Name: Handlery Union Square Hotel
Address: 351 Geary Street, Lower Nob Hill, San Francisco, California, United States of America, San Francisco, California, US
Price range: US$129–US$829 per night
Rating: 8.35

What guests think

Handlery Union Square Hotel is a classic, centrally located property by Union Square, praised for friendly service and a heated outdoor pool, with walkable transit and dining, and rooms that range from cozy historic to larger premier options.

Rooms are comfortable but dated, with size and views varying; some report street or hallway noise, inconsistent Wi‑Fi, and temperature control issues, while premium rooms often add balconies or patios. Cleanliness is often praised, though a minority mentioned musty odors, bathroom mold or rust, stained carpets, sporadic pool upkeep, and rare pests. There’s no on‑site restaurant or breakfast, but many eateries are steps away; valet parking is convenient yet pricey, and the Union Square area can have visible homelessness and occasional late‑night noise. Expect a central, value‑minded stay with classic character rather than modern luxury.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Heated outdoor pool and a sauna (often by appointment) are appreciated; there’s also a small gym. On‑site valet parking is convenient but expensive, and the older layout can be confusing, with no on‑site restaurant or snack shop.

Related guest reviews

6

Tishian

7 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel can use a bit of a cleaning/upgrade. It’s a solid 3 star hotel in a good location. Parking is expensive $75/night but it’s similar in most other hotels in the area. They have no onsite dining options or even a small store for waters, snacks. The pool is cute but we didn’t use it. Truthfully, this hotel is shabby and I called in advance to ask for adjoining rooms for my young niece and they didn’t accommodate my request. The security guy was great. He helped us get rooms close together but since I called well in advance it was disappointing they couldn’t accommodate our request.

10

fd

12 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Excellent rates, great location, lots of nice touches in room, great heated outdoor pool and deck.

8

Denise

16 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

Loved the amenities-nice to have a heated pool, sauna and small gym. Room was spacious and super nice having a little balcony. I appreciated there were no "wake-up" housekeeping calls

10

william

28 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Hidden gem! Very clean. Upgrade to a premium room for nice patios. Pool was very warm in October!

10

Elaine

28 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I stayed for 2 nights, family trip (solo mom +2 boys). We felt very comfortable. The heated pool was a main draw for choosing this hotel. Fitness center could use some space and equipment, but i would absolutely book this hotel again.

10

Joseph

26 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Nice central location for a variety of activities. The parking garage is incredibly convenient.

6

JAIME

25 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Bed was really hard and uncomfortable. Pool closes early at 8pm and was definitely not 80 degrees. Parking was valet only and $75 a night. Room was decent sized and clean but on the warm side with no way to control the temperature.

8

Michael

1 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very good, but outdated rooms. Beds were great, shower as well though the temperature of the water fluctuated somewhat. Pool was nice and warm. Rest of the hotel has little to offer in the ways of food or other amenities, but there s plenty in the area. Unfortunately a lot of homeless people around the area which made is feel less safe. Valet parking was great though and kept our car safe.

8

Ellen

25 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

In a great location, walkable to many restaurants and shops. Staff was very professional and accommodating. Loved having a secure covered parking garage attached to the hotel. There wasn’t anywhere in the hotel to grab a snack. I My reservation said breakfast included in the price but that turned out to be inaccurate as there was no area that provided that.

6

Julianne

30 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I had high expectations for this hotel since it was about 40% more than we usually spend. But there are actually better amenities at the lower end hotels we frequent. The pool was clean and warm, but the picture online makes it look twice as big as it really is. The pool closed at 8pm, which is an hour earlier than the majority of hotels. There is no restaurant or room service on the premises. All of the surrounding restaurants (except for the bars) closed by 8pm. We chose this location because it was within walking distance of the mall. But the mall was 90% vacant. Maybe 10 stores in operation out of the 5 floors. You have to make an appointment to use the sauna. They do not tell you this at check-in. My daughter made an appointment and it took 20 minutes for her to find someone to let her in and when they did, there was a drunk, naked couple in it WITHOUT an appointment. Then they had to clean it so my daughter only had 30 minutes out of the 60 she reserved. No apology, no remorse. Parking is astronomical compared to other locations. Most of the staff was VERY polite and helpful the first 2 days. However, the last day, I was standing in line to check out and the attendant took a man who had just walked in after me. After 3 minutes of them talking back and forth, i just left the keys on the counter and walked out. Also- NONE OF THE VENDING MACHINES WORK. And the front desk charges $4 for a small, generic bottle of water. The refrigerators are difficult to access, too.

