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In the heart of it all, just steps from a cable car stop, the Handlery Union Square Hotel offers business and leisure travelers the warm, personalized service only an independent family-owned hotel can provide. We invite you to enjoy beautifully appointed rooms and suites at one of the most preferred locations in San Francisco. If you're visiting San Francisco to do a little business, check out the sights or drop off the grid for a weekend getaway, the Handlery Union Square Hotel puts you right in the heart of it all. With our collection of hotel deals and seasonal specials, one of the best values in downtown San Francisco gets even better
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Nestled in the heart of the city, Handlery Union Square Hotel garners praise for its impeccable cleanliness and prime location close to bustling Union Square. Guests often commend the friendly and helpful staff, contributing to the hotel's warm atmosphere. While the rooms are celebrated for their cleanliness and space, some visitors express concerns about noise and dated features.
The amenities generally meet expectations, though the pool area may disappoint. Although the hotel offers good value, including local discounts, travelers are advised to be mindful of the high parking fees.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Welcoming
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Helpful
Amenities
Underwhelming
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The Handlery hotel is a great choice for a stay in San Francisco.
We arrived to a very welcoming member of the reception team and check in was quick, efficient, and informative. There were protests (just noisy) going on over the road by another hotel team over their pay and benefits at that location, so the reception team placed us in a room around the back of the hotel (we could only hear the protests if we opened the windows and even then it was quiet enough not to disturb us).
The hotel itself is quite dated, but still very clean and every team member encountered was very friendly and welcoming.
The room was quite large and spacious with 2 walk in wardrobes, a safe, iron and ironing board, 2 tvs, tea and coffee facilities which were replenished each day, an ice bucket with 2 glasses, a seated desk area and shampoo/conditioner in the bathroom - there's also a bath mat for the shower if needed.
The room was cleaned daily and had very comfortable beds for a great night's sleep.
There were plenty of electric outlets so charging devices etc won't be an issue you'll face.
WiFi had very good connection throughout the building.
The location of the hotel is another major factor in making this an ideal place to stay, situated in the heart of Union Square, Maceys is about a 2 to 3 minute walk, there's a tram station a couple of minutes away that can connect you to multiple places (we used it to travel to the Chase Centre for a basketball game), China Town is a stones throw away, there's plenty of bars and restaurants as well as shops for all needs (CVS, Wallgreens etc.)
Would highly recommend this hotel to everyone.
A+++ service!
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Date of stay: November 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at the Handlery Union Square Hotel for 4 nights in September. The hotel is located on Geary Street right near the Union Square where there are lots of great stores and restaurants. It is close to the cable cars, China Town and easy to get to other interesting parts of San Francisco such as the cable car museum. The rooms were very nice and big! We had a nice view of the outdoor pool. I booked the sauna and it was a nice relaxing experience! Joyce at the front desk was always very helpful and recommended restaurants. Terry and the other cleaning staff did a great job. We would highly recommend this hotel!
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jack Handlery, Owner at Handlery Union Square Hotel
Responded 27 Mar 2024
Good morning 991shelleyr, Thank you for leaving us a post stay review and thank you for staying with us. We're glad to see you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future. I will make sure Joyce is recognized for your nice feedback. We take great pride in our team and our property and recognition is key! We look forward to seeing you next time. All the best, Jack Handlery
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We had an enjoyable stay at the Handlery Union Square Hotel. It is in a great location, only one block from Union Square. We took a walking tour with freesftour.com that started at Union Square and gave us some information about the local area.
The hotel is easily accessible to the trolley car, streetcars and lightrail station. We caught the light rail to Oracle Stadium to see the baseball, a street car to Castro for some Mexican food and Fisherman's Wharf and the light rail to China Town.
We requested a room with a view and were on the top floor with a city view. We liked the balcony into the courtyard to allow fresh air into the room. With 4 of us in the one room the basin external to the shower and toilet was helpful as some could be brushing teeth and hair whilst someone was in the shower. the room was large.
The manager was very helpful when our luggage was delayed by the airline and provided some toiletries.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Ask for room on the courtyard as you don't get street noice.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jack Handlery, Owner at Handlery Union Square Hotel
Responded 12 Oct 2023
Good morning Cindyep, Thank you for leaving us a post stay review, and more importantly, thank you for staying with us! We’re glad to see you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again in the future. Until then, stay safe and healthy.
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We had a nice very quiet room on the top floor facing east so the sun rise in the morning helped to wake us up from a restful nights sleep in a very comfortable bed. We were given meal vouchers for a discount at Café Mason just around the corner and had a no waiting time breakfast. We also purchased Bay cruise tickets through the Handlery at a discounted rate and enjoyed a beautiful, sunny, warm cruise on the Bay with almost glassy water and no wind, a very rare thing out by the Golden Gate. It was a memorable occasion for our thirtieth anniversary! Thanks Handlery!
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our first time at the Handlery (8 nights) and we were very pleased with our choice. We booked a 2 dbles room in the Premier building (newer part), The room overlooked Geary St and was on the 7th floor. It was large, very clean and airy and had little touches such as a 'dressing' area (no scrapping over the bathroom mirror!) and a retractable clothes line over the bath. The shower was quite powerful and efficient for an old building. We heard very little noise from the street or the adjacent rooms / hallway and used the garage entrance on Geary St to come and go, so avoided the walk back through to the main reception building on O'Farrell. The staff were polite and helpful - from front desk to the housekeeping staff. Our request for a late check-out was granted, so that we could sightsee in the morning then freshen up prior to our late afternoon flight back to the UK. We would happily recommend The Handlery to friends and family.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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What a wonderful, traditional hotel in the heart of Union Square!
