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    SW Hotel

    3.8 (76 reviews)
    ModerateHotels
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Elizabeth G.

    Clean, reasonable price, friendly staff. EXCELLENT LOCATION near Chinatown and Little Italy! We had Italian coffee and treats in the morning followed by Chinese food for lunch. What more could you want?

    Very small rooms with mini fridge, small tables and sometimes a little musty Each room is really a small  bedroom with a regular key lock.
    Neil H.

    So what can I write about the SW Hotel? Bring plenty of cash. We booked the hotel based mostly on positive reviews we had read on Tripadvisor and on other travel sites. However, our three nights there was not nearly as glowing. We arrived at the hotel early after a long trip from Minneapolis. My girlfriend was nervous that our room would not be available until 3 pm. Fortunately, our king bed was available, though they had not fulfilled my request to have a quiet room. Originally we were put in a room with a street view. We immediately asked to be moved. Also, when we arrived I asked for our keys and to my amazement we received only one key (traditional -not electronic). I was curtly told that if I lost that key I would have to pay $5.00 for a replacement. When I later explained that there were two guests, I was given a second key. So things did not get off to a very good start. We immediately went up to our room. As I mentioned, our original request was not fulfilled. I had to go back down and request to change rooms, as the guest phone did not appear to work. Subsequently we found out that the instructions to reach the front desk were out of date. But nobody told us. A simple # was needed in front of the 0. There room instructions had not been updated. In going back to the elevator (we were on the third floor) there was an uneven step which I tripped and fell sideways on. It was not marked clearly. Fortunately it was near a window on the side of the floor. I should also mention that the floor plans are not clear except for the exit signs. Each floor has a dull and felt a little creepy, though we did get used to the floors in the end. The new room we were sent to was cold, musty and had not been aired. Everything about their rooms has an old style feel about it. You get a sense that at one time this may have been some kind of boarding house or cheap hotel. My girlfriend initially felt claustrophobia, and we were seriously thinking about changing hotels, but we decided to stay given how tired we were that day.After our time in Minneapolis we found the rooms very small. Our room had two small tables, two chairs, a TV and mini-fridge. The closet was very small and not designed to hold clothes for two guests. Subsequently, we discovered that there was more storage under the bed. Regarding staffing:- Except for Jessica, their staff needed training and especially sensitivity and customer service skills. Getting accurate information was like pulling teeth.Jessica was their only employee who was on top of her game. A couple of staff members preferred to stay in the back office. At times I felt I was dealing with amateurs. Another problem was that reaching the front desk from the bedroom was a pain. They did not tell us that there a # was needed and when I called the main number, I found out that I was being charged for a local call. This was removed upon checking out. Breakfast is complimentary and basic. Eggs, cereal, pastries, coffee and fruit are offered. Breakfast is served at the rear of the hotel where ther are tables and chairs, which are adequate. In fact this was the best part of our experience in the hotel. There are no dining facilities. If our friends had not been living in San Francisco, we would have not had as easy a time at getting around. The hotel is on the border between Chinatown, North Beach and Little Italy. Except for Chinatown, we felt very safe. The streets along Broadway are a little confusing and I got lost when I walked to Chinatown. Getting directions from the hotel staff was frustrating, and again except for Jessica, I would have been totally lost, particularly getting groceries and supplies from the nearby Walgreens. Getting around, meaning booking tours; don't book anything through them. When booking a tour cash has to be paid for a commission. Later I found out that this is a normal practice in San Francisco. And if you book a room directly with the hotel, there is a convention fee on top of all the other taxes. In this case to avoid all the hidden fees, book through a travel website that tells you up front what fees and taxes are charged. PROS: Conveniently located Decent complimentary breakfast -limited hours Free wi-fi Clean bathrooms and vanities. CONS Rooms are small and in our case were musty. Hotel instructions may be out of date when you arrive Local calls are NOT free -and are tacked on to your bill. Most of the staff need customer service training, and we did not always feel we were getting the best and most accurate information In booking trips through them, they want cash and a deposit/commission. For example, we booked a Big Bus tour. I paid for three tickets, but were not told that the tickets were not valid after 5 pm. So what is my overall rating? I'm going to be generous and give them 3 stars, though 2.5 is probably more accurate. I am unlikely to return..

    SW Lobby
    Lawrence C.

