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The Inn At Union Square
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
440 Post St(between Powell St & Mason St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhoods: Union Square, Civic Center/Tenderloin
(415) 397-3510
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
23 reviews for The Inn At Union Square
Review Highlights
"breakfast and great wine and cheese tasting daily."
(in 10 reviews)
"Continental breakfast every morning from 7-10."
(in 4 reviews)
"and a Queen bedroom with flat screen TV."
(in 3 reviews)
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Mari S.
Hands down, the most unique, charming, friendly and cozy hotel that you can stay at in San Francisco.
Let me start by saying that I have been a repeat guest at The Inn for the past 6 years. My first visit to The Inn was in January 2005 (when I was still a resident of Hawaii), and I have been back every year since.
If you are a first time visitor to San Francisco, or even if this is your 10th visit, let me explain why the Inn is the best pick for your trip to SF.
SERVICE/STAFF: 5 stars.
The front desk staff are professional, friendly, knowledgeble and accommodating. Because this is a much smaller hotel, the staff here are personable and provide top customer service. Ken, Omar, Ann and Joe at the front desk have been there for years and are excellent at what they do. Wayne, the Innkeeper, provides wonderful hospitality and is extremely friendly. He will often be around during the evenings to meet and chat with the guests during wine hour. I can tell that the staff at The Inn really have passion in what they do, as I can see they always aim to make their guests happy and comfortable.
HOTEL/ROOM: 5 stars
As you should know if you don't already, this is a small, boutique hotel. Those of you who love to stick to large Hilton/Sheraton/Hyatt/Marriott brand chains and go for cookie cutter rooms, please be aware you will not find that here. However, you will find a very elegant, cozy and comfortable room waiting for you at The Inn. Yes, their hotel is small and yes, their rooms are a bit on the smaller side. But so what? Unless you plan on carting your entire bedroom with you on vacation, I highly doubt this will be an issue. And I also read about the complaints without an A/C. Yes, the Inn does not have A/C but first of all, SF tends to stay on the cooler/cold side almost all year long, with the exception of maybe 2 odd weeks and a few odd days in the September or October months. Additionally, the bedrooms are equipped with ceiling fans so that should help on a rare warm evening. In regards to the common areas, the lobby area is small but the only reason you go through the lobby is to come & go, speak with the staff or wait for a taxi/shuttle. The seating areas on each floor of the hotel are a nice touch and great to relax and have your breakfast and/or evening wine and cheese.
AMENITIES: 5 stars
The Inn is all about providing their guests with great amenities!
-Aveda toiletries in the guest rooms
-Daily continental breakfast (incl. pastries, yogurt, cereal, bananas, hard-boiled eggs, OJ, milk, coffee)
-Evening wine & cheese hour w/ fellow guests
-Nightly bottled water & chocolates to your room
-Nightly cookies in the common areas
LOCATION: 5 stars
The Inn is all about location. They are located near the corner of Post & Powell streets, so this is a really great location for those who want to be in the center of town - especially for dining and shopping! Aside from the hotel itself, The Inn is so great for being in such a prime location!
In conclusion, I HIGHLY recommend staying at The Inn at Union Square. You will experience a stay in SF that will be unlike staying anywhere else! -
Review from Anne N.
Menlo Park, CA
1/4/2012
My favorite hotel, period! (or exclamation mark, that is). Have stayed here on a couple of occasions, and have always been satisfied.
Cute little boutique hotel in downtown SF. The location is great, just a stone's throw from Union Square. Staff is very friendly, and they genuinely seem to like working there.
Rooms are small, but nicely decorated, and they have great amenities from Aveda. The bed is comfortable.
Their complimentary evening wine reception is great, with a good variety of cheeses and nuts.There is also coffee and tea served all day, and chocolate chip cookies at night. Continental breakfast is also included. Wifi is free.
Will be back! -
Review from Coty B.
Houston, TX
12/31/2011
Best hotel in SF! Stayed here for 11 nights and loved every bit of our stay. Continental breakfast was good. (Could be laid out earlier though-prefer eating around 6:30 so you can get out and see the sights.) Choices were good-My faves were the HB eggs, fruit, granola cereal and well-brewed coffee.
Staff is excellent. Very helpful and nice, especially Ann, Omar, and Joe!
There is no gym but i felt comfortable jogging around the blocks even in the morning before sunup. I think they offer a discount to a local gym, you can ask.
