Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California

The lobby

The 355-room Radisson doesn't play up its family appeal, but it should. There are about a half-dozen chain hotels vying for tourists around Fisherman's Wharf, but the Radisson stands apart for value and convenience. It's both cheaper and closer to the wharf than the Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, and Holiday Inn; its heated outdoor pool is among the nicest in the city; the balcony rooms have wharf views; and Fisherman's Wharf is lined with family-friendly eateries like Boudin Sourdough, serving chowder in bread bowls, or seafood joints like Scoma's and Castagnola's. (There's also a Johnny Rockets on premises at the hotel.) Since most people who stay near Fisherman's Wharf have busy sightseeing agendas and don't plan on lounging around the hotel all day, they won't be too bothered by the fact that the rooms show a bit of wear and tear. Or that the hotel occasionally skimps on its amenities (for example, during my visit the lobby coffee cart, which officially is supposed to serve coffee and pastries from 6 a.m. to noon, closed down almost an hour early). The hotel concierge is on duty from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, and the polite but minimal service is what you'd expect at a Radisson.

Apart from the pool, the on-site amenities hardly dazzle, but they're adequate: The fitness center is small, with an elliptical machine, a treadmill, and two recumbent bikes, and the tiny nook of a business center has two computers and a printer ($5 for five minutes of Internet use, and 85 cents per minute after that). Additionally, a lobby kiosk lets guests print airport boarding passes for free. Rooms are serviceable, with standard features: 25-inch tube TVs with pay-per-view movies (now all rooms have flat-screen TVs), free Wi-Fi, and Radisson's signature Sleep Number beds, which allow guests to adjust a mattress's firmess or softness. Eighty of the rooms have balconies, some overlooking the pool, others with bay views. You can request balcony and bay view rooms, but expect to pay as much as $100 more.

The Radisson's impressive pool area is a lot nicer than a typical large chain-hotel pool, with an electric firepit, a cabana bar, gardens, palm trees and plenty of deck chairs and umbrella tables. It's a fine place to unwind before heading out to a seafood dinner along Fisherman's Wharf or on Pier 39. There's not much of a social scene, since the hotel functions mainly as a home base to guests looking to explore the city. On the other hand, the chances of having the large pool all to yourself are pretty good. The outdoor bar is a simple affair, serving beer and wine from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. All of this adds up to a surprisingly well-cared-for space in a city where hotel pools are rare.

View on a Larger Map

Across the street from the Fisherman's Wharf waterfront, the Radisson is conveniently located near the docks where ferries leave for Alcatraz, Sausalito, and Tiburon. The hotel is also about three blocks away from the terminus of the Powell-Mason cable car line, which connects to the farther reaches of the city, like Union Square and Nob Hill.

• A 30-minute stroll on the boardwalk will get you to the fancy waterside restaurants at the Embarcadero, or you can take the F-line streetcar, which also stops a block away from the hotel.
• North Beach (San Francisco's Little Italy) is a 10-minute walk up the hill.
• Roughly 3.5 miles to Golden Gate Bridge (for public transportation, the 28 and 29 buses are the best bet).
• Golden Gate Park is over five miles away, a $10 cab fare.
• 25 minutes to San Francisco International Airport, about a $40 cab fare.