The Best Hotels With Pools to Book in San Francisco

Step into history at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco’s first luxury hotel, established in 1875. You can start your day with a swim in the heated indoor pool with a magnificent glass ceiling, followed by a visit to the majestically gilded Garden Court, which is known for its Signature Tea experience and City Brunch. The hotel is also home to the Pied Piper, inspired by the Maxfield Parrish painting that hangs above the bar. The elegant rooms feature Frette linens, leather headboards and views of downtown.

Born from the idea that bands needed a boutique hotel with space to park their tour bus at night, Chip Conley opened the Phoenix Hotel in the Tenderloin in 1987, thus starting its rock’n’roll history. Rooms surround a private courtyard, which features an outdoor heated pool (the site of many a party). The dimly lit Chambers restaurant is open for dinner, cocktails and weekend brunch, which you can enjoy on the poolside patio.

The serene Asian-inspired Hotel Nikko is steps away from Union Square. Its comfortable rooms feature sweeping views of the city, a marble bathroom and dreamy Subarashii Yume (dreams in Japanese) pillow-top beds. The spacious glass-enclosed pool area has an indoor-outdoor deck, lounge chairs and three firepits, creating a perfect spot for roasting s’mores.

The St Regis is nothing if not polished. Its elegantly designed rooms have pops of color and texture provided by aubergine pillows, leather walls and artwork, and its bathrooms offer deep soaking tubs and rainfall showers, creating a relaxing environment. The light-filled, spectacular indoor infinity pool offers beautiful views of the SoMa neighborhood. You can partake in Afternoon Tea in the pleasant Lobby Lounge or have a delicious meal at the Grill – make sure to sample the hotel’s signature cocktail, the Golden Gate Mary.

Originally a 1950s motor lodge, the Hotel Del Sol of today is a family- and pet-friendly playful boutique hotel. Fairy-light-covered palm trees strung with hammocks surround the heated outdoor pool in the courtyard, creating a fitting spot to float on your back while looking at the stars. The hotel also has a host of other amenities, such as bike rentals, a movie library and a complimentary grab-n-go continental breakfast box.

With a calming palette of grays and blues, this hotel has a nautical vibe – a nod to the hotel’s Fisherman’s Wharf location. Its spacious rooms feature multifunctional workstations, mini-fridges, Keurig coffee makers and Drybar hairdryers, while some upgrade accommodation options have city views and marble rain showers. The heated outdoor pool lies in a secluded courtyard, flanked by lounge chairs, small potted trees and a relaxing whirlpool.

The Handlery Union Square Hotel is like two hotels in one. Rooms in the Historic Section highlight the building’s Victorian architecture with high ceilings and bay windows, while those in the Premier Section have city or pool views and upgrades such as extra bathroom amenities and bottles of water. Some rooms even have balconies. The hotel courtyard holds the year-round heated pool, surrounded by lounge chairs, potted greenery and flowers.

The historic Cavallo Point Lodge is about a 20-minute drive from downtown San Francisco and offers contrasting accommodation types. In the beautifully restored historic rooms – some with front porches and gas fireplaces – you can take in city or bay views. Meanwhile, the contemporary rooms give you a chance to relax in front of a fireplace while gazing out at the Golden Gate Bridge. At the on-site Healing Arts Center & Spa, you can enjoy a massage or facial before slipping into the outdoor heated meditation pool.