Where to stay in San Francisco Without a Car: 3 Best Areas (& 12 Best Hotels) - Hannah on Horizon (2024)

1. Argonaut Hotel

🌟 RATING: 9.4/10 | 🏩 Check rates and availability

If you’re looking for a charming and luxurious hotel with nautical-themed rooms and gorgeous views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, look no further than Argonaut Hotel!

Argonaut Hotel is steps away from Ghirardelli Square, where there are gift shops, casual restaurants, and of course, the famous Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience shop where you can order decadent sundaes and hot chocolate. On the other side, you’d be walking distance from PIER 39, San Francisco’s most famous attraction. You can walk to PIER 39 and go on a sunset catamaran cruise!

Built in 1907, Argonaut Hotel has rich history, and its brick building reflects that.

This hotel is perfect for those seeking a relaxing getaway! If you’re looking to get pampered, there are in-room spa and beauty treatments; what better way to get a relaxing massage that puts you to sleep?!

Families will enjoy Argonaut, especially because there is a treasure chest of toys and a scavenger hunt for kids, and an Xbox One available in the guestroom

Since Argonaut is also pet-friendly, furry friends get special gifts upon check-in, including treats and accessories.

2. Hotel Zephyr San Francisco

🌟 RATING: 8.3/10 | 🏩 Check rates and availability

The whimsical, boutique Hotel Zephyr is less than 1,000 feet away from PIER 39 and is perfect for families and couples.

While there is no dining available at the hotel, there are a few eateries next door. This includes IHOP, Starbucks, Krispy Krunchy Chicken, and a few local establishments like Mango Crazy, The Socialite Crafthouse & Kitchen, and Bistro Boudin.

These establishments, along with shops and tour operators, are a part of the Zephyr Walk. The Zephyr Walk is a strip of these businesses next to Hotel Zephyr; they are also partners of the hotel who provide discounts to the guests by showing their hotel key cards.

Hotel Zephyr also partners with restaurants in PIER 39 to offer discounts for their guests. This gives you a chance to save money on food, allocating your budget for something more fun!

If you need a break from exploring the city, Hotel Zephyr provides so much entertainment for their guests, so you’ll never be bored! There is an 8,000-square-foot outdoor play yard with cornhole, fire pits, foosball, ping pong, and a giant Connect 4.

The game room inside the hotel also has cornhole and ping pong, but there are different amenities and activities like a pool table, photo booth, and interactive art.

Make sure to get a room with gorgeous views of the bay, with Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background!

3. Hotel Caza Fisherman’s Wharf

🌟 RATING: 8.4/10 | 🏩 Check rates and availability

Hotel Caza Fisherman’s Wharf is the perfect hotel for a completely relaxing getaway. While I’m always going to recommend exploring the city (especially when you’re near major attractions), I also understand the need to chill and decompress. Hotel Caza has amenities and fun activities anyone can enjoy, from families to couples.

Take a dip in the pool, which is heated all year round (which is perfect considering you’re in chilly San Francisco). Or you play some games in the game room, which has foosball, cornhole, bean bag tosses, arcade games, an Xbox, Jenga, and a pool table.

Thirsty? Have some drinks at the CZBAR, which serves unique co*cktails, craft beers, and local wines. It’s a great way to unwind after a long day of sightseeing and excursions!

Speaking of excursions, guests can enjoy complimentary cruiser bikes for up to four hours, allowing you to explore beyond Fisherman’s Wharf and other attractions like Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio.

Don’t forget to treat yourself to complimentary evening milk and cookies, available everyday from 8–9 PM, after dinner at nearby restaurants (which you can also get discounts on through the hotel!).

4. Kimpton Alton Hotel Fisherman’s Wharf

🌟 RATING: 8.6/10 | 🏩 Check rates and availability

Get ready for a mix of food, fun, and pampering at Kimpton Alton Hotel!

Guests are spoiled with loaner bikes to explore the city, complimentary beer and wine from 5–6 PM, spa services offering massages and facials, and mouthwatering dishes from Abacá, the hotel’s award-winning Filipino restaurant.

The lobby also has a wide selection of vinyl records that you can play inside your room, which has a record player. You can also loan out board games.

If you want to go on a fun walking tour to explore San Francisco in-depth, Kimpton Alton offers scavenger hunts for guests!

Kimpton Alton is also a pet-friendly hotel, offering so many perks for Fido. This includes water bowls, poopy bags, a dedicated floor for families with pets, no pet deposit fees, and no size or breed restrictions. The pups are also welcome for the daily happy hour from 5–6 PM.

In addition, through Kimpton Alton’s partnership with Wag!, you can connect with pet sitters and dog walkers, who can watch your furry friend while you’re sightseeing; they will be in good hands!

If you are a member of the IHG Rewards Club, you’ll get extra perks, including credit to use at the bar.

5. Hyatt Regency San Francisco

🌟 RATING: 8.7/10 | 🏩 Check rates and availability

Hyatt Regency San Francisco will blow you away! The lobby is 42,000 square feet and was featured as the largest hotel lobby in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It’s easy to confuse the lobby with a mall!