A perfect end to our Cali road trip for our honeymoon.
The hotel room was perfect, we informed the manager that we were on honeymoon and we’re welcomed by a room upgrade and a bottle of champagne.
The room was lovely, very spacious. Great facilities and the most comfy bed we stayed in during our 3 week trip.
The hotel is in a prime location and although it’s a walk from Pier33 you feel that you are in the traditional part of San Fran but safe.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:You get given a discount voucher for breakfast round the corner, the restaurant is basic but...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If coming by car consider staying somewhere else or check carefully the rules that apply and the cost! Nearly got my rental car towed away at check in. No information was given as to how to access the garage directly but instead I was told when I rang reception we could stop right outside the hotel even though this was illegal! My wife had to move the rental car even though she was not insured to drive it. The garage cost came to 212 USD for three nights. It is valet parking only. Parking entrance is on O’farrell street. This info would have been good to have before arriving. When we arrived with all our luggage it was quite a hassle to get it all from the garage to the lobby. We were offered help and if you are not fit or willing to use the wheelchair elevator accept the help! The rooms we stayed in very quite noisy due to shallow walls and old windows, but ventilation was better than many other hotels we visited in the US. Very clean hotel, rooms and very service minded staff. No breakfast available in hotel. The homeless and drug addict situation around the center of San Francisco is a mess and this hotel is close to one of the worst streets (Ellis street).
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Between 4pm and 6pm there is no stopping on the street in front of the hotel.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here for the first night of an extended tour and it was at the time the city had 30,000 cardiologists visiting for a conference which impacted availability and room prices. The hotel is in a very good location near Union Square so there are lots of bars and restaurants nearby. The reception staff were pleasant and helpful. Our room was overlooking the front road in the original part of the hotel which needs some investment to give it a spruce up - like others have said, it’s looking tired in places, so it matters where your room is. That said, bed was fine and the shower in the quite small bathroom was OK. The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant but you’re given a 20% discount voucher for a local cafe, which we didn’t use as we had breakfast at Sears Fine Foods round the corner. So, fine for one night after a long flight but we wouldn’t have wanted to be there for several days.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:The rooms in the block by the pool looked newer.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jack Handlery, Owner at Handlery Union Square Hotel
Responded 27 Mar 2024
Good morning FunBoyOne, Thank you for leaving us a post stay review, and more importantly, thank you for staying with us! We appreciate your feedback anout our property. Feedback like yours are how we can grow and learn over the years. We’re glad to see you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again in the future. Until then, stay safe and healthy. All the best, Jack Handlery
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Good central, safe location. Traditional hotel. A good base for our first three nights in US. No restaurant in the hotel but plenty nearby. Would recemmend Cafe Mason diner on Mason Street around the corner (can get a hotel discount!), or The Bartlett Hall restaurant/bar directly behind the hotel garage. Noisy pipes in the hotel and small en-suite (it is an old hotel). Has a courtyard pool (didn't try it). Has baggage storage.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Jack Handlery, Owner at Handlery Union Square Hotel
Responded 27 Mar 2024
Good morning _carolineascot16, Thank you for leaving us a post stay review and we are glad you enjoyed your stay. Our pool will be waiting for you next time you are on sites. It is nice to hear you were able to explore some of our surrounding attractions. SF has so much to offer. Thank you again and we look forward to welcoming you in the future. All the best, Jack Handlery
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I note this hotel has very mixed reviews, so let me start by saying that if you want stark and modern lines and a minimalistic setting, then this is NOT the place for you. That said, we returned after 9 years since we last stayed and found the place incredibly friendly, with an old world charm and understated furnishings and incredibly comfortable setting that we remembered. We are so glad we decided to come back. Reception is friendly and nothing is too much trouble, we loved the outdoor heated pool and we enjoyed being able to book the sauna as it felt like a real treat. With the location so great, we felt that this was wonderful value for money and really couldn’t be faulted.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sadly, homeless is everywhere. I believe you have to decide your comfort level with the homeless. My sister and I saw homeless people along with drug use in the streets. We never felt threatened or in any danger. We Ubered around the city and took the street car to and from the hotel from Fisherman's Wharf. We thought the hotel and location were perfect.
Our room had a small fridge. I’m not sure if all rooms have them. There are no laundry facilities on site. We ran into the same issue of needing to wash clothes. There are stores within walking distance that carry laundry detergent, and there is a clothesline I’m the hotel bathroom. We washed clothes in the sink and hung them up to dry.
There are more places to choose from in the San Francisco area.
PRICE RANGE
$228 - $392 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
handlery union square san francisco, handlery union square hotel, hotel handlery union square, handlery hotel san francisco
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSan FranciscoDowntown San Francisco / Tenderloin / Downtown / Theater District
NUMBER OF ROOMS
377
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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HANDLERY UNION SQUARE HOTEL - Updated 2025 Reviews & Price Comparison (San Francisco, CA) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Handlery Union Square Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Handlery Union Square Hotel?
Nearby attractions include San Francisco Magic Theater at the Marrakech (0.3 km), San Francisco Urban Adventures (0.3 km), and San Francisco Playhouse (0.1 km).