San Francisco, CA

The 14 Best San Francisco Hotels

Published

1 month ago

January 26, 2026

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In town for the big game or a quick getaway, resorts like The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay are perfect places to huddle.

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

When the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks kick off Super Bowl LX on February 8, football fans’ eyes will be fixed on Levi’s Stadium. While the action takes place on the turf in Santa Clara, the real pre- and post-game celebrations will happen more than 40 miles away in San Francisco.

Whether you are flying in to catch the big game or are planning a getaway to coincide with the Super Bowl’s 60th anniversary festivities, finding the right home base is a key play for the weekend.

To discover the best hotels in San Francisco, Forbes Travel Guide’s incognito inspectors posed as ordinary guests and stayed multiple nights at each property. The inspectors tested hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, which accounts for 70% of a property’s rating. The remaining 30% comes from the quality and condition of the facilities. FTG does not require a business relationship from the properties it rates, and it does not earn a commission if you book one of the following hotels.

Five-Star Hotels in San Francisco

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Sitting atop a dramatic bluff, The Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay gives you a beautiful coastal setting, verdant golf courses, ocean-view dining and impeccably warm service about 20 miles south of San Francisco International Airport.

With a robust calendar of outdoor activities (golf, guided hikes) and indoor pursuits (baking classes, a Four-Star spa), any time is a great time for a romantic getaway at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. See more.

The St. Regis San Francisco has a timeless elegance.

The St. Regis San Francisco

Since opening in 2005, The St. Regis San Francisco has been refining the concept of luxury, retaining the detail-oriented service focus and continuing its legacy of timeless elegance.

Get a taste of the hotel’s sophisticated vibe during Tini Tuesday at the legendary St. Regis Bar. Guests are invited to craft their perfect martini, set to a soundtrack of live jazz provided by Conservatory students. See more.

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco offers posh lodging and a prime location.

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco

Four-Star Hotels in San Francisco

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco

San Francisco does not experience four distinct seasons — it’s pretty mild no matter when you visit. Likewise, Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco provides posh lodgings all year long.

If you want to sightsee by day and live in luxury by night, it’s hard to beat this property sitting just minutes from Union Square, Chinatown and other city attractions. See more.

This NoCal property certainly makes a luxurious splash.

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto is ideally situated for both business and relaxation. Step into the intimate lobby, and you’ll notice it feels smart and modern with a lush color scheme, digital art and an inviting, cozy vibe.

The hotel makes the most of its Northern California location by regularly pairing Napa Valley’s top wine producers with seasonal four-course menus at signature eatery, Quattro. See more.

Spots like Feinstein’s and Kanpai Lounge are great for cocktails.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco

The ultra-modern Hotel Nikko San Francisco is in downtown San Francisco, just blocks from Union Square. The luxury address has a sleek, modern design style. Asian touches throughout, including a stream of flowing water greeting guests in the lobby, help create an initial Zen atmosphere.

For a true Bay Area introduction, be sure to visit Kanpai Lounge for a new cocktail program inspired by the city’s landmarks and neighborhoods. Explore The Mission features tequila, G.E. Massenez bird’s-eye chili liqueur, lime and hibiscus mango while Coit Tower consists of rye whiskey, Fernet-Branca, pineapple gomme and ginger beer. See more.

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco has been a standout for more than a century.

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

Even the most blasé traveler will be impressed by this stately mansion atop Nob Hill. Built in 1909 as the headquarters of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco has maintained its palatial polish, preserving its neoclassical façade while offering a renovated modern-classic haven inside.

And even more than a 100 years later, there are still new things to celebrate: The Lounge was included on Forbes Travel Guide’s inaugural list of Star Bars. See more.

Taj Campton Place is a beautiful distraction in the busy city.

Taj Campton Place

Taj Campton Place fits into the rolling cityscape of San Francisco and is just one block away from Union Square. The prime location allows convenient access to the city’s many art galleries and museums, and the 110-room boutique hotel offers a quaint respite from the busy city.

A recent renovation breathed new life into the hotel’s beloved dining outlets. Campton Bar + Bistro infuses American bistro-style cuisine with Indian flair. Meanwhile, Bombay Brasserie, led by chef Thomas George, serves Indian cuisine with a French accent. See more.

Have a customized stay at The Clement Palo Alto.

The Clement Palo Alto

Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Hotels in San Francisco

The Clement Palo Alto

The all-inclusive hotel of the future, where everything is customized to your individual preference and a personal chef and concierge come standard, has arrived with The Clement Palo Alto.

The hotel strives to be a home away from home and invites you to think of the shared spaces — a living room, library and kitchen — as your own. Here, you won’t ever have to lift a finger — unless it’s to pick up a fork while you’re eating at the Dining Room. See more.

