Where to Stay in San Francisco

Planning a family trip to San Francisco, where are the best neighborhoods to stay?

We recommend hotels for family amenities, but equally important is surrounding area.

We research hotels, and select hotels for specific family amenities such as connecting rooms, swimming pool, on-site restaurant with kids menu, self-service laundry, hotel welcomes kids of all ages. Equally important is location – what is the neighborhood?

For San Francisco are seven different neighborhoods on our list – Fisherman’s Wharf, Marin District, Chinatown, Nob Hill, Union Square, South of Market St. (SoMa), Embarcadero.

These neighborhoods are near to fun things to do with kids, eating options close by, proximity to playgrounds, convenience of public transportation to different parts of the city.

To help you get started, insider tips about each neighborhood on Travel for Kids list: San Francisco family hotels.

Fisherman’s Wharf is filled with fun things to do – San Francisco Bay cruises and whale tours, Pier 39 sea lions, carousel, magicians and acrobats, explore Maritime Museum, submarine, and World War II ship, trip to Alcatraz Island, ride SkyStar Wheel with panoramic views, rent bikes and bike along the bay.

Fun Food
Pier 39 has lots of different eating choices – seafood restaurants, cafes with hamburgers, tacos, pizza, crepes, shops with hot pretzels, fudge, fresh fruit, ice cream, hot dogs, fruit smoothies, cookies and coffee.

Stop into Boudin at the Wharf, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Bistro, and watch bakers making bread animals in different shapes – crabs, bears and turtles.

On Jefferson St., find Italian seafood restaurants, sushi and Asian noodles, In-N-Out Burger, and deli sandwiches.

Ghirardelli Square – Casual eateries with pizza, tacos, seafood, Chinese dumplings and noodles. For treats, at Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop, kids will have fun watching flowing melted chocolate wall, upstairs sit in a replica cable car, choose from fifteen different kinds of sundaes, milkshakes, cookies, brownies. Chocolate shop has a wide selection of chocolates.

Playground
Francisco Park (2445 Hyde St.) – One block from Ghirardelli Suare, children’s playground, climbing structures, lots of grass to run around, picnic tables, restrooms. When weather is nice, bring a picnic lunch or dinner.

Public Transportation
Three different kinds of public transportation are available to and from Fisherman’s Wharf – cable cars, street car, and bus.

Use the Clipper Card, good for all San Francisco public transportation.

Cable Cars
Two cable cars go from Fisherman’s Wharf to Powell St. at Union Square.
Powell & Hyde – Hyde and Beach Streets.
Powell & Mason – Bay and Taylor St.
Here’s the route map for both cable cars.

Tip: Powell & Hyde is a longer ride, with best views, but wait lines are longer.

Streetcar
F Market & Whaves streetcar goes in a loop from Fisherman’s Wharf along the Embarcadero, to the Ferry Building, and up Market St. to Union Square.

Bus
30 Stockton bus is bus line with frequent service that goes to areas in the city you’ll want to visit.

To get to Union Square, from North Point St., take inbound 30 bus, goes up Columbus Ave. (North Beach), through Chinatown to Union Square.

To go to Tunnel Tops Park, from North Point St. take 30 bus outbound, goes down Chestnut St. to the Marina, along Marina St., line ends at Sports Basement parking lot, next door to Tunnel Tops Park. Tip: Buy kites to fly at Crissy Field.

Walks
San Francisco is a great walking city. Here’s two fun walks.

– From Fisherman’s wharf, walk up Columbus Ave. to Washington Square, get slices of pizza and ice cream in North Beach.

– Walk from Jefferson St. along the Embarcadero to the Ferry Building (Pier 1). Along the way is Exploratorium science and creativity museum (Pier 17). Walking along, look at all the different boats on the bay – ferries, fire boats, tug boats, huge container ships, sail boats. At the Ferry Building are casual restaurants, ice cream and snacks.

