13 Best Hotels in San Francisco, California

Antiques, unique artwork, fine linens, and windows opening to a lovely courtyard or Union Street view make this charming Edwardian inn popular with honeymooners and those looking for a romantic getaway with an English countryside ambience. Rooms are equipped with comfortable beds and double-paned windows, and some have stained-glass windows. The hosts serve an elaborate breakfast, plus coffee, tea, and freshly baked goods throughout the day.

Travelers looking for charming accommodations around Union Square will enjoy this four-story Edwardian building with bay windows, an original birdcage elevator, hallways lined with historical photographs, and rooms decorated with antiques, wicker pieces, and Laura Ashley bedding and curtains. Only 14 rooms have private baths, some with claw-foot tubs, but every guest can enjoy the afternoon tea and homemade cookies served in the cozy parlor. Breakfast is served down the block at the Cornell Hotel de France.

The three-story Lodge occupies former Army barracks, built in the 1890s, and is at the Main Post green's northwestern edge, allowing some rooms to have Golden Gate Bridge views; all rooms are far more upscale and chic than military accommodations, with large flat-screen TVs, well-appointed bathrooms, workstations, and dreamy, custom-made pillow-top mattresses. The best vantage point for the Golden Gate Bridge is from the fire pit just outside the lobby, where guests can warm up with coffee and a complimentary breakfast or enjoy an aperitif from the late-afternoon wine and snacks reception. Rooms, hallways, and the lobby feature a transitional combination of century-old paintings and photographs of the early Presidio military days along with contemporary military- and San Francisco–themed artwork.

Two yellow 1909 Edwardian houses enchant travelers wanting an authentic San Francisco experience; dark hallways and steep staircases lead to bright, earth-toned rooms with tiled baths (most with tubs), comfortable sitting areas, and cozy linens. The innkeepers serve continental breakfast in the light-filled dining area or out in the lush gardens. If you're lucky, you'll catch a visiting San Francisco Symphony pianist who might be staying here during the season and sometimes plays the grand piano in the sophisticated living room.

The owners of this 1883 Victorian house, a historic landmark, have created a one-of-a-kind bed-and-breakfast steps from the lower Haight and Hayes Valley, with many of the original mantelpieces, fireplaces, and mirrors, as well as the ornate ceiling molding, still intact. The innkeepers treat visitors like houseguests, offering elaborate breakfasts—imagine starting the day with a goat-cheese soufflé with strawberry sauce—and after-dinner drinks and candies around twilight. Massive windows fill the rooms with light, and spruced-up bathrooms have large showers; several even have claw-foot tubs and fireplaces. Guests congregate in the downstairs area to watch TV in the parlor, read in the living room, or dine in the attractive eating area.

Built in 1903, this two-story, Georgian revival–style structure once served as officers' quarters but these days is a standout boutique hotel where the rooms and suites have a nice sense of modern refinement and historical touches varying by the room, such as wrought-iron beds, vintage black-and-white photos, and Pendleton blankets. In addition to the main quarters, the nearby Funston House contains four rooms surrounding a common living room, dining room, and kitchen, making it ideal for larger groups. Perks include a nightly wine-and-cheese reception and a continental breakfast. This place is as homey as it gets, complete with rocking chairs on the porches and an outdoor fire pit.

Within walking distance of Davies Symphony Hall and the War Memorial Opera House, this inn with small rooms with dark wood furnishings caters to season-ticket holders for the opera, ballet, and symphony; it's also been the choice for stars from Luciano Pavarotti to Mikhail Baryshnikov. The marble-floor lobby resembles the foyer of a finely appointed mansion, and nice touches in the guest quarters include queen-size pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs, and terry robes.

Built in 1922 and smartly updated, this six-story inn is strictly 21st century, with amenities that include high-quality bath products, soft robes, free high-speed Wi-Fi (included in the daily $20 amenity fee), and in-room service tablets. Reasonably sized rooms done in soft beige stripes and furnished with Beautyrest beds and padded headboards provide a retreat from the Union Square hustle, and bathrooms have Carrara-marble tiling.

For decades this Italianate Victorian mansion decked out in ornate poster beds, opulent area rugs, and precious Victorian artifacts has welcomed visitors to the Mission District. Guest quarters range from cozy (yes, that means small) to spacious enough to fit a family (in the garden cottage), and all guests have access to a generous buffet breakfast and a hot tub—great for chilly nights, although this inn is located in the warmest slice of San Francisco.

San Francisco doesn't get much more old-school elegant than this Lower Pac Heights Victorian mansion transformed into a luxurious, intimate lodging with spacious, individually decorated rooms. The building is known as the Payne House, having been built originally for the Payne family, which made its fortune from the mid-19th-century gold rush. Luckily, the amenities are far more sophisticated than those at a Gold Rush–era campsite, with deluxe Belisari Italian linens. Art lovers will appreciate the collection of paintings, a Murano Venetian glass chandelier, and haute design and furnishings in the public areas.

The French provincial room decor of Petite Auberge—bright flowered wallpaper and an armoire that compensates for a lack of closet space—pleases Francophiles seeking old-world charm. Many rooms have gas fireplaces, and the lone suite has its own outdoor deck and a whirlpool tub. Afternoon tea, wine, and hors d'oeuvres are served in the lobby by the fire, and breakfast is laid out in the downstairs dining room. The staff has been delivering cordial, personalized service for years.

Built in the 1890s as a girls' finishing school, this Victorian mansion is a taste of old San Francisco, with a large parlor and guest rooms that have classic touches, such as painted cherub murals and, in some, wood-burning fireplaces. Burgundy brocade, lace, heirloom antiques, stained glass, and inlaid wood floors add character throughout. Complimentary amenities include an expansive continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, and afternoon tea and sherry. The versatile parlor, salon/library, boardroom, and covered outdoor courtyard make this a popular spot for weddings.

A cozy library with a crackling fireplace and comfortable chairs and sofas is the heart of this inviting English-style bed-and-breakfast, a sister property to the French-style Petite Auberge next door. The homey atmosphere (with a few mod touches) extends to the sizable rooms, which have floral carpeting and wallpaper, Edwardian-style furniture, and gas fireplaces topped by book-lined mantels. Guests enjoy wine and cheese in the afternoon and a gourmet breakfast basket. Adding to the charm are the century-old cage-style elevator and caring staff members who seem to know everyone's name.