    SIMPLY WONDERFUL I can't rave enough about the SW! It is clean, stylish, and the staff is excellent!! The rooms are on the small side, but by no means are they cramped. Quite a bargin for the price. I had read reviews and was worried it was going to be noisy. IT WAS NOT NOISY AT ALL ! The parking garage is conveniently located right at the Hotel, and the $30.00 fee is competitive. We couldn't have been in a better location. The SW straddles the borders of North Beach and China Town. We left our car in the garage and walked everywhere. To Fisherman's Warf, to the Financial District, and all around China Town and North Beach! The SW staff was very friendly. They offered restaurant suggestion and gave good directions to where we wanted to go! Honestly, I had second thought about writing this review! They are the kind of place one hopes to keep their little secret !!!

    Bethany K.

    The location was perfect. So many restaurants within walking distance! Sam's and the Vietnamese place across the street were great! Easy walk to BART, Embarcadero, Lombard Street, the financial district, etc. The rooms were extremely clean and comfortable. Very simple, but the rooms were bright and cheery. The one issue is that the walls are extremely thin. Not an issue for us, but the first night, someone complained about us being loud, and we were talking at a normal volume at 1015pm. Which leads me to the next part...the staff. Every single person we encountered were helpful, friendly, and professional, but one person stood out. Annie works at night. It was about 1130pm on our first night and as we were coming back in after a short walk, we mentioned the complaint to the front desk. Annie switched our room to one where we wouldn't have neighbors that we would bother. She explained that a lot of guests are international, and their sleep is important after a long flight. She also stressed how important it was for us to enjoy ourselves. She also recommended restaurants that were spot on. So helpful and kind. SW should give her a raise for making us feel so at home. We will definitely be back!

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    Review Highlights - SW Hotel

    This hotel is truly in the heart of Chinatown and very close to Little Italy.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    LUMA Hotel San Francisco - Original king room with "Bay" view.

    LUMA Hotel San Francisco

    (127 reviews)

    Mission Bay

    Excellent accommodations and the location was great for event access at the Chase Center. The room…read morewas not overly spacious but more than adequate. The robot delivery service for coffee pods and other requested amenities had a fun touch.

    A great stay! My…read morefriends and I made a last-minute booking at the LUMA Hotel due to its proximity to Pier 48. We stayed on a Friday night so the hotel was quite lively. The check-in process was smooth. The front desk was very helpful in getting us in and filling out a card authorization form. We were surprised by the valet price however - $90 is definitely high. There is no self parking but the prices for the lots nearby are just as high, if not higher for overnight. We really enjoyed our room. It is definitely not the most spacious but felt quite luxurious. We booked a double queen room and were placed in Rm 920. There was limited walking space around the ends of the beds and desk. There was a beautiful view of the courtyard and city. I love that the room was very well-lit. There is ambient lighting and brighter lights you can turn on next to the beds. My friends and I loved the window that separated the bathroom from the sleeping space. It was quite comical and made getting ready for a night out very fun. There blinds for both the bathroom window and outside window were motorized which was a nice touch. The beds were pretty comfortable but nothing too special - I appreciate them having a bunch of pillows. The mini fridge and coffee bar felt pretty luxe and were much fancier than those are other hotels I've stayed at. There were plenty of outlets throughout the room and next to the beds. The whole vibe of the hotel feels very sleek and modern. The hallways are lit with a ambient blue. The inside of the elevators are themed which is super cute for pics. The gym is very nice too, loaded with more than your typical treadmill and elliptical. The lobby felt clean and had little robot things scooting around that apparently are used for room service. I would definitely stay here again so I can explore what I didn't get to see on my short stay!

    Omni San Francisco Hotel - Entrance

    Omni San Francisco Hotel

    (792 reviews)

    $$$

    Financial District

    My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our four night stay at the Omni which was located in the heart of…read morethe Financial District. The entire staff from the doorman, the front desk, housekeeping, and anyone we encountered was polite, professional, and warm. The hotel is charming with lots of beautiful architecture. We learned it used to be a bank. The Omni was spotless and located in a safe area. The Omni is a short walk to Chinatown and a 15-20 minute walk to North Beach where you can dine on some excellent fine Italian food. If you want to get crazy, which we did, it was about a 25-30 minute walk to Fisherman's Wharf. Remember the hills! Our room was clean, well stocked by housekeeping, and everything worked to perfection. If you want a microwave or a refrigerator, that would be an extra charge. There is a cozy bar if you want to decompress after work or a long day of touring around. The Omni was not cheap but worth every penny of it. Again, the entire staff was absolutely fantastic, friendly, and happy. I would highly recommend a stay here.

