San Francisco post cruise hotel

I'm trying to decide if we should stay in the Union Square area or Fisherman's Wharf area.

I'm looking for good hotel recommendations in either area. I've read there are a number of homeless people sleeping near many Union Square hotels. I've also read some streets are pretty sleezy. Naturally we want to stay in an area that is safe to be out and about, especially in the evening hours. We would also like to be close to an area where we could hop on a cable car. We want to see some sights in SF that we won't see on our cruise.

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

I usually stay in the Union Square area, at the Westin St. Francis. I have never felt uncomfortable in that particular area. For me, it's a great central location, being able to walk anywhere.

If you want to ride a cable car, carve out at least a half hour of wait time. If you board at the turnarounds, lines snake around. If you try to board somewhere on the route, you may have to wait for a few to pass before the is one that has a spot for you. They are not free and they do not take credit cards ;)

The one and only time I stayed at a hotel in the Fisherman's Wharf area (The Sheraton FW), my car was broken into (smashed window) and the car stereo was yanked out. Made for a not-very-pleasant 13 hour drive back home...

I usually stay in the Union Square area, at the Westin St. Francis. I have never felt uncomfortable in that particular area. For me, it's a great central location, being able to walk anywhere.

If you want to ride a cable car, carve out at least a half hour of wait time. If you board at the turnarounds, lines snake around. If you try to board somewhere on the route, you may have to wait for a few to pass before the is one that has a spot for you. They are not free and they do not take credit cards ;)

 

The one and only time I stayed at a hotel in the Fisherman's Wharf area (The Sheraton FW), my car was broken into (smashed window) and the car stereo was yanked out. Made for a not-very-pleasant 13 hour drive back home...

Are the turnarounds near the Westin?

Are the turnarounds near the Westin?

The main turnaround for the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines is about two blocks (south?) from the St Francis and they do rattle by the front of the hotel main entrance.

"homeless" are around the Fisherman's Wharf area too.

Depending on your budget, I would suggest a hotel very close to the park in Union Square. Four-star places would be like the Westin St. Francis, the Grand Hyatt, the Sir Francis Drake, etc.

Staying in the Fisherman's Wharf area is fine, but it is more car-centric and not as charming. Better for a day visit by cable car, IMO. The cable car lines should be shorter earlier in the morning.

There will unfortunately be homeless everywhere, but if you stay in a busy tourist area you can just ignore them. If the grit worries you, I wouldn't venture more than a couple of blocks west from Union Square.

Thanks. I booked Sir Francis Drake. Tried to get The Chancellor but it was sold out. Are there fun things to do in the immediate area or restaurant suggestions?

Thanks. I booked Sir Francis Drake. Tried to get The Chancellor but it was sold out. Are there fun things to do in the immediate area or restaurant suggestions?

Hotwire/Priceline are big on SFD, if you booked directly and can get a refund, check out hotwire, union square east, 4 star and see what the rates are...

As far as restaurants, you need to give us some direction...One of the best views will be McCormick's who does accept reservations but may be a better either lunch or even a couple of cocktails and apps...Also a lot of the best seafood can be had at the markets but its the exact opposite of fine dining...SF house of prime rib if that's your thing...You may want to check eater or thrillist for some ideas...

Hotwire/Priceline are big on SFD, if you booked directly and can get a refund, check out hotwire, union square east, 4 star and see what the rates are...

 

As far as restaurants, you need to give us some direction...One of the best views will be McCormick's who does accept reservations but may be a better either lunch or even a couple of cocktails and apps...Also a lot of the best seafood can be had at the markets but its the exact opposite of fine dining...SF house of prime rib if that's your thing...You may want to check eater or thrillist for some ideas...

I did book directly with the hotel. I don't like Hotwire because you don't know which hotel until after you've booked. I think I got a good rate.

Love fresh seafood. When you say markets, do you mean grocery stores?

Thanks.

I did book directly with the hotel. I don't like Hotwire because you don't know which hotel until after you've booked. I think I got a good rate.

Love fresh seafood. When you say markets, do you mean grocery stores?

Thanks.

I understand the risk about the hotwire yet if you google search the amenities where people have posted their reveals and click on the offering it will give you the tripadvisor rating and range of reviews (4.0 out of 5.0 based on 500-999 reviews) you can easily figure it out...I personally booked this hotel over forth of July.

Seafood Markets are everywhere and as far as I can tell at least half of them cook/prepare the food...If you're at the fisherman's wharf just head east (Marina district) and you'll pass tons of places and see folks standing in line...I'd yelp the exact dish you want as one place good lobster rolls but fish is just so-so...

Depending on the time of year you may see a bunch of tents and a long line of raggedly dressed people hanging out against a wall on Post St about a block from the St. Francis. :eek: Sometimes other people will bring them food and drinks.

No worries, if you look closely they're all looking at their iThings and are just waiting for the Apple Store to open up to buy the latest iThing. :p:D

Are there fun things to do in the immediate area or restaurant suggestions?

We like Colibri, upscale Mexican fare.

You should also open accounts with both Uber and Lyft. Often, one will have surge pricing while the other will not (or less of it, anyway). Great way to get around town, since the sights are spread out (unless you plan to brave Muni).

I don't know what Muni is.

I don't know what Muni is.

