Holiday Inn Express & Suites San Francisco Fishermans Wharf by IHG
A functional Fisherman's Wharf hotel steps from the waterfront with newly refreshed rooms and strong security.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
This hotel serves as a reliable base situated a five-minute walk from Fisherman's Wharf. Rooms feature updated furnishings like bold abstract-stripe carpet alongside helpful amenities like a 24-hour coffee station. However, guests frequently complain about low shower heads with weak water pressure and uninspiring views facing inner courtyards. 412
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- The property offers an exceptionally convenient location just a five-minute walk to Fisherman's Wharf and close to the Alcatraz ticket booth and Big Bus tour. 7
- Staff provide attentive and responsive service, checking in with guests via text message throughout their stay. 3
- Bathrooms feature clean, simple layouts with light slate gray walls and granite sink countertops with good sink water pressure. 45
- Hotel security is handled well, requiring a key card to access elevators, restrooms, and ice machines. 4
The catch
- While breakfast ordered off the menu is solid, some find the standard buffet mediocre and the dinner restaurant overpriced. 12
- Inner courtyard-facing rooms stay quiet and peaceful, but street-facing rooms on the odd-numbered side endure loud road noise late into the night. 12
- Shower heads adjust easily and fulfill low-flow requirements for some, while others report weak water pressure and awkward positioning for tall guests. 5123
Who it's for
- — Tourists exploring Fisherman's Wharf on foot
- — Visitors wanting convenient tour bus access
- — Guests seeking responsive text-based service
Skip it if
- — Tall travelers sensitive to low shower heads
- — Guests seeking scenic bay or city views
- — Light sleepers assigned to street-facing rooms
Seen on camera
18 moments · 3 videos · Holiday Inn Express & Suites San Francisco Fishermans Wharf by IHG
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“it has a pretty good location it's pretty close to Joseph Conrad umini Park 100 m Joseph Conrad Square 150 M South End R…”
youtube.com0:37“had a wonderful stay at hotel Kaza I would definitely stay there again the rooms are clean and new great location for Fi…”
youtube.com1:03“underground parking is safe lots of security the staff are so nice too”
youtube.com1:13“great rooms nice people enjoyed chatting with Al at the bar for a few evenings great service Al really knows how to make…”
youtube.com1:25“rooms were comfy and the shower was as good as California lowf flow requirements allow for”
youtube.com1:35“staff was friendly and willing to accommodate however needed also checked in on us via text message multiple times throu…”
youtube.com1:50“As we make our way in here, we have a nice little breakfast area. with 24-hour coffee and the breakfast.”
youtube.com0:46“And we'll get our cab view. These are very tall cabs actually and they're really nice. It's sort of got Holiday in color…”
youtube.com3:10“we felt safe when we checked in the gentleman checking Us in was super helpful”
youtube.com1:28“the gentleman checking Us in was super helpful breakfast was good if I'm ever in the SF area again I will stay here”
youtube.com1:30“The sink actually gets pretty good water pressure.”
youtube.com10:02“here are our overall ratings for this hotel H location 7 out of 10 cleanliness 7 out of 10 service 7 out of 10 value for…”
youtube.com2:27“Anyway, so you have a nice big studio suite in here.”
youtube.com7:37“And it's the shower. This shower head is actually very low, so it's hard for a tall person to shower, but it's even you…”
youtube.com10:13“this hotel is perfectly located 5minute walk to Fisherman's Warf and 7 minutes to the alcatra ticket booth it was also l…”
youtube.com1:09“I could not have chosen better than this hotel check-in was a breeze and my room was large clean and quiet”
youtube.com1:54“Oh, and I also forgot this red switch right here controls this light above the headboard which gives the room a nice glo…”
youtube.com8:29“the rooms are clean and new great location for Fisherman's Warf then take cable cars to other parts of the city”
youtube.com1:07Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
How to book
Score breakdown
How the 82/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
88Location
94Room
80Service
84Bed & Sleep
84Nothing quotable yet on this one — the score leans on the rest of the coverage.
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-09-04
Where it sits
Holiday Inn Express & Suites San Francisco Fishermans Wharf by IHG and the 18 other hotels we cover in San Francisco. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Falls short of what $$ usually buys
Scores 6 points below the mid-range median of 88, across 402 hotels in the same bracket. In San Francisco it sits 2 points below the local median of 84.
- This hotel
- 82
- Bracket median
- 88
- Index median
- 88
Based on 402 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
Nothing is yet praised often enough to recommend.
