San Francisco Marriott Union Square
A 30-floor Union Square high-rise featuring sweeping downtown views and plush upgraded beds.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
The 30-floor San Francisco Marriott Union Square provides a central downtown base with comfortable beds, quality linens, and efficient front desk service. Rooms on higher floors offer impressive views across the city, though lower-level accommodations suffer from street noise. The most common complaints center on steep extra costs, notably mandatory daily destination fees and overpriced dining at the on-site restaurant. 5196
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
- Reviewers consistently praise the upgraded beds, which feature six pillows and down duvets for a restful sleep. 73
- Guests widely recommend booking higher levels to take in sweeping views of downtown skyscrapers and the city skyline. 987
- Front desk staff receive regular praise for providing friendly and efficient service, including accommodating late checkout requests. 6101
The catch
Who it's for
- — Travelers seeking high-floor city views
- — Guests prioritizing comfortable beds
- — Short business trips near Union Square
Skip it if
- — Budget travelers avoiding mandatory destination fees
- — Light sleepers staying on lower floors
- — Foodies seeking standout on-site dining
Seen on camera
6 moments · 1 video · San Francisco Marriott Union Square
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's a great downtown location only three blocks or about a 10-minute walk to Union Square about a 45-minute walk to Fis…”
youtube.com0:12“The staff was very nice here the hotel itself is good with the amenities it has its early 20th century architecture is w…”
youtube.com7:57“The beds were very comfortable our room was on the sixth floor and Fa the street so it was kind of loud at night”
youtube.com8:07“our room was on the sixth floor and Fa the street so it was kind of loud at night”
youtube.com8:10“The design of the sink is very poor if you use a bar of soap the water drips down the edge and gets the toilet paper all…”
youtube.com8:15“overall the price was good the stay was fine locations okay but the room was lacking Hooks and drawer space not s”
youtube.com9:10Frames 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
One night, standard room. Award prices move with demand and availability is not checked here.
Search Marriott on points →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
91Location
96- “Huge windows granted views of all San Francisco, from the downtown skyscrapers to the glittering Golden Gate Bridge.” 8
- “The Westin St Francis is basically right on top of Union Square on Powell Street. It's a short (but uphill) walk from the Powell St BART station, and there are a ton of shopping and food options nearby. Basically, it's as good as it gets for a nice hotel in Union Square” 10
Room
83- “The view we had overlooking downtown San Francisco was so captivating that we literally didn't even look at anything else in the room as we ran to the window to soak it all in.” 10
- “Like the St. Francis itself, the room impressed with sheer scale: Just inside the door, it had its own miniature lobby, with marble flooring and a chandelier overhead.” 8
Service
86- “Two restaurants are on site at the Marriott San Francisco Union Square. Customer service is very friendly, professional and efficient.” 1
- “On top of that, we found the staff to be quite friendly and accommodating, making this a hotel we would definitely return to on our next trip to San Francisco.” 10
Bed & Sleep
88Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-09-06
Where it sits
San Francisco Marriott Union Square and the 23 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 510 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 510 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.
- 2 mentions
- 2 mentions
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
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 74 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “The bathroom stands out with a window and a nice walk-in shower with good pressure.” 6
- “The Jr. Suite at the FS Union Square is one of my favorite rooms, in part because the bathroom is so separate and has natural light.” 3
- “And the rain shower is so soothing, it was hard to get out!” 8
- “The bathroom was rather small, with shower, sink and toilet.” 1
- “The bathroom is large with a separate sink area and it's own large window.” 3
- “The design of the sink is very poor if you use a bar of soap the water drips down the edge and gets the toilet paper all wet” On camera28:15
- “Located one block north of Union Square, this Marriott hotel provides sightseers a convenient home base for exploring San Francisco.” 9
- “it's a great downtown location only three blocks or about a 10-minute walk to Union Square about a 45-minute walk to Fisherman's Warf bus stops or just a few minutes away” On camera20:12
- “3. The location next to the BART stop makes it very easy to take BART to/from either SFO or OAK if you want to.” 3
- “The location next to the BART stop makes it very easy to take BART to/from either SFO or OAK if you want to.” 3
- “Huge windows granted views of all San Francisco, from the downtown skyscrapers to the glittering Golden Gate Bridge.” 8
- “The Ritz is dated and has a terrible location, imo.” 5
- “The location is better than the Marquis, which is at the bottom of the hill. The FS is a little farther up the hill, making for an easier walk no matter which direction you're headed.” 3
- “The Westin St Francis is basically right on top of Union Square on Powell Street. It's a short (but uphill) walk from the Powell St BART station, and there are a ton of shopping and food options nearby. Basically, it's as good as it gets for a nice hotel in Union Square” 10