The staffers are the stars at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero.

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero

Walking into the intimate lobby of Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero is like entering a sleek sanctuary. The bustle of downtown fades away in the quiet round room filled with white marble, bright lighting and a pleasant aroma.

Friendly staff members stand ready to check you in, help with your luggage or anything else you may need. This includes providing curated city guides that offer insider recommendations for self-guided tasting tours of the Ferry Building, tailored shopping suggestions and a map illustrated by artist Tanu Vasu that highlights the best local spots. See more.

Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights is a chic, comfortable escape.

Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights

Everything about Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights, from the understated elegance of its Edwardian heritage to the spacious bathrooms with heated floors, is chic, sophisticated and comfortable.

Daily rituals like the evening wine reception (local pours are paired with elevated light bites) accentuate the former boarding house’s welcoming warmth. See more.

JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square is a colorful delight near all the popular sights.

JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square

JW Marriott San Francisco Union Square is a colorful and urbane hotel just steps from San Francisco’s bustling Financial District, the Embarcadero and other popular stops.

But beyond its ideal location, the property delivers top cuisine (Level III Restaurant), creative cocktails (Level III Bar) and a sleek space to work on your cardio (a state-of-the-art fitness center).

Omni San Francisco Hotel’s lobby is a throwback to a grander time.

Omni San Francisco Hotel

In the busy Financial District, Omni San Francisco Hotel feels like a throwback to a simpler, grander time. The cheerful doorman smiles warmly and helps you with your things. The front desk attendant graciously meets you at the bottom of the glamorous wrought-iron staircase. It’s all so beautiful and calming that even the most harried person will feel relaxed. See more.

Saturday tea (or breakfast any day of the week) is always special here.

Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Francisco

When you walk up the stairs at downtown’s Palace Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, the first thing you’ll notice are the elaborate wrought-iron doors with ornate hand-painted gold details.

Just beyond those touches is something even more breathtaking: the hotel’s Garden Court. A grand ballroom with marble columns, glass ceilings and chandeliers that date to the late 1800s, the Garden Court is the hotel’s energetic hub. Such grand surroundings provide the ideal backdrop for the Saturday tea, served for the last century.

For a memorable dinner, visit the wood-paneled Pied Piper (named for the famous Maxfield Parrish mural behind the bar) for seasonal, California dishes and exceptional drinks. See more.

San Francisco Proper Hotel exudes Old World charm and modern flair.

San Francisco Proper Hotel

The flagship property of the Proper brand, San Francisco Proper Hotel showcases celebrity interior designer Kelly Wearstler’s sophisticated style. The hotel resides in a historic flatiron building that dates to 1904, and its Old World charm is juxtaposed with sleek, modern accents.

The trendy atmosphere of the hotel extends beyond the guest rooms to its two dining venues. Villon, which is also designed by Wearstler, serves contemporary California cuisine for breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Meanwhile, the atmospheric rooftop lounge, Charmaine’s, offers small plates, bubbles and bold cocktails. See more.

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San Francisco, CA

Sam Smith’s San Francisco Residency Charts New Course for the Castro

Published

2 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Sam Smith’s San Francisco Residency Charts New Course for the Castro

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Sam Smith has kicked off his residency at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, with the singer’s 20-date stint helping to officially usher in a new era for the historic landmark.

First erected in 1922, the Castro closed in 2024 for a reported $41 million renovation project. But the century-old Spanish-style Baroque theatre is open for business — and music — once again, with its gilded ceiling and ornamental walls restored to its original design, while seating is now reconfigurable for different events, including 650 seats that can be removed to create more standing room space (like for Smith’s concert). More importantly, city officials hope the re-opening of the Castro Theatre will also help revive the predominantly queer neighborhood it sits in, which shares a name with the venerable venue.

“Do you guys realize how special this street is?” Smith asked the sold-out crowd, during night two of their residency last week. “I grew up in a village in the middle of f-ckin’ nowhere,” they shared. “I was the only gay in the village and yes I was very dramatic about it as well,” they added with a laugh.

“There is nothing like this street and nothing like the Castro and the community here,” Smith said. “I’ll never forget coming here when I was 20 years old, so reopening this theater now is such an honor.”

BUY ONLINE

Sam Smith Tickets on StubHub

Tickets to Smith’s Castro residency quickly sold out when the shows were first announced but you can still find stubs on sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek. New users can use the promo code THR30 to save $30 on orders of $300 and up at VividSeats.com. SeatGeek customers can use promo code HOLLYWOOD10 to save $10 at SeatGeek.com.

Smith’s San Francisco stint follows their “To Be Free: New York City,” residency which took place last fall at Brooklyn’s historic Warsaw club. Other artists set to play at the Castro this spring include Father John Misty, José González, Santigold and Lucy Dacus. The Castro will also help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the LGBTQ-themed Frameline Film Festival this June.

