Dinogo Readers' Top 5 Hotel Picks in San Francisco for 2023

San Francisco, a city brimming with history, culture, and style, welcomed over 21 million visitors last year. Art enthusiasts flocked to the SFMOMA and the de Young Museum, while architecture lovers explored iconic sites like Coit Tower, the Painted Ladies, and the Golden Gate Bridge. A sensory delight awaits in Chinatown, the oldest such neighborhood in the U.S. Regardless of your travel plans, securing a memorable place to stay is essential, ideally one that reflects the city's charm.

Understanding the Voting Process

In our annual World's Best Awards survey, T+L invites readers to share their travel experiences worldwide, ranking top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. This year, nearly 165,000 T+L readers participated, marking a 25 percent increase from pre-pandemic voting. Collectively, they cast over 685,000 votes for more than 8,500 unique properties.

Hotels were categorized as resort hotels, city hotels, or safari lodges based on their location and amenities, and were rated specifically on the following criteria:

Room quality and amenities
Location
Service quality
Culinary offerings
Value for money

Respondents rated each feature as excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor, with final scores calculated as averages of these ratings.

Highlights from Our Readers

This year's winners reflect a vibrant resurgence around Market Street and Union Square, dubbed “the heart of the city” by one reader, and home to some of the most luxurious hotels. All five top-rated hotels are situated here, offering guests easy access to the Ferry Building, cable car stops, Chinatown, historic theaters like the Orpheum, and more.

Ranking No. 3, the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco is renowned for its “intuitive service” and proximity to Market Street and Yerba Buena Gardens. The St. Regis San Francisco (No. 2) has been praised by a reader as “wonderful,” ensuring return visits over the years. For a glimpse into the city's history, consider the Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel (No. 5), an iconic establishment since 1909. Here are the hotels that readers have selected as the finest in San Francisco.

The Champion

San Francisco Proper Hotel

Vibrant communal space at the Proper Hotel

Manolo Yllera

Opened in 2017, the San Francisco Proper exemplifies chic design — every detail in the 131-room renovated flatiron building was crafted under the guidance of the talented designer Kelly Wearstler. Her remarkable ability to blend textures, patterns, colors, and shapes creates an extraordinary visual experience at every turn. Guests adore the soaring lobby lounge, featuring eclectic furnishings and art that evoke a cozy yet stylish vibe, reminiscent of a trendy aunt’s inviting living room. The guest rooms are equally impressive, showcasing Wearstler-designed wallpapers that captivate the eye, along with fantastic dining options. Don't miss Charmaine, the rooftop bar and restaurant, where you can enjoy a spritz and a burger while soaking in breathtaking views of the Golden City. A reader assures that the “phenomenal” staff is always ready to assist with whatever you may need.