What is Central Waterfront like?

Travellers to San Francisco's Central Waterfront neighbourhood will be sure to enjoy a stay here. Looking for sights you might find in a travel guide about Central Waterfront? Consider a visit to San Francisco Bay while you're in the neighbourhood.

If I need to cancel my hotel reservation in Central Waterfront, will I receive a refund?

Yes! You'll find that most hotel reservations are fully refundable as long as you cancel before the accommodation's cancellation deadline, which is usually within 24-48 hours of your arrival date. If your reservation is non-refundable, you might be able to cancel it and get a refund within a 24-hour period of your booking. Enter your dates, click on "Search", then use the filter option "fully refundable" to get the best deals available in Central Waterfront.

What are the top things to see and do in Central Waterfront?

You might want to spend some time browsing the exhibits at Museum of Craft & Design or Letterform Archive during your visit to Central Waterfront. A visit to San Francisco Bay is also worth the trip while you're discovering the neighbourhood. A few places to visit in the area around Central Waterfront include Oracle Park, 888 Garage and The Midway. While you're out sightseeing in San Francisco, make sure that you visit other sights such as Pier 80 or Chase Center.

How can I get around Central Waterfront and the greater San Francisco area?

For a quick way to explore the city, catch a ride on metro transit at 23rd Street Station, 20th Street Station or UCSF Medical Center Station. To venture out of town, take a train from 22nd Street Station.

The Best Hotels in Central Waterfront, San Francisco - 2026 Updated Prices

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Our top choices for Central Waterfront hotels

An outdoor seating area with wicker furniture and a fire feature, adjacent to a bar and dining area with modern decor.

1. Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown

2.4 km from Central Waterfront

Todd

5.963.923 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

16 Oct - 17 Oct

A rooftop pool area with blue seating and a pool.

2. Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG

Nob Hill, 4.7 km from Central Waterfront

Michelle

5.171.103 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A hotel room with a bed, desk, chair, and a large window.

3. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport

16.6 km from Central Waterfront

Sheridan

4.182.272 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

27 Sept - 28 Sept

A multi-story hotel with a prominent sign reading "The Handlebar Union Square Hotel."

4. Handlery Union Square Hotel

Union Square, 3.8 km from Central Waterfront

John

4.794.076 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

16 Oct - 17 Oct

A spacious lobby with large windows, a seating area with a sofa and chairs, and a counter with a coffee station.

5. LUMA Hotel San Francisco

1.9 km from Central Waterfront

Jennifer

6.856.432 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A spacious lobby with modern seating, a large abstract sculpture, and a high ceiling with linear lighting.

6. Hyatt Regency San Francisco

Financial District, 4.1 km from Central Waterfront

Juan

7.889.127 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A modern hotel lobby with a seating area, a bar, and large windows.

7. Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf, 6 km from Central Waterfront

Thorsten

5.974.622 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

24 Sept - 25 Sept

A lobby with seating, a reception desk, and large windows.

8. Chancellor Hotel on Union Square

4 km from Central Waterfront

Paul

4.383.541 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

An indoor swimming pool with multiple lounge chairs and a high ceiling with skylights.

9. Hotel Nikko San Francisco

Union Square, 3.7 km from Central Waterfront

Amber

7.148.229 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

2 Oct - 3 Oct

A cityscape at dusk with illuminated buildings and a clear view of the skyline.

10. Stanford Court San Francisco

Nob Hill, 4.3 km from Central Waterfront

janice

7.103.383 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A rooftop terrace with a table and chairs, a potted plant, and a view of tall buildings.

11. Club Quarters Hotel Embarcadero, San Francisco

Financial District, 4.3 km from Central Waterfront

Supriya

4.371.692 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A marble-floored hallway leading to a living area with a sofa and a fireplace.

12. Galleria Park Hotel

Financial District, 3.9 km from Central Waterfront

Oleg

5.634.507 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A hotel with a modern design, featuring a prominent 'PARC 55' sign, a 'Barbary Coach' restaurant, and a view of the street with light trails from moving vehicles.

13. Parc 55 San Francisco - A Hilton Hotel

Union Square, 3.6 km from Central Waterfront

Janet

4.990.732 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

2 Oct - 3 Oct

A modern building facade with vertical wooden slats, a glass entrance, and a sign reading "La Société Bar & Cafe".

14. Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA

South of Market, 3.5 km from Central Waterfront

Ariel

6.205.574 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

16 Oct - 17 Oct

An outdoor patio with round tables and chairs, a view of the sea, and parked cars in the background.

15. Bay Landing San Francisco Airport Hotel

17.8 km from Central Waterfront

Prakhar

4.154.262 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

4 Oct - 5 Oct

A modern hotel entrance with a covered waiting area, glass doors, and a clear sky.

16. Aloft by Marriott San Francisco Airport

17.2 km from Central Waterfront

Celeste

4.032.397 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

4 Oct - 5 Oct

A reception area with a counter, two patterned chairs, a yellow ottoman, and a large blue potted plant.