- “I usually book at the Marriott sfo. Easy access to downtown via public transit and nice rooms.” 5
- “The Marriott San Francisco Union Square is perfect for San Francisco visitors and business travelers. It's close to major tourist attractions and a 15-minute walk from the Moscone Center for conventions.” 1
- “The JW used to be great - solid location at a reasonable price with good amenities.” 5
- “overall the price was good the stay was fine locations okay but the room was lacking Hooks and drawer space not s” On camera29:10
- “Guests looking for more personality might find the literary-themed Hotel Rex a more interesting choice in the price range, while the stylish decor at the Hotel Triton puts the cookie-cutter look of the Marriott to shame.” 7
- “I tried to get the complimentary mocktail at Bin480, but they didn't serve any mocktails and the waiter just tried to upsell me on a regular (paid) cocktail.” 6
- “The 30-floor property has everything - both good and bad - that you'd expect from an urban Marriott, including comfortable beds, up-to-date electronics, an average restaurant, and a fee for Wi-Fi.” 9
- “It can be a great deal, especially when it's compared to the two other Marriotts in Union Square, but unlike many mid-range hotels, there is a pesky fee for Wi-Fi.” 7
- “Unfortunately, as is the case with many hotels in the city, a "destination fee" of 25 USD per night is required, which is added to the cost of the room.” 1
- “At check in they sholve down your throat a mandatory $30/day destination charges, not mentioned during booking, then claims its great value by giving you 2 cable car tickets and a tote bag, for your entire stay.” 5
- “The $30 daily "dining credit" forces you to spend money in the overpriced restaurant, yet the restaurant doesn't even offer a buffet. One dish would easily cost over $30.” 5
- “There is now some very limited evening service with some very basic snacks, they had chips, dip, and pretzels.” 6
- “I recently stayed at the Jay in the Autograph Collection. It's where the old Le Meridien used to be. I found the updates to be very nice and the hotel, overall, became my favorite in the city.” 5
- “In addition to the tasty eats at the on-site restaurant, visitors are also quick to acknowledge the Marriott's friendly and helpful service staff.” 9
- “On top of that, we found the staff to be quite friendly and accommodating, making this a hotel we would definitely return to on our next trip to San Francisco.” 10
- “The staff was very nice here the hotel itself is good with the amenities it has its early 20th century architecture is well-maintained” On camera27:57
- “The service depends upon who happens to be on the front desk. Some staff members are knowledgeable, helpful, and anticipatory; others are less so.” 8
- “Service was good - friendly and efficient front desk staff. No issue with late checkout.” 6
- “Two restaurants are on site at the Marriott San Francisco Union Square. Customer service is very friendly, professional and efficient.” 1
- “At the st francis, I've always gotten one of the recently renovated rooms in the historic building and it is quite nice.” 5
- “The well-staffed front desk manages to keep check-in lines short, even during peak times (though the convenient, self-serve, airport-style check-in kiosks deserve some of the credit).” 7
- “I thought the color palette was very nice and appreciated the 1960s SF artwork.” 6
- “Once through the main entryway, we found a long check in queue at the front desk. Luckily, it moved fast and we didn't have to wait more than 10 minutes. We were even offered free chocolate by the hotel staff as we waited in line, which I thought was a really nice touch.” 10
- “Friendly attendant kept things well-stocked. Note the lounge itself is locked after breakfast time.” 6
- “At the st francis, I've always gotten one of the recently renovated rooms in the historic building and it is quite nice. I'd avoid the 70s tower.” 5
- “The sympathetic receptionist put on her best French to welcome me. She gave me a sheet with the destination charge inclusions.” 1
- “The upgraded M lounge at the Marquis is very nice. One of the better food selections for a Marriott in North America.” 3
- “Middling on-site restaurant; better options nearby” 7
- “I didn't get to try the weekend buffet, but I thought the lounge breakfast was pretty good. The only hot item was a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit, but it wasn't bad.” 6
- “Pastries were pretty good - nice cinnamon morning bun that was more like what you would get at a bakery (rather than a grocery store).” 6
- “Only bad thing there was food options for a vegetarian were limited and honestly not that tasty.” 5
- “1. The upgraded M lounge at the Marquis is very nice. One of the better food selections for a Marriott in North America. It's much larger/nicer than the one at Union Square.” 3
- “Marquis is a decent option typically (breakfast buffet is nice at lounge and gym is great), though if you're in town for work, The Clancy (good room, meh on food) and The Jay (smaller feel) are great options.” 5
- “While the in-house restaurant strives to serve higher-end cuisine -- such as clay pot salmon with ginger -- execution sometimes falls short of the kitchen's ambition.” 7
- “Mediocre on-site options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner” 7
- “Yes and if breakfast is important to you, the Palace is fantastic. Platinum+ gets the continental version of their massive buffet (which was plenty for me on its own) or a $10 up charge to the full buffet (which my teenager enjoyed immensely), all in an immaculate setting.” 5
