80 Best Hotels in San Francisco, California

You can pretend you're a denizen of one of San Francisco's wealthiest neighborhoods at this understated, elegant Edwardian hotel built in 1903. Posh cream- and silver-hued rooms and suites, some with sweeping city views, are genteelly furnished and beautifully combine old-world charm with modern touches. The long list of amenities includes morning newspapers; plush robes; complimentary Wi-Fi; passes to the Jewish Community Center for swimming and exercise; a 24-hour fitness center (though the JCC offers more substantial workout options); 24-hour coffee and tea service, plus in-room Nespresso machines; and bicycles to borrow for the day. There's also complimentary chauffeur service each morning to any destination within the city. The hotel will even move your car to follow neighborhood parking restrictions. A free, expansive breakfast buffet, plus dishes made to order, is served in a sunny, spacious dining room where tea and homemade biscotti are on offer in the afternoon; wine, hot hors d'oeuvres, cheese, and charcuterie are set out each evening.

Green, pet-friendly, and equipped with high-speed fiber-optic Wi-Fi, the tech-oriented Axiom nimbly provides a boutique experience business and leisure travelers applaud. Just steps from the Powell Street cable-car turnaround, the hotel offers service that’s polite, intuitive, and efficient. The public spaces, including a check-in area filled with California-themed books, evoke the past while projecting an au courant vibe. Many rooms are old-school small but make sensible use of the available space.

In their six-story structure dating back to 1910, hosts Claude and Micheline Lambert created a bit of Paris a few blocks from Union Square, with rooms individually decorated with pastel colors, a stenciled ceiling, and prints of works by Picasso, Chagall, Klimt, and other European artists. The hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a wonderful vintage French atmosphere, but it also contains some relevant modern touches like free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs.  Look online or call for special packages and discounted rates.

Occupying 12 floors of a skyscraper, the Four Seasons delivers subdued elegance in rooms with contemporary artwork, fine linens, floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Yerba Buena Gardens or downtown, and lovely marble bathrooms with soaking tubs. Highlights include the city's plushest robes and slippers, thoughtful touches like a jogging route guide, housekeeping twice a day, and 24/7 gourmet room service. The main amenity perk for most guests is access to the adjacent Equinox Sports Club, where you have free access to the junior Olympic pool, full-size indoor basketball court, and the rest of the magnificent facilities, classes, and spa services. For an extra special dinner during a stay, make sure to reserve the Chef's Table experience at the hotel's MKT restaurant where the elaborate multicourse menu is specifically unique to your party.

A frothy homage to 1950s Beat writers, 1960s hippies and rockers, and other local agents of change, the hip Hotel Zeppelin appeals to a youngish crowd with high-tech amenities and an inviting, sometimes boisterous, game room with a pool table, quick-shot basketball wall, and other entertainments. A fireplace and bar area give the lobby a warm communal atmosphere, while smart TVs, blackout shades, and spacious maple-top work desks in the guest rooms satisfy the desires of 21st-century travelers. The hotel's restaurant, PLS on Post, serves towering burgers and shakes with peace, love, and soul (PLS).

These tiny rooms, with simple yet modern decor and private bathrooms, are within walking distance to the lively Haight, Hayes Valley, and Castro neighborhoods. This place is ideal for guests not expecting to spend much time in their rooms but wanting to repair to a decent retreat after a long day of exploring. The friendly staffers can assist with airport shuttles and tips on street parking (a chore in this part of town). The back garden, shared by the excellent Italian restaurant Ragazza, is a fine place to unwind in the evening.

Feel virtuous and eco-friendly while enjoying a junior terrace room with private outdoor space and views of downtown at this service-oriented and environmentally friendly boutique hotel close to the Financial District and Chinatown that was the city's first LEED-certified hotel. Local artist Archie Held's glass water sculpture in the lobby sets the green tone, and a high aesthetic standard. The simply styled rooms have low-flow toilets, textiles in hues of green and gold, and natural woods.

Open since 1875 and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, this legendary hotel continues to be one of the city's elite places to stay, with a prominent location at the border of SoMa and downtown plus a delightful mix of modern amenities (an indoor lap pool beneath a glass-domed ceiling) and deluxe architectural details of a bygone era. The entrance area is a time-traveling stunner, with Austrian crystal chandeliers and eight pairs of bronze-filigree marble columns supporting a magnificent dome ceiling. The former carriage entrance, which reemerged as crystal-roofed The Garden Court restaurant, is a favorite of ladies who lunch and those who enjoy an elaborate Sunday brunch (it's also where Green Goddess salad dressing was invented). Even if you're not staying here, sip a cocktail at the Pied Piper Bar, named for its Maxfield Parrish painting.

