This past weekend, my boyfriend and I stayed at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square to enjoy a quick getaway in the city. We recently relocated from Portland, Oregon to the SF Bay Area and could not wait to soak up some classic San Francisco experiences. On Saturday afternoon, we hopped in the car and drove to the hotel. It was nice knowing we could have our car if we wanted, although we did not end up using it until we departed the next day. The line to check in was quite long as this is prime time for out of town visitors to come to San Francisco before the holidays.
We gathered in the lobby for the unveiling ceremony of the hotel’s CanStruction project then headed to the Union Square Holiday Ice Rink. We both could not remember the last time we had been ice skating but it ended up being just like riding a bike, it all came rushing back to us! I expected my boyfriend to want to do a few laps and then people watch but he ended up wanting to skate longer than me! Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit more than skating by the giant Christmas tree in Union Square.
San Francisco’s “SantaCon” event also happened to be taking place that same day so there were thousands of people dressed as Santa roaming the streets. After skating we had dinner at the hotel’s Urban Tavern. The food was delicious and the ambiance was very inviting and modern. I don’t generally enjoy dishes that mix sweet and savory items but my favorite dish was definitely the pork belly and waffles.
We then made our way to the 46th floor for cocktails and dessert in the hotel’s Cityscape Lounge.
I had no idea how incredibly the views of the city would be from above. This hotel is the tallest on the west coast and it boasts panoramic views of the entire city. It was so fun to see how small everything looked from so high up.
The next morning, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the Poached. The buffet included classic continental breakfast classics as well as some more unique items pork buns, rice and miso soup.
We hopped aboard a motorized Cable Car which was waiting outside the hotel to take us to Pier 33. The hotel is located in the perfect San Francisco location – central to the best neighborhoods and areas in the city. We had so much fun making our way through the financial district and Chinatown. Our cable car driver was very informative and shared fun unknown facts about the city’s history. We arrived at Pier 33 to embark on an Alcatraz Tour. Although I am born and raised in the Bay Area, I had never been to Alcatraz and knew next to nothing about the Island. We were so lucky because our tour was lead by former resident, Jolene Babyok. Her father was an Associate Warden – and the one who received the call after the famous escape in 1962.
Upon returning from Alcatraz, we headed back to the hotel to check out and drive home to the East Bay. Union Square at Christmas time is pure magic but the Hilton San Francisco Union Square is perfect for a getaway year round.
Need to Know:
Hotel rates range from $139-to $253 (rates fluctuate depending on season)
Dining options, in addition to room service:
Urban Tavern Hours: 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm daily
CityScape Hours: 4:30 pm – 12:00 am daily
Poached Hours: 6:00 am – 11:00 am daily
On site parking: Self parking $62.70 & Valet parking $76.38
191 guest rooms and suites
The hotel is pet-friendly with a $50 non-refundable deposit, max two dogs
Wi/Fi is complimentary for Hilton Honors Members
Insider Tips: Electric car charging station available on site. The hotel is located two blocks from Cable Car lines in the Theater District. Don’t like hotel key cards? Download the Hilton Honors App to open the door to your room.
Check-In Time: 3:00pm
Check-Out Time: 12:00pm
If You Go:
Hilton San Francisco Union Square (415) 771-1400
333 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco, California, 94102
Hotel review and photos courtesy of Kendall C. Brown who was a guest of Hilton SF Union Square while experiencing things to see and do in San Francisco.