Location is perfect. Cable car stop for the 2 best lines is at end of block. Its near alot of points of interest. Around the corner is a Walgreens and some good area restaurants. (Fun thing at night was to get a tiny 1/2 cup ice cream from walgreens and eat it with the CC cookies they put out at night. YUM!).
Room was good size. Very comfy bed and it's nice that all the windows open so you can hear the city. Liked the Aveda toiletries.
The entire hotel feels intimate and cozy. Would stay here again and highly recommend it. -
Review from Becky H.
San Jose, CA
2/6/2012
Stayed here last month with my 2 kids, ages 7 and 10. We had an amazing experience at The Inn and will definitely return. The staff is so incredibly helpful. Thank you Omar and Ann! My kids had more fun at the hotel than at the SF Zoo!
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Review from Eric W.
Seattle, WA
12/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
My wife and I booked this room through a deal site, but after all the fees and taxes, it wasn't as good of a deal as we initially had thought. This made it pricier than we expected, but probably on par with other hotels in the city. The location was good, sitting just around the corner from Union Square Park.
The room itself was cozy and cute. It was actually two separate rooms; a bedroom and a sitting room. There was a TV in both rooms and it felt much like a small apartment. Temperature controls were easy to use and the bed was comfortable. We enjoyed the complimentary breakfast each morning. Our personal preference was for the fruit, juice, and muffins. They also had maid service twice a day, which was nice, leaving free bottles of water during the evening service.
All in the all, this was a comfortable stay. It wasn't super swank or fancy, but nice for the price. If you're looking for a place to stay downtown, I'd recommend you take a look at the Inn at Union Square. -
Review from John C.
San Jose, CA
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great little hotel. Due to the layout being in a narrow building it's kind of like being on a cruise ship. We had room 404 which surprised us with how spacious it was given how small the hotel is. Tv didn't work when we got to the room but they had that fixed by the time we got back from our event. room was very clean and reasonably quiet.
We didn't try the wine tasting but we did do the breakfast. It was a pretty good continental plus breakfast. Granola, yogurts, toast, hard boiled eggs. Assorted pastries etc. It was very good. Peet's coffee was good too.
Right next to union square so the location can't be beat.
We will be back! -
Review from Julia W.
12/10/2011 9 Check-ins Here
I got what I thought was a great rate through http://booking.com. Little did I know that there were going to be another $120 of taxes which hadn't been included. That made this deal 'not a good deal' at all.
The rooms as mentioned were on the small side. I would've preferred one 'large' room over two small rooms as we did not use the 2nd room at all.
The view was non-existent and we looked out at a brick wall in both rooms. One morning, there was pounding outside the window which was loud enough to rattle and continue to wake us from slumber.
We enjoyed the free breakfast and the night service of two bottles of water and chocolates. A few things to point out though:
* Maid service was inconsistent. One night, she left our new toiletries on the bathroom counter but not 'in' the spots they should have been in. Another night, she set our bottles of water on the night stand. The next night, she put them in the sitting room we never sat in.
* TV - The TV had Comcast digital boxes which was great. I love being able to look up what is on the TV and what channel I can flip to quickly. The downside was there was no 'sleep' function on the TV itself. This comes in so handy when you want to fall asleep but not wake to a infomercial running at 4am to a Shake Weight.
*Entry Way - After a certain hour (I'm unsure when as it wasn't posted), you needed your room key to open the front door to the hotel lobby. We figured this out after we were locked out the first night and had to be let in. It's not a big deal as I'm guessing it's one way to keep the hotel secure but was a bit strange to have to have your room key out to get to the lobby. -
Review from Erica K.
Vallejo, CA
11/21/2011
Just stayed there over the weekend for our anniversary - what a great place. It is right in Union Square and so much more personal than any of the big hotels across the street (and it was the same price). The staff was extremely friendly and were pleasant to interact with, addressed us by name when we saw them. I hear that most of the rooms are small, but we stayed on the 6th floor and it was plenty roomy. They had wine and cheese in the evening and and little spread of scones, bagels, and Peet's coffee in the morning. Fluffy robes and aveda products in the bathroom. It was a little noisy - it is the middle of the city -but I figured it would be, so I brought ear plugs just in case. Slept great - really comfy bed. I would recommend this place to anyone or stay there again.
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Review from Charis D.
Pasadena, CA
8/29/2011
We stayed here for one night and were greeted by lovely staff. We booked a package that included valet parking (very convenient near Union Station). We stayed on a Tuesday night which was pretty pricey. Not to say it was overpriced, but in any other location it may be leaning to that side. The room was small with no view but was clean. There is no way to control the air temp in your room but you can open the windows.
