels. It is also next to the theater district. Perhaps our most “elegant” restaurants are in this area (Fleur de Lys, Farallon, Masa’s, Michael Minna, etc). There are fewer “simple”, “Mom-n-Pop”, or ethnic restaurants than you will find in other parts of the City – except a little west in the Tenderloin, which might scare a few first-timers at night. The Cable Cars run by Union Square, so you can get to the Wharf area quickly. You can get off the Hyde St C.C. line at Union St for a walk downhill to Union St/Chestnut St (Cow Hollow/Marina). The major drawback is it’s proximity to the gritty Tenderloin, which is immediately west & south of Union Square. I don’t know if crime rates are higher, but you will feel a little more threatened than you will in the other three districts I’ll describe. There are many high-rise buildings, so there’s a little less sunlight than you will find elsewhere. Union Sq. is perhaps not as “family oriented” as the other hotel areas. It gets more business travelers, and people who want a little more “luxury” in their hotel. Union Square is a bit “dead” on Sundays, and not as lively as the other places in the evening. I don’t enjoy strolling after dinner in this area as much as I do on Union St/Chestnut St. If you have a car, you will regret it. Parking is very expensive ($50 per night or so), and driving is difficult.

2. Fisherman’s Wharf. The Wharf is mostly inhabited by tourists. Plenty of souvenir shops selling T-shirts & other things to remind you of your visit to SF. Local entertainment includes a wax museum, Ripley’s Believe-it-or-Not, and many fast food places – things kids might enjoy. You won’t find many locals in this area (and if you did – they wouldn’t admit it). Most restaurants are tourist oriented, and most locals feel they are mediocre at best. Good proximity to the Cable Cars, which is a plus. Nice views out into the Bay. It’s also within walking distance of North Beach, which should be on everyone’s agenda for at least one Italian dinner and “people watching” evening. With the Cable Cars, it’s quick to get downtown, but you might have to wait in line for 30 mins or so at peak times. It’s about a 30 min walk to the Union St/Chestnut St areas (see 4th option for description). The Wharf is a perfectly safe area (from crime, vagrants, etc). Hotels usually charge $25-$40 per day for parking. Lively (with tourists) every day. If you want to stay in a typical non-San Francisco environment, this is a good choice

3. The Embarcadero This area is directly on the waterfront at the “foot” of Market St. It’s on the eastern edge of the Financial District – so it’s quite active on work days. This area is great for public transportation because the cable car, Muni Metro, normal Muni, and BART are close by. The Ferry building is located here, so it’s great for taking the ferry to various locations around the bay. There is a Farmers Market on Saturdays & Tuesdays at the Ferry Building, and food stalls & restaurants inside the Ferry Bldg which are open every day. It is an easy walk or public transportation to the other hotel areas - except a little difficult for the Marina & Union St. If you like to be near the water & out of the touristy Fisherman’s Wharf area, then this would be a great choice. Lots of restaurants in this area. If you like to take long walks or jog, the Embarcadero is perfectly flat, so it is great for a morning or evening walk/stroll/jog.

4. Marina. There are many motels along Lombard St, which are (in general) cheaper and much more simple than the ones you will find in the other districts. The main advantage to this area, in my opinion, is that it has more typical SF “flavor” than the other spots. Lombard St is one block from Chestnut St, and three blocks from Union St. Both these streets are loaded with boutiques, restaurants, and buildings with unique architecture (Victorians on Union, Art Deco on Chestnut). When we first moved to San Francisco almost 37 years ago, I remember a poster that said “If you left your heart in San Francisco, you will probably find it on Union St”. This is a residential area and you will find many locals doing their daily “stuff.” On a Sunday morning (especially if it’s sunny) you will see many folks going to the exercise studio, having breakfast at one of the many outdoor café’s, and standing on the street with their “lattes” and chatting with friends. There are no “elegant” restaurants in this area, but many of the type that locals enjoy (Isa, Betelnut, Balboa Café, A16). This is a good area for strolling during the day, before dinner, and after dinner – it is quite lively, especially on weekends. It’s about a 30 min walk to the Wharf, where you can catch a Cable Car (or walk up Union St to catch the CC). East of the Union St shopping area, (just past Van Ness) is Polk St, where there are more nice shops & restaurants. Also on Polk St is La Folie, which is one of my favorite restaurants (if someone else is buying) and also one of the highest “rated” in the City. This is a perfectly safe area. One of its best advantages, is that you can park a car free at many of the Motels. Also, it is an easy area to drive in (although there are steep hills just south), and it’s a quick trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to my favorite view in all the Bay Area (GGNRA, just north and to the west of the Bridge).

