Pros

  • Comfortable Hilton Serenity Beds
  • Excellent selection and service at Flyte wine bar
  • All-day restaurant with American and international cuisine
  • Great views from higher floors
  • On-site fitness center
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
See More Pros

Cons

  • Self-parking and valet are pricey
  • Room service not 24 hours
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Though last renovated in 2006, the 549-room Hilton Financial District still feels fresh, and its great beds, up-to-date tech, and nice bay views from select rooms make it great for business travelers -- and leisure guests that don't mind walking 10 minutes to get to the interesting dining and culture in Chinatown and North Beach.

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pets Allowed
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

Hilton San Francisco Financial District

Scene

Though imposing from the outside, this Hilton on the edge of Chinatown shines on the inside with comfortable rooms and friendly service.

The Hilton Financial District, a 27-floor, 549-room concrete tower on the edge of Chinatown, may not be a new building, but it feels fresh -- a $55 million renovation finished in 2006 turned it into a contemporary-looking property. Its interiors are brighter and more appealing than those at Parc 55, at least from a design standpoint, and its rooms are almost as sleek and technologically up-to-date as those at the InterContinental in SoMa and Le Meridien four blocks away.

The Hilton brand attracts a good number of business travelers -- one reason it showed up so often in "Up in the Air" -- but the good service, comfortable beds, and terrific views at this particular Hilton make it a good choice for tourists looking for a comfortable home base. In the lobby, the Flyte Wine Bar offers an extensive selection of California reds -- something you won't find in most other hotels in this neighborhood. (The Hotel Vitale and the W San Francisco are two, more expensive exceptions.)

Shortcomings are few: There's a relatively skimpy fitness center and no pool. The couple blocks in the immediate vicinity aren't especially attractive -- though they are perfectly safe -- and most of the decent restaurants in the Financial District are closer to the waterfront. A few minutes' walk further, though, and you'll find the appealing Chinatown and North Beach neighborhoods, where great food and interesting architecture are the norm. Other hotel options nearby include the slightly more expensive Le Meridien, while the Hilton certainly outshines the more dreary Club Quarters.

See More Scene

Service

Right for the price: attentive and quick, if not laden with "Sirs"

Service at the Hilton is not up to the same high standards as you find at other business-minded hotels, like the slightly more expensive InterContinental or Omni. Doormen come and go, but that's not a major problem given the automatic sliding doors at the entrance. Plus, the front desk and concierge staff are eager to help both in person and over the phone.

  • Room service not 24 hours
  • Well-staffed front desk
  • Conceirge, available throughout the day
  • In-house notary; business center
  • Hotel garage offers car washing and detailing (at an extra cost).
  • Free newspaper delivered to rooms Monday through Friday; free newspapers available at the bell stand on weekends
  • Valet and self-parking are both expensive
See More Service

Location

On the edge of Chinatown, in the skyscraper-dense Financial District

The Financial District is one of those neighborhoods in which the name says it all. If you're a leisure traveler, it's not a bad place to be, but it's important to know that it's sleepy on weekends and positively dead at night. It's also pretty removed from the city's most popular attractions (Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury), but then, so are the other neighborhoods with similarly high-priced accommodations. (You can stay in Nob Hill for a small taste of local life, for instance, but you'd still have to take a cab or bus to the aforementioned sites.) And being so close to the Embarcadero (about a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Hilton) actually makes for an easier commute to Fisherman's Wharf than you'd have anywhere else except the wharf itself. You're also just seven blocks from the Ferry Building, where you can eat like a world-class foodie and catch a ferry to Sausalito.

  • Six blocks to the picturesque Embarcadero promenade
  • Short walk to the Ferry Building, a foodie paradise chockablock with high-end restaurants that hosts a renowned, thrice-weekly farmers' market
  • 10-minute walk to Market Street and its plethora of public transportation options, including BART trains
  • Five-minute cab ride (or half-hour walk) to the kid-friendly attractions and seafood restaurants of Fisherman's Wharf
  • 30-minute taxi from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
See More Location

Rooms

Spacious rooms with modern technology feature large desks and aptly named Serenity Beds

Around average in size for a San Francisco hotel in this price range, the rooms at the Hilton are sleek and offer many modern electronics, which makes them superior to the slightly staid rooms at the Omni nearby. The contemporary look of Le Meridien is similar to what you'd find here, while the Hilton outshines the small -- but less expensive -- rooms of the Club Quarters.

