$$
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
A historic Union Square landmark featuring 32-story glass tower elevators and comfortable Westin beds.
Strong · Deep coverage · read from 20 sources · 98 traveler insights
78
RoomExpert Score
Strong
The verdict
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Set directly on Union Square, this massive landmark property pairs historic character with a 32-story modern tower. Guests enjoy sweeping city vistas from the exterior glass elevators and restful nights on comfortable Westin beds. However, poor soundproofing and drafty windows let in street noise, while expensive breakfast options and extra fees draw complaints. 417113
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 32-story glass tower elevators provide drop-dead vistas and exceptional views over Union Square. 171812
- Guests consistently praise the comfortable Westin beds accompanied by bedside lavender oil bottles. 214
- The location puts visitors directly on Union Square for luxury apparel shopping and within walking distance of Chinatown. 1138
- The lobby Clock Bar is widely liked for its movie-inspired drinks and tuna poke. 12
The catch
- Guests disagree on accommodations, with some favoring the high ceilings of the historic Landmark building and others preferring the spacious modern rooms in the tower. 10167
- Bathrooms get mixed marks, described by some as chic with two-headed showerheads, while others complain they are extremely small and uninspired. 1519
- Service reports are split between helpful concierges who give standout dining recommendations and front desk agents who merely go through the motions. 158
Who it's for
- — Union Square shoppers
- — Guests wanting high-floor skyline views
- — Fans of historic architecture
Skip it if
- — Light sleepers sensitive to street noise
- — Travelers watching food and incidental costs
Seen on camera
7 moments · 2 videos · The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on 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.
“cons none really although they're renovating the breakfast restaurant which is one of my fav spot you dine in a conferen…”
youtube.com1:09“I do not often write reviews anymore but I felt the customer service was incredible enough that I was compelled to let r…”
youtube.com1:34“and the coolest part is we went to the new tower which was built in the 70s and the elevator had these panoramic views o…”
youtube.com1:39“it has a pretty good location it's pretty close to Union Square 100 m one Carney Club 400 m h Plaza 400 m and also close…”
youtube.com0:37“Pros I keep asking for the Landmark Tower the Elegance of the high ceilings and windows cannot be matched in my opinion”
youtube.com1:02“we have two beds here look at how beautiful they are”
youtube.com2:53“all employees were so kind in particular Jeff and David at the concierge desk they gave us the most amazing dinner recom…”
youtube.com1:56Frames 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
With points
Bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points. We have not priced this property yet.
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Score breakdown
How the 78/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
87read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Food
86read from 7 sources · Solid coverage
- “I'm more of a hot food person, and fortunately the Oak Room offered one of the most technically perfect eggs Benedict and hashbrowns I've ever had.” 19
- “The lobby also holds The Clock Bar, which is the modern hotel bar that has all sorts of fun, movie-inspired drinks. We got a late drink here one night (I recommend the "Dirty Harry") and the tuna poke appetizer, both were excellent, and the bar had a relaxed atmosphere, even during the busy Christmas rush.” 12
Location
95read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “Besides experiencing the in-room luxury, The Westin St. Francis really does have an excellent location as well. It is a mere 2 streets away from Union Square and Chinatown and within walking distance to the many shopping options along Market Street.” 1
- “San Francisco's downtown can be...not the best at night, but the Westin St. Francis San Francisco has probably one of the best locations for tourists. Located smack dab in the middle of Union Square, the hotel is steps away from fantastic shopping, food, entertainment and most importantly a McDonalds.” 8
Noise
83read from 4 sources · Solid coverage
- “We stayed in the Deluxe King City View room in the new tower. It was on the 22nd floor, and one the best things about this hotel was the elevator, which is glass and looks out over the city as you go up.” 12
- “This hotel is one of those hotels where the elevator starts off indoors and then goes outside as it climbs (the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles is another that comes to mind with a similar setup). That provided the kids some extra entertainment on the elevator ride (and made it fun for other guests to see them react in the elevator).” 15
Room
83read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “For a bird's-eye view of Union Square, aim for the front desk (in the new building), find the glass-walled tower elevators in the corner and soar 32 stories for drop-dead vistas.” 17
- “Off to one end were several meeting and dining rooms, but in the other direction we found our guest room. It was clearly a historic property, but I thought it was a decent remodel and surprisingly generous. The chairs and bed were comfortable.” 19
Service
81read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “all employees were so kind in particular Jeff and David at the concierge desk they gave us the most amazing dinner recommendations and answered all questions we had” 161:56
- “I do not often write reviews anymore but I felt the customer service was incredible enough that I was compelled to let readers know the stay here was made even better by the concierge Jeff aino” 161:34
Bed & Sleep
86read from 1 source · Deep coverage
Value
77read from 1 source · Deep coverage
- “We paid around $200 a night for this hotel, which I will say is an absolute steal (perhaps due to the negative connotations of living in downtown SF).” 8
- “The broad menu includes some of Mina's greatest hits, including lobster corn dogs, black truffle popcorn, and lobster pot pie (market price). As far as the steak, notable options are a 32-ounce Porterhouse, an 18-ounce bone-in rib-eye, and a 6-ounce American Wagyu filet. It's the highlight of the hotel's dining options.” 13
Where it is, how to reach it
335 Powell Street
San Francisco, California
94102-1804 USA
Details checked 2026-09-09
Where it sits
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square and the 25 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.