If you don’t feel like walking back to Fisherman’s Wharf, take the F streetcar in front of the Ferry Building

Laundromat
Laundromat is helpful, when grubby clothes pile up.

Tower Laundromat
1800 Stockton St. North Beach
Self service laundry, closed Sunday
While doing laundry, ice cream shops are couple of blocks away.

Fisherman’s Wharf Hotels

The Marina District is a hidden gem.

A residential neighborhood, Marina District has best-priced hotels for families, family friendly food on Chestnut and Union Streets, farmers market at Fort Mason, a super playground for little ones.

This district is the neighborhood west of Fisherman’s Wharf, accessible with public transportation, easy to walk down to the Marina and Crissy Field, fly kites or watch sunset over San Francisco Bay.

Fun Food
On Chestnut St. are casual eateries with hamburgers, sushi, seafood, tacos, pizza, Greek, Italian, Asian, Chinese, salads, bagels. Marina Supermarket has fresh juices, drinks and snacks, get sandwiches and take out food for a picnic dinner at Marina Green.

Over the Moon Creamery has ice cream and cookie cups (instead of cones), at Super Duper Burger, enjoy soft serve ice cream and milkshakes.

Farmers market at Fort Mason – Large selection of seasonal fruits, cheeses, sandwiches, bagels, burritos, banh mie Sunday 8:30am – 1:30pm.

Nearby is large Safeway supermarket (15 Marina Blvd.), pick up sandwiches, take out food, cold drinks, snacks.

On Lombard St., Mel’s Drive-In is a family classic, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, milkshakes and sundaes, fruit smoothies, and desserts.

Playground
Moscone Park Playground (1800 Chestnut St.) – Stellar playground with boat-themed climbing structures (see photo above), slide, swings, grass to run around, restrooms, benches, picnic tables.

Tip: Tunnel Tops Park is accessible from this neighborhood – take the 30 Stockton bus outbound on Chestnut St., or it’s a 20 minute walk.

Public Transportation
Tip: In general, car isn’t necessary in San Francisco, and fee hotel car parking is expensive. However, in Marina District, most hotels on our list have free car parking.

30 Stockton bus goes down Chestnut St. (one block north of Lombard St.), and has frequent service to North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square.

To take the bus to Tunnel Tops Park, on Chestnut St., take 30 Stockton bus, line ends at Sports Basement parking lot, next door to Tunnel Tops Park.

Laundromats
Laundromat
3231 Laguna St.
Self-service laundry

Cow Hollow Laundromat –
3107 Pierce St.
Self service laundry, drop off wash and fold

Marina District Hotels

Chinatown is always fun to explore, watch fortune cookies being made, on small side streets are lion and dragon murals, visit one of oldest Chinese temples in the United States, pick up snacks or take-out lunch, and enjoy four different playgrounds.

Main shopping streets are Grant St. and Stockton St. Souvenir shops are located on Grant St., Stockton St. has food shops. Tip: at Chinatown Kites, buy kites to fly at Tunnel Tops Park or Crissy Field.

For more details about fun things to do with kids, read our blog post: Explore Chinatown

Fun Food
Watch fortune cookies being made at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory (56 Ross Alley). Smell of fresh-baked cookies is delicious, buy a large bag and start munching away.

Plenty of Asian restaurants – dim sum, noodles, steamed buns, sushi, and more. When the weather is good, get take out lunch at Good Hong Mok Bakery.

Bakeries, such as Wheat Field Fancy Bakery and Little Swan Bakery on Stockton St. have both savory and sweet treats, such as hot dog buns, egg custard tarts.

Refreshing Asian cold drinks are available in different shops such as Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea (870 Washington St.). Kids can try fresh fruit drinks with pineapple, mango, passion fruit, star fruit, or strawberry milk, winter melon lemonade.

Chinatown is also adjacent to North Beach, where you’ll find pizza, Italian meals, coffee and gelato ice cream.