- “I came here to ask about the property before and many of you have already warned me, but maybe it got even worse since then. There is no breakfast offer for elite members, and no executive lounge. I've yet experienced something like this at anything higher than a Marriott Hotel.” 5
- “I had no idea that a JW is allowed to not offer breakfast, or not have an executive lounge. I've been to quite a few JW around the world and this is the only one that doesn't have either and seem to be proud of being so.” 5
- “Weekend breakfast is in the restaurant and is continental buffet only (a $10 upcharge to the full buffet), making it somewhat worse than the breakfast offering in the club lounge, which had a few hot offerings.” 6
- “The hotel's bar and restaurant, bin480, serves Californian cuisine such as black cod with miso sauce and rapini, flatbread pizzas, and Thai chili wings for lunch and dinner. Execution of dishes is sometimes off, however. In my case, while the braised pork sliders on brioche buns were excellent, a fancy grilled ham, brie, and fig sandwich was almost too greasy to eat.” 7
- “Guests who book Club Level rooms get access to a 28th-floor lounge with terrific views, free breakfast, free snacks” 7
- “The beds were very comfortable our room was on the sixth floor and Fa the street so it was kind of loud at night” On camera28:07
- “Guests recommend booking a room on the higher levels for the views and lack of street noise, though some guests found them to be on the small side.” 9
- “All in all, the Westin St Francis was a great place to call home for two days. Although it's a very busy property located in the heart of the city, our upper-room floor was very quiet.” 10
- “The Marquis is on Market Street and thus much more convenient to BART, the Muni metro, Moscone Convention Center, Yerba Buena Center, and Westfield Mall.” 3
- “I may need to give the Marquis another try, given all the love shown here. same here - i've always found the Marquis loud and crowded with conferences.” 3
- “Riding the elevator in the Tower Building is utterly magical. The glass-walled elevators run up the building's exterior wall.” 8
- “our room was on the sixth floor and Fa the street so it was kind of loud at night” On camera28:10
- “I could say the same for the JW in Miami. I upgraded during a work trip because of my suite night awards and it was just so dated and worn out looking. I also left with a lovely case of folliculitis from the facilities. Never again.” 5
- “I always enjoy my room @ the palace. I don't have time to enjoy most of their amenities since I mainly go for work but my rooms are always nice and large.” 5
- “Like the St. Francis itself, the room impressed with sheer scale: Just inside the door, it had its own miniature lobby, with marble flooring and a chandelier overhead.” 8
- “The view we had overlooking downtown San Francisco was so captivating that we literally didn't even look at anything else in the room as we ran to the window to soak it all in.” 10
- “This hotel is a first ever for me where the suite doens't come equipped with extra bedding/linen in the room for the sofa beds. Upon request, it took close to 30 minutes before I got them.” 5
- “The Jr. Suite at the FS Union Square is one of my favorite rooms, in part because the bathroom is so separate and has natural light.” 3
- “Huge windows granted views of all San Francisco, from the downtown skyscrapers to the glittering Golden Gate Bridge. This room, like all the others on property, features the trademark Westin brand bed, which feels like a cloud.” 8
- “I could say the same for the JW in Miami. I upgraded during a work trip because of my suite night awards and it was just so dated and worn out looking.” 5
- “The Junior Suite really is just a big corner room but is very nice.” 6
- “Large corner windows, big desk, comfortable lounger couch that doubles as a sofa bed, great Marriott bed with nice covers and plush mattress.” 6
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 which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about view.
- 7 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about San Francisco Marriott Union Square
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 2026-09-06.
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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.
5 of 5 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 10 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 7San Francisco Marriott Union Square Reviewoyster.comReview site2024-08-10Ageing12 quotes used
“Great beds: six pillows; down duvet; quality sheets”
Read originaloyster.com - 5Possibly the worst premium hotel I've ever stayed : r/marriottreddit.comForum thread2024-04-23Ageing23 quotes used
“I usually book at the Marriott sfo. Easy access to downtown via public transit and nice rooms.”
Read originalreddit.com - 1Review: San Francisco Marriott Union Square - Milesopediamilesopedia.comReview site2023-06-27Ageing6 quotes used
“Two restaurants are on site at the Marriott San Francisco Union Square. Customer service is very friendly, professional and efficient.”
Read originalmilesopedia.com - 2Review of the Courtyard Marriott San Francisco Union Squareyoutube.comVideoDate not statedListened for quotes only6 quotes used
“it's a great downtown location only three blocks or about a 10-minute walk to Union Square about a 45-minute walk to Fisherman's Warf bus stops or just a few minutes away”
Read originalyoutube.com - 3SF Marriott Marquis vs SF Union Squareflyertalk.comForum threadDate not stated14 quotes used
“The upgraded M lounge at the Marquis is very nice. One of the better food selections for a Marriott in North America.”
Read originalflyertalk.com - 4SAN FRANCISCO Marriott Union Square 2025youtube.comVideoDate not statedListened for quotes onlyRead originalyoutube.com
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