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Cleanliness

Many guests found rooms very clean with reliable housekeeping. Some reported musty odors, bathroom mold or rust, stained carpets, occasional pool cleanliness issues, and rare pest sightings.

Related guest reviews

10

Jeannette

8 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

The staff were very friendly and super helpful. The rooms were always cleaned, and the cleaning staff did such a wonderful service.

10

Nicola Joanne

29 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 9 nights

Lovely spotless hotel, Staff very friendly and location excellent .

2

Joseph

1 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Pool was very dirty and bed had brown stains

6

Tracey

20 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room part was nice and updated but the bathroom had mold and was painted over so many times that the door barely closed. Dirty grout in the shower and the pool had mildew on the tiles that floated in the water. Sauna was by appointment only even when un-occupied.

10

Sue

9 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Clean and close to everything

10

Dolores

12 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We really love this hotel and had an excellent stay over a long weekend. Room was clean, bed was comfy, the customer service folks were helpful and friendly. Family owned and operated for almost 100 years! Will definitely stay here any time we are in SF.

10

Matt

16 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice staff and room was comfortable and clean. Would stay again definitely.

8

James

4 May 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Location was great for us, a family of four. Garage valet parking was easy and service quick. Hotel rooms were clean and met our needs. Pool was heated and provided an enjoyable activity at the end of a busy day in the city. Our only negative would be the pool cleanliness - tile and bottom of pool have not been cleaned very recently.

10

Deborah

26 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Staff were very helpful. The room layout was very functional for two friends travelling together. The housekeeping was great and the room was always clean and quiet.

8

Robert

23 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean, comfy room. Close to everything.

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Rooms

Rooms range from small historic to larger premier options, some with balconies or patios and city or pool views. Guests note dated decor, occasional noise, inconsistent Wi‑Fi, and temperature control limits alongside many comments about comfort.

Related guest reviews

6

Oliver M

1 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

The Handlery is a good but somewhat dated hotel that's well-situated for exploring San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Located a stone's throw away from Union Square the hotel is right in the heart of the city and within easy walking distance of numerous transit options. Check-was straightforward and the staff were helpful. The premier room I received was roomy and comfortable enough but the décor and overall feel was dated. The basics were good but other amenities were subpar. The wifi was slow and unreliable, the power outlets would cut out if you used a high-power USB-C charger, and the in-room safe was broken. The hotel pool was heated decently but was small. A nicely-equipped fitness center was on the premises as an alternative exercise option. Although the hotel itself lacks a restaurant numerous food options were in easy reach. As for the immediate neighborhood, it seemed to avoid the worst of SF's homeless and druggy situation but not entirely, so best not to just let your guard down. Taking this all together made the Handlery an okay place to stay but just okay. Serviceable rather than superb.

8

Jingying

5 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Good room. Good location. Pooooor and unstable Wifi.

8

Paula

25 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

The location is perfect. It's clean and well-maintained, but the building is old, which makes it extremely noisy. You can hear other rooms' doors slamming, and people walking in the hallways wake you up at night.

8

Erik

14 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

Six-night stay while vacationing in the Bay Area. The hotel is conveniently located close to public transit, shopping, and restaurants. It is a bustling area with a lot of street noise, so the higher up you can get on the floors, the better. I was lucky to be on the top floor, but one of biggest challenges of my stay was navigating the building to find my room after checking in at the main entrance on Geary. Given the longer stay, I requested a quieter room away from the elevator and ice machine, and was assigned a room (you guessed it!) right by the elevator and ice machine. Good thing I packed ear plugs! Overall, I found the front desk staff to be unprofessional: Unclear communication, slow service - just not that great. Another thing to note: Though Hotels.com’s website indicates there are laundry facilities at the hotel, this is not accurate. I ended up sending laundry out for cleaning - a big hassle I didn’t want to deal with! On the positive side, my room was clean, spacious, and featured a nice balcony with a city view. Coming and going was easy with access to the elevator through the parking garage off O’Farrell with my room key. Finally, I needed to report a neighboring guest for smoking cannabis in their room because the smell was disgusting and security staff dealt with it swiftly, which I really appreciated. It was an okay stay. But next time in SF, I’ll consider trying another hotel in search of more professional staff.

10

ismail kursad

27 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The location is absolutely unbeatable – you're literally steps away from Union Square's shopping, theaters, and cable cars and you can walk nearly every must to see places at most 30-40 minutes. The room was clean, comfortable, and surprisingly quiet for being in the heart of the city. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. For a classic San Francisco experience with fantastic value, I highly recommend this hotel.

8

Melanie

19 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Loved the location close by to Union Square, shops/places to eat all walkable. Would have preferred to have air conditioning / fans in the room to make the stay more comfortable.

