Summary of the Best Hotels in San Francisco
Rich in history, culture, and style, San Francisco attracts travelers of all kinds from around the world – in fact, more than 21 million people visited the city last year. If they were looking for art, they likely visited SFMOMA and the de Young Museum. For architecture buffs, Coit Tower, the Painted Ladies, and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge are among must-sees. Snacking and shopping in Chinatown, the oldest such community in the U.S., is a treat for the senses. However, no matter what your itinerary includes, you will need a place to lay your head at night, and ideally that place is as captivating as the city itself.
How Voting Works
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, GoTravelDaily asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).
Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were rated on the criteria below:
- Rooms/facilities
- Location
- Service
- Food
- Value
For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
What Readers Loved
If we use this year’s reader-voted winners to better understand San Francisco today, all signs point to a resurgence of energy around Market Street and Union Square, or “the epicenter of the city,” as one reader described it. This area is home to some of the city’s most splurge-worthy hotels. Indeed, all five top hotels are located here, placing guests within walking distance of the Ferry Building, cable car stops, Chinatown, historic theaters like the Orpheum, and more.
Property No. 3, Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, offers “intuitive service,” not to mention easy access to Market Street and Yerba Buena Gardens. The same goes for The St. Regis San Francisco (No. 2), which one reader calls “wonderful” enough to return for years. For a real peek into the city’s past, try Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel (No. 5), a landmark structure standing since 1909. Therefore, here are the hotels readers picked as the best in San Francisco.
The Winner
San Francisco Proper Hotel
Opened in 2017, San Francisco Proper is the epitome of style – many details inside the 131-room refurbished flatiron building were overseen by designer extraordinaire Kelly Wearstler. No matter where you turn, her unbelievable skill at overlapping textures, patterns, colors, and shapes makes for a visual feast. Guests love the double-height lobby lounge, where mismatched, bohemian furnishings and eclectic art create a cozy ambiance. Rooms are just as stunning, featuring Wearstler-designed wallpapers that pop. Moreover, there are swoon-worthy dining venues on site, too. We’re partial to rooftop bar and restaurant Charmaine, where you can order a spritz and a burger while enjoying your views of the Golden City. Should you need help, you can expect exactly what you need from the “phenomenal” staff.
The Full List
1. San Francisco Proper Hotel
Reader Score: 92.12
2. The St. Regis San Francisco
Reader Score: 91.29
3. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
Reader Score: 90.88
4. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
Reader Score: 90.35
5. Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Reader Score: 89.00