Trails its peers
Falls short of what $$ usually buys
Scores 9 points below the mid-range median of 87, across 529 hotels in the same bracket. In San Francisco it sits 6 points below the local median of 84.
Price bracket
$$
Mid-range
- This hotel
- 78
- Bracket median
- 87
- Index median
- 88
Based on 529 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.
Ask for
- 2 mentions
- 2 mentions
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
Avoid
- 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.
Noise
83
Value
74
Room
72
Bathroom
62
Food
60
Service
59
Location
12
Bed & Sleep
4
View the 80 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
Service16 mentions · 2 filmed
- “The service stuck the right balance between helpful and annoying, and was overall quite well done.” 8
- “The Westin St. Francis is a hotel in San Francisco found in a great location but is in need of a refresh and better service (aside from the concierge desk).” 15
- “I do not often write reviews anymore but I felt the customer service was incredible enough that I was compelled to let readers know the stay here was made even better by the concierge Jeff aino” On camera161:34
- “Outside of our interactions with the one concierge that were simply exquisite, service at this hotel was severely lacking. The front desk at check in was merely going through the motions.” 15
- “While you're only supposed to be given two cable car tickets, the concierge ended up sneaking us a few extra (eight in total) so our family could have a round trip. Each cable car ticket is good for one passenger going in one direction. It was an extremely generous offer for him to give us extra tickets.” 15
- “Outside of our interactions with the one concierge that were simply exquisite, service at this hotel was severely lacking.” 15
- “Check in was thorough, with the agent mentioning quite a bit about the hotel, though it felt as though he was merely reading off a script.” 15
- “Check in was located to the side - while there were up to 10 desks for check-in, when I arrived there were only 2 staff members. They processed my check in quickly, and noted that while I had been upgraded to a 1 bedroom suite (specifically the Parkview suite), it wasn't ready to due Titanium Members using late checkout (looking at myself).” 8
- “Comfortable Westin beds throughout, though service is solid business-class rather than five-star.” 14
- “The business center is small but well equipped; friendly staffer on hand to help out.” 13
- “Check-in was efficient and the receptionist took the time to list the hotel's various options.” 4
- “Today, guests to this distinctive 1,195-room property still enjoy top-notch service with some thoroughly modern touches: The 1904 landmark building recently underwent a $45 million renovation by Dallas-based interior design firm Forest Perkins, inspired by San Francisco's moniker as "The Paris of the West."” 7
- “Unfortunately, I had to be at a dinner by 6, and by 5:30PM the hotel still didn't have it's rooms ready. And so, the enterprising front desk associate went back, presumably to discuss with his manager, and came up with a creative yet simple solution...” 8
- “Wired Internet connection. Spring for the high-speed -- both are charged and, for a bit more, at least service won't be spotty.” 13
- “The elite recognition and treatment by the staff was wonderful, much more so than perhaps even a 5 star hotel people have stayed in.” 8
- “all employees were so kind in particular Jeff and David at the concierge desk they gave us the most amazing dinner recommendations and answered all questions we had” On camera161:56
Bed & Sleep4 mentions
- “I know I can count on a good night's rest on these Westin beds and I love the tiny lavender oil bottles on the bedside. I just dab a little on my wrists to help drift off into dreamland.” 2
- “The centerpiece of both rooms was a king bed, featuring Westin's famous Heavenly Bed. I do think this one was better than the one at the Westin Harbor Castle.” 8
- “The Westin Heavenly Bed and bedding is alway great and the bed was comfortable.” 18
- “If you're familiar with Westin's sleep programme, you'll be able to find the same service found at Westin St Francis. As expected, we had an amazing night's rest and woke up rejuvenated to enjoy the rest of San Francisco.” 1
Noise4 mentions
- “As in other historic hotels built a long time ago, The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square has poor soundproofing and plumbing.” 4
