The Best Hotels With Views in San Francisco

Delicately resting atop Nob Hill, with views over San Francisco, sits the Fairmont. An elegant ambience pervades the hotel, while rooms decorated in soothing colors with picture windows offer unparalleled vistas overlooking the Bay or Downtown. Some suites come with telescopes or balconies to fully appreciate the panoramic cityscape. Guests come to this hotel for its high-end service, but stay for its extraordinary views.

The Huntington Hotel was originally built in 1924 as the grand Huntington Apartment building. Today, this sophisticated hotel is home to a three-level spa with skyline views, fine dining at the intimate Big 4 restaurant accompanied by piano performances, and elegantly bold-hued rooms and suites. Rooms overlook either Union Square, Nob Hill or Huntington Park, earning it a spot as one of the best hotels with a view in San Francisco.

Just across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito sits the historic Cavallo Point Lodge, with a view of the iconic crossing. Formerly a military base, it’s named after the wild horses that previously called the cove home. The Lodge offers contrasting accommodation types for you to choose from: Historic and Contemporary. Either relax in front of the fireplace while gazing out through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the Golden Gate Bridge in the Contemporary lodgings. Or choose the beautifully restored Historic lodgings which have views over the city skyline across the Bay, with their front porches and gas fireplaces.

Rising up over the crest of Nob Hill, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins has a historic charm that harkens back to a bygone era. Slowly sip a perfectly crafted cocktail at the fittingly named Top of the Mark sky lounge, which boasts panoramic 360-degree views over the city. The richly appointed rooms offer views over Nob Hill, the city skyline, or the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Make sure to book a View Room, which is extra spacious and located on the hotel’s top floors.

Experience stunning waterfront views of the Bay Bridge or the San Francisco skyline from the warm oatmeal and sunshine-yellow rooms in the waterfront Hotel Vitale. Along with fantastic vistas, each room offers spa-style limestone baths, high-end bath products and an honor bar loaded with treats. The ground-floor Americano Restaurant and Bar continues the gorgeous views of the Bay from the outdoor patio and has a cool circular cocktail lounge.

Calming grey and blue-toned rooms are a nautical nod to the Fisherman’s Wharf location of this San Francisco hotel with a view. The rooms are ample with multifunctional workstations, mini-fridges, Keurig coffee makers and Drybar hair dryers. Upgraded rooms feature sweeping views of the rising city or the North Point neighborhood along the water. The heated outdoor pool is located in a secluded courtyard, ringed by lounge chairs and small potted trees, and flanked by a relaxing whirlpool.

The polished St. Regis is next door to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and a quick walk from Union Square. The soothing neutral-toned rooms have interesting pops of color and texture with plum-color pillows, leather walls and varied artwork, as well as spectacular views of Downtown. The deep tubs are perfect for soaking, and showers have a rainfall showerhead. Guests opting for suites can experience the luxury of their own butler. The luxurious corner Astor Suite has floor-to-ceiling windows and an added bonus: a marble window seat.

The chic Handlery Hotel is like two hotels in one. The warm, chocolate-toned rooms in the Historic section highlight the hotel’s Victorian architecture with high ceilings and bay windows, while those in the Premier section have views of the shimmering San Francisco skyline or the pool, with added perks like extra bathroom amenities and bottles of water, and many have balconies. The hotel courtyard holds the heated pool that is luckily open year-round, and access to the sauna is available by appointment.

Reaching up into the sky overlooking Downtown is the impressive high-rise Marriott Marquis. Sleek contemporary rooms are decorated in shades of silver and grey with splashes of color, with impressive views over the city (make sure to book a city view room). The well-named, Art Deco-style View Lounge serves cocktails and Californian Cuisine along with striking rooftop views over the San Francisco skyline 39 floors up.