Use this guide to find your best hotel”]San Francisco may be just 45 square miles but it has a lot of great neighborhoods and accommodations. So how do you choose? Determining the best area to stay in San Francisco is subjective. This guide will help you figure out your own best choice of location based upon your personal needs, interests and budget.
Do you need a family sized room? Are you on a budget? Do you want something stylish? Do you crave great food? Don’t worry, you can find what you need. This guide to the best area to stay in San Francisco will help you find your ideal location. Each section has a neighborhood overview, three hotel suggestions and three ideas for fun things to do while there. Find your own best neighborhood to stay in San Francisco by scrolling the whole post or pick a few locations of interest from the table of contents.
Great Hotel Neighborhoods
The Financial District
Union Square
South of Market (SOMA)
Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39
The Marina
Great AirBnB Neighborhoods
The Mission
Potrero Hill
Castro Valley
Noe Valley
The Haight/Cole Valley
North Beach/Chinatown
Map of SF’s Best Hotel and AirBnB Neighborhoods
The Very Best Neighborhoods to Stay in San Francisco
The Financial District, Union Square and SOMA neighborhoods carry the highest density of hotels in San Francisco. All three are close to many popular sites and are easily accessed by the BART subway or MUNI bus system. These three neighborhoods offer the best hotels in San Francisco if you are prioritizing choice and convenience.
San Francisco Financial District Hotels
The Financial District has a cluster of four-star chain hotels catering to the business traveler, but the location can also be good for the leisure traveler because of its central location. There are some great bars and restaurants in the neighborhood, especially at the Ferry Building, and it’s easy to access public transportation to anywhere in the city.
- Pros: Central location and access to public transportation.
- Cons: The hotels are typically pricier and many don’t offer much flair. Quieter at night.
Historic Icon: The Palace Hotel
“You will get a taste of what royalty must feel like”
The Palace was built in 1875 as San Francisco’s first premier luxury hotel. They have a stunning ballroom and lobby and they offer old-school services such as a signature tea and brunch. Check reviews and book on Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
4 Star chain hotel: Hyatt Regency Embarcadero
“Great lobby, great room, spectacular interior design”
The Hyatt is notable for its huge vaulted lobby and comfortable bar space. The hotel is attached to the Embarcadero shopping mall and there are quite a few good restaurants within a few blocks. Check reviews and book on Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
Good Value: Club Quarters Hotel
“Friendly and welcoming”
The Club quarters hotels offer similar services to the larger chain hotels but often at a better value. This one has a variety of room types, some with a kitchenette which could work for a family or an extended stay. Check reviews or book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
3 Fun Things to do in the Financial District
- Eat yourself silly at the Ferry Building.
- Get your hands all over science at the Exploratorium.
- Go shopping in the Embarcadero Center.
Hotels in Union Square
For sheer hotel options, Union Square is the best neighborhood to stay in San Francisco. There are over fifty hotels offering a wide range of style and budget. Union Square is well located for public transportation and is at the center of some of SF’s most popular sites.
- Pros: Centrally located with fun shopping, good restaurant choices and walkable to many museums.
- Cons: There are a LOT of people panhandling in Union Square and the further west of Taylor street you go, the worse it gets. The neighborhood is very busy and the area around the Powell street cable car turnaround gets very clogged.
Luxury Boutique: Warwick San Francisco
“Nice little boutique hotel”
74 classic rooms done up in a clean, modern style with an on-site tapas bar and nearby theaters. Check their site for offers like a complimentary drink or free breakfast. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
Rock and roll vibe: Zeppelin Hotel
“Coolest hotel in the city”
The Zeppelin bills itself as an “urban avant garde nirvana”, which you can enjoy while hanging out in their game room and sipping your complimentary welcome beverage. Check the site for special offers. See reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
Modern Budget: Herbert Hotel
“The room was sparse but clean and comfortable”
The Herbert is in a central location on Powell street with clean modern rooms. What more could you ask for $89/night? Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
3 Fun Things to Do around Union Square
- Spend your paycheck by going shopping at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Macys or the flagship Apple store.
- Revisit prohibition and have a drink at the Bourbon & Branch speakeasy.
- Listen to free music on Union Square. Check the schedule for regular events.
San Francisco SOMA hotels
SOMA used to be a gritty warehouse district but it has been transformed by the dotcomm boom and the development of the Giant’s stadium. It’s now a hipster heaven with museums, brew pubs, retro bowling, pocket parks and coffee shops.
- Pros: Close to public transportation, particularly the Caltrain station. Great walking along the Embarcadero. Lots of restaurant choices.