- “We stayed in the Deluxe King City View room in the new tower. It was on the 22nd floor, and one the best things about this hotel was the elevator, which is glass and looks out over the city as you go up.” 12
- “While I was there, the workers were on strike outside. They have been striking for months and are rather loud and disruptive.” 18
- “This hotel is one of those hotels where the elevator starts off indoors and then goes outside as it climbs (the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles is another that comes to mind with a similar setup). That provided the kids some extra entertainment on the elevator ride (and made it fun for other guests to see them react in the elevator).” 15
Food11 mentions · 1 filmed
- “cons none really although they're renovating the breakfast restaurant which is one of my fav spot you dine in a conference room instead” On camera161:09
- “On the topic of coffee, the coffee provided was a generic hotel coffee, and wasn't anything special, but still appreciated.” 8
- “The food was about in line with what you might expect at an airport lounge. Staff members mentioned the baked goods were made in house, but weren't too memorable. The eggs here definitely of the powdered variety.” 15
- “The lobby also holds The Clock Bar, which is the modern hotel bar that has all sorts of fun, movie-inspired drinks. We got a late drink here one night (I recommend the "Dirty Harry") and the tuna poke appetizer, both were excellent, and the bar had a relaxed atmosphere, even during the busy Christmas rush.” 12
- “But the food isn't cheap. I think the least expensive item on the menu was a bowl of cereal for about $12. The buffet was over $30.” 19
- “I'm more of a hot food person, and fortunately the Oak Room offered one of the most technically perfect eggs Benedict and hashbrowns I've ever had.” 19
- “Cafe Rito is the quick service restaurant here at the hotel. Quite honestly, this might be the first time I feel the quick service restaurant at a hotel is significantly better than the sit-down dining experience at the same hotel.” 15
- “Dana and I had a lovely buffet breakfast here. Open to Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Marriott Bonvoy members (plus one guest), the Club Lounge offers complimentary breakfast, house-made pastries, hors d'oeuvres, desserts and non-alcoholic drinks.” 2
- “The hotel didn't have a lounge for guests, yet it made up for this by having a great breakfast selection.” 8
- “The concierge recommended the Daily Grill, a restaurant and bar with Prohibition-era charm, across the street, and lunch proved both tasty and reasonable.” 13
- “A few years ago, I stayed here with my mom and daughter and we enjoyed the proximity to shops, restaurants and area attractions.” 2
Room19 mentions
- “I think the designers of the room tried to split the room to make it into more of a junior suite, but unfortunately this just ended up with an overall weird design.” 8
- “Off to one end were several meeting and dining rooms, but in the other direction we found our guest room. It was clearly a historic property, but I thought it was a decent remodel and surprisingly generous. The chairs and bed were comfortable.” 19
- “And while there were a few chairs in the room, they were not facing the TV (and away from the window, which is a shame because the views are beautiful!).” 8
- “For a bird's-eye view of Union Square, aim for the front desk (in the new building), find the glass-walled tower elevators in the corner and soar 32 stories for drop-dead vistas.” 17
- “For an over 100 year old hotel, the décor was surprisingly tasteful: it combined elements of modernity with the 90's furniture vibe. This meant that the The Westin St. Francis San Francisco brought over some personality, unlike the Westin Wall Centre Airport.” 8
- “Our room was spacious with a large king bed, a desk, two chairs, and a small table. It also had a great view of the city since we were at a high vantage point.” 12
- “The beds weren't particularly comfortable. There is a desk but unfortunately it does not recognize optical mouse movement well.” 15
- “The front desk raved about the Oak Room restaurant and mentioned we should use our daily credits here. The entrance to the Oak Room was immediately next to the elevator. In terms of ambience, I'd have to say it was in the style of underutilized conference room? I have to say that the experience was a bit underwhelming.” 15
