Union Square, San Francisco, California, United States
Fantastic location just off Union Square, near attractions and transportation
Renovated in 2017, with light, attractive decor and contemporary touches
Tastefully decorated rooms with thoughtful amenities such as tablets
Pleasant “parlor” gathering areas on each floor, some with fireplace
Wine and cheese tasting, plus cookies in the evening
Turndown service includes bottled water and chocolates
Free continental breakfast with a spread of breads and cereals
Free Wi-Fi and overnight shoeshines
Valet parking for a fee
Rooms and common areas are on the small side
Rooms lack any views
No fitness center (typical for small-scale boutiques)
Small, outmoded business center
A superb Union Square location is the main draw of this upper-middle-range, European-style boutique hotel. Renovated top to bottom in 2017, this hotel has a polished look and lively contemporary artwork. Amenities such as a wine and cheese hour, cookies in the evening, and gathering areas on each floor (some with fireplaces) create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Its 30 rooms are bright and modern, if on the small side, but they're well equipped with tablets, robes, and pillow-top mattresses. Freebies like breakfast and overnight shoeshines add to the hotel's value, and a water bottle-filling station is a nice touch. All in all, The Inn is an appealing choice, but it is more buttoned up compared to other boutique hotels in the area. For something flashier in the same neighborhood, consider the Hotel Triton.
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Scene
Intimate hotel with evening wine reception and cozy gathering spaces on each floor
A stay at the Inn at Union Square - A Greystone Hotel is anything but anonymous. From the street, guests cross under the hotel's bright red awning and enter into an intimate reception area that sets the tone for the rest of the property. Coffered ceilings, wainscoting, and hardwood floors show off the building's regal bones, while furnishings in creamy hues give a serene and stylish backdrop to modern artwork on the walls -- part of a full renovation in 2017. This small space also hosts evening wine and hors d’oeuvres gatherings, and many guests take advantage of the free refreshments and the opportunity to mingle a bit with their neighbors. Social gathering spaces are sprinkled throughout the building, too, with a "parlor" space on every floor. Each is individually decorated, but a common theme of velvet upholstery, leather ottomans, and a neutral color palette runs throughout. Some of these are outfitted with games and fireplaces to encourage more lingering and give a spot to curl up on foggy, chilly nights. Guests at the property tend to be leisure travelers, mostly couples on romantic getaways who value the boutique approach and the central location. There are few families here, as the snug rooms and narrow stairways aren’t well suited to children, and the lack of business amenities doesn't suit most corporate travelers.
Location
Just off Union Square on a safe street near shops and cable cars
Union Square -- both the large plaza and the greater neighborhood -- is ground zero for upscale retail shopping in San Francisco and has more hotel rooms than any neighborhood in the city. That's with good reason as the square offers easy access to some top attractions and plenty of shopping and dining venues. The neighborhood itself is safe, though parts of it bordering Tenderloin, to the west, can get gritty. Given the exorbitant cost of parking in this part of town, it’s best not to bring a car here. Happily, all public transportation is accessible from here – both cable car lines pass by half a block away, BART trains and MUNI streetcars are a five-minute walk away on Market Street, and buses crisscross the area. - 11-minute walk to Chinatown
Rooms
Modern and stylish with extra comforts like robes and tablets, but no views
Fresh off a 2017 renovation, the modern guest rooms at the Inn on Union Square are on the small side, but they're comfortable, tidy, and stylish. Decor is subtly high-end with a cream-and-slate gray color palette, striped wallpaper, and soft white bedding -- all offset by splashes of orange in accent pillows. Rooms have plush pillow-top mattresses and seating areas with one or two cushy chairs with small tables. The sleek furnishings are well-paired with striking collage-style artwork depicting San Francisco landmarks over vintage photos. Higher-category rooms have separate living areas including couches and second TVs. Bathrooms are of serviceable size and bright, decked out with white Carrara marble floors and wainscoting. Each has a shower (no tub) and toiletries by Lather. Amenities across all categories are rather lavish and include mini-fridges, spa-quality robes, umbrellas, irons and ironing boards, and good-quality hairdryers. Technology is a strong point, with large flat-screen TVs, tablets (connecting to room service and the internet), free Wi-Fi, and programmable safes in every room. One thing that's missing is coffeemakers (though coffee is available anytime on the ground floor), but bottled water is provided. Service includes a nightly turndown with chocolates plus free overnight shoeshines. Unfortunately, windows open onto the building next door or its roof -- and the view simply isn't there.
Features
Free wine and cheese reception, breakfast, and Wi-Fi -- but no on-site gym
Features at The Inn at Union Square are a bit uneven: Some go above and beyond expectations, others feel lackluster or are missing all together. While the hotel lacks a full restaurant, it does offer a popular wine and cheese reception each evening, followed by fresh-baked cookies. A free continental breakfast is also set out each morning covering the standard fare of hard-boiled eggs, cereals, pastries, fruits, juices, and coffee. The spread is served in a small, stylishly decorated breakfast room. If this dining space is full, trays are available for guests to take food up to their room. Coffee is also available at any time on the ground floor.The property has a small, outmoded "business center" that just amounts to one public computer and one printer. A fitness center is lacking completely (although that's not too surprising for a boutique property of this small scale). Guests do have access to an off-site facility for a fee. Valet parking is available for a fee as well, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.