    You will love this place if you want beauty, great service, splendid rooms and are willing to pay…read morejust a tad more. It is located at the intersection of California Street and Montgomery Street, which is one of the best locations. It has the best restaurant and you will love all their offerings. The rooms are a good size with a wee sitting area and a great TV. The have great bathrobes and free spa toiletries. Located on the historic California cable car line, a short walk to Union Square, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf, now there is a hill to walk. They have a super gym and it is so clean as is the rest of the hotel. Are room was spotless and housekeeping is great. All of the service there is great. While there, walk to Chinatown, it is about 5-7 minutes and it is so much fun and amazing food and shops. Have a great time.

    Hayes Valley Inn

    Hayes Valley Inn

    (205 reviews)

    $

    Hayes Valley

    In a great location, clean, and easy to access. The front door uses a passcode, and you'll need an…read moreapp to unlock your room. There have been a few times when the app didn't work, but the concierge was very helpful in getting us in quickly. The rooms can be a bit chilly, though that's pretty common in San Francisco since many places don't have strong heating or air conditioning.

    Absolutely horrible experience--please note that staying here comes with hidden costs!…read more I was looking forward to staying here because of the location and cheap price; $80/night in SF over the weekend is definitely a hard find. However, from the very beginning to end ranged from confusion, annoyance, to plain nightmare. The check in process was confusing and and cumbersome. I was given no check in information, and there was no front desk. The intercom at the front door did not even work, and I had to call their actual "front desk" who apparently said they did not have my information on file and made me go through these annoying steps just to find my hotel room key in a lock box. The most frustrating and nightmarish experience came the next day when I lost the hotel room key (a physical key). I called the "front desk" several times but received no answer then finally got one after about 10 minutes. When I told the man at the "front desk," he told that he would have to speak to the housekeeper. After waiting for another 10 minutes, he informed me that I would be getting fined $200 for the lost room key, which is plain ridiculous, since they didn't have a replacement key (other than the housekeeper's key). I understand a $25 or $50 fee for a lost key but $200 for a freaking key???! After waiting for about 40 minutes total, he finally walked over with my replacement key and begged me not to lose it since that would mean the housekeeper can't even get in (how laughable). What's worse was that the other guests were able to use their phone or a passcode to get in since all the room had e-locks. When I asked the man at the "front desk" why I needed a physical key, he said that not all of the e-locks were working--including the one for my room. What a load BS. A horribly dingy hotel that can't even get its most basic sh*t together. Stay at this incompetently run hotel at your own risk or better yet find much better options.

    The St. Regis San Francisco

    The St. Regis San Francisco

    (536 reviews)

    $$$$

    SoMa, Financial District

    Amazing Service. Good Value. Butler Service…read more I came to the Bay Area for a relative's 80th birthday and booked The St. Regis because it was the only Forbes Five-Star rated hotel in San Francisco. I'm usually hesitant to stay at American hotel chains' "luxury products" because they often just feel like Marriotts with nicer tile (most new Ritz-Carltons, for example). I found the St. Regis to actually offer the kind of luxury service that is often missing in American hotels. I arrived fairly early, around 11:00 a.m., and the staff were incredibly friendly, accommodating both an early check-in and late check-out, along with a room upgrade. Prior to this stay, I didn't really understand the purpose of butler service, but they were kind enough to gift-wrap the presents for the birthday party I was attending while I booked a massage and walked around the city. The spa at the St. Regis is fairly large, with an indoor heated pool (well designed), a gender-separated steam room (out of order during my visit), and a sauna. I will say the spa could use an expansion or renovation. The "relaxation room" felt a bit like a repurposed salt room, and the men's lounge basically just had tea and snacks. The massage itself was great, and everyone there was extremely friendly. What really impressed me was the service. I casually asked whether they had bath salts available for use in my room, and within 30 minutes of leaving the spa, bath salts, bubble bath, and bottled water were delivered to my room without my needing to make a special request. Great attention to detail. I walked through the gym and it seemed large enough for a full circuit workout, with plenty of equipment. I do wish the hotel had more dedicated lobby or guest lounge areas. The check-in area, bar, and restaurant all seemed to blend together into one shared space, which felt fairly busy in the evening when non-guests came in for happy hour. The bar was nice but honestly expensive and not especially memorable. I was a bit surprised by some of the clientele (there were what I assumed to be a couple "working ladies" at the bar who I wonder if their services were less than the cost of breakfast in hindsight), though very friendly occasionally felt slightly out of sync with the otherwise polished atmosphere of the hotel. I didn't try the restaurant for dinner. The hotel does offer a complimentary car service around the local area, though unfortunately it was booked when I needed it. Breakfast was expensive, easily over $100 per person for a fairly normal order, but it was very tasty. The Eggs Benedict were perfectly cooked and included truffle, which was fantastic. The room was clean and comfortable. I do think it could have used a deeper scrub, though I admit my standards may be skewed by an exceptional housekeeper at home. There was also a slight musty odor. It was not on the level of a room at an average Belmond property or the former Mandarin Oriental Miami, but it was spacious and perfectly comfortable for one person. I'm not entirely sure whether St. Regis considers itself directly competitive with those brands. In summary, the service is what makes this hotel worthy of five stars. They seem genuinely happy to accommodate nearly anything you might need or even casually mention wanting. Personally, I find San Francisco itself dirty, stressful, expensive, and rough around the edges, so having a hotel that felt calm, polished, and attentive made a huge difference in my trip.