- Cons: Most of the hotels are clustered along Market street. Parking is tricky, especially during baseball season.
Fabulous roof deck: Hotel Via
“Right across from the ballpark!”
The Hotel Via is the only hotel in the southern part of SOMA. It’s perfectly situated for the ballpark and warehouse district. They have a rooftop deck with expansive views of the ballpark and the bay. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Booking.com.
Urban retreat…with spa: W Hotel
“…combines new age with contemporary modern”
The W’s modern, edgy decor makes it a perfect neighbor to the SF Museum of Modern Art. The hotel’s lobby bar hums during happy hour and they offer a full service Bliss spa. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Booking.com.
Small Inn: Hotel Griffin
“Cozy and convenient”
The Griffin is a boutique hotel with a European flair. Some of the rooms have a scenic bay view and they do not charge those bulls**t resort fees. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Booking.com.
3 Fun Things to do in SOMA
- Get photography inspiration at both SFMOMA and Pier 24.
- Go to a San Francisco Giant’s Game.
- Go retro with a round of bowling at Lucky Strike.
Other Areas to Stay in San Francisco
Hotels in Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf is one of the most popular tourist sites in San Francisco, particularly with families. Pier 39 doesn’t have a ton of hotels, but staying in this area of SF will serve a range of budgets, including some family friendly options.
- Pros: Lots of fun stuff for kids to do. From the wharf, it’s easy to get to other parts of the city using the cable car or street trolleys.
- Cons: Very crowded with tourists. Not a great neighborhoods for restaurants if you are a foodie.
Luxury: The Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square
“Perfect location, amenities and staff”
The Fairmont is set right on the wharf with great views overlooking the bay. They offer 24 hour butler service, an outdoor terrace and some residential-style rooms with full kitchens. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
Family Friendly: Holiday Inn Express Fisherman’s Wharf
“I definitely recommend this hotel for families…”
The Holiday Inn/Express offers families a free hot breakfast, family-sized suites and access to the pool at their sister hotel. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
Hip & Funky: Hotel Zephyr
“..several fire pits, cool sculpture and a food truck…amazing!”
This hotel won a Conde Naste Traveler reader’s choice award in 2016. They have a playful decor, goofy outdoor deck and they are pet-friendly. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
3 Fun things to do in the Fisherman’s Wharf
- Take the ferry over to Angel Island. Hiking around the island will give you 360′ views of the bay and you can explore historical sites from San Francisco’s history.
- Visit Alcatraz island. Alcatraz was not only a prison, but it was also the site of a major Native American civil rights protest. The tours are excellent and the views of the bay go for miles. But it’s very popular, so book ahead.
- Visit the resident population of sea lions who live at the end of the pier.
Hotels in the Marina
The Marina is a residential neighborhood right on the bay. The Marina doesn’t have fancy hotels but it’s well stocked with modestly priced motels, many with parking.
- Pros: Less expensive than other parts of the city, available parking, fun restaurants and boutique shopping scene.
- Cons: Getting to many popular sites without a car will require using the bus, often with a transfer.
Retro Boutique: Hotel Del Sol
“…a super cool place to stay”
The Hotel del Sol is a souped up former motor lodge with a pool, free breakfast, inexpensive parking and a colorful beachy vibe. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
Charming: Marina Motel
“…not your run of the mill white plastic and pale wood motel”
The Marina motel is a cozy little spot built in the ’30’s. They have a flowery courtyard and family-sized rooms. Check reviews and book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
Basic & Budget: Travelodge
“Affordable, pet-friendly spot…”
The Travelodge is….a Travelodge. It offers basic accommodation, free breakfast and an inexpensive base for exploring San Francisco. Check reviews or book at Trip Advisor or Hotels.com.
3 Fun Things to Do in the Marina
- Eat, drink and shop on Chestnut street. Walk just one block north of the gauntlet of motels on Lombard and you can kill an evening strolling bookstores, boutiques, bars and bakeries.
- If you are in the neighborhood on a Friday, hit up Off the Grid in Fort Mason where you can eat your way through 30 food trucks.
- Stroll Crissy Field along the bay. You can learn about the aquatic ecosystem at the Pacific Coast Federation and pop into the Warming Hut Cafe. If you want to do some mileage, keep walking up onto and over the Golden Gate bridge (3.3 miles one way).
Good Neighborhoods for AirBnB
San Francisco isn’t defined by its downtown, even though that’s where most of the hotels have camped out. AirBnB was founded in SF and its listings nearly double the available lodging options, with whole homes and rooms to rent all over the city. Most of the following neighborhoods may have the odd B&B or sketchy hotel, but they are much better served using AirBnB.