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 61 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “it has a pretty good location it's pretty close to Joseph Conrad umini Park 100 m Joseph Conrad Square 150 M South End Rowing Club s 1873 300 M and also close to attractions like Ripley's Believe It or Not museum 300 M” On camera30:37
- “Actually, I really like that Hilton--Financial District...We've stayed there many times...It sits right on the edge of Chinatown, so it is walkable to a lot of things--including lots of restaurants. It's a very short walk up Columbus to all of the great restaurants in North Beach. And the hotel itself is very nice...and it is in a very good neighborhood as well.” 9
- “had a wonderful stay at hotel Kaza I would definitely stay there again the rooms are clean and new great location for Fisherman's Warf” On camera31:03
- “Location and surrounding area is definitely better than the Kissel at Oakland.” 12
- “Really, the only reason to stay here is if the location is where you want/need to be. In both cases, we were going to shows at Bimbo's 365, and this is a 5 minute walk.” 12
- “The King Arthur was a nice hotel but it was a checkerboard neighborhood when walking. We didn't feel unsafe.....but it wasn't one that we preferred.” 9
- “In SF we stayed at Campton Place just off Union Square which was a great location.” 11
- “When we visited SF we stayed at the Washington Square Inn, which is is half way between Fisherman's Wharf and downtown/Union Square. It was a nice enough area to stroll out in the evenings.” 11
- “But the Mystic would be my choice, not for safety, but because it is practically next door to the Grand Hyatt, and close to both Chinatown and Union Square.” 13
- “Quote: Originally Posted by zoneflyer (Post 36864637) Location and surrounding area is definitely better than the Kissel at Oakland. It's certainly safer (but don't leave anything in the car at either).” 12
- “San Remo Hotel has a room available and will save you some dough, if you don't mind the shared baths down the hall. Very nice location near the Wharf, check the reviews.” 13
- “Holiday Inn San Francisco - Golden Gateway 1500 Van Ness I just saw this hotel the other day and thought it is a perfect location for tourists.” 16
- “Conveniently located just a few blocks from the waterfront, this property offers easy access to Fisherman's Wharf attractions and nearby dining.” 1
- “Check out Hotel Zephyr near fisherman's wharf, we stayed there last October after a Pacific Coastal cruise and really liked the location and the hotel was great.” 9
- “this hotel is perfectly located 5minute walk to Fisherman's Warf and 7 minutes to the alcatra ticket booth it was also less than 5 minutes to the Big Bus tour's first stop” On camera71:09
- “the rooms are clean and new great location for Fisherman's Warf then take cable cars to other parts of the city” On camera31:07
- “"Wonderful place to stay..close to everything but nice and quiet too!"” 17
- “Haven't stayed here in years, but it's very convenient, has covered parking and the rates still seem reasonable. https://columbusmotorinn.com/” 16
- “I stayed in Hotel Zetta and had really good rates and felt like it was a pretty nice spot” 16
- “On the plus side, no issues with all charges (parking, breakfast plus tip, resort fee) being properly waived with no discussion at all.” 12
- “I can't recommend the restaurant at dinner. Minimal options and overpriced food, which is to be expected given that it's smack in the middle of a touristy area.” 12
- “If either of your parents were in the military (either retired, active or reservists) you can stay at a wonder hotel called Marine Memorial Hotel in Union Square. We've stayed there and it is very lovely, safe, good rates and in a nice area.” 13
- “here are our overall ratings for this hotel H location 7 out of 10 cleanliness 7 out of 10 service 7 out of 10 value for money 10 out of 10” On camera32:27
- “In all other cases then YES. It's essentially an extra fee to hide the true nightly cost when choosing a hotel based on price, and many Hyatt's in the USA are now doing this deceitful three card monte trick.” 12
- “enjoyed chatting with Al at the bar for a few evenings great service Al really knows how to make a traveler feel at home Here's to You Al” 3
- “Housekeeping was a highlight, though. They came by every day by default, and were very thorough.” 12
- “Front desk staff generally seemed bored and disinterested with the exception of the day I checked out, when I encountered someone who seemed genuinely friendly and interested in how my stay was.” 12
- “staff was friendly and willing to accommodate however needed also checked in on us via text message multiple times through our trip also very responsive via text” On camera31:50
- “great rooms nice people enjoyed chatting with Al at the bar for a few evenings great service Al really knows how to make a traveler feel at home” On camera31:25
- “we felt safe when we checked in the gentleman checking Us in was super helpful” On camera71:28
- “underground parking is safe lots of security the staff are so nice too” On camera31:13
- “There was a small but irritating maintenance issue that they kind of addressed after I brought it up, but the problem returned again two days later. I ended up just living with it.” 12
- “I could not have chosen better than this hotel check-in was a breeze and my room was large clean and quiet” On camera71:54
- “Valet was prompt and were able to fully charge my EV overnight.” 12
- “Breakfast off the menu is pretty solid, and the servers at breakfast are wonderful.” 12
- “I like the Argonaut Hotel. It's in a great location, free wine in the lobby every night, good restaurant for breakfast, fun atmosphere, beautiful rooms, comfy beds...and if you are on the beginning or end of a cruise from San Francisco, the cruise pier is a very short taxi ride away.” 9
- “As we make our way in here, we have a nice little breakfast area. with 24-hour coffee and the breakfast.” On camera50:46
- “Breakfast was decent, we did a-la-carte the total bill was $90 after tax and tips.” 12