Great cont. breakfast and great wine and cheese tasting daily. Perfect location and great staff. Overall a very pleasant experience. -
Review from Michael A.
Seattle, WA
11/14/2011
This place is a great quaint, boutique hotel located right int he hustle and bustle of Union Square. The narrow hallways and fantastically decorated rooms make you feel like a renaissance prince. Wayne, the Inn Keeper, is a great resource for restaurants, bars, and the city in general. There is wine, cheese, and fruit daily from 530-7. This place is a gem and a welcome change to the big chain hotels. Stay here next time you are in SF.
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Review from Steve G.
Union, NJ
12/19/2011
After going far too many years between family vacations, our SF trip was fantastic in all regards, and The Inn At Union Square was a huge part of it. This is an ultra-quaint boutique hotel, not at all like contemporary motels. It is small ("cozy"), very service oriented and the type of place which is more like being a welcomed guest in an urban mansion. The location is excellent, and the front desk couldn't be more helpful and welcoming. We had a two bedroom suite, and while the rooms weren't huge, they were adequate. Having two bathrooms and a jacuzzi tub was an unexpected plus. We opted for the valet parking plan ($35/day) and soon realized what a bargain it was; you really have to hunt for self-parking at that rate. Our car was waiting for us within 10 minutes every time, right in front of the Inn. The continental breakfast was very good, and we met so many nice Inn guests that we had to keep an eye on the clock. Afternoon wine and cheese was a very nice added touch. We knew that this wouldn't be inexpensive, and the heap of SF taxes would have alone covered a basic motel, but this is the kind of place that lifetime memories are made of.
Listed in: Our San Francisco Vacation
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Review from Victoria S.
Pasadena, CA
11/22/2010
If you are looking for a charming, quiet and conveniently located boutique hotel then look no further. I just got back from my trip to San Francisco. My parents had been recommending this hotel to me for a couple of years now and finally I got my chance to stay at The Inn at Union Square.
The wine and cheese in the evening was a great in between snack after lunch and right before dinner. And in the morning the same buffet table gets transformed into a breakfast nook. My boyfriend and I definitely took advantage of the included breakfast and snacks in the afternoon.
The complimentary WiFi worked great, the shower was warm and the TV was a flat screen so it had a great picture. I didn't need the iron and ironing board on this trip but as someone who usually likes to press her clothes just knowing it was there was a plus. The staff was so friendly and it's literally 100 meters from Union Square where some of the best shopping can be had! What more could you need? -
Review from L. S.
Washington, DC
6/4/2011
I had an absolutely fantastic stay for 5 nights at The Inn at Union Square. My boyfriend and I thoroughly researched hotels in the area, so we knew exactly what we were getting. The reviews below are correct that the elevator is slow, our room didn't have a view, and the room/bathroom is smaller than you might find elsewhere. We knew this going in, and were ok with these trade-offs in exchange for the other benefits of this charming boutique hotel. It's in an excellent location near cable cars, sightseeing buses, major city bus lines, a taxi line, great restaurants, and walking distance to a lot more.
This hotel delivered everything they promised with gusto. The continental breakfast, wine & cheese hour, and cookies late at night were all very impressive. It's a small area where food is laid out, which gives you a surprisingly pleasant opportunity to chat with other guests. They also left out bottled water in the rooms and common areas for guests to take. The hotel didn't skimp, especially compared to what other similarly priced hotels offer. The room was charming, and in good shape.
The staff were all friendly, professional, and helpful. When my boyfriend had a question about using the available computer/printer, the concierge was quick to help. We found whoever staffed the front desk to be incredibly helpful. They followed through making good dinner recommendations and taking care of reservations for us, calling a cab, and helping my boyfriend have beautiful flowers delivered for my birthday. I felt they also went the extra mile on the "little" things. For example, when they saw us walking up to the door to enter the lobby, they would quickly press the elevator button to call open the elevator for us. It's a small staff, and they smile, look you in the eye, and greet you when you enter/exit. It felt very personable.
Overall - I would highly, highly recommend this hotel, as long as you've done your research and aren't expecting something this hotel can't offer (like extra room in the lobby and sweeping views of the city). I bet we'll be back. -
Review from Louise A.
