Pros
- Convenient, central location for sight-seeing, shopping, and dining
- Cable car line directly in front of hotel, BART at end of street
- Modern, cozy rooms with coffeemakers and flat-screen TVs
- Afternoon happy hour with free wine and free morning coffee
- Free use of nearby fitness center at sister hotel
- On-site parking available
- Free Wi-Fi
See MorePros
Cons
- Rooms are on the small side
- Weak soundproofing may be bothersome
- Some rooms have interior-facing windows; some don’t have air-conditioning
See MoreCons
Bottom Line
The 131-room Hotel Union Square is a modern, streamlined hotel in a historic building in the heart of San Francisco's Union Square. Popular with guests seeking a central location, this property has cozy, sometimes small rooms with coffeemakers and flat-screen TVs. There is a cable car line directly in front of the hotel and perks include an afternoon happy hour with free wine and free morning coffee. Wi-Fi is free, but some guests have complained about weak soundproofing and dark, interior-facing rooms.
See MoreBottom Line
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Cribs
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Pets Allowed
See More Amenities
Oyster Awards
- Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Union Square, San Francisco
- Best Boutique Hotels in Union Square, San Francisco
Oyster Hotel Review
Hotel Union Square
Hotel Class:Upper-middle-range
Scene
Cozy, central hotel
While the exterior, wedged between small businesses, matches the slight grime of its downtown surroundings, the property does retain some of the glory of its early-20th-century days. It lists itself as a boutique hotel, and, while some of the amenities one would expect to be in house are lacking, it does retain a certain aesthetic flair in the common areas. The lobby, tiled in black, grey, and white, with the rounded edges characteristic of the Art Deco roots of the building, is small but comfortable. Rooms are set around a winding wood staircase that is filled with paintings.
See MoreScene
Location
Steps from Powell Street, San Francisco’s theater district
A major plus of this hotel is its location, which is within walking distance of a variety of popular tourist attractions, including SF MoMA, Fisherman’s Wharf (with access to Alcatraz), and the Asian Art Museum. A large number of departments stores are within a couple of blocks; the Powell Street Bart is a block away (average time to airport: 30 minutes), and a cable car line stops across the street from the hotel.
See MoreLocation
Rooms
Small, cozy rooms with some quirks related to the age of the building
The rooms here are -- according even to guests who have enjoyed their stays -- pretty tight on space. A few elements characteristic of an older building introduce quirks, besides the rooms size, that may be bothersome to some: window air-conditioning units are the norm, and can be loud; they also may not exist in some rooms because of the presence of fire escapes. Soundproofing may be less than adequate, though most have commented that the noise is more likely to come from fellow guests than the street. Decor is pleasant and understated, with warm colors and slight nods to the Art Deco of the rest of the building in circular mirrors and chrome accents. All rooms have Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and iPod docks.
See MoreRooms
Features
Remote fitness and business centers; on-site parking for a fee
The hotel is part of a group of hotels that share amenities; Hotel Diva, the nearest one, is a few blocks away and has a fitness center and a business center that allows guests to visit for free. There is on-site parking for a fee slightly above the rates for adjacent lots, though the convenience likely makes up for the small hike in price. The property also hosts a free late-afternoon wine hour and offers free coffee in the mornings.
See MoreFeatures
Related Hotels
Upper-middle-range
- Romantic
- Historic
The Kensington Park Hotel
Union Square
One block from Union Square, this charming boutique hotel offers attractive rooms that mix antique furniture and modern comforts. But amenities are few -- there's not even a fitness center on-site (though guests can access one at a different hotel a few blocks away). Still,…
See Review
Upper-middle-range
- Boutique
- Historic
Galleria Park Hotel
Union Square
A seven-minute walk to Union Square and around the block from several pubic transportation options, the upper-middle-range Galleria Park Hotel is ideally located for both leisure tourists and business travelers alike. Inviting interiors are full of stylish touches and the atmosphere is welcoming, encouraged by…
See Review
Upper-middle-range
- Value
Hotel Adagio, Autograph Collection
Union Square
This Union Square boutique -- a member of Marriott's Autograph Collection since 2013 -- has 171 up-to-date, well-appointed rooms that deliver the right luxuries -- pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi -- in a stylish package. A fitness center, business center, great service, and…
See Review
This Hotel Also Featured In
Steamy
Hotels Offering Naughty "50 Shades of Grey" Packages
Courtesy of Universal When “Fifty Shades of Grey” debuted as a trilogy several years ago, hotels across the country were quick to offer guests naughty packages inspired by the story — which features plenty of sexy (and sometimes scary?) hotel rendezvous. Well, now that the film is set to be released in just a couple…
Read More Articles
Oyster Hotel Review
Hotel Union Square
Hotel Class:Upper-middle-range
Scene
Cozy, central hotel
While the exterior, wedged between small businesses, matches the slight grime of its downtown surroundings, the property does retain some of the glory of its early-20th-century days. It lists itself as a boutique hotel, and, while some of the amenities one would expect to be in house are lacking, it does retain a certain aesthetic flair in the common areas. The lobby, tiled in black, grey, and white, with the rounded edges characteristic of the Art Deco roots of the building, is small but comfortable. Rooms are set around a winding wood staircase that is filled with paintings.
See MoreScene
Location
Steps from Powell Street, San Francisco’s theater district
A major plus of this hotel is its location, which is within walking distance of a variety of popular tourist attractions, including SF MoMA, Fisherman’s Wharf (with access to Alcatraz), and the Asian Art Museum. A large number of departments stores are within a couple of blocks; the Powell Street Bart is a block away (average time to airport: 30 minutes), and a cable car line stops across the street from the hotel.
See MoreLocation
Rooms
Small, cozy rooms with some quirks related to the age of the building
The rooms here are -- according even to guests who have enjoyed their stays -- pretty tight on space. A few elements characteristic of an older building introduce quirks, besides the rooms size, that may be bothersome to some: window air-conditioning units are the norm, and can be loud; they also may not exist in some rooms because of the presence of fire escapes. Soundproofing may be less than adequate, though most have commented that the noise is more likely to come from fellow guests than the street. Decor is pleasant and understated, with warm colors and slight nods to the Art Deco of the rest of the building in circular mirrors and chrome accents. All rooms have Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and iPod docks.
See MoreRooms
Features
Remote fitness and business centers; on-site parking for a fee
The hotel is part of a group of hotels that share amenities; Hotel Diva, the nearest one, is a few blocks away and has a fitness center and a business center that allows guests to visit for free. There is on-site parking for a fee slightly above the rates for adjacent lots, though the convenience likely makes up for the small hike in price. The property also hosts a free late-afternoon wine hour and offers free coffee in the mornings.
See MoreFeatures
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
See All Rates
Amenities
Air Conditioner
Airport Transportation
Business Center
Cable
Concierge
Cribs
Dry Cleaning
Fitness Center
Internet
Kids Allowed
Laundry
Meeting / Conference Rooms
Pets Allowed
Poolside Drink Service
Room Service
Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.