The Best Family-Friendly Hotels in San Francisco
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San Francisco, with its creative zeitgeist, surplus of wild parks, and playground-inspired landmarks, has always had a natural inner child. But when it comes to finding family-friendly hotel options in this gorgeous California city, traditionally, that's been a bit of a chore. Not every hotel in the city is equipped to handle the unique needs of traveling parents and kids. Family vacations are as much about shared experiences as they are about logistics, and choosing the right hotel can transform your trip from stressful to seamless.
That’s why we’ve scoured the options to find hotels that go beyond basic accommodations, offering thoughtful touches like kid-friendly activities, cribs, roomy suites, extra on-site support, and proximity to the city's must-see family-friendly sights. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or teens, this guide ensures your San Francisco stay will be memorable for all the right reasons. Read on to see our list of the best family-friendly hotels in San Francisco to check into right now.
How we choose the best family-friendly San Francisco hotels
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for beautiful design, a great location, and warm service—as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve.
Courtesy The ArgonauthotelArgonaut Hotel
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Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Location, location, location: Families love the Argonaut for its proximity to attractions like the Maritime National Historic Park, Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39, and the Musée Méchanique, a penny arcade. Decor goes hard on the nautical theme—fish on the carpet, wooden ship wheels on the wall—but it's cute and clever. With a friendly staff and amenities like tour perks and scooter or bicycle rentals, it's a sight-seeing traveler's dream. Bonus: In-N-Out is a block away. —Elise Craig
Courtesy The Axiom Hotel San FranciscohotelAxiom Hotel San Francisco
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2022In the city center at the nexus of Union Square and SoMa, you'll find the sleek, contemporary Axiom Hotel. The century-old building preserves its historic character through charming moldings and an intricate facade, while the sleek design and thoughtful amenities inside cater to modern travelers. A soothing eggshell-and–powder-blue palette and minimalist design make each guest room feel like a refuge from the city. That theme carries throughout, from the soft mood lighting and the homey bedding to the marble bathrooms. This spot gets high marks for its central location, laid-back vibe, and Astro the delivery robot, who assists the staff by making contact-free deliveries to guests. The location is particularly great for families thanks to its close proximity within walking distance to things like The Children's Museum of Creativity, Yerba Buena Gardens, the Cable Car Museum, and the Theater District. If you'd prefer to stay inside, keep little ones entertained with classic video games and a foosball table on the hotel's Cloud level.
Courtesy the FairmonthotelFairmont San Francisco
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022A San Francisco institution atop Nob Hill, the Fairmont is stately enough to be mistaken for an embassy or palace. It's certainly one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. It aims to please with elegant (not flashy) rooms and public spaces. Locals also love to bring their kids to the Fairmont around Christmas to see its two-story gingerbread house.
You'll find high-end amenities like exclusive Le Labo products and Frette bed linens in the guest rooms, and, at the restaurant, you can nibble honey madeleines featuring honey produced by the Fairmont’s very own rooftop bees. The Fairmont's concierge makes great recommendations, particularly if you request dining options that locals frequent. Moms and dads might be interested in the “children's amenity,” a bottle of whole milk, chocolate chip cookies, and a coloring book and crayons. (Though do note that these are on the amenities list, not the room service menu.) —Elise Craig
Michael Weber/Courtesy of Westin St. FrancishotelThe Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023If you’re looking for a stunning property with a fascinating history, the St. Francis is a good bet. In the early 1900s, the family of railroad magnate Charles Crocker dreamed of transforming San Francisco into “the Paris of the West,” constructing the St. Francis as a sort of centerpiece. The hotel, remarkably, survived the 1906 earthquake and quickly became a magnet for the glitterati. The parade of people who have passed through the hotel reads like a who’s who of…everyone. Louis Armstrong played here, Shirley Temple posed here, Ernest Hemingway drank here, Emperor Hirohito slept here. Perhaps no hotel is more intricately interwoven into Bay Area life than the St. Francis. Locals know the St. Francis for its opulent holiday display in the lobby, centered on a massive, intricate sugar castle. Plus, with amenities like connecting rooms, specialty suites that offer even more space, and babysitting services, there's plenty to love for both kids and parents. —Megan McCrea
