Pros

  • Fantastic location within walking distance of Union Square, Chinatown, and Financial District
  • Free tasty breakfast with natural sausage and quiche
  • Cool, stylish design throughout hotel, a far cry from chain hotel uniformity
  • Live Jazz in Burritt Tavern several nights a week
  • Guests get discount on one dinner at on-site Burritt Tavern
  • Room service available Monday through Saturday evenings
  • Free Wi-Fi access throughout hotel
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Cons

  • Rooms are small
  • The hotel is noisy, inside and out
  • No air-conditioning in many rooms
  • Wi-Fi is spotty in places
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Bottom Line

This artistic, three-pearl, 82-room hotel appeals to adult tourists and couples looking for a stylish, boutique experience. Rooms are on the small side but are quirky and modern, some with exposed brick or historic masonry walls. The hotel has a Charlie Palmer restaurant and craft cocktail bar, plus a spacious, stylish lounge. Delicious breakfast is included, and the location is superb for those wanting to be in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown near Union Square.    

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Oyster Hotel Review

Mystic Hotel

Scene

A little Dracula, a little modern-chic, with a celebrity chef influence 

The Mystic is located in one of the few buildings in the neighborhood to have survived the 1906 earthquake. In photos, it stands in black and white along with the historic Fairmont Hotel among piles of rubble. Inside, the Mystic definitely has its own hip look, combining vintage and modern features. The slick, all-white lobby is accented with black wraparound couches and romantic cursive messages written on the walls. The dimly-lit Berlinetta Lounge is more vintage-meets-industrial, with a butcher block-style wooden bar, intentionally worn leather sofas, and shelves filled with various antiques. The hotel also has a chandelier made from wine glasses, and hallways carpeted in bright red -- an indication of the noir aesthetic that becomes more apparent in the celebrity chef Charlie Palmer restaurant and bar. Like a brightened up wing of the Adam’s Family abode, the Burritt Tavern has gothic mirrors, drippy crystal chandeliers, and velvety red sofas next to a stylishly scuffed up wooden wall. There is a significant Charlie Palmer fan base here, mostly 30- and 40-somethings who frequent the Tavern, which hosts live jazz music several nights a week.

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Location

One block from Union Square, minutes' walk to Chinatown

The hotel is located at the entrance to a tunnel connecting Union Square with Chinatown, across the street from a multi-story parking garage. The surrounding area is quite busy, with occasional construction projects, and with drug stores, coffee shops, and casual eateries all around. A BART station is one block away, and a bus stop is within a few steps. The hotel is one block from Union Square (a three-minute walk) and a 15-minute walk (or 10 to 15 minutes by public transportation) from the Financial District. Chinatown is a seven-minute walk, and the edge of Nob Hill is just a few minutes' walk. San Francisco International Airport is about 40 minutes away via public transportation or 25 minutes by car in no traffic.    

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Rooms

Bright and stylish, with unique accent walls, but small with no views

There are 82 rooms at the Mystic and they are all bright and welcoming, but a few are rather small. No two look exactly the same, but each has a painted accent wall, exposed brick wall, or historic masonry wall, along with high-quality marble bathroom tile, and a token piece of artwork -- some have abstract prints, while others have old photos of Hollywood icons. Most rooms don’t have air-conditioners, but they all have flat-screen TVs, safes, mini-fridges, honor bars, blackout drapes, and free Wi-Fi access. Each room also has a slick, black desk with lucite chair or stool. The suites are slightly bigger, but do not have separate bedrooms. Bathrooms are hip and beautiful with either basin sinks or granite countertops, but are small, with elegant stall showers. There are no views to speak of from any room. Some rooms are subject to both noise from neighbors and street noise, as the floors are carpeted but made of wood.

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Features

Great free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and live jazz in bar

The Mystic includes a free daily breakfast buffet with hot items like natural sausage and quiche. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, but it's spotty in places. The Burritt Room + Tavern -- with Charlie Palmer-influenced menu -- serves steak and seafood with seasonal produce for dinner, as well as a variety of craft cocktails. There is live jazz in the bar several times a week. The Berlinetta Lounge can host private events of up to 100 guests, with drink service and high-end snacks like cheese and charcuterie. Room service is available until late, Monday through Saturday. There is a computer station with printer available for guests. There is no parking on-site, but there is a paid garage across the street.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Mystic Hotel

Scene

A little Dracula, a little modern-chic, with a celebrity chef influence 

The Mystic is located in one of the few buildings in the neighborhood to have survived the 1906 earthquake. In photos, it stands in black and white along with the historic Fairmont Hotel among piles of rubble. Inside, the Mystic definitely has its own hip look, combining vintage and modern features. The slick, all-white lobby is accented with black wraparound couches and romantic cursive messages written on the walls. The dimly-lit Berlinetta Lounge is more vintage-meets-industrial, with a butcher block-style wooden bar, intentionally worn leather sofas, and shelves filled with various antiques. The hotel also has a chandelier made from wine glasses, and hallways carpeted in bright red -- an indication of the noir aesthetic that becomes more apparent in the celebrity chef Charlie Palmer restaurant and bar. Like a brightened up wing of the Adam’s Family abode, the Burritt Tavern has gothic mirrors, drippy crystal chandeliers, and velvety red sofas next to a stylishly scuffed up wooden wall. There is a significant Charlie Palmer fan base here, mostly 30- and 40-somethings who frequent the Tavern, which hosts live jazz music several nights a week.

See More Scene

Location

One block from Union Square, minutes' walk to Chinatown

The hotel is located at the entrance to a tunnel connecting Union Square with Chinatown, across the street from a multi-story parking garage. The surrounding area is quite busy, with occasional construction projects, and with drug stores, coffee shops, and casual eateries all around. A BART station is one block away, and a bus stop is within a few steps. The hotel is one block from Union Square (a three-minute walk) and a 15-minute walk (or 10 to 15 minutes by public transportation) from the Financial District. Chinatown is a seven-minute walk, and the edge of Nob Hill is just a few minutes' walk. San Francisco International Airport is about 40 minutes away via public transportation or 25 minutes by car in no traffic.    

See More Location

Rooms

Bright and stylish, with unique accent walls, but small with no views

There are 82 rooms at the Mystic and they are all bright and welcoming, but a few are rather small. No two look exactly the same, but each has a painted accent wall, exposed brick wall, or historic masonry wall, along with high-quality marble bathroom tile, and a token piece of artwork -- some have abstract prints, while others have old photos of Hollywood icons. Most rooms don’t have air-conditioners, but they all have flat-screen TVs, safes, mini-fridges, honor bars, blackout drapes, and free Wi-Fi access. Each room also has a slick, black desk with lucite chair or stool. The suites are slightly bigger, but do not have separate bedrooms. Bathrooms are hip and beautiful with either basin sinks or granite countertops, but are small, with elegant stall showers. There are no views to speak of from any room. Some rooms are subject to both noise from neighbors and street noise, as the floors are carpeted but made of wood.

See More Rooms

Features

Great free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and live jazz in bar

The Mystic includes a free daily breakfast buffet with hot items like natural sausage and quiche. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, but it's spotty in places. The Burritt Room + Tavern -- with Charlie Palmer-influenced menu -- serves steak and seafood with seasonal produce for dinner, as well as a variety of craft cocktails. There is live jazz in the bar several times a week. The Berlinetta Lounge can host private events of up to 100 guests, with drink service and high-end snacks like cheese and charcuterie. Room service is available until late, Monday through Saturday. There is a computer station with printer available for guests. There is no parking on-site, but there is a paid garage across the street.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

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.