Playgrounds
Parks in Chinatown aren’t huge, but they have amenities such as play areas for toddlers, and restrooms.

Woh Hei Yuen Playground
922 Jackson St.
Picnic tables, benches, children’s play area.

Willie “Woo Woo Wong” Playground
830 Sacramento St.
Red dragon and phoenix bird climbing structures, big slide, benches, restrooms.

Portsmouth Square
745 Kearny St.
Swings, slides, sand play area, benches, restrooms.

St. Mary’s Square
651 California St. (at Grant St.)
Hidden gem, uncrowded, children’s play area, lots of benches, restroom.

Public Transportation
The Muni Metro T line is direct way to get to Chinatown, and connects with BART subway and Muni Metro trams.

From Powell St. BART or Union Square entrance (corner of Stockton and Geary),
take T line northbound, ride one stop to Chinatown – Rose Pak station.

30 Stockton bus goes down Stockton St. both directions. Take this bus outbound to go to Fisherman’s Wharf, Marina, Presidio, and inbound to Union Square.

Laundromats
Two laundromats in North Beach are close to Chinatown.

North Beach Laundry
801 Filbert St.
Open daily, self-service laundry, also drop off wash and fold

Tower Laundromat
1800 Stockton St.
Self-service laundry, closed Sunday

Chinatown Hotels

Nob Hill is a centrally located residential neighborhood with luxury hotels and panoramic views of San Francisco. In the center of Nob Hill is charming Huntington Park and playground, perfect for little kids.

Nob Hill has two unique fun things for families – California Street cable car, and Christmas season at the Fairmont Hotel and Grace Cathedral.

During December, in the lobby of Fairmont Hotel is a huge shining tree, two story gingerbread house, fluffy teddy bears, activities and holiday menus for kids. Grace Cathedral is beautifully decorated and lit up at night, check out schedule of Christmas concerts.

Fun Food
Hotels on Nob Hill have on-site restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner with children’s menus.
Chinatown restaurants are couple of blocks down the hill, take California St. cable car to Embarcadero and Ferry Building, with casual dining.

Looking for picnic supplies, bagels and coffee, or take out dinner? Le Beau Market (1263 Leavenworth St), has sandwiches, hamburgers, take-out sushi, salads, hot dinner available, breakfast bagels. Grocery is open daily.

Playground
Huntington Park
1050 Taylor St. (and California St.)
Climbing structures, swings, benches, grass to run around.

Public Transportation
California cable car goes right by Nob Hill hotels.

Hop on the cable car on California St., ride down the hill to the Embarcadero. Nob Hill is located on a steep hill, so it’s helpful to ride the cable car back up the hill.

Corner of Powell St. and California St., you can also pick up the Powell & Hyde cable car to go to Fisherman’s wharf, or Union Square.

Laundromats
Laundry Room at Nob Hill
1470 Leavenworth
Self-service, pay with credit card

Drop & Go Laundry
1107 Leavenworth St.
Drop off, wash and fold service.

Nob Hill Hotels

Union Square neighborhood is centrally located for exploring any part of the city – take cable cars to Fisherman’s Wharf, trams to Chinatown or Golden Gate Gate Park, rapid buses go to Japantown, and all the way out to Land End.

Union Square is surrounded by hotels and shopping, in the center of square are tables, chairs and umbrellas – pick up a snack or picnic lunch and enjoy sitting out. In December, Union Square is festively decorated, and turns into a large ice skating rink.

Fun Food
Hotels around Union Square have on-site restaurants serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, but there are also options in the neighborhood.

One65 Patisserie (165 O’Farrell St.) has coffee, delicious raspberry croissants, French pastries, desserts.

Also on O’Farrell, Boudin’s Bakery (170 O’Farrell) offers sandwiches, salads, soups in bread bowl, hamburgers, grilled cheese, cookies, kid’s menu (sandwiches, soup, pizza).