Des Moines, IA
7/27/2010
I stayed here in October of 2009. I wish I'd been able to stay more than the two nights - very charming. I was lucky enough to get one of the street-view "corner" rooms (a small suite, really), with the breakfast/cocktail area just outside. I arrived during cocktail hour, and they were having a wine tasting with hors d'oeuvres, and I got to meet a number of my fellow guests. Ditto at breakfast the next day. Very charming - and two different Australian couples gave me tips for sightseeing the next day, which I took and enjoyed.
Room was lovely. I understand some of the other rooms are rather cramped. I hope to stay again, but will make a point to get the corner room, which gives more elbow room. Staff were helpful and gracious. It's tiny, but could not be more well-placed, with cable cars, sightseeing buses and taxis mere steps away. -
Review from rhonda s.
South San Francisco, CA
5/18/2009 4 photos
Who knew?? I've walked by this place a million times on my way to dinner at Farallon or a show at ACT. Right off Union Square, the Inn at Union Square is a 30-room European-style boutique hotel offering a quiet a refined elegance that's missing in larger properties.
They also have a free wine and cheese reception (5-7 PM) and breakfast (7-10 AM), so we decided that this was the perfect place to splash out for our tenth anniversary. We booked one of the online special rates and weren't disappointed!
Rooms have been recently renovated and feel like a combination of old school as well as California sunny, if that makes any sense. I had expected darker and dustier and was pleasantly surprised.
We had a Jr. Suite with a large seating area (TV, desk, etc.) and a Queen bedroom with flat screen TV. All with windows that open. Sweet!
Wine and cheese were served in the parlor area (pictured left) on two floors and there was a great mix of European and American travelers. We overheard some interesting conversations, but as usual, were too shy to join in. Breakfast was also self-serve, with trays provided to surprise your loved one with a little in-bed dining. Pastries were exquisite and I have to apologize for porking down 3 of the Almond ones...they were the best ones I've had since my last trip to Paris!! (-:
Thankfully, there are all those San Francisco hills to help you burn off the calories if you can avoid the pull of Neimans and Saks around the corner. Or, catch a cable car one block down--we thought there would be more noise, but sleeping hours were perfectly quiet and we didn't experience noise problems the rest of the time either.
I'd highly recommend this for locals celebrating special occasions or for anyone who wants to experience the real San Francisco. -
Review from Brian M.
Chicago, IL
7/1/2008
I stayed here with a friend in October 2007 and had a WONDERFUL experience. Coming from the Midwest and moving to Southern California, it's just exciting to be in a hotel that actually provides service as opposed to a bland chain hotel that just gives you a place to put your stuff and to sleep. Great location, especially for the price.
We arrived late on a Friday, maybe about 7pm. We were hungry, and as we had just gotten into the city, had no dinner plans. First thing, they offered to get a restaurant reservation. Even at that busy of an hour, he got us in at a busy Italian place right away. Not only was it speedy, but it was a great recommendation too! Close by, casual but not stuffy, tasty but not overpriced...everything we could have wanted before exploring some pubs.
Anyway, the room was spectacular, average size for San Francisco, but we were in a suite, so there was a whole separate room for me to get dressed and watch some SportsCenter in while the girl got dressed in the bedroom. Well decorated, clean, and comfortable. It sounds odd to say, but it's something to consider in an older hotel....even the plumbing worked well. Yeah...now think of the last time you were in an old hotel and couldn't get hot water, or it was just a drizzle....not here. Top notch.
The evening wine and cheese reception was fun - decent amount of Europeans were staying on our floor as well. At night, they leave little chocolates on the pillows. Yum. :)
Everything about our stay was great, especially the young, friendly staff. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Word of advice, just take the stairs if your bags are light. The elevator sucks. -
Review from Molly L.
8/18/2010
The Pros:
-The location (right on the corner of Union Square)
-The staff is friendly and helpful.
-Wine and cheese every night from 5-7
-Continental breakfast every morning from 7-10
-Comfortable beds
-Windows that open
The Cons:
-Smallish rooms
-No view (at least from my room)
Overall, I enjoyed my stay here. The wine and cheese hour was a great way to interact with other guests. The rooms were a bit small, but I imagine they're pretty standard for San Francisco. And the location was unbeatable. I'd recommend this hotel to others looking for a hotel with character in downtown San Francisco. -
Review from Petricola M.
New York, NY
5/20/2011
For a reasonably priced hotel in central San Francisco, look no further. Just off Union Square, it is small (the building, not the rooms) and unpretentious, but the staff and management consistently make it clear that they really want you to enjoy your stay. There is a small breakfast area on each floor where excellent continental breakfasts and enjoyable wine and cheese evenings give a nice setting to meet and compare travel notes with other guests. The front desk staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their city. Really, a very pleasant experience.
