Skip to content

United States — 11 Hotels Reviewed

Best Hotels in
San Francisco

San Francisco's hotel scene is defined by contrast — Gilded Age grand dames on Nob Hill face off against sleek SoMa tech-forward design hotels, while the Mission and Hayes Valley harbour boutique properties that match the neighbourhood's creative energy. Few cities in the world offer such a dramatic natural setting as a backdrop, with bay views and fog-draped hills available from almost every hilltop property.

San Francisco, United States

Quick Answer

Top Hotels in San Francisco — 2026

San Francisco's hotel scene is defined by contrast — Gilded Age grand dames on Nob Hill face off against sleek SoMa tech-forward design hotels, while the Mission and Hayes Valley harbour boutique properties that match the neighbourhood's creative energy. Few cities in the world offer such a dramatic natural setting as a backdrop, with bay views and fog-draped hills available from almost every hilltop property.

  1. 1
    The St. Regis San Francisco SoMa · $$$$ · ★ 9.1 Superb
  2. 2
    The Fairmont San Francisco Nob Hill · $$$$ · ★ 9.0 Superb
  3. 3
    Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights · $$$ · ★ 9.4 Superb
  4. 4
    The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco Nob Hill · $$$$ · ★ 9.2 Superb
  5. 5
    Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf Fisherman's Wharf · $$ · ★ 8.8 Excellent

11 hotels reviewed · 34 in-depth guides · Last updated March 2026

Our top 11 picks

Ranked by overall score. Updated February 2026.

The St. Regis San Francisco — SoMa
$$$$ Ultra-luxury
★ 9.1 Superb

A sleek tower adjacent to SFMOMA with butler service, the city's best hotel bar in Ame, and rooms decorated with a curated art collection. The location puts you steps from Yerba Buena Gardens and the contemporary art museum, making it the natural choice for culture-focused travellers.

  • SoMa
  • Luxury
  • Art
Check Availability
The Fairmont San Francisco — Nob Hill
$$$$ Ultra-luxury
★ 9.0 Superb

One of the great American palace hotels, presiding over Nob Hill since 1907 and immortalised in Tony Bennett's 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco.' The lobby's red velvet and marble grandeur is matched by jaw-dropping bay views from upper floors, and the Tonga Room hurricane tiki bar is an unmissable SF institution.

  • Nob Hill
  • Historic
  • Views
Check Availability
Hotel Drisco — Pacific Heights
$$$ Upscale
★ 9.4 Superb

Pacific Heights

Hotel Drisco

San Francisco's best kept secret — a 48-room Edwardian boutique on one of Pacific Heights' most beautiful residential streets, offering butler-delivered morning papers, an included wine and cheese hour, and the kind of hushed, residential calm that feels genuinely restorative after a day of sightseeing.

  • Pacific Heights
  • Boutique
  • Couples
Check Availability
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco — Nob Hill
$$$$ Ultra-luxury
★ 9.2 Superb

A Greek Revival landmark on Nob Hill that exudes old-money confidence with its marble colonnade and fleet-footed service. The Club Level lounge offers six food presentations daily, and the fitness centre and heated pool are among the city's most well-appointed hotel amenities.

  • Nob Hill
  • Luxury
  • Business
Check Availability
Hotel Zoe Fisherman's Wharf — Fisherman's Wharf
$$ Mid-range
★ 8.8 Excellent

A quietly stylish boutique surrounded by the tourist circus of the Wharf, with comfortable rooms, complimentary evening wine, and a surprisingly well-insulated calm that belies the busy streets outside. The waterfront location is ideal for families wanting Alcatraz ferry access right outside the door.

  • Fisherman's Wharf
  • Families
  • Views
Check Availability
Proper Hotel San Francisco — Mid-Market
$$$ Upscale
★ 9.0 Superb

A Kelly Wearstler-designed masterpiece in a restored 1909 Beaux-Arts building, with patterned tile, brass fixtures, and a rooftop bar that has become one of the city's best. The location in the revitalising Mid-Market corridor puts it close to Twitter HQ and Civic Center cultural institutions.

  • Mid-Market
  • Design
  • Rooftop
Check Availability
The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel — Union Square
$$$ Upscale
★ 8.6 Excellent

Philippe Starck transformed this 1915 hotel into one of America's most theatrical lobbies — the Giant Chair and illuminated bar anchor a space that's simultaneously witty and sophisticated. The Redwood Room, panelled in a single 2,000-year-old redwood, is among the city's most storied cocktail bars.

  • Union Square
  • Design
  • Historic
Check Availability
Axiom Hotel — Union Square
$$ Mid-range
★ 8.7 Excellent

Union Square

Axiom Hotel

A tech-savvy boutique steps from Union Square with complimentary iPhone loaner, fast streaming, and rooms that pack smart design into a compact footprint. The lobby's local art installations are curated by SF artists, and rates are among the best value for a central SF location.

  • Union Square
  • Tech
  • Value
Check Availability
Hotel Bohème — North Beach
$$ Mid-range
★ 8.9 Excellent

North Beach

Hotel Bohème

A 15-room literary hideaway in the heart of North Beach that pays tender homage to the Beat Generation — rooms are named after Ginsberg, Kerouac, and Ferlinghetti, and the walls are hung with black-and-white photographs of the era. Steps from City Lights Bookstore and some of the city's best Italian restaurants.

  • North Beach
  • Boutique
  • Historic
Check Availability
San Francisco Proper Hotel – Rooftop — Mission District
$$$ Upscale
★ 9.1 Superb

A design-forward stay in the heart of the Mission with Californian-Mediterranean dining by Jason Fox and a rooftop lounge featuring fire pits and sweeping city views. The neighbourhood's murals, taquerias, and Valencia Street boutiques are steps outside the door.

  • Mission District
  • Design
  • Food
Check Availability
HI San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel — Fisherman's Wharf
$ Budget-friendly
★ 8.3 Very Good

Arguably the most scenic budget accommodation in any US city — a converted Civil War barracks inside the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, with direct bay views and free walking tours. Private rooms are available alongside dorms, and the nightly social atmosphere is genuinely warm.

  • Fisherman's Wharf
  • Budget
  • Solo
Check Availability

By Travel Style

More San Francisco Guides

Guide

Best Adults-Only Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Airport Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels for Art & Culture Lovers in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Boutique Hotels in San Francisco

Read guide

Guide

Best Budget Hotels in San Francisco

Read guide

Guide

Best Business Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels in San Francisco for Christmas

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels in San Francisco for Couples

Read guide

Guide

Best Design Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels in San Francisco for Families

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels for Foodies in San Francisco

Read guide

Guide

Best Historic & Heritage Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Honeymoon Hotels in San Francisco

Read guide

Guide

Most Instagrammable Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels & Aparthotels for Long Stays in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Luxury Hotels in San Francisco

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels for New Year's Eve in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels for Nightlife in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels with Swimming Pools in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Most Romantic Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels with Rooftop Bars & Pools in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels in San Francisco for Solo Travelers

Read guide

Guide

Best Spa & Wellness Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels for a Summer Getaway in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Hotels with the Best Views in San Francisco

Read guide

Guide

Best Waterfront Hotels in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels for a Weekend Break in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Guide

Best Hotels for a Cosy Winter Stay in San Francisco (2026)

Read guide

Heading to San Francisco?

Prices and availability change daily. Lock in the best rate by booking early — most of our top picks offer free cancellation.

View All San Francisco Hotels

11 hotels in San Francisco

From $$$$

Check Prices