Stu Dudley

I will add to Stu's list (as I always seem to do )

5. Nob Hill - Many people love to stay on Nob Hill, which is home to a few of the city's most iconic hotels - the Fairmont, Mark Hopkins, Huntington and Stanford Court. It is at the crest of the California Street hill, and for that reason alone, I would personally hate staying there. From Nob Hill, to get anywhere, you need to go somewhere....you can't just roll out of bed and get your Starbuck's fix, as this is, except for the hotels, very much a residential neighborhood - a very very upscale residential neighborhood. Hills in San Francisco are not like "hills" in other cities. I always say San Francisco's hills put the Texas hill country hills to shame. You could get all the exercise you will ever need walking up and down San Francisco's hills, and the ones from Nob Hill are STEEP - not just "steep"(lower case), "STEEP". When I pick a location for a hotel, I want to be able to walk out the front door and be somewhere, and for that reason, Nob Hill would be my last choice in San Francisco - I'd pick the very touristy Fisherman's Wharf over Nob Hill. It's probably a great place to live, but not where I'd want to be located as a tourist, unless you take taxis everywhere.

This is great

Thanks

If you are interested in shopping or the theater (which I am), Union Square is by far the best location.

Fisherman's Wharf too touristy

Nob Hill and Marina too far from the action.

Whatever you chose, make sure you are close to the BART or Cablecar locations. You will be doing lots of walking, wherever you are.

Nob Hill is just as centrally located as Union Sq - but as SF noted - the hills are killers. Nob Hill is on the Cable Car route.

Doubt if you will take BART to many places - except perhaps the airport. Using the Cable Cars is not a practical way to get around the entire City - unless you just want to shuttle between the Wharf, North Beach, Union Sq, and the Embarcadero/Ferry Bldg. To use the cable cars without breaking the bank, you should purchase a multi-day transit pass and be willing to stand in long lines at times.

Stu Dudley

SF is compact enough in many places just to walk, or do as many locls do and ride the good bus system.

And while downtown by Union Square really is "ground zero" - I would add that having lived there for years (albeit years ago) - the Marina District is where a lot of the "actio is" - along both Union and Chestnut Sts., and there is good bus service from there to downtown.

http://www.unionstreetshop.com/ and http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=restaurants+on+chestnut+street&find_loc=Chestnut+St%2C+San+Francisco%2C+CA

The Marina is excellent because you're so close to Union Street and Chestnut Street and their many excellent dining and shopping and people-watching options. It isn't quite as "central" as Union Square or the Embarcadero (which is my first choice - I work there and think it's a great location), but public transportation in SF is excellent (not that I use it ). You would likely not walk as much if you stay in the Marina as you would if you stay in either Union Square or the Embarcadero.

>The Marina is excellent because you're so close to Union >>Union Street and Chestnut Street and their many excellent dining and shopping and people-watching options.<<

We were in North Beach last night - drinks at the streetside counter at Calzone, and then dinner at Txoko. After dinner, we drove down Union St, Fillmore, and Chestnut. The Marina was hopping - lots of people in sombreros.

Stu Dudley

I like to stay in or around Union Square. I've found that very convenient for everything.

