Local attractions
Union Square Shopping - (Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nieman Marcus, Nike, Levi's, Banana Republic, Prada, Gucci, Armani, Border's, San Francisco Shopping Center,Cable Car
Chinatown,Fisherman's Wharf,
Nob Hill, San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art, Academ
Our HotelPlanner expert reviews of Beacon Grand, A Union Square Hotel (formerly Sir Francis Drake)
Our experts HotelPlanner experts periodically visit and review the hotels we represent in person.
"Elegance with an Edge - Lovely Union Square Kimpton property"
Overall score5.0/ 5
I have nothing but good things to say about this hotel and the sales staff that runs it. If you don't mind a little "Kimpton flair" with your luxury, this is a great option for any group that wants a central location just a couple of blocks from Union Square. This property has a predominantly elegant, historic look (high, ornate ceilings and a grand stairwell in the entry way), but still has a touch of the Kimpton edge that makes the brand so distinctive (for instance, the large, red, avant-guarde statue towering over the lobby bar). The property is beautifully done, with a special emphasis on their elegant, chandelier-laden meeting rooms. This would be a great property to host a social event of any kind. Children and dogs are welcome, and those that wish to dance (or catch a Sunday drag show) can find a well-known night club on the top floor of the hotel. It is also possible to rent this "nightclub" space for private events, if you would prefer that to one of the meeting rooms, which is an excellent choice due to the sweeping views of the city. The rooms are lovely and a bit dramatic (patterns, jewel tones, and the occasional metallic piece), and the staff is charismatic and helpful. In general, this is a very unique, stylish property that has elements of the avant garde - I would recommend it to any group, unless that group is present for a serious affair of some variety and does not favor any distractions. They might consider a more straightforward brand. Otherwise, this is a great hotel and comes highly recommended for groups. Ask for a tour of their "secret prohibition room"!
Aria T, a local HotelPlanner San Francisco expert from
01-Aug-2013 Verified review
Verified reviews of Beacon Grand a Union Square Hotel
Below are the verified reviews from guests that we have booked in recently:
"Excellent Hotel"
Overall score5.0/ 5
Room was clean and service was excellent. Perfect location.
Rebecca M. (Individual traveller, booked 1 room), from
19-Sep-2025 Verified review, stayed from Mon Sep 15 to Fri Sep 19 2025 at a $256.99 average nightly rate.
"Exceptional Service and Extremely Clean Rooms"
Overall score5.0/ 5
We were meet at the front door by bellhop who was very courteous and greeted us with his friendly smile. The front desk was also friendly and explained everything throughly when checking in. Housekeeping is awesome and very courteous. Our room was clean when we came in and when they cleaned our room for the day was exceptionally clean. The restaurant in the hotel was very friendly and had delicious food. Best stay ever and are truly grateful for their kindness. I would highly recommend staying at this hotel and they had the best rates. 10 stars for this hotel.
Raquell S. (Individual traveller, booked 1 room), from
25-Apr-2025 Verified review, stayed from Wed Apr 23 to Fri Apr 25 2025 at a $167.49 average nightly rate.
"A lovely place."
Overall score5.0/ 5
Elegant lobby, staircase, ceiling and chandelier. Room was nice. Old school class and charm. Staff and waitresses were great. Will stay again.
Richard H. (Individual traveller, booked 1 room), from
23-Sep-2024 Verified review, stayed from Fri Sep 20 to Sat Sep 21 2024 at a $173.99 average nightly rate.
"Very Pleasant Stay."