10

Theodore

10 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

We stayed in the 'premier' building/room. It was nice to spend time on the balcony with a great view of the city. Our room had many nice extra's - lighted makeup mirror, bathmat, refrigerator, scale, toothbrush/toothpaste, mouthwash and a very comfortable couch and king size bed. We could not have been happier with the cleanliness of the room and daily housekeeping. The room was very quiet for sleeping. We will be returning on our next trip to San Francisco.

10

ROBERT

23 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was clean and quiet. The internet was fast and consistant. The Staff was wonderful

8

John E

23 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

We really enjoyed our 3 night stay at the Handlery. The only problem we had was the plugs on the desk and nightstand were unusable because they were too loose to plug anything into. The room was spacious and quiet and very comfortable.

8

Rachel

7 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This hotel was located right on union square which was super convenient for us. I liked the decor in the building, and it was very nice and quiet on the 6th floor. We were also able to check in early as our room was ready, which was really nice! The only downside was the lack of microwave in the room, and the bathroom door has a small grate at the bottom that you can see through (I assume for ventilation since there’s no bathroom fan). Otherwise, great stay! Staff was very friendly and helpful.

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Service

Service is frequently described as friendly, helpful, and accommodating across departments. A few guests reported curt, slow, or unprofessional front‑desk interactions.

Related guest reviews

10

julie

6 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Wonderful staff! Very friendly and willing to help with anything we needed. The hotel was clean, in the perfect area to explore San Francisco, cable car was just out the door.

10

Joshua

5 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Location and walkable! Staff is above and beyond nice! The best experience I’ve ever received at a hotel in San Francisco.

10

Tom

1 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great Staff and Service

10

Christopher

5 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The reservations guy on the phone was GREAT!

6

Lusine

29 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I liked everything except a front receptionist. It seemed he was so tired and didn’t explain how to get to the room in that huge hotel, didn’t mention about the car parking and many other details. No communication skills and ability to welcome tourists.

10

Deborah

26 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Staff were very helpful. The room layout was very functional for two friends travelling together. The housekeeping was great and the room was always clean and quiet.

10

Cecilia

8 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

Handlery was perfect for us , nice service , very clean

2

Julia

18 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Do not recommend. Looked nothing like the advertisement. Staff were rude and unhelpful besides the guy

10

Sheila Marie

12 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff has excellent service. Joyce from the front desk is very friendly and welcoming. Teddy the housekeeper is very friendly and helpful.

10

Alisha

12 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Fantastic stay at Handlery Union Square, I have stayed at this hotel three other times and I receive consistent, great service, always polite, accommodating, and attentive service. The rooms are spacious some have floor to ceiling windows that overlook the city. Beds are comfortable, modern decor, and fast elevators. The location is prime and safe with a lot of restaurant options you can walk to and shopping. Overall, I would highly recommend and will be back with my family.

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Location

Excellent Union Square location that’s walkable to shops, restaurants, BART, and cable cars. Several reviews mention visible homelessness and occasional late‑night noise in the area.

Related guest reviews

8

John

24 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This hotel is clean and comfortable, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. It is also an excellent value for downtown San Francisco. Unfortunately, the Union Square area of the city still has a fair number of homeless people wandering around, although for the most part, they don't seem to bother anyone.

8

Serena

26 Apr 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very good hotel - well situated a block away from union square. Very convenient location where it was a walking distance to Chinatown and the cable car turnaround stop.

10

Joseph

26 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Nice central location for a variety of activities. The parking garage is incredibly convenient.

10

Pedro

12 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location and you can basically walk to every place you want to go. You can catch the bart, uber, or Waymo. We had a pleasant experience and would stay there again

10

isaac

13 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Good location highly recommend it’s our new San Francisco hitel

10

Mark

8 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location. Walking distance to many food and drink locations as well as easy walk to Chinatown. Street trolleys right out the door. Super convenient. Walked from the Powell BART station.

10

Jerry

13 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Good location near Union Square. Friendly staff. Neighborhood gets sketchy just a few blocks further away from the square, but around the hotel seems fine.

10

Mitch

2 Jan 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Was a great place to stay for New Years Eve! Right next to all of the action on Union Square. Within walking distance to many restaurants and bars. Definitely would revisit in the future!

10

Magnus

30 Nov 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Very nice hotel, located right next door to Union Square. Easy transfer to/from SFI with the BART. BART station is close by so easy to get around. Good restaurants close by, especially Al Pastor Papi 😊 Several nice bars around also.