A tribute to beauty and attentive, professional service, the Ritz-Carlton emphasizes luxury and elegance, which are evident in the Ionic columns that grace the neoclassical facade and the crystal chandeliers that illuminate marble floors and walls in the lobby. This luxe feeling continues in the fog-and-blue-hued guest rooms with modern furniture, marble bathrooms stocked with Asprey London amenities, and plush beds with 400-thread-count sheets and dreamy combed cotton linens. Club Level rooms include use of a lounge with a dedicated concierge and complimentary food throughout the day. Traditional afternoon tea and excellent cocktails are served in the Lobby Lounge, overlooking the beautifully landscaped Terrace Courtyard, and guests enjoy breakfast at the sophisticated Parallel 37 restaurant.

Inside the magnificent, flatiron-shape Beaux Arts–style building is one of the city's most spectacular places to stay, a sharp, upscale, ultra-hip boutique hotel; in contrast, outside is one of the roughest intersections for street life in San Francisco. The Proper rates high both for the eye-catching redesign by Kelly Wearstler (she also designed the guest room blankets and kimonos) and for amenities like SF's premier rooftop bar (Charmaine's) and Bellino fine Italian linens, towels, and down comforters.

Three blocks west of Union Square and loaded with high- and low-tech amenities, this Pineapple Hospitality boutique property delivers value in a stylish package, starting with the lobby's paintings and sculptures and the giant black-and-white art above the adjacent bar. Inside a renovated 1913 structure, the hotel has rooms with bright-yellow curtains, light-colored walls, and Carrara marble-tiled bathrooms. All accommodations have air-conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi, Keurig coffeemakers, USB charging stations, and 50-inch HD LED TVs with cable.

With a strong location at the convergence of Chinatown, the Financial District, and Union Square, this boutique anchor attracts a design-conscious crowd and is highlighted by its intricately decorated lobby featuring marble floors, a wood-beam ceiling, and art from around the world. The focal point is a 1940s mural depicting Mission Dolores, uncovered during demolition work. Rooms are sophisticated and homey, with white wainscoting, cool blue custom-upholstered headboards and benches, bright-red splashes, and Frette linens. Complimentary coffee and biscotti are served every morning, and the afternoon's free beer, wine, and canned cocktail hour is well attended.

The sustainability and green-everything boutique hotel concept planted its flag in San Francisco in 2022 and quickly emerged as one of the city's most in-demand places to spend the night for both leisure travelers and the well-heeled business set. From the actual moss that resides in a frame by every guest room, to the reclaimed wood design elements and leather headboards in each room, nature—hip, somewhat posh nature—is the clear theme. It curiously feels like a Tulum jungle yoga getaway meets upscale urban aesthetic. Some rooms have spectacular bay views where you almost feel on top of the Ferry Building and a few suites have stunning terraces overlooking the skyline. Don't miss the cocktails in the ground-floor restaurant, Terrene, which frequently incorporates discarded or upcycled ingredients into its drink creations.

The nautically themed Argonaut's guest rooms have exposed-brick walls, wood-beam ceilings, and best of all, waterfront rooms windows that open to enjoy Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge views. It's easy to relax here, far from the downtown bustle, with in-room yoga kits, fire pits outside, and some rooms have ultra-comfortable plush chaise-style lounge chairs. The building is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, whose visitor center is next door to the lobby.

This 1928 landmark—renovated and reopened in 2022—welcomes guests in its ornate, high-ceilinged lobby and classically elegant rooms that come equipped with 21st-century tech amenities but evoke the hotel's heyday with gorgeously restored wood plank floors and plush white comforters. Together the lobby—decked out with chandeliers, Italian marble, and velvet furnishings—and wood-paneled library next to the mezzanine bar's grand fireplace bring to mind a half-restored Italian castle. Gloriously reincarnated in 2024, the legendary, top-floor bar Starlite is well worth a visit.

Fancy moldings and 10-foot-tall windows grace the red-carpeted lobby of this brick Victorian listed on the National Register of Historic Places that has rooms of varying size and setup. Rooms have dark-wood antique-reproduction furniture; standard rooms can feel cramped, but the suites and junior suites are more spacious and have different kinds of kitchen facilities. All suites have a bidet in the bathroom and whirlpool bathtubs. The generous breakfast baskets have a good variety of offerings, and afternoon tea and wine are served beneath a crystal chandelier in the lobby.

A relatively inexpensive option (look for online specials), this 1913 Edwardian is part of the Best Western chain's Premier Collection, and it retains a period feel, especially in the tile-floor lobby with a fireplace and adjoining wood-paneled bar. The rooms are San Francisco small and lack for style, but they're comfortable and have desks, flat-screen TVs, and spacious closets. A computer and printer are available in the business center, and Wi-Fi is free.

Built to accommodate visitors to the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, this favorite of budget travelers has cable car views from its modest lobby. High ceilings lend Edwardian grandeur to the moderate-size guest rooms; check out the pillow menu with a dozen choices. The small, clean bathrooms have extra-deep tubs, branded rubber ducky included. Complimentary coffee, tea, apples, and cookies are available around the clock in the lobby.

European sensibility, a youthful vibe, reasonable rates, and a safe Union Square location make this art-filled hotel a smart and popular choice, and though rooms are compact---with in-room sinks; oval, glass-walled shower/WC pods; and king-size beds that run literally wall to wall---smart organization helps offset the size, as do the lobby's large and colorful Living Room and bar. 