Overall score4.0/ 5
Dates of stay August 24 29/24  We were first time travelers to San Francisco, in our late 40s and travelled with no kids. All of our interactions with the hotel staff were great, but I want to give an extra shout out to Monica at the front desk and Sebastian, one of the doormen. Monica was the first employee we dealt with and her kindness, sincerity and genuineness made us feel welcomed and valued as guests and not "just a customer". Our interactions with Sebastian were warm and authentic and he made us feel comfortable and welcomed every time we came back to the hotel. They both were a huge part in making us feel like we were welcomed and valued. We stayed in a Grand Junior Suite (15th floor) facing the street, and had an amazing view from our windows. The room itself was huge, had plenty of seating and lots of room to be able to store luggage out of the way. We could hear street noise, but the bed and bedding that they use had me sleeping so soundly that I wasn't bothered by it. The trolley bells do start early though! We didn't hear noise/people in the other rooms except for the occasional chair being moved on hardwood. There were plenty of mirrors and electrical outlets around the room as well. The bathroom had a double vanity (ample space for two people to get ready) and a large walk in shower. The water pressure from the shower head is very weak, so a head's up if you have a lot of hair, or long hair. There is a safe in the room and the closet area had a place to hang up clothes, along with a number of shelves. There were plenty of drawers to unpack as well. The location of the hotel is excellent for accessing the touristy parts of San Francisco quite easily. We walked all around the area and didn't feel unsafe. The latest we ventured out until was approximately 9:30 pm. We had a couple drinks at the Starlite Lounge and while it was quite expensive for four drinks, the atmosphere is something to experience! We also were gifted two complimentary drinks for The Post Room, and, unfortunately, I didn't get the bartenders name, but he too gave that little extra effort in showing us a little something that we normally wouldn't have had access to while staying there. If someone asked me if they should stay at the Beacon Grand Hotel, I would absolutely say "Yes!".
Melissa H. (Individual traveller, booked 1 room), from
04-Sep-2024 Verified review, stayed from Sat Aug 24 to Thu Aug 29 2024 at a $262.59 average nightly rate.
"Great Stay!"
Overall score5.0/ 5
A five star getaway!
Diane G. (Individual traveller, booked 1 room), from
12-Aug-2024 Verified review, stayed from Fri Aug 09 to Mon Aug 12 2024 at a $187.99 average nightly rate. 3.5 out of 5.
Based on 718 guest reviews Property description
Trends come and go. A true classic withstands the test of time. The Sir Francis Drake Hotel in downtown San Francisco has been in style since 1928. A mixture of timeless elegance and high style, the landmark San Francisco hotel offers historic accommodations in the heart of Union Square.The downtown Sir Francis Drake Hotel is a San Francisco legend, just steps from Moscone Convention Center, the Financial District, Nob Hill, Chinatown, SOMA, and the Theatre District. The Beefeater doorman, exquisite service, and offbeat style all create a unique hotel presence on vibrant Union Square, San Francisco. All guest rooms include remote-control TV with cable, OnCommand movie channels, Nintendo, iron and ironing boards, voicemail, data lines and individual climate controls. Banquet and meeting rooms now include dedicated modem/fax lines. Most rooms have windows and pre-function areas. Rooms are ideal for any group size up to 300. All facilities meet ADA requirements.Harry Denton's Starlight Room: High atop the Sir Francis Drake, this luxurious 1930's-style nightclub features live music, dancing, cocktails, light menu items and dramatic views of downtown SanFrancisco--and beyond.Scala's Bistro: Featuring French and Italian country cuisine in an elegant and comfortable old world cafe ambiance. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, cocktails and dinner.Caffe Espresso: A casual European-style sidewalk cafe for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Features house-made pastries, a captivating selection of wines and, some say, the best lattes and coffee downtown Green sustainability
Yes
Details / Other expenses
| Check-in: | 3:00pm |
| Check-out: | 12:00noon |
