Empire Journal | Luxury hotels in San Francisco, California
The Best Luxury Hotels in San Francisco
Five verified luxury hotels in San Francisco, with exact addresses and official websites so you can confirm every detail before you book.
San Francisco's grand hotels are split between Nob Hill and the downtown blocks south of Market, and the hill is not a metaphor rewards travelers who choose their address carefully. This guide covers the best luxury hotels in San Francisco — five properties selected for recognized luxury positioning, location, service reputation and design, each with its verified street address and official website so you can confirm every detail yourself before you book.
Every hotel below was checked against its official hotel, resort or brand page. We deliberately link to the property's own site rather than a booking intermediary, because rates, room inventory, renovation status and amenities change and the official page is the only place those are authoritative. The selection covers Nob Hill, Union Square, the Financial District and SoMa.
How we selected these hotels
This is an editorial top five, not a permanent ranking. Selection weighted four things: recognized luxury positioning within the market, location relative to what visitors actually come to San Francisco for, the strength of the operating brand or independent ownership, and design and service reputation. Where a destination covers a wider resort region, the surrounding area is included rather than a strict municipal boundary.
We do not publish rate estimates, star counts or amenity claims we cannot verify on the property's own page. For each hotel you get the exact name, the exact address and the official URL — then you confirm current details directly. For dining once you land, see our MICHELIN guide, and browse our luxury travel editorial library for more destination planning.
The five best luxury hotels in San Francisco
1. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco
600 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94108
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco sits at 600 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94108. It operates under The Ritz-Carlton brand. Confirm current room categories, resort fees, renovation status and availability on the official site: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/sforz-the-ritz-carlton-san-francisco.
2. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
757 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco sits at 757 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103. It operates under the Four Seasons brand. Confirm current room categories, resort fees, renovation status and availability on the official site: www.fourseasons.com/sanfrancisco.
3. The Fairmont San Francisco
950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108
The Fairmont San Francisco sits at 950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108. It operates under the Fairmont brand. Confirm current room categories, resort fees, renovation status and availability on the official site: www.fairmont.com/en/hotels/san-francisco/fairmont-san-francisco.html.
4. Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel
2 New Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel sits at 2 New Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94105. It is part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection. Confirm current room categories, resort fees, renovation status and availability on the official site: www.sfpalace.com.
5. The St. Regis San Francisco
125 Third St., San Francisco, CA 94103
The St. Regis San Francisco sits at 125 Third St., San Francisco, CA 94103. It operates under the St. Regis brand. Confirm current room categories, resort fees, renovation status and availability on the official site: www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sfoxr-the-st-regis-san-francisco/overview.
The address is the amenity. In San Francisco, where you sleep decides how the rest of the trip feels.
Planning notes
Nob Hill is quieter and more residential, with steep walks in every direction. The Market Street and SoMa addresses put you closer to the Moscone Center, the museums and transit. Fog and wind make San Francisco evenings genuinely cold most of the year, and neighborhood character changes block to block downtown — worth checking your exact walking route rather than the general area.
Before you commit, call or email the property directly and confirm four things: the exact room category and view you are paying for, whether any part of the hotel is under renovation during your dates, the full nightly cost including resort or destination fees and parking, and the cancellation deadline. If a property has recently changed ownership or brand, ask what has changed operationally — not just what the website says.
Frequently asked questions
Which luxury hotel in San Francisco should I book first?
The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is the first property we check, and it is the most consistent expression of luxury hospitality in this market. Availability is the real constraint, so hold a flexible rate early and confirm details on the official site.
Are these the only luxury hotels in San Francisco?
No. This is a curated editorial five, not an exhaustive list. It is meant to give you a short, verifiable starting point instead of a hundred options.
How do I verify the details in this guide?
Every hotel is listed with the address and official website used to verify its identity and location. Rates, amenities and renovation status change, so treat the official page as the source of truth and confirm before booking.
Can I use a luxury hotel in San Francisco without staying overnight?
Often, yes. Day passes to hotel pools, cabanas and spas are sold separately at many properties through ResortPass, which is useful if you want the resort experience on a travel day or a short visit.
Book your San Francisco stay
You book the trip itself on Expedia. The rest are the loyalty programs and platforms we pair with it. Each link is an affiliate link, which means Empire Experience may earn a commission on a completed booking at no additional cost to you.
- Expedia — Book the trip here: hotels, flights, cars, packages and activities in one checkout.
- World of Hyatt — Points stays and Globalist perks across Park Hyatt, Andaz and Hyatt Regency properties.
- ResortPass — Buy a day pass to a luxury hotel pool, cabana or spa in the same city — no overnight stay required.
- Alaska Atmos Rewards — Strong West Coast coverage and first-class upgrades on short hops.
- United MileagePlus — Widest domestic network with Polaris on the long-haul legs.
- Travelpayouts — Not a booking site. This is the creator program — join free if you want to earn commission on the travel you post about.
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