17. Hotel Aura SFO

15.7 km from Central Waterfront

Charles

3.590.388 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A hotel reception area with a polished marble floor, wooden paneling, and a reception desk with a computer and a telephone.

18. The Pickwick Hotel

South of Market, 3.3 km from Central Waterfront

Jesus

3.151.062 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A bridge over water with a beach in the foreground.

19. Executive Hotel Vintage Court

Chinatown, 4.1 km from Central Waterfront

Vladimir

4.303.408 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

A dining table with a bowl of fruit, a bottle of wine, and two wine glasses.

20. The Marina Inn on San Francisco Bay

18.7 km from Central Waterfront

Kalanea

2.866.256 ₫ total

includes taxes & fees

20 Sept - 21 Sept

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Where to stay in Central Waterfront

Find the best Central Waterfront areas for the activities you enjoy most.

A street with shops, including a crystal shop and a crepes cafe.

Fisherman's Wharf

Travellers love Fisherman's Wharf for its popular shops, and you can see more of San Francisco by jumping on the metro at Jones St and Beach St Stop or Jefferson St & Taylor St Stop. You might spend time checking out top sights like Pier 39 and San Francisco Bay.

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A cityscape with tall buildings, a central plaza with palm trees, and a flag on one of the buildings.

Union Square

Known for its charming cafes and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Union Square. Check out top attractions like Westin St Francis Hotel Glass Elevators and Union Square, and jump on the metro at Powell St & Geary Blvd Stop or Powell St & Post St Stop to see more of the city.

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A trolley on a street with buildings and a clock tower.

Downtown San Francisco

Known for its fascinating museums, popular shops and acclaimed art galleries, there's plenty to explore in Downtown San Francisco. Top attractions like Oracle Park and San Francisco Bay are major draws. Catch the metro at Market St & 5th St Stop or Market St & Taylor St Stop to see more of the city.

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A cityscape with modern skyscrapers, a central park with pathways, and a few people walking.

South of Market

Gourmet restaurants great entertainment and top sights from Oracle Park to San Francisco Bay – discover South of Market, a destination also famous for its shopping.

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A street lined with historic buildings, parked cars, and a clear blue sky.

Nob Hill

Gourmet restaurants Chinatown and top sights from SF Masonic Auditorium to Cable Car Museum – discover Nob Hill, a destination also famous for its shopping.

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Top Central Waterfront Hotel Reviews

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

8/10 Good

"Loved having the buffet breakfast, very good. Outdoor fireplaces, nice place to relax after the day. Our door had a gap so did hear a lot of noise at times. Had trouble with key working but was fixed pretty quickly by staff changing the mechanism or battery."

Grand Hyatt San Francisco

10/10 Excellent

"Very nice hotel! Right in Union Square. Beds were very hard and pillows kind of sucked. But overall the rooms were nice and very clean. We were on the 29th floor which was a cool view Parking is horrible and because we have a bigger truck they couldn’t valet it and had no idea how to help us and just kind of left us to figure it out, Thankfully we found ONE garage down the street that took bigger vehicles (thanks ChatGPT for finding it)."

Chancellor Hotel on Union Square

10/10 Excellent

"The Chancellor Hotel has a great location on the Powell Street cable car line, half a block from Union Square and four blocks from Market Street. It's an old hotel, built 100 years ago, so the hallways are irregular and the elevator seems ancient. But everything works. The hotel doesn't serve breakfast -- I recommend the croissants at One65 on O'Farrell Street, two blocks away -- but it does serve drinks at night. They also offer cookies, apples, a coffee machine and lemon-infused cold water in the lobby (although a couple of times they were out of the water). They also have a machine in the lobby to fill water bottles. The hotel notes that they don't have air conditioning. That's generally not a problem. The rooms do have ceiling fans that help when it's warm. I'd stay there again."

Search Hotels in Central Waterfront, San Francisco

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Our top choices for Central Waterfront hotels

1. Hyatt Place San Francisco Downtown

2. Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG

3. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport

4. Handlery Union Square Hotel

5. LUMA Hotel San Francisco

6. Hyatt Regency San Francisco

7. Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

8. Chancellor Hotel on Union Square

9. Hotel Nikko San Francisco

10. Stanford Court San Francisco

11. Club Quarters Hotel Embarcadero, San Francisco

12. Galleria Park Hotel

13. Parc 55 San Francisco - A Hilton Hotel

14. Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA

15. Bay Landing San Francisco Airport Hotel

16. Aloft by Marriott San Francisco Airport

17. Hotel Aura SFO

18. The Pickwick Hotel

19. Executive Hotel Vintage Court

20. The Marina Inn on San Francisco Bay

Where to stay in Central Waterfront

Fisherman's Wharf

Union Square

Downtown San Francisco

South of Market

Nob Hill

Top Central Waterfront Hotel Reviews

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

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