Hilton San Francisco Union Square

Every now and then a four-star earns its place on a shortlist by simply doing the basics very well, Hilton San Francisco Union Square, in Downtown San Francisco, is one of those. Geographically speaking it's barely a stroll from the centre of San Francisco, and the strong location rating in guest reviews backs that…

Every now and then a four-star earns its place on a shortlist by simply doing the basics very well, Hilton San Francisco Union Square, in Downtown San Francisco, is one of those. Geographically speaking it's barely a stroll from the centre of San Francisco, and the strong location rating in guest reviews backs that up. Inside, the rooms are well-appointed, and guests pick out reliable wi-fi and an in-house restaurant as the small things that add up over a stay. There's a particular atmosphere to the place, neither overdesigned nor neglected. Front-of-house has been attentive without being overbearing, the kind of detail that doesn't show up in the photographs but ends up on the review pages. The numbers behind the reviews tell their own story, well over 1,000 reviews, scoring solid on balance. Reputation has held up across enough stays to mean something. Pricing has been sitting near €150 a night and the value score puts it in a middle-of-the-road bracket compared with similar properties. The honest read on Hilton San Francisco Union Square is that it deserves a side-by-side look against the bigger San Francisco names rather than a headline of its own.