  • Standard rooms -- available with two doubles or a king bed -- are 320 square feet, which is about average for a room in San Francisco.
  • King Junior Suites are 460 square feet and have separate living rooms, wet bars, and seperate tubs and dual-head showers.
  • Notably comfortable Hilton-brand Serenity Bed: 250-thread-count sheets; five down pillows; down comforter with a duvet
  • Sleek, built-in desk with two power outlets and a media box with two additional power outlets; the swiveling desk lamp is convenient.
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Flat-screen TV with 29 channels; media hub for connecting devices to the TV
  • Hilton-brand alarm clock radio with auxilliary jack for connecting MP3 devices like iPods.
  • Two phones, including one cordless
  • Cup-at-a-time coffeemaker with free Lavazza coffee; bottled water available but no minibar
  • Electronic safe, large enough for a laptop
  • Well-lit bathroom with a makeup (or shaving) mirror, bathrobes, and higher-end Crabtree & Evelyn La Source shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, lotion, and mouthwash
  • Rooms on higher floors have nice views of the city's skyline or the bay (though they often come with a sizable price bump)
See More Rooms

Features

Adequate features -- a spa, gym, and business center -- though nothing stands out

  • 24-hour business center with four computers, a copier, a fax machine, and a laser printer
  • Smaller-than-average 24-hour fitness center with three treadmills, three ellipticals, three bikes, free weights, and a few weight machines
See More Features

Family

Double-Double Rooms can sleep four, but there are no noteworthy kid-friendly features here.

  • Double-Double Rooms can accommodate four people; adjoining rooms are also available.
  • Cribs are free.
  • Rollaways are charged per night and only fit in king bed rooms.
  • Children's menu available at 750 Restaurant & Bar
See More Family

Pets

Cats and dogs allowed

While the Hilton does allow some pets, the Hotel Triton, five blocks away, is a better choice in the Financial District; it doesn't levy a charge for pets of any size and provides accessories like doggie beds and food bowls.

  • Cats and dogs under 75 pounds welcome
  • Fee if you bring your pet
  • The hotel can recommend pet-friendly parks nearby and can also arrange dog-walking and pet-sitting services.
See More Pets

Cleanliness

No cleanliness issues

Rooms and bathrooms are pristine, and the public spaces are well maintained.

See More Cleanliness

All-Inclusive / Food

Great wine bar; otherwise average on-site dining

  • 750 Restaurant & Bar offers all-day dining, starting with a breakfast buffet (an a la carte menu is also available), and a la carte lunch and dinner; menus feature American and international fare
  • Flyte Wine Bar has California reds and whites by the taste, glass, and flight, many preserved in a high-tech Enomatic system that keeps wine fresh
  • Room service available throughout the day, but not 24 hours
See More All-Inclusive / Food

Things You Should Know About Hilton San Francisco Financial District

Also Known As

  • San Francisco Hilton
  • Hilton Hotel San Francisco
  • Hilton San Francisco

Room Types

  • Accessible Room
  • Executive Floor, Bayview Room
  • Executive Floor, Cityview Room
  • Junior Suite
  • Room Selected at Check-in
  • Standard Room
  • Standard Room Bay View

Address

750 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California 94108-1860, United States

Phone

(415) 433-6600

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Hilton San Francisco Financial District

Scene

Though imposing from the outside, this Hilton on the edge of Chinatown shines on the inside with comfortable rooms and friendly service.

The Hilton Financial District, a 27-floor, 549-room concrete tower on the edge of Chinatown, may not be a new building, but it feels fresh -- a $55 million renovation finished in 2006 turned it into a contemporary-looking property. Its interiors are brighter and more appealing than those at Parc 55, at least from a design standpoint, and its rooms are almost as sleek and technologically up-to-date as those at the InterContinental in SoMa and Le Meridien four blocks away.

The Hilton brand attracts a good number of business travelers -- one reason it showed up so often in "Up in the Air" -- but the good service, comfortable beds, and terrific views at this particular Hilton make it a good choice for tourists looking for a comfortable home base. In the lobby, the Flyte Wine Bar offers an extensive selection of California reds -- something you won't find in most other hotels in this neighborhood. (The Hotel Vitale and the W San Francisco are two, more expensive exceptions.)

Shortcomings are few: There's a relatively skimpy fitness center and no pool. The couple blocks in the immediate vicinity aren't especially attractive -- though they are perfectly safe -- and most of the decent restaurants in the Financial District are closer to the waterfront. A few minutes' walk further, though, and you'll find the appealing Chinatown and North Beach neighborhoods, where great food and interesting architecture are the norm. Other hotel options nearby include the slightly more expensive Le Meridien, while the Hilton certainly outshines the more dreary Club Quarters.

See More Scene

Service

Right for the price: attentive and quick, if not laden with "Sirs"

Service at the Hilton is not up to the same high standards as you find at other business-minded hotels, like the slightly more expensive InterContinental or Omni. Doormen come and go, but that's not a major problem given the automatic sliding doors at the entrance. Plus, the front desk and concierge staff are eager to help both in person and over the phone.