- “That being said, the chair was a bit weird, and didn't really have any back support. There was also a TV in the room, which I didn't use - it was a bit far from the bed, which made me question what was it's purpose.” 8
- “Right off the bat, there's a chandelier in the room! That really raised the luxury factor at Westin St. Francis.” 1
- “The Bridgeview, Pacific, Bayview, Golden Gate and Union Square Suites are named for their impressive views, while the 1,900-square-foot Windsor Suite commemorates the time when Queen Elizabeth stayed there in 1983.” 2
- “There was also a chic bathroom, abet one without a bathtub. This room contained a pretty useful desk that I used to brush up my resume (and on what exactly was going on in the tech world). That being said, the chair was a bit weird, and didn't really have any back support.” 8
- “There was also a chic bathroom, abet one without a bathtub. This room contained a pretty useful desk that I used to brush up my resume (and on what exactly was going on in the tech world).” 8
- “As we drew the curtains, we were also surprised by the view from our room...view of Union Square San Francisco right from our room!” 1
- “The room itself felt in need of refurbishment. Everything felt a bit dated, as though the hotel was living off its accomplishments from the 80s or 90s.” 15
- “It was a great room and overall a great stay. But that first interaction was a warning. None of the employees I interacted with seemed enthusiastic about their jobs.” 19
- “It was on the 22nd floor, and one the best things about this hotel was the elevator, which is glass and looks out over the city as you go up. Our room was spacious with a large king bed, a desk, two chairs, and a small table.” 12
- “I was hopeful for this hotel when booking it but found the hotel was in need of a remodel, especially since it was a struggle to get a good night's sleep given the window that didn't fully close.” 15
- “But note that the window doesn't close all the way, making it very noisy when it's windy. We discovered this the hard way when the room became quite loud around 3am one morning, creating some unpleasant sleep issues.” 15
Location9 mentions · 1 filmed
- “Besides experiencing the in-room luxury, The Westin St. Francis really does have an excellent location as well. It is a mere 2 streets away from Union Square and Chinatown and within walking distance to the many shopping options along Market Street.” 1
- “I'm sure I'll return to the St. Francis at some point. It has a great location and is in generally good condition considering its historic status.” 19
- “San Francisco's downtown can be...not the best at night, but the Westin St. Francis San Francisco has probably one of the best locations for tourists. Located smack dab in the middle of Union Square, the hotel is steps away from fantastic shopping, food, entertainment and most importantly a McDonalds.” 8
- “Safe neighborhood (though, as in all of San Francisco, vagrancy and panhandling are common)” 13
- “Ideally located in downtown San Francisco's Union Square” 10
- “I got a chance to spend two days there while exploring the city and looking for Christmas activities, and I loved the great location and the fact that so many of San Francisco's most popular attractions were located nearby.” 12
- “it has a pretty good location it's pretty close to Union Square 100 m one Carney Club 400 m h Plaza 400 m and also close to attractions like L's Fountain 450 M 53rd Street sculpture Corridor 500 M public parket 500 M” On camera160:37
- “"You can't beat the location" of this Union Square "landmark", an "elegant" 1,000-plus room property that mixes "old-fashioned charm with modern amenities."” 14
- “The cable car stop is located immediately outside hotel and has much shorter lines than the start of the line (one stop away). Don't bother going to the true start of the line. You don't gain anything extra by going there unless you're looking to just waste your time. Start it right outside the Westin St. Francis and you'll have a happier time.” 15
Bathroom9 mentions
- “The toilet was less standard, reminiscent of what you'd find in public places.” 4
- “The desk was spacious and had a view of the square. However, the bathroom was extremely small. It was competing with the Grand Hyatt New York for the "smallest hotel bathroom" award.” 19
- “The bathroom felt a bit uninspired, with a very industrial-looking toilet mixed in with what appeared to be the same tiles used for the floor and shower walls.” 15
- “The room opens with the spacious bathroom on the left. It contained a vanity with a single sink, toilet, and a shower/tub combo (I am not a fan of these).” 18