10

Susan

27 Mar 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Location is excellent, only a couple mins walk to union sq or to public transport

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Dining

No on‑site restaurant, breakfast, or room service, and in‑room microwaves are generally unavailable. Many dining options are nearby, though some guests missed lobby coffee or convenient snacks.

Related guest reviews

10

MELIAH

28 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

This is a non-corporate chain gem right off of Union Square! The staff, the room, everything was *wonderful*. Note; there's no on site restaurant so room service isn't an option but it didn't bother us one bit. We had dinner x2 and breakfast, each at restaurants which were all literally across the street. Absolutely amazing location, responsive staff, in a clean, historic building.

6

Tishian

7 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel can use a bit of a cleaning/upgrade. It’s a solid 3 star hotel in a good location. Parking is expensive $75/night but it’s similar in most other hotels in the area. They have no onsite dining options or even a small store for waters, snacks. The pool is cute but we didn’t use it. Truthfully, this hotel is shabby and I called in advance to ask for adjoining rooms for my young niece and they didn’t accommodate my request. The security guy was great. He helped us get rooms close together but since I called well in advance it was disappointing they couldn’t accommodate our request.

8

Lance

26 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Would love to see the lounge and restaurant open since they don’t offer microwaves in the rooms. Bathroom areas are tiny. Pillows not comfortable. People were very friendly and helpful.

6

Oliver M

1 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

The Handlery is a good but somewhat dated hotel that's well-situated for exploring San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Located a stone's throw away from Union Square the hotel is right in the heart of the city and within easy walking distance of numerous transit options. Check-was straightforward and the staff were helpful. The premier room I received was roomy and comfortable enough but the décor and overall feel was dated. The basics were good but other amenities were subpar. The wifi was slow and unreliable, the power outlets would cut out if you used a high-power USB-C charger, and the in-room safe was broken. The hotel pool was heated decently but was small. A nicely-equipped fitness center was on the premises as an alternative exercise option. Although the hotel itself lacks a restaurant numerous food options were in easy reach. As for the immediate neighborhood, it seemed to avoid the worst of SF's homeless and druggy situation but not entirely, so best not to just let your guard down. Taking this all together made the Handlery an okay place to stay but just okay. Serviceable rather than superb.

10

Lori

2 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Many great food choices within 1-2 blocks. Trolley @ Hop On Hop Off buses 1/2 block away. 3 blocks from BART. Location could not have been better.Although rooms lack microwave, staff let me use their staff kitchen!

8

DEREK ALAN

29 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

No restaurant, better tea/coffee facilities and teaspoon’s provided!

8

Laurie

24 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Older property in room, but maintained. Pool nice. No breakfast nor even coffeee in lobby. Very expensive parking

6

Angelo

18 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

How does a hotel of this size not offer coffee to its guests. I’m not asking for free coffee, i’ll pay for it. Thankfully across the street at the westin st francis hotel they have a great cafe. We actually spent more time in their lobby than ours. Great location but it’s a 3 star hotel and they are ok with that. No extra effort made to impress you here. I will say the room was very quiet at night.

10

Susan

26 May 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Enjoyed our stay quite well. I love the quaintness of the rooms. Tho the stall showers should have a grab bar to get in and out. Shower a little slippery after showering. I do like plain showers vs combo. Hard to step over side of tub to get in and out at my age. The vending machine for water , soda etc was out of order. There wasn't any place close by to buy a bottle of water. Also it would be nice if there was small coffee, tea and muffin area w water to buy esp in the morning.

8

Ellen

25 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

In a great location, walkable to many restaurants and shops. Staff was very professional and accommodating. Loved having a secure covered parking garage attached to the hotel. There wasn’t anywhere in the hotel to grab a snack. I My reservation said breakfast included in the price but that turned out to be inaccurate as there was no area that provided that.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	US$230
February	US$185
March	US$215
April	US$130
May	US$134
June	US$207
July	US$136
August	US$155
September	US$195
October	US$215
November	US$180
December	US$119

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16 $829	17 $248	18 $159	19 $161
20 $144	21 $196	22 $230	23 $200	24 $239	25 $280	26 $274
27 $236	28 $232	29 $232	30 $224

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $214	2 $181	3 $181
4 $161	5 $197	6 $197	7 $206	8 $206	9 $180	10 $176
11 $170	12 $329	13 $355	14 $312	15 $212	16 $135	17 $135
18 $137	19 $204	20 $206	21 $206	22 $129	23 $130	24 $130
25 $130	26 $148	27 $150	28 $144	29 $148	30 $129	31 $129

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Standard Room, 1 Double Bed

Premier Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

Premier Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Double Room, 2 Double Beds

Guest reviews

Very good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Handlery Union Square Hotel

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Prices for upcoming dates