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Review from Meghan H.
Pismo Beach, CA
3/20/2011
What a gem! The Inn at Union Square was recommended to my by a colleague (we both work in the hotel industry) when I was looking for a place to stay for a concert in the City. I was traveling with two girlfriends, and decided to come a day early and spend some time sightseeing. The first night we stayed at a sister property of Inn at Union Square (King George) which was great; but we were overly impressed with the accommodations here.
Omar, who worked the front desk in the evening was charming yet professional. He was a pleasure to chat with! The woman who checked us out the following morning was also so friendly! She had arranged for a few extra amenities to be put in our room prior to arrival; a wonderful and thoughtful touch.
The location is great; and I didn't find the rooms to cramped (what do you expect in an old downtown building in San Fransisco?). They did have Aveda bath amenities, which also greatly impressed me and both my girlfriends. Lastly, the wine and cheese reception was perfect.
I can't wait to make it back, and will not stay elsewhere in San Francisco again. Kudos Inn at Union Square! -
Review from Perry M.
Lodi, CA
10/11/2008
If your in the City and need a place to stay that's close to Union Square, you can't go wrong with this place. Really the nicest staff you'll ever meet. Seemed to be mostly from the Phillipines so the accents could be a bit hard to understand. Tony the porter has a great sense of humor and they all go out of their way to take care of you.
Not much of a view but whaddya expect from a hotel thats only 6 stories high. There's 2 types of hotels in SF, the big moderns that ooze sterility and the older homey small types. This place fits the second style, so if ya don't like personality, don't stay here! -
Review from Karen R.
San Diego, CA
6/13/2008
This place is a-ok. While in town for business without much notice, I had trouble finding a hotel in the Union Square area available for the full week I needed and not almost $400 a night.
The room was pretty small but I found it ok. The location can't be beat. The room was clean, airy, had nice Aveda products in the bathroom, and flat screen TVs. I was upgraded to a suite upon checkin so I can't speak much for the standard room, but the suite had a sitting area and a view of the street and Union Square. Pretty a-ok.
They provide wine and light snacks nightly, which I enjoyed in my room. A continental breakfast was provided in the morning and I enjoyed having a good cup of brew and pastry in bed each morning.
The elevator is slow, but I dig the carpeting on the walls.
If I were coming on vacation to San Francisco and wanted a clean, budget hotel with European flair, I would stay here. -
Review from Candace O.
El Paso, TX
2/23/2010
I did my research online about this hotel and many others, finally deciding on the Inn at Union Square, based on user reviews. What drew me in was the amenities that other reviewers raved about, such as the 1) Aveda bath products, 2) the wine and cheese happy hour, 3) the morning breakfasts, 4) the complimentary wireless internet, 5) the location, and 6) the service.
Well I was very happy with 4 out of the 6 amenities. The complimentary wireless internet, however, was not working for the 40 out of the 48 hours we stayed at the hotel. As this was a business trip as well as a leisure trip, this posed quite a problem. Most of the staff (3 out of the 4 front desk people) that we encountered did not know how to handle the problem, not even apologizing that it wasn't working, or giving us other options. I had to come up with a temporary solution myself, which was to go to the borders down the street to use their wifi. We were not compensated for this inconvenience and crippling experience to our work, as well as our leisure activities. It was difficult to find restaurants that I wanted to go to, or to map out my route using public transportation without the internet.
The other thing I wanted to mention was that their elevator does not take the key cards readily....each time we used the elevator to go up or down, it required swiping our key card at least 3-4 times just for it to take it. In addition, our own hotel room required two swipes before it would let us in. It was quite annoying.
All in all, I would still recommend this hotel, but maybe not so readily, and with the caution that there are some "quirks" that you have to prepare yourself for. -
Review from Kevin I.
Glendale, CA
4/10/2009
This was originally not the hotel my friend and I booked, but we were transferred here from a sister hotel. When we arrived, we found that our room was not as we requested, so we got on the phone and they fixed it fairly quickly. We got a much better room with a view. Every time we needed something, they were very eager to help. Free Continental breakfast was nice and we hoarded a lot of food because we were a little broke after spending all that money in SF (very expensive city). The desk staff was not very knowledgeable about the surrounding neighborhood or about good restaurants or bars. (The one they suggested was closed?) A homeless man on the street was more informative. Overall, not too horrible.