| Year of last renovation: | 1995 |
| Floors: | 21 |
| Rooms: | 417 |
| Corridors: | All rooms have interior hallways |
| Non-smoking rooms: | 404 |
| Rooms with disabled access: | |
| Suites: | 5 |
| Room windows: | Windows do open |
| Cleaning frequency: | Daily |
| Meeting rooms: | 13 View spaces |
| Meeting space: | 16000 sq. feet |
| Event space: | Holds 300 people |
| Dist. to food/bars: | On-site |
| Dist. to a 24hr restaurant: | 0.3 Miles |
| Dist. to the nearest gym: | On-site |
| Lounge/Bar hours: | 11AM to 2AM |
Pool Info:
No pool or spa at this hotel. Guests will notice in the elevator that there is a SPA floor, this is private and it is not part of the hotel. |
Policies / Expenses Cancellation:
FIT bookings - cancellations within 48 hours of the arrival date will be charged one night's room and tax. GROUP - per contract |
| Nightly parking: | $37. |
| Typical group deposit: | per contract |
| Total taxes: | 15.50% |
| Total misc. fees: | £0.00 GBP
(mandatory resort fees/taxes) |
| Resort/Hotel Fee: | 0.00 Per Night |
| Parking Fee: | 55.00 Per Night (Valet Parking ($65 O/S)) |
| Porterage Fee: | 7.00 Per Item (Group arrivals ONLY) |
| Gym Fee: | 0.00 Per Day (Not applicable) |
| Additional Person Fee: | 20.00 Per Person (For 3 and 4th person) |
| Rooms Wireless Internet Fee: | 0.00 Per Day (COMPLIMENTARY) |
| Food and Beverage Service Charge: | 22.00% |
Amenities / Features
Airport & shuttle information
San Francisco International (SFO) Distance: 15 MI/ 24.14 KM N Taxi Fee: $45.00 (USD) Time by taxi: 20 minutes (regular traffice)Time by train: BART: 30 Minutes Oakland International Airport (OAK) Distance: 20 MI/ 32.19 KM W Taxi Fee: $70.00 (USD) Time by taxi: 35 minutes Time by train: AirBART/BART: 55 Min
Local shuttle info: Recommend Super Shuttle
Breakfast information
Breakfast available in our restaurant, Scala''s Bistro (Italian): At Scala''s, memorable dining comes with the territory. Located inside the landmark Sir Francis Drake Hotel, facing the Powell Street cable car line, and steps away from Union Square, Scala''s is as San Francisco as restaurants come. And with great location comes great responsibility. Scala''s has earned its reputation among essential San Francisco experiences with its chef-driven menu, fresh local ingredients and an atmosphere as warm, comforting and classy as the food we bring to the table.Breakfast vouchers available for groups of 30 or less.
Pet friendly?
Service animals complying with ADA Title lll regulations are allowed.
Yes! Pets are allowed.
Pet-friendly Parking information
Valet $55/Day, Oversize vehicles $65/Day
Internet/Wi-Fi
Complimentary WIFI in guestrooms and public space with Kimpton Karma (free to join rewards program)!
Cleaning policies
Clean + Safe Certified by the California Hotel & Lodging Association
Suggested AI generated itinerary
Day 1
- Breakfast: Tartine Bakery - A popular bakery known for its delicious pastries, located 0.3 miles from the hotel.
- Lunch: Hog Island Oyster Co. - A seafood restaurant famous for its oysters, located 0.7 miles from the hotel.
- Dinner: The House of Prime Rib - A classic steakhouse known for its prime rib, located 0.5 miles from the hotel.
- Activity: Golden Gate Park - A beautiful park with various attractions, located 3.5 miles from the hotel.
Day 2
- Breakfast: Mama's on Washington Square - A renowned breakfast spot known for its pancakes, located 1.2 miles from the hotel.
- Lunch: The Slanted Door - A modern Vietnamese restaurant with stunning waterfront views, located 1.5 miles from the hotel.
- Dinner: Gary Danko - A Michelin-starred restaurant offering a fine dining experience, located 0.8 miles from the hotel.
- Activity: Alcatraz Island - Visit the infamous former prison and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, located 1.2 miles from the hotel.
Day 3
- Breakfast: Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine - Enjoy authentic Thai dishes in a vibrant atmosphere, located 0.9 miles from the hotel.
- Lunch: The Ferry Building Marketplace - Explore a variety of gourmet food vendors and shops, located 0.8 miles from the hotel.
- Dinner: Boulevard - A sophisticated restaurant serving American cuisine, located 1.1 miles from the hotel.
- Activity: Fisherman's Wharf - Experience the lively atmosphere, enjoy seafood, and visit popular attractions, located 1.5 miles from the hotel.
Kimpton Sir Francis Drake Hotel, Sir Francis Drake a Kimpton Hotel, Sir Francis Drake Hotel