ALSO AVAILABLE

Castro Theatre Tickets on Vivid Seats

Smith’s residency runs until March 14.

According to tourism officials and local businesses, Smith’s new Castro residency and the reopening of the theatre has already helped to bring in a number of new visitors to the area. Mat Schuster, the executive chef and owner of long-time neighborhood fixture, Canela, says business has been “very busy” in the last few weeks, crediting Smith’s show with bringing out new diners to the Spanish restaurant, which has been on Market Street since 2011. Other local hotspots like wine bar Bar49, the San Francisco outpost of Hi Tops, and the women’s sports bar, Rikki’s (named after Gay Games Federation founder Rikki Streicher), were all packed on a recent evening following Smith’s Castro concert.

According to San Francisco Tourism, the reopening of The Castro Theatre is poised to deliver “meaningful economic gains” to the surrounding neighborhood, which some stats estimating that the venue will draw more than 200,000 visitors annually.

With the Castro Theatre now open again, local officials are looking ahead to other upcoming celebrations, including a planned reimagining of the Castro and Market Street intersection into The Memorial at Harvey Milk Plaza, honoring the first openly gay elected official in California (and the inspiration for the 2009 Sean Penn film). Milk’s legacy is already enshrined at the San Francisco airport of course, with terminal 1 at SFO renamed as the “Harvey Milk Terminal;” the new memorial is scheduled to be completed by 2028. The annual Castro Street Fair, meantime, a community street celebration founded by Harvey Milk in 1974, will take place on the first weekend of October.

The reopening of the Castro comes amidst a busy few months for San Francisco, which recently saw a number of athletes and celebrities in town for the Super Bowl. Steph Curry’s new speakeasy, The Eighth Rule, was among the hotspots over the big game weekend and the basketball star’s bourbon-forward bar continues to be a hot reservation in the city. Opened in the fall, the bar is tucked away in a nondescript hallway inside the Westin St. Francis hotel in Union Square, offering an intimate and exclusive setting for the Golden State Warriors point guard’s Gentleman’s Cut Bourbon, which can be ordered on its own or as part of a six-course omakase-style cocktail tasting (we loved the clarified coconut milk punch and the truffle-vanilla whiskey sour). Of course, guests can also order cocktails a la carte, choosing from different bourbons and whiskeys, plus a full selection of other spirits.

Next door to The Eighth Rule is Bourbon Steak San Francisco, the latest outpost of Chef Michael Mina’s award-winning steakhouse. The restaurant marks the celebrity chef’s return to the Westin St. Francis, where he opened his first eponymous restaurant in 2004. In addition to its selection of steaks, seafood and caviar offerings (like Mina’s famous “caviar twinkee”), this Bourbon Steak outpost offers a family-style dining experience for six people, available through advance reservations. This is the only Bourbon Steak location to offer this communal table format.

New this month is the highly-anticipated opening of JouJou, an elevated French brasserie concept from the owners of the two Michelin-starred Lazy Bear. Located in the city’s Design District, JouJou is poised to be the next celebrity hangout, with its ornate dining room and marble-topped counters setting the scene for steak frites and star sightings alike. As chef David Barzelay told the San Francisco Chronicle when asked about the inspiration for JouJou: “It always feels like you’re just in a place where it’s happening.”

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San Francisco, Oakland report warmest February morning on record

Published

14 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

San Francisco, Oakland report warmest February morning on record

Zoe Mintz

February 28, 2026 / 1:38 PM PST
/ CBS San Francisco

Saturday morning in the Bay Area was muggy and mild, if not warm. Temperatures only cooled down to the upper 50s to low 60s across much of the Bay Area – five to 15 degrees above average for late winter.

For San Francisco and Oakland, it was a record warm start to the last day of the month. With temperatures only dipping down to 62 in San Francisco, it was the warmest morning in recorded history during the month of February, and those records go back to 1875. The old record was 61° in 1985.

Oakland’s old record was also in 1985, when the low was 60°. Now Oakland’s new record for warmest February morning was set on Saturday, with a low of 61. It was also extremely muggy, with dew points in the upper 50s and humidity over 90%.

Why? It mostly has to do with the extremely warm blob of water sitting off the Bay Area’s coast. It’s technically called a “Marine Heatwave” and the one we are currently dealing with began in May 2025.

Normally this time of year, ocean temperatures are near 53 degrees – but it was about 57 near the Golden Gate Bridge as of Saturday morning.

Warmer ocean water warms up the air above it, and then winds carry the warmer air over land and warms us up. The warmer water also increases evaporation, raising moisture content in the air (aka humidity).

So now you know, you can blame the warm blob of ocean water for the reason it was so muggy.

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