Paul DyerhotelHotel Drisco
$$$Charming, with the feel of a country getaway—even though it's in Pacific Heights. Request turn-down service, and you’ll return to find a white-noise machine and a chocolate shortbread cookie stamped with the hotel logo. Don't miss the free breakfast buffet—it's a beautiful spread. This is more for those looking for an intimate experience in a beautiful, quiet neighborhood. It would be great for special occasions and staycations. Families will enjoy the (somewhat retro) ability to borrow DVDs and Blu-ray discs to pop in the players in each room, which is convenient for last-minute movie nights. Parents will also appreciate the location away from the hustle and bustle of the city's downtown, as well as the ability to borrow bikes for a fun activity during the day. —Elise Craig
Paul DyerhotelInn at the Presidio
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024You feel just far enough from Fisherman's Wharf and its tourists at this proper B&B in the Presidio National Park. A historic Georgian revival building, the Inn has been fully restored, and caters to guests with a full breakfast in the morning, complimentary wine and cheese in the evening, and comfortable beds with a cult-like following. The three-story brick building is lined with long porches dotted with rocking chairs, and it's easy to imagine enjoying an afternoon with a good book, looking over the Presidio, with a view of the very top of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Presidio is a different kind of San Francisco experience, with so much to do for kids and adults alike, from hiking and running, to the Walt Disney Family Museum (there's even a Walt Disney Family Museum Package), and the Presidio Golf Course, an 18-hole course that winds among the hills of the park. It's an amazing getaway right in the city; locals even stay here. Additional amenities like complimentary breakfast, available board games, and an outdoor firepit offer fun for the whole family. —Elise Craig
Gentl and HyershotelSan Francisco Proper
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Hot List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023One of the hippest hotels in San Francisco, the Proper has made its mark. With vibrant designs by Kelly Wearstler, a crazy-popular rooftop bar, and OTT amenities like in-room vitamin boost shots “administered by local VIP doctors” (seriously), this is a trend-setting traveler's idea of what a hotel should be. The location—on the edge of the Tenderloin—is going to be a turn-off for a lot of travelers, but the hotel itself is very swanky. One thing that pint-sized guests will absolutely adore? The bunk room—albeit way fancier than the one you had as a kid. At The Proper, these walnut double-deckers have built-in brass ladders, outlets, USB ports, and TVs with built-in headphones. If ladders to beds aren't your jam, don't fret. The Proper also has plenty of regular rooms, both standard size and junior and premier suites. —Elise Craig
St. Regis San FranciscohotelThe St. Regis San Francisco
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2024High-rolling business travelers and NBA players make the St. Regis their go-to hotel when in San Francisco, and it's easy to see why. It’s a proper luxury hotel, with OTT amenities like cashmere quilts, limousine service, and beds with rich leather headboards designed to evoke a sports car interior. The guest rooms are fresh off a redesign, with brand-new art and customized furniture, exclusive to the hotel. Plus, in the heart of SoMA, it's close to family-friendly attractions like the SFMoMA and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Parents and kids will be thankful for the extra space to spread out as well: Even the smallest rooms—the superior guest rooms on floors five through eight—are 450 square feet, large for San Francisco hotels. Add in child-sized robes and slippers, a collection of children's books for bedtime reading (supplied by the Astor Library Cart), and a traditional afternoon tea experience, and what more could a kid ask for? —Elise Craig
Don Riddle/Courtesy of Four SeasonshotelFour Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero
$$One skyscraper amidst a sea of them, the Four Seasons San Francisco at Embarcadero blends in with its surrounds. But step inside—into a spherical space that seems to be radiating light—and it’s clear you’ve entered an entirely different realm. With a rhythmic, polished Guy Dill sculpture anchoring the lobby and a bright-white Guggenheim-esque staircase just beyond, the entryway is an aesthete’s fever dream: It’s like a modern art museum you can check into. Kids will have almost more to do than parents, thanks to the Four Seasons Kids Concierge who is able to help arrange excursions for children based on their age and interests. The property also offers items for childproofing guest rooms, kid-sized slippers and robes, welcome milk and cookies, board games, and more. —Megan McCrea
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