- “the gentleman checking Us in was super helpful breakfast was good if I'm ever in the SF area again I will stay here” On camera71:30
- “The highlight really is the breakfast (not the buffet, which is mediocre, but some very nice items on the a la carte menu).” 12
- “Hotels seriously need to stop it with the whole rain shower thing. Zero water pressure and an overall lousy way to shower.” 12
- “rooms were comfy and the shower was as good as California lowf flow requirements allow for” On camera31:35
- “The sink actually gets pretty good water pressure.” On camera510:02
- “And it's the shower. This shower head is actually very low, so it's hard for a tall person to shower, but it's even you can even adjust it to go shorter.” On camera510:13
- “Bathrooms are simple, with light slate gray walls and granite sink countertops.” 4
- “Had a 2 night biz stay recently and the renovations look good, both in-room and in the hallways.” 12
- “myperks May 25, 2026 10:11 pm Quote: Originally Posted by aimango (Post 37768843) Had a 2 night biz stay recently and the renovations look good, both in-room and in the hallways. It's refreshing to stay in this area, it's touristy but feels safer than fidi/soma in some ways.” 12
- “Hotel was quite full so no suite was available, got upgraded to a King Deluxe room next to the exec suite on the 5fh floor but not the same room as the picture and feels smaller.” 12
- “Yesterday we did not as suites were booked up. But got a nice enough room.” 12
- “Anyway, so you have a nice big studio suite in here.” On camera57:37
- “Its new furnishings give the chain hotel some unexpected flair, thanks to sleek details like granite tiled floors and a mahogany paneled check-in desk are spruced up by bold, abstract-stripe carpet, a few royal blue and orange armchairs, and solid tree-stump side tables.” 4
- “Oh, and I also forgot this red switch right here controls this light above the headboard which gives the room a nice glow.” On camera58:29
- “I could not have chosen better than this hotel check-in was a breeze and my room was large clean and quiet” On camera71:54
- “Would also recommend quieter end of FW, near ghiradelli square (free choc samples!)” 11
- “My room type was already facing the inside, so it was quiet and peaceful during the evenings.” 12
- “The room I was given was 90% fine. I had asked for a quiet room and they did put me in one facing the inner courtyard/pool area as opposed to the street, which fit the bill for quiet.” 12
- “The elevator setup is strange. Only one elevator is available at the level of the check-in desk itself. The main elevator bank with four elevators is half a story down some stairs or an escalator.” 12
- “Checked in here and the road noise from the odd side of the building 70-80 series (75, 77, 79, 81, etc) is no joke. Been awake from 1-5 am because there is constant racing + gas fumes from trucks even on floor 4. Zero noise insulation from the window, it's terrible noise coming off of North Point St.” 12
- “"Wonderful place to stay..close to everything but nice and quiet too!"” 17
- “IMO the Hampton Inn is in a area that becomes a bit sketchy at night. It's between 6th and 5th Streets on Mission; that part of 6th street would be called "skid row" in other parts of the country.” 9
- “The mid-range, 252-room Holiday Inn Express Hotels & Suites San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf stands out for its prime location, on a surprisingly quiet street bordering the major tourist attraction of Fisherman's Wharf.” 4
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about view.
- 15 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Holiday Inn Express & Suites San Francisco Fishermans Wharf by IHG
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 19/100We read 0 sources for this property, covering 0 traveler mentions, boiled down to 0 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-04.
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Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
7 of 7 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 19 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 16Best place to stay : r/SanFranciscoSecretsreddit.comForum thread2025-07-01Recent9 quotes used
“Haven't stayed here in years, but it's very convenient, has covered parking and the rates still seem reasonable. https://columbusmotorinn.com/”
Read originalreddit.com - 4Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites San Francisco ...oyster.comReview site2024-08-12Ageing5 quotes used
“The hotel takes security seriously, requiring a key card for access to elevators, restrooms, and even ice and snack machines on any floor above the ground level.”
Read originaloyster.com - 15Nob Hill or Fisherman's Wharf - 3 night stay : r/AskSFreddit.comForum thread2024-04-16Ageing3 quotes used
“My impression of the zephyr is that it's geared more towards families with kids... the building looks like it could use some updating. It's also in a part of fisherman's wharf that's all surface parking lots and feels a…”
Read originalreddit.com - 9San Francisco Hotel - Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf?boards.cruisecritic.comReview site2001-07-13Ageing9 quotes used
“Actually, I really like that Hilton--Financial District...We've stayed there many times...It sits right on the edge of Chinatown, so it is walkable to a lot of things--including lots of restaurants. It's a very short wal…”
Read originalboards.cruisecritic.com - 1Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Fisherman's Wharf - AAAaaa.comReview siteDate not stated2 quotes used
“Good-size guest rooms are well-appointed with modern amenities.”
Read originalaaa.com - 210 Best Hotels in Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco for 2026travel.usnews.comReview siteDate not stated1 quote used
“The historic Taj Campton Place has hosted travelers for more than 100 years, while the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco offers amenities galore and stunning views of the city or the bay.”
Read originaltravel.usnews.com
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