HANDLERY UNION SQUARE HOTEL, San Francisco

The Handlery Union Square Hotel sits less than a block from Union Square, placing it at the center of San Francisco's shopping and theatre district. The Powell Street BART station (for direct connections to SFO Airport) and the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable car lines are both a 5-minute walk away. The Moscone Convention Center and the Museum of Modern Art are 5 blocks south, while Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 are a 20-30 minute walk or a short cable car ride. Several restaurants, including Cafe Bellini, Daily Grill, and Pinecrest Diner, are within 0.5 km. The hotel is on Geary Street near the edge of the Tenderloin district; while Union Square itself is considered safe, the immediate surroundings can feel less comfortable after dark, and street protests occasionally occur in the area.

Each room includes a private bathroom, flat-screen cable TV, mini-refrigerator, single-cup coffee maker, iron, hairdryer, and in-room safe. Free tea and coffee are provided. Rooms are carpeted and have air conditioning and heating. Premier rooms offer a more spacious layout, and select Premier King and Premier Queen/Queen rooms have a balcony available by request (subject to availability; not guaranteed). Standard/Historic rooms have no balcony and limited views. A small number of rooms are accessible, including one Premier room with a roll-in shower, but no accessible rooms have balconies. Soundproofing between rooms and from the corridor can be limited, and rooms facing the street or near the elevator may experience more noise. Quiet rooms are available in all categories upon request.

The hotel's in-house restaurant and bar have closed permanently. No breakfast is served on site. Instead, the hotel provides discount vouchers for nearby establishments, such as 20% off at Café Mason (around the corner) and 10% off at a handful of local cafés. Butler room service is available via an order-and-pay online platform that delivers to the hotel. The surrounding Union Square area offers a wide range of dining options within a short walk, including Morton's The Steakhouse, Colibri Mexican Bistro, and popular diners. A vending machine for drinks is located on the property.

The outdoor pool is heated to 27.8 °C and is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00 throughout the year. Sun loungers and chairs are provided. The sauna is available by appointment and can be booked for private use. The fitness centre is basic, with a few treadmills and free weights. There is no hot tub, spa, or massage services on site. Pool towels are not provided at the pool area, so bath towels from the room are needed. The pool area can become lively during weekends, particularly with children, and some users have noted that the pool's cleanliness could be more consistent.

Wi-Fi is available free in all areas but can be unstable and slow, making it unsuitable for video calls. The 24-hour front desk provides express check-in/out, concierge service, and an ATM on site. Free luggage storage is available before check-in and after check-out. Valet parking costs US$58-$68 + tax per night (US$66-$78 total), with in-and-out privileges for a single daily fee; parking requires entering the garage via O'Farrell Street. Wheelchair-accessible parking is offered. Daily housekeeping is included, and laundry/dry cleaning is available for an additional charge. A lift serves all floors, and the property is non-smoking throughout. Safety features include 24-hour security, CCTV, key card access, and in-room safes. Pets are allowed for a fee. Business facilities (fax/photocopying, meeting rooms) are available for a charge. Packages from Amazon are accepted free for standard-sized boxes.