Kensington Park Hotel
450 Post St., San Francisco, California 94111, USAWhy We Like It
Listen to that cable car ding from your bed as you take in this hotel's style, class, and a fab location on the edge of Union Square.
Fodor's Expert Review
Built in the 1920s in a Moorish and Gothic style, this former Elks Club retains its distinctive period feel. Art Deco touches pervade the decor, and some readers comment that staying here feels more like visiting a friend than being at a hotel. What the hotel lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in convenience and service. Plus, the location can't be beat: Union Square is right outside the door.
Tip Guests find cheaper parking at nearby garages. Poke around a bit before forking over the cash for valet.
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Room
Compact rooms promise divine beds, topping with plush bedding, and viticulture-inspired color schemes. The upper floors offer great views of Union Square and Nob Hill, and are the quietest, as are accommodations facing away from the busy downtown street. New flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and work desks appeal to working travelers.
Bathroom
Tight bathrooms are done up in white. Fodorites appreciate the decent-sized showers.
Lobby
Rich marble and dark-wood accents, crystal chandeliers, vaulted ceilings, and antique furnishings decorate the lobby. Relax on the velvet couches to enjoy complimentary morning coffee, or evening tea and sherry, served daily.
Dining
The onsite restaurant, the famed Farallon, celebrates the sea with seafood dishes like caviar, or lobster paired with bubbly. The hotel offers a small breakfast spread in the morning that features treats that complement coffee.
Drinking
The hotel offers complimentary sherry in the evenings. Pop into Farallon's Jellyfish Lounge for cocktails, beer, and wine.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
The hotel offers valet parking at a steep price. Savvy travelers often hunt around online for deals at nearby garages. Take advantage of the cable car, which stops out front, and the wealth of Muni buses, trains and trolleys, accessible within a couple minutes walk. Hop on the BART train at Powell Street Station (5-minute walk) to access the Oakland and San Francisco airports. Walkers will appreciate the hotel's proximity to Union Square, Nob Hill, Chinatown, Financial District, SoMa and more.
Restaurants
Meander over to Cafe de la Presse (7-minute walk) to sip coffee and enjoy Parisian-inspired treats like pastries, sandwiches and soups in a bustling environment. Nearby, line up for heaping bowls of ramen paired with tempura at Katana-Ya (2-minute walk).