"Muni" is short for SF Municipal Railway, our city bus system. It also includes the Cable Cars and light rail system.

There is also Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) our regional commuter (subway) system.

Thanks.

Boulevard (Embarcadero waterfront, an SF Chronicle Top 100 restaurant): http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/#intro

M.Y. China (Martin Yan restaurant, Westfield Mall, Market Street): http://www.tastemychina.com/san-francisco/home/275

Farralon (award-winning seafood): http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/#_=_

Plus these picks from the food critic of the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfchronicle.com/restaurants/article/Michael-Bauer-s-picks-for-best-restaurants-near-6657055.php

Boulevard (Embarcadero waterfront, an SF Chronicle Top 100 restaurant): http://www.boulevardrestaurant.com/#intro

 

M.Y. China (Martin Yan restaurant, Westfield Mall, Market Street): http://www.tastemychina.com/san-francisco/home/275

 

Farralon (award-winning seafood): http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/#_=_

 

Plus these picks from the food critic of the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfchronicle.com/restaurants/article/Michael-Bauer-s-picks-for-best-restaurants-near-6657055.php

Thanks. I'll look at them all closely

Sears Fine Food https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60713-d480710-Reviews-Sears_Fine_Foods-San_Francisco_California.html

Is the Tonga Room still fun? I remember going there way back when, and it was classy, cheesy fun. I got my addiction to Cha Siu Bao there...

We've gotten away from the original topic of this thread, which is Hotels in San Francisco.

We'll be in SF from 8/31 to 9/3, and have reservations at two very different hotels in two very different areas: standard rooms at the Holiday Inn Express Fisherman's Wharf and executive floor rooms at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District on the edge of Chinatown. We haven't a clue as to the pluses and minuses of the hotels and the areas. I guess we'll have to decide on what we want to do before we choose our hotel; but maybe someone can help us make our choice.

Yes. The Tonga Room (in the Fairmont Nob Hill) is still a lot of fun: http://www.tongaroom.com/.

We have a drink there once or twice a year, usually after dinner at the Big 4: http://www.big4restaurant.com/.

As locals, we love those old school places on Nob Hill, as touristy as they may be, including Top of the Mark: http://www.intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com/top-of-the-mark.aspx.

For breakfast near Union Square, Sears Fine Food is THE place: http://www.searsfinefood.com/.

For lunch, I recommend the Rotunda at Neiman-Marcus: http://www.neimanmarcus.com/restaurants/san%20francisco/ca/the%20rotunda/san%20francisco.

We'll be in SF from 8/31 to 9/3, and have reservations at two very different hotels in two very different areas: standard rooms at the Holiday Inn Express Fisherman's Wharf and executive floor rooms at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District on the edge of Chinatown.

The Wharf is likely to be VERY crowded during your stay: week before school starts, end of summer vacation, beginning of Labor Day weekend. Crowds would be a turnoff for me.

Staying in the Financial District would put you in walking distance to numerous dining and shopping venues in China Town and Union Square, but farther away from the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Sausalito, if those are your primary places of interest.

Me? I would probably stay downtown to get away from the tourists.

The Wharf is likely to be VERY crowded during your stay: week before school starts, end of summer vacation, beginning of Labor Day weekend. Crowds would be a turnoff for me.

 

Staying in the Financial District would put you in walking distance to numerous dining and shopping venues in China Town and Union Square, but farther away from the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Sausalito, if those are your primary places of interest.

 

Me? I would probably stay downtown to get away from the tourists.

SF Unified School District starts August 15th. Can't Wait :rolleyes:;)

OP got the hotel settled (Sir Francis Drake) and then asked about restaurants.

I like McCormick's, but I'd never recommend it over Tadich Grill (oldest restaurant in CA dating back to the Gold Rush days), Water Bar, Sam's Grill, Farallon or Sotto Mare (Italian seafood).

Here is the SF Forum on TripAdvisor. Lots of good info on restaurants.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g60713-i30-San_Francisco_California.html

For the FW Holiday Inn Express vs the Financial District Hilton (which ironically used to the Holiday Inn) I'd choose the Hilton. It is a better hotel in a better location.

OP got the hotel settled (Sir Francis Drake) and then asked about restaurants.

 

I like McCormick's, but I'd never recommend it over Tadich Grill (oldest restaurant in CA dating back to the Gold Rush days), Water Bar, Sam's Grill, Farallon or Sotto Mare (Italian seafood).

 

Here is the SF Forum on TripAdvisor. Lots of good info on restaurants.

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g60713-i30-San_Francisco_California.html

 

For the FW Holiday Inn Express vs the Financial District Hilton (which ironically used to the Holiday Inn) I'd choose the Hilton. It is a better hotel in a better location.

I can always cancel my hotel and book another if they have an opening and the price is comparable. An important factor is being close to a hotel that is in a relatively safe area and close to the trolley stop in Union Square.

I can always cancel my hotel and book another if they have an opening and the price is comparable. An important factor is being close to a hotel that is in a relatively safe area and close to the trolley stop in Union Square.

Careful when asking a local about a "trolley".;) Here it means a bus powered by electricity via overhead lines. :p

If you're meaning "cable cars" you need to say "cable cars":cool: Otherwise you'll end up at a bus stop. :eek: