Hotel Nikko San Francisco — Union Square
A Japanese-run hotel in the heart of Union Square with an indoor pool — genuinely rare in this city. Rooms are large and clean with tidy, Japanese-style service. Honestly, it works for both business travellers and families.
Hotel Nikko sits on Mason Street in the heart of Union Square, a few minutes' walk from department stores, theatres and the Powell cable car line. The Powell St BART/Muni station is nearby, making SFO and the whole city easy, about 30-40 minutes via BART. This location suits people who mainly want to shop and sightsee on foot.
"An indoor pool — rare for a downtown hotel here"
It's a modern high-rise, with rooms that are larger than the typical downtown standard, decorated in a clean modern style with Japanese tidiness. Guests praise the clean bathrooms, comfortable beds and the quiet on higher floors. City views from upper floors are lovely.
The rare standout is the indoor pool and gym — very few downtown San Francisco hotels have a pool, which makes this great for families with kids or anyone who wants to work out on a trip. There's an in-house restaurant and bar too.
Service is tidy and attentive in a Japanese style. There's a Nikko Club Floor if you want a lounge and extra service, and large meeting spaces make it popular with business travellers. It suits workers, families, and couples wanting a large central room.
On value — rates start around $230/night, good for a large room with a pool in the Union Square location. Extras like parking and breakfast add up, but overall it offers good value.
Worth knowing — some streets around Union Square can feel quiet or have some homelessness in the evening. The hotel itself is safe and well-managed, but if you're uneasy, use a rideshare late at night. And valet parking here is expensive, as everywhere in the city.
Bottom line: Hotel Nikko is the large-room, indoor-pool pick in the heart of Union Square — ideal for business travellers and families wanting space and convenience at a sensible price.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Has an indoor pool, rare in this city
- ✓ Large, clean Japanese-style rooms
- ✓ Central Union Square location
- ✓ Tidy service, good for business/families
- ! Some streets around Union Square feel quiet at night
- ! Valet and breakfast add to the cost
- ✓ Large, clean Japanese-style rooms
- ✓ Central Union Square location
- ✓ Tidy service, good for business/families
- ✓ Has an indoor pool, rare in this city
- ! Valet and breakfast add to the cost
- ! Some streets around Union Square feel quiet at night
- 💡If you're sensitive to the night street vibe — some streets feel quiet at night → use a rideshare late
- 💡If you want a distinctive boutique feel — this is a large clean-modern hotel → see The Marker/Zoe in our list
- 💡If you're driving — valet is pricey → BART/walking is better value
Heading to San Francisco for the World Cup?
San Francisco is a 2026 host city — see our full World Cup guide (matches, where to stay, tickets, visa) plus how to reach Levi's Stadium on match day.