Hotel Adagio Rating: 3.5 Pearls
Union Square, San Francisco, California

Oyster Review Summary

Photos and Review by Oyster.com Investigators.

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Pros

Cons

  • Pricey, mediocre breakfast buffet
  • Long lines at the front desk

Bottom Line

This Union Square boutique has 171 up-to-date, well-appointed rooms that deliver the right luxuries -- pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi -- in an overall midrange package. A fitness center, business center, great service, and an on-site restaurant make this hotel one of the best options in its area and price range.

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Oyster Hotel Review

 Scene

A solid option that rises above the bar in places that count; below the bar where you won't miss it.

A Deluxe Room
A Deluxe Room

On first glance, Hotel Adagio seems like a fairly standard midrange hotel in Union Square, but it's actually one of the area's best options for its price. The hotel especially stands out for its smart decisions about where to put its money: Rather than being one of those midrange places where everything feels just good enough, the Adagio makes sure the basics are first rate, especially in the 171 guest rooms. And if that means scrimping on doormen and designer décor... well, so be it.

By far the best part of the hotel is the rooms. They start at a spacious 350 square feet and have some of the most comfortable beds in their class, with pillow-top mattresses, Egyptian cotton sheets, and down comforters and pillows. The rooms also have iPod docks, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi (no strings attached -- you don't have to sign up for a special program or hand over your contact info to receive it). There are full minibars and mini refrigerators with space for guests' own groceries, and the generously sized bathrooms are equipped with full sets of Lather toiletries. That's just good value.

In all other areas, the Adagio is pretty standard -- even somewhat bland, for a Joie de Vivre property. An orange and brown color scheme and framed prints of leaves and trees give the hotel a comfortable, clean feel but don't have a lot of character, especially compared to the brand's typically funky, sometimes themed boutiques. There's a fitness center and business center on site, and both are small but well equipped. Bar Adagio serves both classy bar bites (flatbread pizzas; artisan cheeses) and hearty entrees (burgers; grilled skirt steak). The Adagio staff is small -- there's usually a single bellman and one or two people manning the front desk -- so lines can get long during peak hours. Still, everyone is exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable. And did we mention that the rooms are comfortable?

 Location

Union Square, known for high-end shopping

Hotel Adagio sits two blocks west of Union Square, which is famous for its couture shops. Home to enormous outposts of Niketown, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany, Macy's, Louis Vuitton, and Neiman Marcus, among others, Union Square is to San Francisco what 5th Avenue is to New York. Locals don't hang out here much, but the square is great for people-watching nonetheless, and occasionally plays host to concerts, small festivals, and demonstrations. If shopping isn't your priority, you might prefer a hotel in a neighborhood closer to some of the biggest tourists attractions, like the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf.

  • Five blocks from the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable-car lines, which run to Lombard Street and Ghirardelli Square or to Fisherman's Wharf, near Pier 39; a 20-minute ride for $5
  • $10 to $20 cab ride to the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, and Haight-Ashbury
  • Discount day-of theater seats available at the Union Square ticket kiosk
  • Plenty of dining nearby, though the area isn't really known for its epicurean flare (Cheesecake Factory is the most visible restaurant around)
  • $40, 30-minute cab ride from San Francisco International Airport
  • While Union Square is a safe area, be careful of wandering into the neighboring Tenderloin district (southwest of the hotel), an unsavory area with a reputation for drugs, prostitution, and other crime.

 Bottom Line

This Union Square boutique has 171 up-to-date, well-appointed rooms that deliver the right luxuries -- pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi -- in an overall midrange package. A fitness center, business center, great service, and an on-site restaurant make this hotel one of the best options in its area and price range.

Oyster Awarded This Hotel

We've visited hundreds of hotels. We debated the pros and cons of every hotel and picked our favorites in a number of categories. Here's how this one stands out:

Things You Should Know About Hotel Adagio

Address

  • 550 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Hotel Is Also Known As...

  • Adagio San Francisco
  • Hotel Adagio San Francisco

Room Types

  • Deluxe Room
  • Deluxe Junior Suite
  • Superior Queen Room
  • Superior Junior Suite
  • Executive Room
  • Executive Level Suite
  • Bolero Penthouse Suite
  • Caruso Suite
  • Deluxe Room 2 Queens
  • Deluxe King Room
  • Superior Room 2 Queens
  • Superior King Room

Lowest Prices for this Hotel

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Hotel Features

Number of Rooms: 171
Fitness Center: Yes
Internet Access: Yes
Cribs: Yes
View All

Hotel Information

Location: Union Square, San Francisco
Address: 550 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
(See Map)

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