It's been a few years since we've used a hotel in SF (we live only an hour away), but I rather enjoyed staying on Nob Hill. The views were nice, the cable cars convenient, and we didn't mind the steep hill. It was an easy walk to Chinatown and North Beach as well as Union Square and the Theater District. It seemed quieter at night (for sleep) than the Union Square area.

As frequent visitors to SF, we walk everywhere. And if we tire, there is always a bus or street car.
You really can't go wrong in your choice of districts listed by Stu. I think I would be partial to the Embarcadero for first-time visitors, though. It is flat and convenient for walking or public transportation.

Stu,

How was Txoko? I'm a big fan of Basque food, but haven't been to this restaurant yet.

"I think I would be partial to the Embarcadero for first-time visitors, though. It is flat and convenient for walking or public transportation . . . and places like the Hyatt have the most amazing views.

We enjoyed Txoko - although there is not a huge portion of Basque food on the menu (we'll be in the French Pays Basque for 2 weeks in mid June). What we had was prepared quite well. We were fane of the chef when he was at Cafe Majestic. Excellent sweetbreads as an accompaniment to the venison. The restaurant had something we liked that was quite unique to SF dining - the tables were far apart and it was not overly noisy.

Stu Dudley

Last trip to San Francisco, we stayed in Union Square and the Embarcadero;much happier with the Embarcadero location.
And loved Hotel Vitale there.

Stu - French or Spanish side?

If you can, try to go to Arzak in San Sebastian. One of the top 10 restaurants in the world.

The daughter, Elena, is a big fan of Alice Waters, and tries to make the menu as sustainable as possible.

For a Michelin 3 star, I would say it's pretty affordable, not like a French 3 star meal cost.

We rented an apartment on Telegraph Hill last year. Fabulous.
Quiet and relaxed with wonderful views, yet only minutes from the restaurants, bars, shops and bustling life of North Beach.

A month later friends of ours visiting San francisco for the first time stayed in a hotel around Union Square. They came back complaining that there was little to do in the evenings and 'wondering where all the people went to'.

Each to their own I suppose, but when we go back I know where we'll be staying.

Oh, and we found Fishermans Wharf to be a complete wart on the face of such a wonderful city as SF. Tacky, cheap and not worthy of a city that has so much to offer in almost every other area.

Yuck, and brrrrrrrr.

Rastaguytoday

We are staying in a gite in Sare on the French side for 2 weeks. Only 35-40 mins from San Sebastian. I had Arzak on my list - but my wife is "hesitating" with their $240 per person + wine menu. We're planning on dining at two 1 star restaurants in San Sebastian, plus another two 2 stars elsewhere in Spain, and about five 1 stars in France. Then we head deeper into the Pyrenees for 2 weeks in another gite and 1 week in a third gite (where the Tour de France passes through the day after we get there).


>>Fishermans Wharf .... not worthy of a city that has so much to offer in almost every other area.<<

That's why most people who live here completely ignore the Wharf.

Stu Dudley

MacSporran, you've made Stu's day

Would love to hear what you think after dining in some of the finer Spanish restaurants and then the fine/1 stars in France. Loved our Gourmet tour of France, Switzerland and Northern Italy/Lago Como - but didn't get over to Spain the last time. Hit a 3 star and a couple 2 stars and other good ones - that were very good even if they weren't rated. Dang - have to start planning for a return trip

Stu, Arzak is a once in a lifetime experience. I've been to other 3 star restaurants and they don't compare. Superb food, ambiance, and service that puts Keller and other Keller wannabes to shame.

I believe we had 2 half bottles of wine that were paired with the meal. About 4 years ago, the total with tip & tax (prix complet) was about 410 Euros.

Juan Marie and Elena liked us a lot, because we said we were from San Francisco. We ended up being invited for a drink downstairs with them. Juan Marie speaks Spanish and French, but Elena has a perfect command of English.