- “Two-headed showerheads with good water pressure” 13
- “I do think this one was better than the one at the Westin Harbor Castle. There was also a chic bathroom, abet one without a bathtub.” 8
- “As with all hotels within the Westin brand, you'll enjoy in-room coffee, cable channels and luxury bath amenities in Westin St. Francis. Always enjoy an in-room bath tub...” 1
- “The bathroom was also nice with a granite shower/bath and ample counter space near the sink.” 12
- “The shower/tub combo was fine with adequate water temperature. The water pressure was a bit weak.” 18
View3 mentions
- “Finally, despite being a city hotel in the middle of a major metropolis, the Westin had fantastic view overlooking Union Square...as it's called the Westin St. Francis San Francisco ON Union Square.” 8
- “The view from the room was fine. There wasn't much of a skyline from the direction we were facing.” 15
- “Amazing panoramic views from the glass elevators” 13
Value5 mentions
- “Rooms in the old building match the character of the building itself: crystal chandeliers, marble countertops, dark-wood furniture, and so on. Classy, to be sure, but small -- 200 square feet or so -- especially for a hotel in this price range.” 13
- “The upside: Everything is first-rate. The downside: extra fees on most everything.- The two-story fitness center sports a dozen or so Life Fitness cardio machines, some nice strength-training machines, and free weights, all in a spacious setting with amenities like newspapers and flat-screen TVs.” 13
- “We paid around $200 a night for this hotel, which I will say is an absolute steal (perhaps due to the negative connotations of living in downtown SF).” 8
- “So, I find something good in most gyms and I find a lot of good even in the small hotel gyms. We're in a massive freaking Western Hotel in San Francisco. Expensive hotel. It's like nearly a thousand a night. Not cheap.” 3
- “The broad menu includes some of Mina's greatest hits, including lobster corn dogs, black truffle popcorn, and lobster pot pie (market price). As far as the steak, notable options are a 32-ounce Porterhouse, an 18-ounce bone-in rib-eye, and a 6-ounce American Wagyu filet. It's the highlight of the hotel's dining options.” 13
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.
- 10 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on 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 · 60/100We read 20 sources for this property, and pulled 98 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-09.
0
Editorial
17
Blogs & sites
3
Video reviews
0
Podcast segments
Breadth
50
Depth
51
Freshness
98
Watch this hotel
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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 20 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 2Westin St. Francis San Francisco Hotel Reviewshebuystravel.comReview site2025-11-06Recent4 quotes used
“I know I can count on a good night's rest on these Westin beds and I love the tiny lavender oil bottles on the bedside. I just dab a little on my wrists to help drift off into dreamland.”
Read originalshebuystravel.com - 10The Westin St. Francis San Francisco: An Honest Reviewcaliforniafamilytravel.comReview site2025-10-02Recent2 quotes used
“Ideally located in downtown San Francisco's Union Square”
Read originalcaliforniafamilytravel.com - 18Hotel Review: Westin St. Francis San Francisco On Union ...thebulkheadseat.comReview site2024-12-28Ageing6 quotes used
“The hallways were also well maintained.”
Read originalthebulkheadseat.com - 13The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Squareoyster.comReview site2024-08-12Ageing16 quotes used
“Rooms in the tower are spacious and modern.”
Read originaloyster.com - 15Great Location But Not Much Else: Westin St. Francisfoodwadatravel.comReview site2024-01-05Ageing19 quotes used
“The Westin St. Francis is a hotel in San Francisco found in a great location but is in need of a refresh and better service (aside from the concierge desk).”
Read originalfoodwadatravel.com - 4The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Squaremilesopedia.comReview site2023-06-26Ageing4 quotes used
“As in other historic hotels built a long time ago, The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square has poor soundproofing and plumbing.”
Read originalmilesopedia.com
Showing 6 of 20 cited · 20 read
1/4
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