    Stayed here for 2 nights as part of The Edit program from Chase. They are also a FHR hotel but the…read moreChase portal price was significantly cheaper so we ended up using Chase. If you have both cards, check both portals. If you have the Amex Plat, you are also Gold Elite status so you can get some extra perks such as fast wifi (it's pretty fast lol). Service is top notch. Hotel is clean. Room is beautiful and quiet. I love how the AC is super quiet, I couldn't even notice it turn on. We also got $90 breakfast credit for two. The food is extremely overpriced and $90 doesn't get you very far if you eat at the restaurant. We ordered to go most of the time. Note that there is tax on the food and tip (if you choose). Breakfast: Two farm egg any style. Fine but small portions for $32. Would not order again. Chilaquiles. Also fine but basic for $35. Would not order again. Sourdough muffin sandwich: If you want best value for price ($26), get this. It's seriously huge and filling. California croissant: This one is like an elevated avocado toast. It's really good. Price is $31. The mixed berry antioxidant smoothie is also meh. I can make a better smoothie at home. As part of The Edit they also give you $100 credit to use on food and drinks only at the hotel. It was SF restaurant week so we ordered the $90 3 course meal for dinner at the hotel restaurant Astra. We ordered the duck cannoli (ok tasting but the duck is cold), braised short rib (very good! Love the polenta) and the brussel sprouts (menu said it was gremoleta/garlic/parmesan flavor but it ended up being gochujang flavor and it was overly sauced). Was not a huge fan. The hotel is dog friendly. They give you a bed and bowl and treats. The pet fee is steep at $200 per stay. There is the Yerba Buena gardens across the street (5 minute walk) to take your dog out. The park is clean with lots of grass. This was one of the deciding factors of us picking this hotel because it's hard to find grass area in the city. They allowed me late check out at 5pm which is awesome!! Also, they have a chi hair dryer which is very powerful. Location in Financial District is very central to a lot of eateries and next door to Soma.

    Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero - Restaurant at the lobby

    Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero

    (45 reviews)

    Financial District

    Impeccable. Truly impeccable at every turn. Attention to detail knows no bounds at this Four…read moreSeasons property. Not sure who the GM is, but they need to take a bow for creating and maintaining a culture of pride and excellence. The staff is happy to be here and it shows in every small detail. The staff made an ordinary stay an extraordinary guest experience. If you are trying to determine where to stay in SFO, look no further!

    I have a problem with this being a Four Seasons, because it's really not that type of experience…read moreand I wouldn't think they would just throw their brand around. The hotel used to be quite a few other properties, so while they may have decorated it, it's not the luxurious experience we've had at other hotels. The views are to die for, we had a room that spanned windows from Golden Gate to Bay Bridge, it was amazing being on the 45th floor and seeing the night sky and morning sunrise. The property doesn't really have a real lobby, spa, and the restaurant is average, as in the quality of the food was just not top notch, and they have access to the best ingredients. They only have two elevators and are quite slow, at a busy time this can be quite annoying. The room itself was small, no real furniture, would have been nice to have a sofa and table with two chairs. There was no dresser. The bathroom was great for one, but small for two. The shower didn't have a bench, no his or her's sinks. The bed when we got into it was super soft and not supportive, when we called they did something really odd and put a board on the mattress and then a topper. I guess they have a guest that asks for this. Why didn't the service people know they have a firm version of the mattress topper they could have switched for us. We didn't have the best sleep. Again, usually the Four Seasons beds are amazing. While this property doesn't charge regular Four Seasons prices, it also doesn't deliver the experience and it would be a shame if the brand started doing this.

    SW Hotel - hotels - Updated May 2026

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