If you’ve never used AirBnB, you can use this link to get a $40 discount on your first booking.
- Pros: “Live like a local” by getting advice from your local host. Save money on eating out and laundry. Good for families and larger groups.
- Cons: Most neighborhoods (except for the Mission) are further out in the city and getting downtown will require slower buses. For the couple who wants the privacy of a whole home, it can sometimes be cheaper to snag a great hotel deal rather than do AirBnB.
The Mission: By far, one of the best areas to stay in San Francisco. The Mission’s vibrant streets are like a cross between of your Latino uncle and Sergy Brin. You can find illuminating street art, dinosaur-sized burritos and combo coffeeshops/bookstores.
Potrero Hill: A quiet residential neighborhood hipped up with artsy warehouses. Take a tour of the Anchor brewing distillery and then eat local at one of the restaurants on 18th street.
Castro Valley: Ground zero for being out and proud. You can catch films, fests and drag queens at the Castro theater and explore SF queer history at the GLBT History Museum.
Noe Valley: Strollers, yoga and coffee fill the 24th street corridor in Noe. The strip has something for everyone including a used book store, a craft brewery, a dive bar, some cute clothing shops and designer togs for the discerning toddler.
The Haight/Cole Valley: It’s been fifty years since the Summer of Love but the hippie vibe lives on in the Haight. They still sell vinyl at Amoeba records and you can purchase Grateful Dead gear, tie-dyed socks and, err, other paraphernalia.
North Beach/Chinatown: The AirBnB’s in this neighborhood offer all of the benefits of the downtown hotels, but with more hills! You can spend most of your allowance money buying books at the City Lights bookstore and then spend the rest on mysterious vegetables and dried fishes in Chinatown.
Choosing the best area to stay in San Francisco is a very personal choice. Pick your budget, consider what sort of vibe you want and then use this guide to chose your neighborhood. Enjoy your stay and have fun!
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Tami says
Wow! This is a great list, but I know that hotels are so very expensive in San Francisco. Like SUPER expensive! Did you find that the airbnb’s are more reasonable? Or is there a place just outside of the city that isn’t too hard to transport from that’s cheaper?
Carol Guttery says
The Marina neighborhood has the less expensive motels. Some AirBnB’s in the neighborhoods that I mentioned can be cheaper…especially if you don’t mind sharing a home. Another AirBnB alternative would be to stay in Oakland. It’s a fairly easy subway right into SF and it’s often more affordable.
There are a lot of less expensive hotels near the San Francisco airport, but they aren’t well located to public transportation.
100cobbledroads says
I am liking the thought of San Francisco’s Soma district. Imagining a warehouse-turned-into-hotel as accommodation. That would be so interesting! With all the museums, pocket parks and coffee shops that you mention, it would be a perfect area.
aluxurytravelblog says
I think I’d opt for Union Square… yes, it would be hellishly busy but there are nice hotels there, so you can always retreat back to your room if it all becomes a bit too much. 🙂
Carol Guttery says
There are lots of options in that neighborhood. And I like the square itself- it’s a fun place to hang out
Susanna says
Fantastic, in depth guide! It’s funny on my stay in SF, we stayed at the Zeppelin for a few nights and I went shopping at Nordstrom (I miss it living in Germany!) It’s like I had your guide right there with me, or I have great intuition. Sharing, so other people can find a great place to stay in San Fran.
Carol Guttery says
Great minds think alike
Candiss says
This is a fantastic round up of where to stay in SF! There is such a variety for the size of the city!!
Marvi says
What an excellent guide! I’m sure a lot of travelers who are planning on a visit to San Francisco will find this very helpful.. 🙂 I’ve never been here so this will definitely come in handy!
Christina says
I love how funky the hotel Zeppelin is. And those rooms in Hotel Via look fantastic!
Marion Halliday (Red Nomad OZ) says
Wow! So many options in different precincts – and they’ve all got appealing things to do and places to stay! But how could I pass up the Financial District, when one of the top things you’ve listed to do there is eat yourself silly at the Ferry Building?!
Anisa & Katherine (@2travelingtxns) says
Luckily now I have a friend that lives in San Francisco so I can just stay with her. Before she moved I usually stayed either in Union Square or SOMA, it’s just the most convenient.
TastingPage says
I stayed in the financial district last time I was in SF and really liked it. There was so much to see and do. Will have to check out another one of your listed neighborhoods next visit!
Liz Cleland says
Love these options for accommodations. I love the decor and would bring my family or just for a couples getaway.