In the center lobby, there’s a 35-foot-high spherical art installation called Eclipse, made with 1,400 curved aluminum tubes. Surrounding the sculpture are the front desk, a gym, a snack mini-market, Eclipse Kitchen & Bar (where Cecilio and I had dinner during our stay; they have amazing co*cktails), and ample space for lounging.

You definitely won’t need a car staying in Hyatt Regency San Francisco because the cable car is right outside the hotel. You just need to download the Clipper app and purchase the tickets. This makes it so easy to explore all of San Francisco, especially in those hard-to-reach attractions with how hilly the city is! There’s also the Muni a couple of blocks away.

The beds are super comfortable and soft, giving you the best night of sleep, which you need after (or before) a day of exploring.

Make sure to get a room or a suite with a balcony. You’ll be spoiled with views of the Bay Bridge, Ferry Market Building, and bay water on one side and Downtown San Francisco on the other.

6. Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection

🌟 RATING: 8.5/10 | 🏩 Check rates and availability

If you have the means to splurge on ultimate luxury brimming with the best service, fine dining, and elegant ambiance, look no further than Palace Hotel!

With the amount of dining options, amenities, and entertainment (there’s even a museum!), you’re almost not going to want to leave the hotel. I know I wouldn’t, especially since there is a large heated indoor pool with jaw-dropping views of the city skyscrapers.

Everything you could possibly ever need is in Palace Hotel. Dining options include the luxurious restaurant + bar Pied Piper, the Garden Court Restaurant (where you can book afternoon tea on Saturdays, even if you’re not a guest), and their grab-and-go market GC2GO.

It’s not often that you hear of a museum inside a hotel, but Landmark 18 is Palace Hotel’s very own museum filled with artifacts and documents since its inception in 1875 (and it was remodeled in 1909 after San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake).

Everything about this hotel just oozes royalty, and even their most basic rooms have opulent interiors. Each room and suite has whirlpool-style bathrooms, rain showers, plush bathrobes, and slippers.

Palace Hotel is a few blocks away from the cable car outside Hyatt Regency San Francisco and is only a few blocks away from Ferry Building Marketplace and Union Square.

If you aren’t a Marriott Bonvoy member, then you should probably sign up for the extra perks 😉 since Palace Hotel is a part of the Luxury Collection, owned by Marriott.

7. Omni San Francisco

🌟 RATING: 9/10 | 🏩 Check rates and availability

While Omni San Francisco is located in the Financial District, it’s on the edge close to Union Square, where you have easy access to shopping, dining, and nightlife.

It’s also a 5-minute walk to Chinatown, where you can find delicious dim sum or go on a food tour to try the best eats!

Like Palace Hotel, Omni San Francisco exudes a touch of old-school elegance with its chandeliers, warm lighting, Renaissance-inspired decor, and super plush beds.

Despite this, Omni is not a pretentious accommodation. It’s family-friendly, providing a healthy meal kit for children called the Junior Chefs. It includes a lunch bag, snacks, an activity book, crayons, and a “Say Goodnight to Hunger” card, encouraging donations to the hungry in the community.

Make yourself at home in Omni by using their gym which has state-of-the-art facilities like Peleton and recumbent bikes, weights, machines, treadmills, and kettlebells. Guests are also gifted with a fit kit, which includes a yoga mat, a pair of 3 lb. dumbbells, a 5 lb. kettlebell, and a stress ball.

You can have dinner at Monte’s, Omni’s restaurant/bar. They serve French and New American fare such as prosciutto flatbread with blue cheese, steak frites, and crusted ahi tuna.

8. Galleria Park Hotel

🌟 RATING: 8.9/10 | 🏩 Check rates and availability

Galleria Park Hotel is a fun, artsy hotel at the edge of the Financial District, bordering Union Square. It’s about 3 minutes away from the Montgomery Street BART Station, making it easier to explore the city beyond Downtown. Also, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has a BART Station, so you can ride it all the way to this hotel!

The beds in Galleria Park Hotel are super comfy with a 400 thread count, ensuring you have the best sleep of your life. The airy rooms have white walls and bedding, with colorful artwork to add that life.

If you are someone who is into fitness and wellness, you are going to love this hotel. There is an on-site gym with Peleton bikes, and guests can also get fitness kits and day passes to 24 Hour Fitness upon request.

There is also a gorgeous rooftop terrace with an urban garden and a walking track, making it the perfect hangout spot for reading, relaxing, watching the sunset, and getting steps in.

Guests also enjoy complimentary wine tasting.

There is also an on-site French restaurant, Le Parc Bistrobar, that serves mouthwatering dishes like escargot, queues de bouef au vin rouge (braised oxtail with red wine, carrots, and puree), ratatouille, baguettes, and lots of cheese. They also serve Happy Hour with an extensive wine and co*cktail list and little bites like charcuterie boards, crostinis with cheese and honey, baguettes with butter, and cheese puffs.