Caffe Central (133 O’Farrell) breakfast egg dishes, bagels, fruit bowl, yogurt, toasts, sandwiches, salads, cookies, coffee.

Cheesecake Factory (251 Geary St), right at Union Square, has extensive selection – small plates such as nachos, egg rolls, chicken strips, flatbread pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salads, tacos, pasta, fish, steaks, egg dishes, kid’s menu (pasta, pizza, grilled cheese), cheesecakes. Take-out option available.

Ikea Saluhall food hall (945 Market St.) is brand new, fun options for families, including lots of veggie dishes. There’s also familiar Swedish Restaurant and Bistro, with Swedish meatballs, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese.

San Francisco Centre (865 Market St.) food court – casual eateries such as Shake Shack (hamburgers), Blondie’s Pizza, Panda Express, Starbucks, noodles, hot dogs, sushi, fresh juices, frozen yogurt.

Playground
Nearest playground is Yerba Buena Gardens (701 Mission St.), South of Market St., four blocks from Union Square.

Public Transportation
Union Square neighborhood has access to public transportation options, to go all over San Francisco.

When you arrive, get the Clipper Card, to use on BART (subway), Muni Metro trams, buses, cable cars, historic streetcars, ferries.

Here’s tips for public transportation to different parts of city.

Here’s the Muni service map, with all the routes.

Powell & Hyde and Powell & Mason cable cars to Fisherman’s Wharf. Turntable at Powell and Market Streets. Tip: In summer, wait line may be crowded.

T Third St., north to Chinatown – Rose Pak station. Entrance at Union Square or Market St.

38R bus to Japantown, route finishes at Land’s End. Pick up rapid bus on Geary St., corner of Westin St. Francis Hotel.

N Judah Muni Metro to Golden Gate Park. Get on at Powell St., get off at 9th Ave., walk couple of blocks to the park, Cal Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, Blue Heron Lake.

30 Stockton bus to Presidio, Chestnut St., Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown – Pick up bus on Kearny St. at Market St.

F streetcar to Fisherman’s Wharf. Pick up F streetcars anywhere on Market, outbound direction toward Ferry Building and around Embarcadero.

BART subway to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Get on at Powell St., take Yellow line to SFO, last stop.

Also download BART subway app on your phone, for live schedules, important in case of any delays.

Union Square Hotels

SoMa neighborhood is an area South of Market Street, anchored with two excellent urban parks – Yerba Buena Gardens and Salesforce Park.

Yerba Buena Gardens has something for families, indoors or outdoors, year round. Take a ride on vintage carousel, make multi-media art creations in Children’s Creativity Museum, go ice skating and bowling. May to October is the Yerba Buena Festival, with free music by musicians from all over the world, and special children’s shows.

Salesforce Park is a rooftop park that covers four blocks, surrounded by colorful gardens. Enjoy free games, art and reading carts in the main plaza, children’s playground with climbing structure, grass to run around, tables and chairs for picnics. In summer are free toddler music and story programs at lunchtime.

Fun Food
Metreon has a food court, casual eateries with Asian dishes, pizza, dumplings, healthy salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, coffee, lemonade, fruit teas cold drinks. For sweets, enjoy cupcakes, pastries, ice cream in a fish-shaped cone. Target has a large grocery store, pick up supplies you need for a picnic. Eat indoors in the food court, or go outside on the grass in nice weather.

Mel’s Drive-In (801 Mission St.) – Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, hamburgers, fries, sundaes and milkshakes, fruit smoothies.

South of Market has variety of food options in the neighborhood – restaurants, cafes, bakeries with pastries, muffins, coffee, sandwiches, Chinese, Indian, Mediterranean, Mexican, vegetarian, pizza, hamburgers, mac and cheese, salads.

