It’s one of the most enduring cities in North America which has inspired writers, artists and film makers for decades, and anyone who’s been to San Francisco will be familiar with its unique physical beauty and laid back atmosphere. But finding a good hotel that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg is one of the most difficult things about visiting this great city. Located on the edge of the popular Union Square district in the heart of San Fran, this four star hotel punches well above its weight and not just because of its handy location. The Hotel Nikko is on the corner of Mason and O’Farrell which puts visitors within easy striking distance of shopping on Union Square, the Powell-Mason cable car terminus, Chinatown, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the bus and tram routes to Fisherman’s Wharf. From the outside, the Nikko San Francisco looks nothing special, but as the saying goes: never judge a book by its cover. 

The Rooms

With 510 rooms and 22 suites, this is one of San Francisco’s biggest hotels and many of the upper level rooms have decent views of the city. What makes the accommodations a cut above the other four stars in the area though is the attention to detail in the rooms. Every room has Subarashee Yume luxury pillow-top beds along with high quality linens and down comforters which make for a wonderful night’s sleep, or jetlag recovery. They also have flat screen TV’s with cable, high speed wireless internet, desks, and new bathrooms - mostly with separate tubs and showers even in the basic rooms. We had a deluxe room on the 16th floor with views across Market Street to the Tenderloin District through one large window, while the other window looked out across at another tall commercial building but we kept the curtains drawn on that side for most of our stay. We also asked for a small fridge to be delivered to our room (the mini-bar is sensor activated) and this was done within an hour so we could keep our drinks cold and store deli-style food for the occasional evenings we stayed in our suite to watch the city lights. Maid service was friendly and efficient and the oversized bathroom itself was impressive with marble finishings, a large shower and separate tub. There were basic bathroom amenities like a hair dryer and the usual toiletries. We didn’t get to see any of the suites, but from the photos I’ve seen they are simply bigger with separate areas for entertaining and relaxing with two flat screen TV’s.

Other Facilities

One of the Nikko’s stand-out features is its 15 metre heated lap pool and jacuzzi which is enclosed in a glass atrium on the fifth floor. This is something very few other San Francisco hotels can match because of space restrictions within the city, and it’s a relaxing oasis of calm. It’s also attached to the modern gym which features scores of cardio equipment in a large space. The hotel charges an extra US$10 to use the pool and gym, except for Imperial Club guests. The Imperial Club itself is well worth the upgrade with sweeping views of the bay and city from the top floor. Those on the Imperial floors receive a free continental breakfast, free wireless internet, daily newspapers, and a complimentary wine and cheese cocktail “happy hour” in the evenings. The hotel’s restaurant, ANZU, offers a distinctive Japanese-European menu and also is renowned for its lavish Sunday brunch. On most nights, the hotel also hosts live entertainment in its sophisticated Rrazz Room with some of the city’s best cocktails served during gigs by the likes of Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Chita Rivera, and Bobby Caldwell.

The Verdict

With basic rooms in San Francisco averaging around US$250 a night, it’s possible to pay a lot less than this for a standard room at the Nikko and even score an Imperial Club room during non-peak periods for under that amount with all the benefits of access to the club lounge on the top floor. Even though it’s a big hotel, within a short space of time it feels like “home away from home” in San Francisco, and the higher up you go, the quieter it gets. It’s a good value hotel in a great location and deservedly attracts a lot of repeat business.