The Cartwright Hotel – Union Square, BW Premier Collection

Situated in a 1915 apartment-style building with a central fire escape and gently extruding bay windows, the Hotel Cartwright Union Square offers vintage style from the outside in. A blue awning welcomes guests into a warm lobby with wood floors, beige and wood-accented walls, a cozy fireplace, and antique wood furniture. A separate reception area offers a tiled floor and a few sitting areas set with rugs, neutral-colored couches, and armchairs placed in front of large windows that let in lots of natural light. Throughout, elegant molded architectural details and vintage accents help retain this property’s historic charm -- though the vintage style is less charming and more dated in the guest rooms. Those who stay at the Cartwright are often tourists (and their dogs) looking for budget-friendly accommodations that still offer easy access to San Francisco sights. 

Situated along a bustling road in the middle of humming downtown San Francisco, the Hotel Cartwright is just a two-minute walk from Union Square, which is famous for its high-end shops and is also home to the Powell and Post Street cable car stop. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and Yerba Buena Gardens are 15 minutes away on foot. Nob Hill, Chinatown, and the gritty Tenderloin district are also all within walking distance, as are plenty of eateries, bars, and public transportation options. The Powell Street BART station is a seven-minute walk from the hotel. Guests can get to Fisherman’s Wharf in 20 minutes via bus or 30 minutes on foot, while Golden Gate Park is about 30 minutes away via public transport. The San Francisco International Airport is about a 40 minute drive away via public transportation. Self- and valet-parking are available for a daily fee, and guests can reserve an airport shuttle through the hotel.

While rooms at the Cartwright range in style and size, guests find them to be small and a cut below the common areas, as most are tired, dated, and in need of T.L.C. Rooms are decorated in neutral colors with beige patterned wall-to-wall carpeting, cream-colored walls, beige plaid comforters, wooden furniture, and en-suite bathrooms. Guests find the rooms and bathrooms small, and since there’s no air-conditioning, they can feel stuffy. Windows are not double glazed, and rooms may pick up street noise. Rooms are functional, though, and include flat-screen LCD TVs, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers. Each comes with an iron and ironing board and free toiletries. But guests have complained about issues with the shower, such as lukewarm water or draining problems.

There aren't many features at Hotel Cartwright and most guests spend their time exploring the neighborhood instead of hanging out in the hotel. It does have a cozy lobby with fireplace and board games, and there's a small business center with two desks, computers, and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. While the hotel doesn’t serve a breakfast, it offers free coffee and tea in the morning and a fridge in the reception area that sells soda and bottle water. The hotel has two extra rooms for meetings or events, the largest of which can host up to 80 people. The Cartwright is pet-friendly with no extra fee for dogs or cats and free pet treats in the lobby. Parking is available on-site, but it costs an extra fee. While there was once a hotel lobby bar, as of our summer 2015 visit it was not in use.