This 18-floor Marriott-affiliated hotel is arguably the best of the few mid-range hotels in SoMa. Guest rooms have a subtle glamorous touch with catchy black-and-white carpets and tufted headboards. There is also a unique set of allergy-free rooms that come with an air purifier and special hypoallergenic bedding and pillows. The public areas are particularly noteworthy with colorful San Francisco–inspired art pieces, plus an outdoor courtyard with fire pits that is a rare breath of fresh air in the dense downtown area.

Built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition world's fair, this longtime favorite bridges the gap between hip modern and timeless classic style. Its swanky lobby and nicely polished rooms have some decorative touches inspired by that major early 20th-century global event when the hotel was born. Rooms are spacious by San Francisco standards and include stylish modern furniture, 50-inch flat-screen smart TVs, and luxury touches like rainfall showers and Coco Mango bath products by Poggesi. The gorgeous signature bar, the Redwood Room, is equally known for its creative cocktails and art-deco design.

Close to Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf, this affordable lodging with basic rooms decked out with oversize pillows, earth-toned bedding, and large flat-screen TVs is a great pick if you brought your family and have a car to park. Big windows offer the occasional glimpse of downtown, cable cars ding by outside, and a helpful staff and free parking and Wi-Fi add to the allure. Off-season rates are a steal.

A Tuscan-theme Wyndham owners' club and boutique hotel may hardly be a traditional San Francisco arrangement, but it's the setup for one of the prime Union Square places to stay for luxury without grande-dame prices or pomp and circumstance. Nonresident hotel guests enjoy all the perks of residents, including access to the lounge with its stunning views and to the excellent fitness center with plenty of workout equipment and saunas.

Located in the former Ghirardelli chocolate factory, these one- to three-bedroom residences deliver elevated comfort and style, with fully equipped gourmet kitchens, brick walls, plush bedding, in-room laundry facilities, fireplaces, and well-appointed contemporary design furnishings. Most rooms have views of Alcatraz and the bay. These are undoubtedly some of the city's most spacious rooms, which make it an excellent upscale choice for families or those working remotely. While there is no on-site restaurant, there are many options within Ghiradelli Square, and butler delivery service is offered for guests to enjoy food from McCormick & Kuleto's in their suites. A wine and cheese reception is also offered each Monday and Friday.

Dominating the top of Nob Hill like a European palace, the Fairmont indulges guests in luxury: rooms in the main building, adorned in muted earth tones with sapphire blue accents, have high ceilings, decadent beds, and marble bathrooms, while rooms in the newer Tower, many with fine views, have a neutral color palette with bright-silver notes. Architect Julia Morgan's timeless 1907 lobby design includes alabaster walls and gilt-embellished ceilings supported by Corinthian columns. Amenities and special services—like free chicken soup if you're under the weather—keep guests coming back. Don't miss drinks at the Tonga Room, an over-the-top tiki lounge serving tropical cocktails. It's also a winter wonderland during the holiday season, with a giant gingerbread house anchoring the lobby each December.

Each luxurious room at the city's second Four Seasons has spectacular city and bay views; the hotel occupies the top 11 floors in two wings connected by a glass skybridge atop one of San Francisco's tallest and most recognizable buildings. There are touches of San Francisco history throughout the chic, wonderfully appointed guest rooms—headboard reading lights inspired by the city's streetcars; gold wall coverings in the terrace suites—and guests can rely on all the usual Four Seasons pampering with a spiffy fitness center, spacious rooms at all levels, cotton bathrobes and slippers, massive flat-screen TVs, and deep soaking tubs in most of the bathrooms.

At the edge of the FiDi and Union Square areas, this boutique hotel manages to be both hip and welcoming, with modern touches on historical bones and cozy guest rooms with all the technological amenities modern travelers require. Guests lounge in the lobby by the hotel’s pièce de résistance, a massive, hand-sculpted art-nouveau fireplace that looks like it leaped out of a fairy tale. For guests visiting on business or working remotely, the marble-topped desks with ergonomic chairs (and the Illy espresso machine for caffeine) are a big plus.

Location is the main draw at this hotel, where rooms done in warm autumnal tones, with textured custom furniture, original artwork, and teak beds, are showing their age but still offer high-tech features: windows can be blacked out from your bed, and you can stream from your mobile or other device to a swiveling flat-screen. Business travelers appreciate the good-size workstations and large closets in many rooms, while down in the light-filled lobby, gas fireplaces warm homey nooks.

This Spanish Colonial Revival–style hotel has nice touches that enliven the guest quarters, including 42-inch high-definition TVs, quirky mathematical wall clocks, ultra-comfortable beds, blackout shades to keep out the direct sunrise light, high-quality Malin + Goetz bathroom products, and the convenience of being attached to the Ozumo sushi restaurant. The ubiquitous amenity fee includes evening wine, continental breakfast, loaner bikes, and access to the excellent adjacent YMCA fitness facilities.