Marines' Memorial Club & Hotel Union Square

I picked this hotel for the price, and honestly, it’s excellent value. The location is convenient, the rooms are generously sized, and the breakfast room boasts a view that pairs perfectly with morning coffee. The amenities outshine what some chain hotels offer! A few quirks to note: the rooms have a bit of a “well-loved” charm, and while the bathrooms aren’t small, the toilet is snugly wedged between the wall and sink—cozy, if you will. We also had a connecting door to the next room, which meant we got to “enjoy” an accidental preview of the neighbor’s conversations. All in all, I’d happily stay here again—quirks and all. Great value, great location, and a side of character you won’t find at cookie-cutter chains.

Summary: Excellent value, service and location. Convenient, secure parking nearby. Free hot buffet breakfast in a rooftop lounge (great city views) adds to the value, convenience and pleasure. No-brainer to stay here if attending an event in the Marines Memorial Theatre, which we did. My wife and I had tickets to an event in the theatre, so staying at the hotel seemed like a good idea. The hotel recommends parking at the Olympic Club Garage, a half block away. It’s valet parking, but secure and convenient. I made an online reservation and was glad I did, because the parking was “full” when we arrived, but we could park with our reservation info (I printed it out, which aided check-in). The parking is a bit old school, with attendants running around to get cars. Olympic Club members also use the garage. It can get busy. Make sure your garage reservation times are what you need. Our clean and basic hotel room was perfectly good. Comfy king bed. Everything worked fine. The bathroom is tight and the shower a bit dated, but worked fine. Hotel staff was very nice. After the theatre event, we we able to fine late-night dining about 2 blocks away at the lively, excellent Japanese-sushi restaurant, Ryoko, on Taylor Street. Next morning, we loved the self-serve complimentary breakfast buffet: eggs, potatoes, burritos, grilled veggies, sausage, bacon, pasties, pancakes, yogurt, cereal, coffee, tea, etc. My GF wife was delighted to see yummy GF pastries and hot foods labeled GF. Lots of staff were around to check on tables, buffet, etc. A bonus was the outstanding 12th floor city view. A mix of old and new architecture. After breakfast (closes at 9:30 am), we appreciated the later noon check-out because it gave us ample time to walk around nearby Union Square and dip a little into Chinatown. We walked about a 6x6 block area, enjoying the holiday decorations and vibe. I’m a 60-year-old native of the Bay Area, visit SF frequently, and have stayed in 20+ SF hotels. This was one of the best hotel experiences I’ve had. Definitely will be back.

I mean, WOW! The service is unforgettable in this hotel. This might be a 3-star hotel but the service makes it feel like a 5-star. When you walk in you're greeted by staff immediately after walking into their grand foyer. The place is packed with memorabilia and facts about our servicemen and women. They have upgraded some feature such as the elevator that will take you directly to your floor, no need to stop on different floors for other people to catch the elevator. The rooms are nice. We had a corner room that gave us views on two sides of the room. The room also comes with robes that you can use during your visit. While the bathroom sinks seem to be newer, the showers could use an upgrade but they're not bad. Room service comes everyday or when you request it and they do an excellent job. There's free breakfast which is not your typical continental breakfast, this was the real deal! Some days you order and are served and some days they have a buffet. Breakfast is served from 730-930 am. They have a daily happy hour from 4-6pm with very strong drinks! You can order just about anything. This hotel is our go-to while staying in SF because we know that we'll be treated kindly and have a nice clean place to rest. It's also located in the middle of everything in Union Square and at the bottom of Nob Hill. If you're up to it, you could walk the city from this location.