  • Room service not 24 hours
  • Well-staffed front desk
  • Conceirge, available throughout the day
  • In-house notary; business center
  • Hotel garage offers car washing and detailing (at an extra cost).
  • Free newspaper delivered to rooms Monday through Friday; free newspapers available at the bell stand on weekends
  • Valet and self-parking are both expensive
See More Service

Location

On the edge of Chinatown, in the skyscraper-dense Financial District

The Financial District is one of those neighborhoods in which the name says it all. If you're a leisure traveler, it's not a bad place to be, but it's important to know that it's sleepy on weekends and positively dead at night. It's also pretty removed from the city's most popular attractions (Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury), but then, so are the other neighborhoods with similarly high-priced accommodations. (You can stay in Nob Hill for a small taste of local life, for instance, but you'd still have to take a cab or bus to the aforementioned sites.) And being so close to the Embarcadero (about a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Hilton) actually makes for an easier commute to Fisherman's Wharf than you'd have anywhere else except the wharf itself. You're also just seven blocks from the Ferry Building, where you can eat like a world-class foodie and catch a ferry to Sausalito.

  • Six blocks to the picturesque Embarcadero promenade
  • Short walk to the Ferry Building, a foodie paradise chockablock with high-end restaurants that hosts a renowned, thrice-weekly farmers' market
  • 10-minute walk to Market Street and its plethora of public transportation options, including BART trains
  • Five-minute cab ride (or half-hour walk) to the kid-friendly attractions and seafood restaurants of Fisherman's Wharf
  • 30-minute taxi from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
See More Location

Rooms

Spacious rooms with modern technology feature large desks and aptly named Serenity Beds

Around average in size for a San Francisco hotel in this price range, the rooms at the Hilton are sleek and offer many modern electronics, which makes them superior to the slightly staid rooms at the Omni nearby. The contemporary look of Le Meridien is similar to what you'd find here, while the Hilton outshines the small -- but less expensive -- rooms of the Club Quarters.

  • Standard rooms -- available with two doubles or a king bed -- are 320 square feet, which is about average for a room in San Francisco.
  • King Junior Suites are 460 square feet and have separate living rooms, wet bars, and seperate tubs and dual-head showers.
  • Notably comfortable Hilton-brand Serenity Bed: 250-thread-count sheets; five down pillows; down comforter with a duvet
  • Sleek, built-in desk with two power outlets and a media box with two additional power outlets; the swiveling desk lamp is convenient.
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Flat-screen TV with 29 channels; media hub for connecting devices to the TV
  • Hilton-brand alarm clock radio with auxilliary jack for connecting MP3 devices like iPods.
  • Two phones, including one cordless
  • Cup-at-a-time coffeemaker with free Lavazza coffee; bottled water available but no minibar
  • Electronic safe, large enough for a laptop
  • Well-lit bathroom with a makeup (or shaving) mirror, bathrobes, and higher-end Crabtree & Evelyn La Source shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, lotion, and mouthwash
  • Rooms on higher floors have nice views of the city's skyline or the bay (though they often come with a sizable price bump)
See More Rooms

Features

Adequate features -- a spa, gym, and business center -- though nothing stands out

  • 24-hour business center with four computers, a copier, a fax machine, and a laser printer
  • Smaller-than-average 24-hour fitness center with three treadmills, three ellipticals, three bikes, free weights, and a few weight machines
See More Features

Family

Double-Double Rooms can sleep four, but there are no noteworthy kid-friendly features here.

  • Double-Double Rooms can accommodate four people; adjoining rooms are also available.
  • Cribs are free.
  • Rollaways are charged per night and only fit in king bed rooms.
  • Children's menu available at 750 Restaurant & Bar
See More Family

Pets

Cats and dogs allowed

While the Hilton does allow some pets, the Hotel Triton, five blocks away, is a better choice in the Financial District; it doesn't levy a charge for pets of any size and provides accessories like doggie beds and food bowls.

  • Cats and dogs under 75 pounds welcome
  • Fee if you bring your pet
  • The hotel can recommend pet-friendly parks nearby and can also arrange dog-walking and pet-sitting services.
See More Pets

Cleanliness

No cleanliness issues

Rooms and bathrooms are pristine, and the public spaces are well maintained.

See More Cleanliness

All-Inclusive / Food

Great wine bar; otherwise average on-site dining

  • 750 Restaurant & Bar offers all-day dining, starting with a breakfast buffet (an a la carte menu is also available), and a la carte lunch and dinner; menus feature American and international fare
  • Flyte Wine Bar has California reds and whites by the taste, glass, and flight, many preserved in a high-tech Enomatic system that keeps wine fresh
  • Room service available throughout the day, but not 24 hours
See More All-Inclusive / Food

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pets Allowed

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Smoking Rooms Available

  • Spa

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.