For ice cream:
Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop (2 New Montgomery St.) – Ice cream sundaes, chocolates
Koolfi Creamery (50 Fremont St.) – Ice cream, flavors from India, and non-dairy.
Super Duper Burger (783 Mission St.) – Soft serve ice cream, milk shakes
Uji Time Dessert (135 4th St.) – Soft serve ice cream in fish-shaped cone.

Playgrounds
Children’s Garden – Yerba Buena Gardens
701 Mission St.
Very large play area with large climbing structures, restrooms.

Salesforce Park
425 Mission St.
Children’s play area, toddler programs, art supplies and to borrow, restrooms.

Public Transportation
Market St. is accessible in this area, and has options for BART, Muni Metro, streetcar and buses.

Pick up BART at New Montgomery St., N Judah Muni Metro to Golden Gate Park, F streetcar to Fisherman’s Wharf, 30 Stockton bus to Chinatown, North Beach, Marina District.

South of Market Hotels

At the Embarcadero, you’re never far from San Francisco Bay. Walk along the Embarcadero, watching boats on the bay, stop into one of our favorite museums, The Exploratorium, Ferry Building provides variety of eating options and large farmers market on Saturday.

From the Ferry Building, take the Golden Gate Ferry to Sausalito or Angel Island, ferries are a good deal, cheapest cruise on the Bay.

Angel Island is perfect for a picnic lunch and hike in good weather. Read our bloc post: Explore Angel Island.

Fun Food
Ferry Building is food central – inside are popular restaurants and cafes, outside is a large farmers market on Saturday.

Inside the Ferry Building, Gott’s Roadside is a family favorite, with fish tacos, hamburgers, ice cream, seating outdoors. Other eating choices bagels, bento boxes, crepes, empanadas, Mexican, sandwiches, pastries, ice cream, coffee and desserts.

At the Farmers Market, vendors bring fresh produce such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches, apples. At other stalls are locally made pies, cheesecakes, cheese, nuts, fruits, fruit juices, and lunch options. Tables and chairs, benches are available to sit outside. Saturday Farmers Market is open 8am – 2pm.

Embarcadero Center 1 – 4 look for cafes with coffee and pastries (Starbucks, Peet’s, Posh Bagel, Boudin Bakery), markets for sandwiches and cold drinks, Thai, Korean, Cantonese restaurants.

Tip: On top level of Embarcadero Center 2, 3, 4 are permanent tables, chairs and umbrellas. Perfect for picnic lunch or dinner outdoors.

Throughout Embarcadero neighborhood are food options such as Chinese dumplings, Vietnamese, sushi, Hawaiian, hamburgers and fries, sandwich shops, and Escape from New York pizza by the slice.

For ice cream:
Gott’s Roadside (Ferry Building) – Soft-serve ice cream with toppings, milkshakes
Super Duper Burger (783 Mission St.) – Soft- serve ice cream, super shakes
Koolfi Creamery (50 Fremont St.) – Indian flavors ice cream, dairy-free

Playgrounds
Sue Bierman Park
Washington and Drumm St.
Children’s play area, grass to run around, restrooms across the street at the Ferry Building.

Salesforce Park
425 Mission St.
Children’s play area, toddler programs, tables and chairs, grass to run around, restrooms.

Public Transportation
From this neighborhood are four different public transportation options – ferries, cable car, streetcar and BART subway.

Golden Gate Ferry to Sausalito leaves from Gate B or C. Ferry to Angel Island departs from Gate B. Use Clipper card for both ferries.

California cable car
Pick up cable car on California St., in front of Hyatt Regency Hotel. Cable car goes up California St. to Nob Hill.
Tip: Wait line for California cable car is much shorter than Powell St.cable car.

F streetcar to Fisherman’s Wharf.
In front of Ferry Building is stop for the F streetcar.
Streetcar goes along the Embarcadero to Fishermans’ Wharf, ends at Taylor St., then loops back along Embarcerdo,

BART subway to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Get on at Embarcadero, take Yellow line to SFO, last stop.

Also download BART app on your phone, for schedules, and alerts in case of delays.